It’s getting to be that time of year when the outdoors are best when visited briefly. Major remodels can expose your home to the elements, which can be rough when the weather is cold. The good news is, Christie’s is with you through rain or shine, hot or cold. Your ideal home should not be put on pause over a little chilly weather. Wintertime just so happens to be the perfect time for something we do all the time—indoor renovation! We want to talk about seven indoor renovations that cold weather can’t stop.
Really, the right time for home renovations is any time, but you don’t have to wait for the thermometer to warm up before you can enjoy your dream home! There are a million things you can do inside that can make your home feel fresh and new. Many of them are easy, like an accent wall or a new backsplash, but we want to talk about projects that are less DIY and more HSDI (Hire Someone to Do It.) So let’s talk about our top 7 indoor renovations that are perfect for this fine winter season.
Flooring
Waking up and putting your freshly un-blanketed toes on scratchy, uneven wood floors is not a great way to greet the day. Also not great for our bare feet: cracked tiles, peeling laminate floors, and matted, wrinkled carpet. No thank you! These issues are signs that your flooring was installed incorrectly or has had too much traffic to keep its original function and appeal.
Picking materials is not always intuitive for non-designers, and it is one of the most important aspects of home renovation. If you go purely by aesthetic, things could go wrong fast. A beautiful carpet might not be the right fit for your space, depending on texture, color, and pattern. For flooring materials to be compatible, the entire space needs consideration. Some brands are quality and, sadly, some are not.
Then there is installation, which can be tricky, physically taxing, and cost you a whole other floor renovation in the not-so-distant future if it’s done poorly. DIY can be fun, but laying new flooring can get very complicated, very quickly! If done improperly, your floor may be uneven, unintentionally asymmetrical, or even permanently damaged. A “cheap” floor installation might save a buck but could come with long-term and potentially more expensive consequences. Our team at Christie’s can help you choose the right material for your flooring based on your individual needs and install it correctly for proper function and longevity.
Lighting
Lighting, debatably, has the largest impact on the impression a space makes but is often an afterthought. Paint choices, furniture patterns, and flooring can all look totally different under different types of light. Luminosity matters—super dim and you run the risk of your home looking like a cave, overly bright and your eyes will struggle to adjust every time you flip the switch. Then there’s the temperature of the light which can dramatically change the way light fills a room. The Lighting Blog breaks down light temp and what it looks like for ease-
- 2200-2700K: produces a warm light. Best for low-light areas where ambient lighting is needed–similar to an incandescent bulb.
- 3000-3500K: produces a soft white light. Crisper than 2700K bulbs.
- 4000-4500K: produces a bright white light. Ideal in kitchens, offices, workspaces and vanities where detail-oriented tasks are performed.
- 5000K and up: produces a bright bluish hue of light. Often found in commercial locations.
Temperature and luminosity aside, you’ve got the three main kinds: ambient, task, and accent lighting. Aside from that, there are different lighting fixtures. Recessed fixtures, track lights, pendant lights, or projected lights are a few. Beyond looks, lights can help you conserve energy in your home and reduce safety hazards. Add electric work to the list of reasons this indoor renovation is best left to the experts.
Kitchen
Of all the indoor renovations, this one is probably the trickiest one on our list. There’s plumbing and electricity and appliances—oh my! Then there’s the versatility that comes with a properly designed kitchen space. Cooking up meals, sitting down to eat them, and cleaning up after all have different design and furniture needs. Then there’s countertops, cabinetry and sometimes pantries, and even lazy susans… phew! There is just so much going on in there!
Of course, we would love to redo the whole shebang. That being said, not all of it has to be done at once. Kitchen renovations can be done in stages. For instance, cabinet upgrades can make a world of difference, and shelving can open up your space and provide much-needed storage (check out a couple in this remodel we did.) You could change up your layout by adding a kitchen island, which helps with traffic flow and gives you more counter space. The kitchen is so important to many of us as a place we host family gatherings or entertain. And getting this indoor renovation done by the “pros” can make a huge difference in your life. Just read our client case study!
Wall Removal
It used to be that homes had walls separating each room, but since the 2000s, that design has fallen out of favor for the open concept layout. Open floor layouts make spaces more accessible and help conversations flow more easily and naturally when people are in different rooms. An open floor plan can make your home look bigger without actually increasing your square footage.
Not all walls are created equal which is why it’s important to consult an expert before you have a Gallagher moment. Some walls are purely aesthetic. Structural walls, though, are a whole other ball game. The weight of your roof may be reliant on a wall that you’re thinking of removing. If your home is older and has a hallway down the center, it’s likely one or both walls are load-bearing. Removing these walls can cause your ceiling to sag, doors to stick, and can even cause injury. There are a few tips and tricks to telling if a wall is weight-bearing, but it’s best to trust an expert. So let us take care of knocking down walls!
Bathroom
Another crucial room! Is there anything worse than a cramped, damp, and outdated bathroom? Okay, a lot of things come to mind, but still! Do away with the dinginess and create an oasis in your home where you can soak all your troubles away. Ever considered a waterfall shower head? And don’t even get us started on all of the tub options available. Whether it’s a clawfoot, freestanding, drop-in, or Jacuzzi, we can help install all vessels that allow your body to relax with Epsom salt, maybe some candles, and a little aromatherapy.
Relaxation aside, bathrooms, much like a kitchen, need to be functional. Counterspace and storage in the bathroom are really important, as is the, ahem, throne. Our team at Christie’s Design/Build can help with everything from design to installation (and everything in between.)
Enlarging Closet
Truly, having a Carrie Bradshaw walk-in-closet-dream moment is a fantasy a lot of us still have, right? Having a big, spacious closet helps you declutter your home as well. There’s evidence that keeping a more organized home can: increase the likelihood of paying your bills on time and better organization could decrease an estimated 40% of the housework. Studies also show that 97% of people prefer closet storage to attic or basement storage.
Not to mention, renovating your closet is a fairly affordable renovation, and it can increase your home’s resale value, which is a bonus. While this does not increase square footage, it does give an impression of luxury, organization, and functionality. Presenting your home as fancier and tidier than other sellers, ultimately increasing your sale price? Yes, please!
Fireplaces
Better Homes and Gardens inspire this portion of the blog. Because WOW! These fireplace transformations are gorgeous. Fireplaces are incredibly versatile and can be styled in as many ways as your heart desires and exposed brick never goes out of style. You could do a solid white or black or get a creative use a tile pattern. Spice it up with a mantel, perhaps? Whatever you’re picturing, Christie’s Design/Build wants you to know we can make a fireplace that really lights up your home.
Before we let you go, we want to wish you a happy holiday this November! While you’re giving thanks, remember whether there’s snow or shine, Christie’s is always here to help you create the home of your dreams. Whatever you need, let Christie’s design, build, and remodel your floors/lighting/closets/everything, including the kitchen sink! Click here to contact us; let’s talk about your vision today!
