Design

Home Renovations with Purpose: Ditch the Trends, Design for Life

 
Ready for an update to your home in 2024? You’re not alone. Homeowners are craving real, functional homes that reflect their lives. But to address the elephant in the room, this market is all about rethinking, repurposing, and maximizing your existing home.
 
Enter: Smart, practical, custom home renovations and additions. This is your guide to embracing those clever renovations that reflect and enhance your life.
 
We’re talking about:
  • Human-scale design
  • Storage solutions, not sacrifices
  • Aging in place, gracefully

This isn’t just about aesthetics (although we love those too!). It’s about creating a home that works for you, today and tomorrow. A home that’s comfortable, convenient, and reflects the real people living in it.


Play Room with dormer windows in a home addition

 

Assessing Your Needs And Priorities Before The Home Renovation Design

Before diving into any renovation project, it is crucial to assess your needs and priorities. There’s no magic question that we can ask to uncover changes that would improve your space. Though we are experts at great design, the inspiration comes from YOU.  
 
Take the time to evaluate your lifestyle, habits, and the specific requirements of your household – when we do an initial “walk-through” with you, these are the questions we ask. This assessment will serve as a foundation for making informed decisions throughout the renovation process. 

In addition to assessing your needs, it is important to establish a budget for your renovation project. Because it is such an important start to any project, we talk candidly about pricing
 
We can work with you to develop a clear understanding of your needs and priorities, so together, we can explore specific renovation or addition solutions that align with your vision for a functional and stylish home.
 

Human-Scale Architecture Home Renovations

In recent years, we’ve seen some pushback on the 2000s-era trend of open-concept living spaces and double-high ceilings. While these architectural features can create a sense of grandeur, they can sacrifice human-scale intimacy and practicality.
 
While infilling these spaces seems like a win-win for intimacy and energy efficiency, cost and unexpected complications often lead clients to rethink. The challenges of structural load, window placement, and overall project scope can make infilling a tall ceiling a bigger bite than initially imagined, leading many to seek more practical and cost-effective solutions for their home renovations. 
 
Instead, we’re seeing a lot of focus on smart expansion, infilling the space between existing structures, main-level primary suites, and reworking existing layouts to better suit your needs. 
 
Farmhouse Addition

 

Case Study: Maximizing Storage And Utility In This Clever Addition
 
A double-height ceiling in this addition delivers both family space (with ample storage) and a tucked-away bonus loft for crafts, homework, and more, while a dedicated utility room with laundry keeps family life organized.
 
 
Case Study: Screen Porch to Family Room Home Renovation
 
This project started with a discussion around a seemingly straightforward kitchen renovation. But a closer look revealed a hidden solution to the cramped feeling the homeowners were experiencing: the over–utilized screen porch (they were always out there!). By reimagining it as a permanent family room, we unlocked a new level of livability. 
 

The existing kitchen, recently updated, proved perfectly functional and seamlessly integrated into the expanded space. 

This case study reminds us that sometimes, the best solutions lie not in tearing down and rebuilding, but in creatively repurposing what’s already there. We’re excited to see this project come to life in the spring of 2024 and prove that sometimes the answer lies right outside the
(screen)

 

 

Whole House Renovation

Perhaps one of the most precise tools in our renovation design toolbox is the whole house renovation. When expanding is just not the right choice, we work with homeowners to improve flow, function, and overall livability within a home’s existing footprint. 
 
The driving need for many renovations is providing a really special level of customization. Great design is matching somebody’s lifestyle to living in the home. 
 
Like taking a suit to the tailor, renovations are completely homeowner-driven. 
 

“The benefit of a whole house remodel is flow and just being more clever about storage.”

Leesa Mayfield, DFC-LMA Architects
 
Case Study: Reimagining Familiar Space for Maximum Joy
This homeowner isn’t just renovating, they’re elevating their existing home to a whole new level of personalization. From ditching the giant soaking tub for a walk-in shower to transforming a formal living room into a cozy library, this project is a testament to the transformative power of renovation.
 
But functionality isn’t just about convenience, it’s about the future, too.

 

Designing For The Future- Aging In Place

As we age, our needs and capabilities change. Designing your home with the future in mind is crucial for ensuring that it remains functional and accessible as you grow older.

Aging in place is a concept that focuses on creating living spaces that accommodate the changing needs of individuals as they age – and we can help with that.
 
When renovating with aging in place in mind, we create spaces that are accessible to people of all ages and abilities. It doesn’t mean sacrificing style or functionality now. Features such as wider doorways, no-step entries, and main level primary bedrooms can make a significant difference in maintaining independence and safety.
 
By designing your home with the future in mind, you can enjoy a space that can easily adapt to changing needs over time.
 
 
Case Study: Renovating A Home For Life’s Unexpected Turns
This renovation wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about resilience and adapting to life’s curveballs. After a severe car accident left the homeowner wheelchair-bound for months, they realized the limitations of their upstairs-only living space. 

When they engaged our services, we began a thoughtful redesign that prioritized accessibility and catered to their evolving needs. 
 
While the property location provided the opportunity for windows with stunning mountain views, the homeowners prioritized peace and quiet, opting for smaller windows in their bedroom to minimize outside noise. 
 
This project exemplifies the power of customization, where every detail, like window size, reflects the unique story and desires of the homeowner, creating a space that supports them through life’s chapters, expected or not.

 

A Good Architect Is Your Cheerleader In Your Home Renovation

Renovating your home with purpose is all about finding the perfect functionality for you, whether that’s an uber functional addition or a clever re-work of your existing home. 

By working with an architect to assess your needs and priorities, considering human-scale architecture, maximizing storage and organization, and designing for the future, you can create a home that is both beautiful and optimized for everyday living.
 
Our best advice for a home renovation?

“Be open to new ideas and investigations… and really thinking about it as being a collaborative process. Having that openness is important during the design process. My advice during the construction: have a lot of patience.”

Leesa Mayfield, DFC-LMA Architects
 
 
Enjoy the process, and embrace the opportunity to create a functional and stylish home that brings you joy and comfort every day.
 
Are you starting a home renovation project in 2024? How can we help you live more efficiently and happily in your home?

Request A Consultation