Updating Your Home with Intentional Thought
So, you are thinking of making some updates in your home but you don't know where to start? A few things I like to ask and discuss with my clients when we are just getting started on a project:
Is this your forever home?
Are you starting from scratch in just this one room?
Are you gutting the entire house?
Do you plan to sell soon?
ALL of these are important things to consider when trying to get direction for your upcoming project. After all, good design is INTENTIONAL thought! Plain and simple!
First question-is this your forever home? If it is, then go all out! Do what you personally love (within reason, which we will discuss shortly). Don't worry so much about your overall cost, because you plan to live there anyway!
If you are starting from scratch in ONE room, it gives you a bit more flexibility to not have to work around as many existing pieces. If you are fully starting from scratch then it gives you even MORE freedom. But, (there’s always a but)..you also do not want to create a kitchen that looks like its straight out of the Jetsons cartoon if rest of the house looks like a masculine craftsman or a traditional ranch. A well thought-out remodel should feel like it has always been a part of a house! You shouldn't walk into a room and immediately know from the "contractor tan” and gold granite, that this room was updated in 2005! You should always nod your choices back to the true architecture of the home and make selections that enhance and create a great flow with the existing pieces that are staying.
Before and after of this brushed black pearl granite and updated paint color to remove the “contractor tan” walls.
Paint Color: Valet White by Benjamin Moore
Now I am not saying your personal taste or maybe a current trend you are attracted to CAN'T work in a home at all. That envelope can be pushed! But a well created, cohesive design is one that plays back to the architecture at least to some extent. Even when it comes to your furnishings! If you have an older farmhouse that looks like a truck from Wayfair of mid-century modern furniture was just dumped inside, it just doesn’t work! Each home has a story to tell and honing in on that is key, while still adding your personal taste or current touches. This is where the magic happens! Plus, figuring it out along the way is the fun part!
Oak vanity with an updated warm taupe quartz countertop.
Countertop: Signature Interior Expressions
Paint Color: Gateway Gray by Sherwin Williams
Now let's say you know the home isn't going to be your forever home or one you live in for a long period of time, but you want to do SOME updates to help sell your house. Again, I can not stress enough how important INTENTIONAL thought is! My skin just cringes when I hear, "oh this will work" or "oh this is close enough!" No; close enough doesn't cut it. In fact, it's usually better to just do the opposite rather than try to get just "close enough"!
For example-let’s say you have this ceramic tile floor in your kitchen and adjoining laundry room. Now your washing machine just leaked and flooded the laundry room! So you have to replace your laundry floor, but your tile has been discontinued!! Instead of trying to find a tile that is "close enough", change it up! Do something in that room totally different! Make it look like you fully intended to do something different in that space, vs. looking like you ran out of tile and tried to find something close.
An updated porcelain floor tile.
Flooring: Signature Interior Expressions
Paint Color: Gateway Gray by Sherwin Williams
Another example would be if you are trying to update that old, worn-out oak kitchen with laminate counters and contractor tan floor tile. Maybe you're thinking let's put granite or quartz on! My first suggestion is DO NOT put granite or quartz on those counters just so you can use those "magical" words on your listing! Let's find a color that actually does those oak cabinets and contractor tan tile justice! That grey and white counter is not it... trust me. It's going to wash everything out! You’d want to find a color and movement that actually complement and work well with what is going on in the room, rather than having it become an ugly eyesore for the next person. Chances are the new homeowner will probably have to live with it like that for a hot minute anyways!
Updated floor tile and backsplash to remove the early 2000’s tan contractor grade floor tile and backsplash.
Flooring & Backsplash: Ridout Lumber
If you have any questions about updating your home with intentional thought, contact us here and we’ll get back to you!
-Sara Fink