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A home is where memories are forged, deep meaningful relationships grow, and every corner is the backdrop of countless unforgettable moments. First steps in the kitchen beget the first day of Kindergarten, followed in a flash by drivers licenses and high school graduation– a house becomes part of the fabric of our families and communities. Because homes are often the largest purchase in a person’s life, they are often considered in financial terms like an investment. But can you really put a price on the place where you live, and raise a family? Where you host friends and family, celebrate the best of times, and come together? This is why so often, we see clients who seek to renovate or add to their existing home– despite the increased cost in time and money to renovate a home. These days, many with locked-in 2-3 percent 30-year mortgages also have significant financial incentive to make their existing homes work! Plus, no one likes moving, and besides the many sentimental reasons, the convenience of staying put often means tackling the realities of the resource-intensive steps to add to an older home.
Define your Priorities for Old Home Renovations
Even with a healthy budget, every client must be prepared to make trade-offs regarding the desired changes to an existing home. To be sure, there are many options to consider. Unfortunately, renovations are more expensive than new home builds due to the added architectural, engineering, and permitting required to add onto a home. Architectural fees are usually between 10-20 percent of the overall budget for even minor additions, so be prepared to review your list of priorities, and potentially leave off items that won’t meet your budget. For example, a recent client sought to update and renovate a home built in the 19th century, when kitchens were often small spaces in the rear of the home. The house did not suit the family’s lifestyle, and there was no mudroom for the family to use as an organizing and transitional space to put all their various school and activity items neatly away. While we joked that the family embarked on a $2 million gut renovation and one-floor addition for a mud room, it was a top priority that the existing home could not accommodate by moving existing walls and internal programming. While the family also considered digging out the basement to have full height clearance there, this was the lowest priority and did not make the final cut. The top priorities for this family were updating the primary suite, a total overhaul and relocation of the kitchen, updated bathrooms throughout, as well as installing a new HVAC to replace the radiator heat and window A/C units. A separate client tackled a full-home renovation that included not only new furnishings and finishes, but also major changes to almost every corner of the home. In any instance, the best old home renovation projects are those that have a thoughtful and complete understanding of the goals for the renovation.
Time & Money– You’ll Probably Need More of Both!
Even the most comprehensive and thoughtful planning cannot avoid the unexpected surprises that come up when renovating an old home. A recent client required a steel beam to reinforce part of their existing home, as well as discovering asbestos insulation in a bathroom from the 1970s. Both requirements added time and money to the project. In another instance, a client engaged the best wood window restoration contractor in the area, who had over a 12-month waiting period to get to their project. Despite the projections, the restoration contractor was not ready for their project on the anticipated timeline, and so all efforts on the renovation screeched to a halt to allow for the delay in addressing the windows. Overall, we recommend that clients pursue renovations of old homes with an ample time allowance of at least 6-9 months (depending on the scope of work) to be prepared for unforeseen delays. Similarly, while we usually include a 10 percent allowance on projects to have the budget to address surprises, old home renovations likely would be prudent to include a 25 percent allowance to address anything that is discovered once the home is opened up.
Careful Where You Save Costs
My dad used to say that it’s wise to save money where you can, but don’t pinch pennies on tires or mattresses! We go with the 87 octane gas, while splurging for Michelin tires. In the built environment, this means being extremely thoughtful about the trades you bring into a project, and the materials you employ. Going with the lowest bidder on a project is not always wise, as the cheap carpenter (or budget material) may end up costing you more in the long run due to shoddy workmanship or product failure (like warping wood). Sometimes, fixing mistakes ends up costing more than paying for high quality and good craftsmanship from the start.
Stress and Anxiety are Normal
Take a deep breath, and accept that going through a renovation of your old home will cause stress and anxiety. In the end, almost all parts of a built environment can be adjusted to suit your needs. Trust and value your partners in the trades, and rely on a good general contractor to be your advocate and partner in the project. We often represent our clients’ interests on projects to ensure that the GCs and trades are doing all work as envisioned and to the level of quality we expect. The best way to lower stress and anxiety is to go with a professional interior design team.
How You Can Work With Us
At Lorla Studio, a modern interior design firm in Washington, D.C, our talented team of designers craft modern, livable and functional spaces throughout the district and beyond. Hire us for a seamless renovation process, and a modern, approachable design you are sure to love!
Check out the five questions to ask yourself before hiring an interior designer in Washington D.C. If you think we’d make a good team, contact us today!
Ready to transform your space with us?
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