One of the best perks of becoming a homeowner is making the space your own. From furniture choices, to paint colors and décor – the style options are endless. But what happens if your home is missing some key architectural details to go with the style you have in mind? 

Architectural details are small design elements – like a stone fireplace or decorative trim – that have the power to characterize and define your entire home. Choosing the right architectural style for your home may seem overwhelming, but don’t worry – we’re here to help. So, whether you’re living in a new construction home in Sacramento, CA, or a modern condo in Atlanta, GA these 10 ideas will help you add the perfect architectural details to your home.

1) Start with classic crown molding or wainscoting

Crown molding is likely the first architectural style that comes to mind, and for good reason. Details like crown molding or wainscoting are timeless additions to your walls that will stick throughout the years. If you’re into DIY projects, you can install a peel-and-stick crown molding to your walls, or add simple wainscoting with some chair rail and batten boards and paint to match your trim. Not a DIY-er? Talk to an architect or licensed contractor who can help design and install crown molding, wainscoting, or any other trim details to your home without the hassle. 

2) Choose contrasting colors

When deciding on a color palette for your home, choose contrasting colors for added depth. You can easily create contrast throughout your home with stark variations in paint or furniture choices. Think white walls against a black floor or dark-finished cabinets with light-colored countertops. 

3) Add textured walls for added interest

If contrasting colors aren’t your style, consider texture when it comes to your walls. Many painters can add texture to an otherwise plain wall with paint techniques to help add dimension. If texture isn’t your game, think about adding an accent panel using wallpaper or mosaic tiles.

4) Create a gallery wall or picture rail

Get creative with your photos and art by making a gallery wall. Strategically placing your photos on the wall is an art on its own, one that an interior designer can help you out with. Consider adding a picture rail to your wall if you’re looking for something a little more permanent. That way you can display your art and décor along the walls while also incorporating crown molding. A picture rail will be a statement detail no matter how many times you’ve changed the photos.

5) Hang drapery for high ceilings

One of the easiest ways to add architectural style to your home is by hanging drapery around your windows. By hanging drapes a few inches below the ceiling it will draw your eyes upward, making your walls and ceilings look taller. Bonus, adding drapes will highlight any windows in your room and create a cozy feel no matter the season. 

6) Replace the hardware on your cabinets

Another quick DIY home project to change up your interior style is to switch the hardware on your cabinets and drawers. From sleek chrome handles to bold brass knobs, the options are endless. Replacing the hardware on your cabinets is a quick way to add simple, yet eye-catching architectural details to your home.

7) Incorporate reclaimed wood

If rustic is what you’re looking for to spruce up your home’s character, think about adding reclaimed wood throughout your home. Whether that’s having a contractor or remodeler add wood beams to your ceiling or as simple as a new table, reclaimed wood will give you the architectural style you’ve been looking for. Also, investing in reclaimed wood pieces is a great way to support the environment while achieving your style vision. 

8) Get creative with your doors

Upgrading the doors in your home can bring a whole new architectural dimension to your space. For a simple approach, a coat of gray paint on all of the interior doors can make a big impact on your home’s style. However, if you’re looking for a larger project, think about having some doors replaced with something more unique. Think solid wood doors with windows for the exterior or repurposed sliding doors inside. These changes will instantly transform the architectural details of your home from the moment you step inside. 

9) Natural stone works wonders

If you’re looking to bring a rustic architectural style into your home, incorporating natural stone finishes will do wonders. Think about framing a fireplace with bricks or adding a custom stone design as a backsplash. You can also achieve this rustic feeling by creating a feature wall with faux bricks or a sleek slate.

10) Upgrade or install a fireplace

Adding architectural details to your fireplace will bring warmth – literally and figuratively – to your living space. Spruce up your fireplace’s mantel by painting it a contrasting color to your walls, or frame your fireplace with bricks or natural stone. If your home doesn’t have a fireplace, contact a handyman or contractor who can discuss your options for installing a fireplace in your home. They can also give you advice on what style will work best for your space.

Originally published by Redfin

In 2018, this structure was an old storage garage sitting in the middle of this historic neighborhood. We redesigned this structure to become a home for the large family who recently bought the property. We decided to pay hommage to the building’s history by designing the new to reflect its original 1921 purpose- a grocery store. 

We gave them plenty of porch space for the kids to play and for the adults to sit on and enjoy the nice weather from. We also designed the main floor to feature an open floor plan for the family to spread out within with a secluded master suite tucked away for a piece of tranquility when needed.

We incorporated a combination shower and tub design for the master bath to create a spa-like space for the owners.

We also designed the second story to become a creatively functional living space for the kids, inclusive of custom bunk beads, and plenty of bedrooms and baths. We kept the second story height as minimal as possible to maintain the proportions of the exterior. We used dormers to fit egress windows in the the bedrooms.

We had so much fun designing this home in this neighborhood. If we can help you design something as unique as this for your own home, we would love to hear from you! You can send us an inquiry here on our site.

When homeowners think of upgrading their homes, they usually have two reasons in mind. They want to make it more enjoyable and they also want to improve its resale value.

To achieve these two objectives, homeowners must be careful which updates they implement. As Dawson Management points out, not all updates will improve the owner’s enjoyment of a home and its value equally.

To help property owners get the most out of their renovation efforts, we created this list of the top home updates that pay off. These are the upgrades that are almost certain to return a significant portion of the property owner’s costs when they sell their homes.

Bathroom Remodel

The bathroom is one of the most trafficked rooms in a home; any updates to this space usually pays off. Bathroom updates can be minor, major, or directed at specific features of a bathroom.

• Minor Bathroom Update

This often involves replacing faucets, hardware, lighting fixtures, and/or the toilet. You could also paint the vanity if it’s wood or paint the walls in a fresh color. All of these upgrades could be DIY or completed by a plumber, electrician, or handy man.

• Major Bathroom Upgrade

These upgrades include replacing the vanity, expanding the bathroom size, replacing flooring, replacing tile and perhaps changing the tub and toilet.

• Master Bathroom Tub Replacement

A growing trend is to replace the bathtub in the master bathroom with a walk-in shower with new shower head and glass enclosure. However, please note that having at least one bathtub in the home can be a necessity for some home buyers. Consider keeping you tub/shower (maybe upgrading it) in the master if that would be the only tub the house. If you have a smaller tub/shower combo in a secondary bath already, go ahead and put that walk-in shower in your master!

Home Additions

Increasing the square footage of a home pays off because buyers (and appraisers) value the additional space. You know the saying “time is money”. In the real estate world- space is money.

• Two-Story Addition

This usually entails updating and maybe opening up the main floor; you may consider reconfiguring some of the space for a new, comfortable master suite. You would then want to add a couple bedrooms upstairs, at least one bath, and a bonus room if space and budget allows.

• Bedroom Addition

This addition is often a master suite addition. It can give some homes just the right about of added space. Keep in mind that this may not be the right choice for you, however, if you have only steep grade levels around where you’d want the addition. This is because foundation masonry can be expensive if extensive.

• Screened-In Porch Addition

Screened-in porches are in very high demand here in the south. They provide extensions to the living space in a home and they are cheaper than adding heated living space. Screen-in porches can be opened up the living room or kitchen on a nice day, they keep the bugs out, and they serve as a perfect space to enjoy the game or a glass of wine. These can really be a huge selling point for a home.

Kitchen Remodel

The kitchen impacts the most in terms of a home's salability; updates to the kitchen are very important and most kitchen upgrades attract massive returns on investment.

• Minor Kitchen Remodel

You could make a huge impact on your kitchen just by replacing the cabinets, countertops, and fixtures while keeping the layout and plumbing where it is. There are very affordable cabinet lines out there that make this a possibility with even some of the smallest budgets. Even just replacing your countertops and/or appliances can make a huge difference to your buyers.

• Major Kitchen Remodel

This scale of project often includes rearranging the current kitchen plan, expanding the kitchen either within existing square footage or adding onto the home, and replacing all of the old materials. You will want to make sure you hire a general contractor for this work to be sure it gets done properly and in a timely manner. Hiring a design/build firm or separate designer is also quite crucial in making sure you are designing this space to function properly and look attractive for years to come.

Siding Replacement

Hardie siding is a step up from vinyl siding; it offers many advantages over vinyl as the preferred material for a home's siding. For starters, it is more durable and offers greater curb appeal. Although it cost more than vinyl, it offers greater ROI than a vinyl upgrade.

Energy-Efficient Windows

New windows improve not just the look but the functionality of the home. Windows account for up to 30% of the energy used for heating and cooling a home. Installing new windows with energy-efficient features like multi-paned glass, Low-E glass and gas infused panes will reduce energy costs significantly. The average ROI for installing new windows is about 73%.

There are many things in the past that people look back to with nostalgia. Everyone likes to think life was better when they were growing up. But there are only two things we know that get better with age; old wine and old houses.

Nothing in modern homes comes close to the unadulterated charm of an old house. Today's home pales in comparison to the elegance of old residential architecture and engineering. If you have ever been to a pre-1930s home, you know what we mean. But if not, this article will introduce you to some tried and true features you can incorporate into your modern home.

Older Home vs Modern Home

What is the main difference between old houses and modern homes? Houses today are typically built with an open floor plan. As Schambs Management explains- this layout combines entryway, kitchen, dining, and living areas into one continuous space without any form of structural separations between them. It’s been desired by modern families today for ease of entertaining and keeping watch over kids.

Old houses, on the other hand, have closed floor plans. Spaces in the house are not only designated for specific uses, they are separated by walls and doors. A typical old house would have separate rooms as the parlor, library, dining room, study and kitchen.

Does this closed floor plan have advantages over an open floor plan? Yes! Not only does it offer privacy, but each space in a home has its own features based on how they are used. A closed floor plan allows you to paint or decorate each room - kitchen, dining room, or office - with a unique personality. An open floor plan can also be an acoustic disaster for some families with young children or loud pets; it’s hard to isolate sounds. In a more separated floor plan, kids can listen to their cartoons around the corner while the adults can host guests downstairs in the living room or a keeping room. Finally, in our environmentally-conscious age, a closed floor plan can allow you to close off unused room to help out your heating or cooling efficiency.

Another big difference between modern and vintage homes is the sheer charm of old houses. Stepping into an old house is like a step back in time to an age where everything was not mass-produced. The careful craftsmanship of an old house is visible everywhere you look. And each feature of the home is built to last; instead of being a fad that was soon replaced. 

Unlike modern houses, which often make the TV the focal point of the home, old houses were built for face-to-face interactions. Hence, the need for separate dining rooms where each meal was treated as an occasion.

Does this mean you should ditch your modern home design for old house design? No! What you can do is borrow some old house trends and integrate them into your home. Below, we list some of the best older home features for you to consider for your modern home.

Walk-in Pantry

It is hard to understand why this old house trend was abandoned. What could be more functional than a walk-in pantry that lets you organize your storage creatively? This feature makes the kitchen much more manageable.

https://www.humphreymunson.co.uk/kitchen/weybridge-project/

Double Pocket Doors

Double pocket doors let you assign or withdraw access easily. Left open, space reverts to an open floor plan. But you can close the doors to give yourself more privacy. This feature comes in handy when entertaining guests and you want to limit access.

Mudroom

Old houses had a small space between the outer door and the home's interior. It served to deaden outside noise and as a place for removing outwear. You can return this old house trend as a mudroom where people can take off coats and muddy boots.

Clawfoot Tub

Looking at these tubs will give you as much pleasure as you get from soaking in them. They are deeper than modern baths and are shamelessly luxurious. Even better, they won't complain if you put them outside in the garden or on the patio.

Ceiling Medallions

This feature encapsulates old house elegance at its best. Nothing says flamboyance like a medallion on the ceiling. They are designed to make people gape and they do just that. Visitors won't be able to resist the urge to look up and stare.

https://www.houseofbrinson.com/2017/09/02/living-room-reveal/

Fireplaces in Every Room

Humans have a fascination with fire which interior heating has not quelled. Imagine the wonder of a dedicated fireplace in the kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom. If you want to get the most out of this old house trend, go for a wood burning unit!