Home makeovers don’t happen overnight. They take careful planning, time, and a love for the art of renovations (if you want them done well, that is!).
For that reason, plenty of homeowners choose to focus on each room and work their way through them one by one during the renovation process. Before they know it, they have their dream home!
Whether you’re planning to renovate one room or you want to transform your entire house with a touch of elegance and charm, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Goldcon Construction, we take the art of home renovations seriously – and we want to share our masterpieces with you.
So, come along as we discuss how to spruce up your home to make it a beautiful work of art.
Contents
Sophisticated Home Renovations: Room By Room
Kitchen renovations
Design
Kitchen renovations are essential for optimizing functionality and style within your home. In this room, efficient utilization of your space is key and can only be achieved through strategic placement of the core elements like your stove, sink, and refrigerator.
Ideally, you want to focus on designing a so-called work triangle that minimizes wasted steps while you’re cooking and creates a logical flow. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have it your way. Choose between open-concept layouts for better connectivity to the rest of your home, or closed layouts for a more cozy and private-feeling kitchen.
Materials
When it comes to the kitchen, material matters. Luxury finishes like quartz countertops and marble backsplashes can help to elevate the room’s overall aesthetics.
On the other hand, eco-friendly choices like bamboo flooring and reclaimed wood help to promote sustainability. They can also be used to create a chic interior with rustic charm.
Upgrades
Of course, no kitchen is complete without a few upgrades to take it from drab to fab. Some of our favorite additions to a kitchen include pot fillers and big, open kitchen islands – multifunctional hubs for cooking, dining, and even socializing! Additionally, high-end appliances like built-in refrigerators and professional-grade ranges make your kitchen seem more luxurious.
Lighting
Kitchen lighting can make or break your space, which is why it’s so important to consider adding plenty of bright and functional lighting. This will make your kitchen seem sleeker and cleaner. This can be achieved by installing more fixtures or by using creative options like under-counter illumination.
Under-cabinet lights attached to work surfaces (like countertops and cabinets) can make a huge difference to your food prep. Not only that, but it adds a depth of visual interest to your kitchen.
Bathroom renovations
Design
Your bathroom is like your sanctuary, and a well-designed bathroom can make all the difference when it comes to relaxation and comfort in your home. To maximize the space in your bathroom, you may want to consider rearranging fixtures like the sink, toilet, and shower for an uninterrupted flow within the room.
Open showers may seem like they would take up more room but they can trick the eye into making your bathroom look bigger and more inviting. By simply changing a few elements in the room, you can make a simple project look like an entire remodeling!
Good remodeling projects rely on picking the right materials. Luxurious materials like marble and porcelain tiles make for fantastic additions to bathroom floors and walls. You can also replace your existing countertops with engineered quartz to make your surfaces look more sleek.
Upgrades
Nothing says luxury like a big, open shower! In older homes, bathtubs were usually the focus of the room. But in 2024, outdated tubs are being replaced by walk-in showers with functional yet modern features. These may include rainfall showerheads, grab bars, and even steam showers.
Adding or replacing storage options like cabinets or shelves can also help to declutter the bathroom. Just make sure that toiletries and important appliances like hair dryers are easily accessible.
You can’t forget outlets, either. If you’re planning to use appliances in the bathroom, well-fitted electrical outlets are extremely important.
Lighting
Do you like more ambient lighting in your bathroom? Or perhaps you want a cleaner aesthetic? Either way, the right light fixtures can help to set the mood. Since the natural look is trendy and timeless, you can even opt for a skylight in the bathroom for a unique way to brighten things up.
Main entryway renovations
Design
Renovating your entryway is a great way to create a welcoming space that can breathe life into the rest of your home. While you want a good mix of design and functionality here, you don’t want it to look cluttered or disrupt the flow of your house.
You can always add benches, storage, or dedicated spaces for your keys, coats, and shoes. However, you then need to work around the current layout and width of your entryway. You want a clear path from your front door into the rest of your home.
Materials
For an entryway, you’ll want to pick durable materials like hardwood or tiles for the flooring. These materials are also good for heavy foot traffic since this will probably be the most used space in your home!
Upgrades
While there aren’t many upgrades you can make in an entryway (especially if it’s on the smaller side), there are some helpful installations you can make to boost the aesthetic and practicality of this room.
For example, you can incorporate built-in cupboards or mudroom benches with storage compartments. Baskets or shoe racks can fit seamlessly here, but remember to keep these additions out of the way – you don’t want anyone tripping over them!
Lighting
Most entryways tend to be dim, which can detract from the beauty of the front of your home. Rather than having a house that says “I don’t want visitors,” you can change up the lighting and add additional fixtures to brighten up the room. That way, your entryway will say “Welcome”! Skylights are perfect for introducing natural light.
Living room renovations
Design
Renovating the living room is an opportunity to create a comfortable and stylish space for relaxation, entertainment, and gathering with your family and friends.
You can arrange your decor to maximize your space. However, you’ll want to consider traffic flow and focal points like your TV or fireplace. These will work as the hub around which you can place the rest of your furniture.
Try to create different “zones” in your living room for lounging, reading, or watching TV. Modular furniture works well for this since you can move your sofas and coffee tables around to suit your taste.
Materials
Beyond picking out your sofa fabric, the materials of the room need to be considered, too. This includes what you use for the floors and walls. A great eco-friendly wall covering like low-VOC paint works wonders, and you can add details to give a little character to the room.
Wooden floors help to create a clean yet cozy feel to a living area. However, it should complement the wood of any furniture you have. Reclaimed wood can help to add a touch of interest to your floors as well since they have unique patterns that elevate the style of the room.
Upgrades
Built-in media cabinets and entertainment centers can maximize your space. Depending on the materials you use, they can also create a more sleek and put-together design. You should also consider adding heating or air conditioning units to enhance your comfort.
Lighting
Living rooms are the best place to include ambient lighting. By installing new fixtures, you can strategically illuminate every corner of the room. Fireplaces can also add a warm and welcoming feel to your home.
Exterior renovations
Design
Renovating the exterior of your home is a great chance to add curb appeal, increase your property value, and improve functionality by creating spaces where you can sit or enjoy outdoor activities.
One of the biggest design changes you can make here is to add some landscaping to draw the eye to your home. Alternatively (or additionally), covered patios and pergolas make for stunning inclusions.
Materials
Any outside materials should be weather-resistant and durable. This means they should be treated to withstand the elements without losing their structural or visual integrity. It’s important to remember, though, that wooden materials may need to be periodically re-sealed or re-treated to avoid wood rot.
Upgrades
Smart irrigation systems are the perfect addition to your home. With motion sensors, timers, and more, they can help you care for your garden (without any of the heavy lifting). They’re also perfect for saving water (and money), making them an environmentally-friendly choice.
Lighting
Don’t forget about the outside lighting! Pathway lights and wall sconces are ideal here, and you can even pick LED or solar bulbs to add an eco-friendly touch to your home. If you have a patio or covered seated area, be sure to install light fixtures here, too. That way, you can sit outside and soak up the evening air without needing a flashlight!
FAQs
What’s the difference between remodeling and renovating a house?
Remodeling projects typically involve significant structural changes, such as adding rooms or altering layouts. For example, you might build an extra bedroom or knock down walls to create an open-plan living space.
A home renovation project focuses more on cosmetic changes without altering the home’s structure. For instance, you may want to replace your kitchen counters or install a shower in your bathroom.
How much does a home renovation cost?
The entire cost of a home renovation project depends on what you want to change. A simple bathroom renovation can be relatively inexpensive, while a kitchen renovation may be more pricey.
If you’re planning a bigger home renovation and want to save money without your house looking cheap, consider using refurbished furniture, and recycled materials. Or, you can get stuck in and change things yourself with DIY projects.
However, light fixtures and plumbing are difficult to install. So, if you’re unsure about how to transform your house yourself, you should leave this particular job to the experts – like Goldcon Construction!
Where do you start with a home renovation?
The first step to a successful home renovation is planning. You’ll want to assess the condition of your house, plan your budget, gather inspiration, and hire professional contractors.
While a small project like painting your walls or swapping out appliances can be done without professional help, a bigger project like a complete renovation should always be completed by knowledgeable contractors.
Not only will this help to avoid the headache of redoing your house on your own, but it can also save you a lot of time and money.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready to make your renovation ideas a reality, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and dial Goldcon Construction. We’ll do all of the heavy lifting for you and transform your home into a sanctuary where you’ll be proud to host friends and family (and, of course, show off your new and improved living spaces!).
