When your life changes, what was once your perfect abode may now be in need of a makeover. Whether you started working from home, got married, or started a family, your house will probably need a redesign to fit your new activities and better accommodate your and your growing family’s needs. Here are some ideas for transforming your living space into a great place for work, play, and relaxation.

If this sounds like you, let us know how we can help!

Room for Work

Over the past year, many of us have had to start working from home. If you don’t have a dedicated home office, den, or spare bedroom to work out of, you may have had to create an office space in your living room by rearranging the layout and furniture. If you don’t have an actual door or wall setting your office space apart from the rest of the room, you can add a partition such as a large screen or a tall bookshelf to define the space.

Putting out an area rug can further demarcate your working space. Tall plants may also be useful in keeping your work area well defined, and they have the added advantage of purifying the air inside your home. Moreover, a 2015 study found that interacting with indoor plants could reduce psychological and physiological stress, which makes plants all the more important in your home office—and in your life!

Room for Play

The arrival of a baby means new furniture (e.g., crib, changing table, high chair, etc.) and a myriad of toys and tiny clothes. Corralling all that extra kid stuff can become a challenge, especially if your child’s bedroom is too small to contain it all. And if you like to keep an eye on your little one playing while you’re making dinner, your kitchen might start to look like a miniature playground.

If you have some shelf space available, a few stylish baskets will provide great storage for toys and craft supplies that will stay hidden from view when not in use. Living room furniture can also double as storage space, such as ottomans and lift-top coffee tables. And thanks to the latest technology and streaming services available, you don’t need a massive entertainment center to hold a large-screen TV and your collection of DVDs. Make more room by mounting your flat- screen TV on the wall, and select comfortable seating options for a cozy movie night.

Room for Relaxation

Even if your home is now housing your office, you can still keep your business and personal life separate. If you don’t have a spare room to use as a designated home office, and if you want to be able to relax and unwind after a long day in front of your computer, find a storage solution that will conceal your equipment, office supplies, and documents; a desk with a hutch or an armoire desk may be ideal.

Take advantage of the natural light in your house or install some mood lighting of your own and create a cozy sanctuary by adding a plant garden to your interior. Choose fabrics and colors that inspire you and help you relax, and set some throw pillows and blankets on your sofa. And don’t forget to make your patio or balcony an inviting space, too! Outdoor patio furniture can be comfortable, stylish, and even offer storage solutions for extra pillows and blankets.

If you have a fireplace in your home, building a fire can add ambiance and help you relax, but you’ll need to ensure your chimney is clean so you’re not putting your home and family at risk. You can find dependable chimney cleaners by Googling “chimney services near me” and choosing the best-rated contractor. If you also need your chimney inspected, you’ll have to budget for the additional cost.

As our lives change, so should our homes. Today’s furniture and decorating options are endless. So, make your home a cozy spot for working, entertaining, and relaxing. Gather your family, invite your friends and share your new, redefined space!

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%.