Empty-Nesters Update Their 25-Year-Old Home
These empty-nesters decided to replace the windows throughout their twenty-five-year-old home.
This opened a “Pandora’s Box” of questions:
- Should we keep the stained wood or switch to white?
- How does this affect the rest of the woodwork?
- If we update the kitchen, do we keep our cabinets?
The couple intended to stay in the home for at least the next ten to fifteen years and wanted the changes to stand the test of time while working within a conservative budget.
counters, this country kitchen was due for an update!
and stainless steel appliances make a dramatic difference!
How do we prioritize the kitchen redesign project and manage our budget?
The first question was whether to stay with the wood stained trim for the new windows or switch to white. This was a critical decision because it would impact most of the woodwork throughout the house. We shared that the most effective way to update a home from the 80’s is to paint stained trim white. Since time was on their side, they decided to approach this in stages beginning with the first floor which also helped their budget.
This client was working with a conservative budget so we began our focus with the largest and most costly elements of the kitchen; the flooring, counters, cabinets, and appliances. In order for these updates to last more than a decade, it was important not to select “hot trends” as in oversized tile, but rather classic shapes and colors.
We recommended a standard 12″ tile to replace the linoleum in a neutral palette. Once they learned that synthetic stone products like quartz could be more expensive than natural stone it was easy for them to decide to look for a reasonable granite for their counters.
Since their cabinetry was in excellent condition and there was no reason to change the layout, we suggested they change only the hardware from brass to brushed nickel. This decision would save thousands of dollars, which enabled them to upgrade their appliances to stainless steel.
The Story Continues!
A Question of Style: Keep the home’s architectural style in mind during renovation
Would you like to redesign your living space but are overwhelmed with the decisions and confused about how to get started? Give us a call and let us help you find your creative voice to create an interior you will be proud to show off to family and friends!