While it’s true that the summer may be winding down, there’s still plenty of time and good weather for homeowners to begin or complete remodeling processes in their homes. Whether you’re looking to remodel your whole home or just looking to renovate certain areas, there’s no denying that making upgrades to areas of your home can add equity to your property, as well as giving you and your family a space to live that you can enjoy. While it’s true that approximately 35% of renovations tend to involve the whole home, it can be difficult and daunting to undertake such a large project at once. Many homeowners find that focusing on one area, whether it’s a certain room or a floor of the home, can help focus the project, as well as being able to navigate the unexpected budget challenges that are likely to arise during the course of a renovation. Today, we’ll be focusing on first floor renovations, which have the benefit of allowing homeowners to live and sleep in the upstairs relatively undisturbed through the course of the remodeling process.
Give Yourself an Open Space
Whether your home is designed for your family, entertaining guests, or simply providing a restful space for you, one commonality across first floor renovations is creating a more open floor plan. While many older homes have exceptional character, older models tend to be constructed with very clearly defined spaces, which can create a sense of claustrophobia within individual rooms. The living room being removed from the kitchen, for example, can also make it difficult for parents to monitor children while cooking, as well as making it difficult to entertain guests while cooking a meal. If these are important areas in your life, talk to your contractor about what your home’s construction will allow for in terms of creating a more open floor plan. When you do this, it’s important to discuss your goals for the space with the designer, whether it’s a space for entertaining or more light.
Design Your Dream Kitchen
A mainstay of first floor renovations, kitchen remodels can be a way to see a serious return on your investment. If cooking is an important part of your life, and a place where you spend a considerable amount of time, try to ask yourself what it is that you want out of your dream kitchen. Appliances, countertop materials, counter space, and flooring choices will all depend on your goals for the kitchen. Consider this space an opportunity for you to incorporate your design taste along with practicality with things like hidden appliances or kitchen islands that can serve as another hub of activity.
Tailor Spaces to Fit Your Needs
Before you even begin the process of first floor renovations, it’s important to ask yourself: what are your ultimate goals for your remodel? Are you looking to add value to your home, or to customize the space for you and your family to enjoy for years to come? The answers to these questions will ultimately determine the level of customization you do in spaces like first floor bedrooms, home offices, and other spaces that you’re looking to remodel. For example: if you’re looking for a home office you can grow into, consider the stability and beauty of built-in shelving that will suit your particular needs. This same principle can be applied to spaces like craft rooms, which can benefit from built-in workspaces and plenty of storage.
No matter what your goals are for your first floor renovation, the questions you ask yourself will ultimately be the same: what do I want to get out of this remodel, what are my immediate priorities, and how will these priorities work with one another? Once you have the answers to those questions, you can begin the process of creating your dream home, one floor at a time.
If you’re looking to speak to qualified professionals about your first floor renovations, contact us today. We’ll be happy to help you make your dreams come true.
What’s at the top of your wishlist for your first floor remodel? Let us know in the comments below.