Remodeling is a process.

It is more than changing out a bed or replacing a faucet, tearing out a wall, or adding a room. It requires a clear understanding of why you want to do it, the function you wish to acquire from altering your home, an understanding of the unique qualities of the space, and your own personal style.

You need to have a design plan. It will keep you on track when things don’t go exactly as you expected.

A building and interior design plan is form equals function plus style. Whether you develop your own plan, hire a professional interior designer, use an architect, or rely on your contractor, the first step in creating building plan is answering the question, WHY?

Why do you want to tackle this project?

Have a very firm vision, because you will need to keep a clear head as you work through the build. 

Space for storage is the most common reason to remodel. We are a society with lots of stuff. The second reason is to modernize an older home, followed by putting your personal touch on the home, and aging in place is a growing reason to remodel. 

No matter your reason for remodeling, think through what you need the space to do, what you want it to look like, and be aware of the quirks you will be working with. All older homes have their own personal idiosyncrasies to be changed, or, often worked around.

A space can have a single use, or it can have multiple purposes.

For example, you may think your family room is where the family hangs, but what does that entail? Is this where you pay bills? Where your kids do homework? Where the dog sleeps? And where everyone comes together on movie night? It is important to create zones for each function.

If you create zones, then it is easier to stay organized with a place for everything, and everything in its place.

When working with an older home, there are guaranteed to be quirks, like walls that are no longer exactly plumb because the house has done a bit of settling over time.

This can mean that knocking out a wall and extending an old room into a larger one will require a bit of extra work to make everything line up. Or the ceilings might be higher or lower. With informed planning, a quirk might be turned into a unique design advantage. 

It is important to keep your personal style in mind, as well as the style of the home.

You don’t want to make changes that don’t work well together. Adding a tutor half-timber style second floor to the top of a 1950s ranch is going to look strange, and may not resell well unless the buyer has the same taste in architecture as you.

Remodeling a home should allow you to gain the space, form, and function that you desire, as well as add to the overall value of the home, by adding to the curb appeal.

The well thought out home will serve you well for years to come, and keeping a clear vision of what you will gain from the remodel will help you keep your sense of humor as you go through the process.