Before and After: Remodeling 101
So you’ve bought a home full of potential, but it needs some help. Maybe the dark kitchen cabinets don’t look like they belong in this decade, or that linoleum sheet vinyl flooring in your bathroom hasn’t quite proved to be timeless.
You’re not alone. In fact, several of Signature Southern Accents’ on-staff designers were once in the same boat. Interior designers Angie Ledo, Storm Lantrip, Shideh Lynch and Erin DeRouen have all rehauled their own homes and know what to expect along the way.
Here are a few things to consider before you start updating your home, straight from the experts themselves.
1. Set realistic expectations for your renovation dreams.
Make sure your renovation goals can actually be achieved. For example, a farmhouse sink is a gorgeous and functional upgrade to any kitchen or bathroom, Angie says, but don’t purchase one on the assumption that it’ll slide right in. Chances are, surrounding drawers or cabinets will need to be reworked for the right fit.
“If you have things in the way, or don’t have the right amount of space in your sink area, you can’t have a farmhouse sink,” Angie says. “It’s best to consult someone in the design field before you get started, to make sure you can actually do what you’re thinking of doing.”
Working with a design expert can help avoid the problems you might face when it comes time to install the special details like this uniquely sized, beautiful sink like this one in SSA owner Melane Landry’s home
2. Little things can make a big difference.
Sure, the sky is the limit when it comes to home improvement projects, but you may not have to tear down walls and change the footprint of your home to achieve a new look. Simple tasks, such as changing out door knobs and cabinet pulls, to updating light fixtures or re-facing cabinets, can make all the difference in a room.
It’s ALL in the details. When SSA designer Storm Lantrip helped a client tackle a kitchen remodel, they tackled even the minute, choosing these unique Swarovski crystals on the kitchen cabinet pulls.
3. Have a plan and start with what’s most important to you.
It’s tough to cook dinner in the middle of a kitchen renovation, but remodeling your bathroom at the same time could be a recipe for stress. When a project involves multiple sections of the house, it’s better to tackle one room at a time. “Start with what’s most important to you,” Erin says, adding that for many people, that means the kitchen or master bathroom. “Have a plan, and get a great contractor.”
Designer Erin DeRouen worked with her client, Troy Sullivan on a full scale remodel. Check out this before and after gallery of his master bath below!
4. Trust the process (and a professional).
While planning is a big part of any home renovation, be sure not to get ahead of yourself. A lot of design decisions are best made throughout the process of updating a home, rather than upfront, so don’t be afraid to pivot and go in a different direction, Storm says. Trust a professional to help you focus on those adaptations, as well as the decisions that need to be made right now. “Often people get stuck on little details in a remodel, and you need someone who is always looking at the bigger picture,” he says. “Design is all about layering, and you have to start with the base first. After that, you build upon it, and the design takes shape that way.”
SSA Interior designers Angie Ledo, Storm Lantrip, Shideh Lynch and Erin DeRouen have all rehauled their own homes and know what to expect along the way.
5. Consider how updating your home could factor into future buyer appeal.
Updates absolutely make a monetary difference when selling your home, Shideh says. A new coat of interior or exterior paint is one of the easiest ways to make a house look more appealing to buyers. New flooring is another feature that tends to impress on the home market. Even a small investment in updated features, such as new light fixtures, can help a home sell faster, which saves money on realtor fees and utility bills while the home is on the market.
Interested in meeting with a Signature Southern Accents expert to set a design consultation for your home? Request an appointment by emailing store@signaturesouthernaccents.com or call 225-654-7110.