Renovating can add a lifetime of longevity to an older home
Whether it is the rejig of a century-old brick and stone beauty or a refresh of 10-year-old infill, breathing new life into an older home is a trend that is on the rise, especially in established areas.
“In today’s economy people are staying put and really looking to infuse their personalities into their home, while creating a family home, one that will last a lifetime. And they are feeling more confident in renovating, rather than tearing down and building new,” says designer Breanna Lukacsy, co-founder along with Rehanna Hartung of Hella Design Studio.
This up and coming design duo recently collaborated on the design team of Season 6 of Buying and Selling with the Property Brothers, filmed on location in Calgary. It’s due to air beginning in April.
Lukacsy and Hartung note that the push towards renovation cuts through all demographics from millennial to empty nesters, but that regardless of the size of the project, the key to a successful renovation is to create a plan.
“A renovation can be an overwhelming process and without a road map, it is inevitable that homeowners may get lost along the way, especially if budget is a constraint and you can only do a few things at a time,” says Rehanna Hartung.
“If budget is a constraint and you can only do a few things at a time, make a plan. Hire a designer to create a design plan for the entire home and then start where you can and invest where you can,” says Lukacsy.
Although it is really the fun stuff like the countertops, flooring and fixtures that get people’s design mojo stirring when it comes to a home redo, the girls stress that it is the things that we don’t see that matter the most.
“Put your money into a new furnace, energy efficient windows, better insulation and new plumbing and electrical. Those are the things that will make a huge difference in the long run, especially if you are planning on staying in the home for a while,” says Hartung.
After all of the hidden away type of working bits are ship shape, the next priority is to configure a functional layout, one that works for the entire family.
“We always suggest living in the home for a while before you start any renovation to see how you are using the spaces. Give it some thought. How do you entertain? Maybe you don’t need a formal dining room, just an epic island. Maybe you work from home, so converting the dining room into an office would be perfect,” says Hartung.
Reconfiguring the space, knocking down a wall or two to create an open concept, adding lots of storage, as well as bathroom and kitchen renovations all give the most bang for the buck and provide a good investment for resale.
“And we also believe that any time you can bring light into a space, you will see your investment returned,” says Lukacsy.
So open up the windows, add pot lights and wall sconces.
“As soon as you make a home brighter, it feels bigger,” she adds.
Certainly if you can afford it, a major renovation may be the best option, but a little paint and elbow grease can go a long way, too.
“But keep the backdrop colour neutral. We like to use white walls. Chantilly Lace and Simply White by Benjamin Moore are amazing colours for an entire space,” says Hartung.
If doing a renovation piece by piece, paint colour, flooring and baseboard style are key elements that will tie the entire look together.
“Keep those things congruent throughout the home and bring in punches of personality in a fireplace surround, backsplash tile, wall colour or paper or interesting lighting,” says Hartung.
When it comes to the lipstick though, this up and coming design duo encourages risk taking.
“We say really push it, move out of your comfort zone,” says Lukascy.
Go for impactful patterns like chevron and herringbone in backsplash tile and fireplace surrounds; use plenty of wallpaper and slather rich paint colours on a feature wall for high drama.
For 2019, expect to see the continuance of saturated colours like deep forest greens and deep purples.
“We call them the royal tones, they add luxury and are very pleasing to the eye,” says Hartung.
They suggest popping in these colours through accessories and even using the shades in the kitchen cabinetry.
But if you want a less adventurous schema in the kitchen, stick with more traditional cabinetry colours and upscale the hardware, which is an inexpensive way to really change up a look.
Leathered concrete-type stone countertops and open shelving are also really beautiful and timeless options.
