Not to mention, the steps can be a problem for elderly visitors or even simply carrying the groceries inside. T1-11 siding (plywood sheets with vertical grooves spaced 8 inches apart) is common on the upper levels, and the upper floors tend to be cantilevered out over the structural walls below. [Hall Bathroom] Do you now have at least a vague idea of what kind of remodeling you should do to your home? Although this will lead to inconvenience when moving around your home, you can also get doors placed on each level to maintain the set temperature. Consider discarding furniture that would no longer suit your home, as well as stuff you no longer plan to use. A little leeway may be unavoidable, such as changing the color scheme and tiles halfway, but changing your mind about big things, such as building a new wall in the same spot where an old one was removed, would mean wasted resources, especially money. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. While some styles create space with doors, the colonial does it with staircase. Commonly, however, the term is also used to denote split-level homes. If you live in a suburban area and your home has been around since the 1950s, 1960s, or 1970s, chances are you are living in a split-level home. Over the years and more recently, we, as architects, have been more involved due to the riddle of the split level being so hard to solve. [Office] We store towels, medicine, toiletry supplies, first-aid gear, massage devices, facial steamers, spare Painting your garage is a great way to improve the look of the space and make the walls easier to clean. Its nothing that cant be remedied with a little green thumb! It also doesnt hurt to make sure that the gardening is tended. Some split-level homes have ample space at the back and on one side. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan. Or, maybe youre considering one of many types of split-level homes. It is not just about giving this type of home a fresh coat of paint every time you can actually make structural changes to a split-level home to add more space inside, or add partitions if you want more room. We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. How to Modernize a Split-Level Home - Zillow Porchlight This can be confusing to those who dont know the difference. If possible, have your skylights customized to fit the theme of your home to complement the entire space. We will not contact you with anything else. The problem is that it may not be the easiest of plans to execute. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. And if those are no longer in production, good luck with how youre going to make it blend in with the rest of your home. The roof lines create an interesting look and this style never seems to be out-dated. Light can be the biggest factor in transforming a split-level home from an outdated space into one that looks fresh and modern. It is the literal antithesis of the modern floorplan. Consider installing solar lights on your property, particularly along the path leading to the main entrance of your home. If you were to view the home from the side or the back, youd be able to see the individual levels of the house. Homes with two stories, or two-story homes, are built with one floor right above the other. But if extending your home is not a viable option for you, the next best thing is to gut existing rooms or sections to make certain areas bigger. The interior spaces flow. Tri-level homes already look unbalanced and adding extensions to its sides makes it look even more unbalanced if not done properly. New columns replicate the original style, so the addition looks like it's always been there. And for split-level homes, the ideal remodel involves also the sides of the house. Whereas, with split-level homes, theres usually a one-story section that connects to a two-story section instead of being right on top of each other. With proper drainage, you can keep the yard dry and clean, making it more appealing for potential suitors. Updating a split-level home is hard. From the outside, this type of split-level house looks like a tri-level home but its technically bi-level, with a distinct wing for the entry. Split Level Renovation Strategies - Jones Pierce Studios Changing the aesthetic of the exterior of your split-level can come down to some very simplistic changes. The split level house design has evolved in the world of production builders following the ranch home. We can help you out with that! However, like most things, split-level homes are gaining in popularity again. In most cases, the garage will sit on the ground level and the bedroom area will be stacked above it. As a visual contrast, a simple layout with distinct wooden floors replaced the old plain carpet. Even if your dream is to have a log cabin-type of home but you live in area that gets a lot of rain and snow all year, using even the sturdiest kind of wood may be the worst decision you can make in your life. A split-level house is essentially a variation of the conventional ranch-style house, but split-levels make much better use of the space. If you are moving from a large house to a cottage or a bungalow, you really need to plan out what you can take and what you need to leave behind. Required fields are marked *. Making the lights more uniform and using a warmer paint color also made it look more inviting. My standard corner with 28"-deep diagonal pullouts. Stucco is the most common material used to achieve this look, and thankfully, its not very difficult to stucco over many existing exterior siding products, such as T1-11. The remodel welcomes a covered front porch that was absent in the original. Maximize this by getting larger windows for your home to allow more light inside your home during the day. That can help you save on electric costs over time. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. If this fits the bill, you can construct a detached garage at the back and use the space on the side as your driveway. Youll want to arm yourself with this information so you can be prepared when flipping through listings. Photography by Tre Dunham, Fine focus Photography. We designed a new story above, with turned-gable roof lines to complement the main roof. This type of split-level house will have at least three sections but may have more. The roof lines create an interesting look and this style never seems to be out-dated. The U shaped ranch gives you a ton of options for the open space in the middleyou can put a pool, front porch or a courtyard area there. The shutters on the windows were originally used to protect the windows from the wind during a storm and the ceilings are kept low to maximize heat conservation. In the case of side additions, it is vital that it blends with the existing faade, which means getting the same windows, paint color, type of roof, etc. Look for ideas in your neighborhood. Not only that, but those closed off, separated rooms can bring with it a claustrophobic feel. People want more bedrooms, more bedrooms, more bedrooms at the expense of the communal space. With some fresh mulch and flowers, it can provide that freshness that can elevate any home. For the first idea, let's take a look at the picture of this traditional split-level house located in Minneapolis. Stacked split-level. Therefore, we thought it would be a good time to revisit strategies to turn the split level monster into a piece of architecture. You can place bedrooms on the top floor or at the ground level, put your laundry area in the basement, have your living room at a floor somewhere above the ground level, and the entertainment room on the floor below it, and more. Your email address will not be published. This browser is no longer supported. The things you can do when remodeling a split-level home is not limited to what we have included in our list. You can find the majority of colonial style houses in the northeastern and southern U.S. Dont be intimidated by the challenge of remodeling a split-level home it is absolutely doable, even with a small budget. Ryan Shaw is the founder of Real Estate Witch, which he created to help consumers avoid unnecessary expenses when they buy or sell a house. Snow can pile up, causing damage and its harder for rain to drain off. The ranch has no stairs, the entire house is on one level. A circa 1960's split-level enhanced by a 300 square foot addition, a re-configured main level floor plan and a seamlessly remade front elevation will be featured in a "Remodeled Home Tour". There is a wonderful separation of space going on in the split level thanks to the small staircaseswhich are half of what it would be for a true 2 story. Each style has unique features, but all split-level houses consist of multiple floors connected by short flights of stairs. Aside from these two requirements, the design work involved aesthetics: enhancing the front faade with a modern architecture and high quality materials. Heres a compilation of before-and-after photos of some eye-catching split-level home remodel projects: Notice how the small windows added on top of the garage makes this home look much more balanced, compared to how it initially looked like. Garage doors are clad in metal. This may involve a major structural overhaul, but its worth considering. Colonial Home Style The colonial style is associated with the style of building used from the 17th to the 19th century, particularly in colonial America. Bathroom closets are often catch-alls for anything and everything remotely related to self-care. At the same time, these homes are also in the current sweet spot for in-town renovations because of their location on the growth rings of cities. The design is a compromise between living on one level as in a ranch, yet having essentially a walk-out basement with additional finished living space below. Taken fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKS8AnI6Ahk. A new paver pathway, planters, and landscaping add curb appeal. With that said, here are some ways that you can modernize your split-level home and make it more suited to your style preferences: While ultra-modern can mean different things to different people, it generally means getting more natural light into the home. If you were a fan of The Brady Bunch, then you know exactly what a split-level house is. From Home to Dream Home: Split Foyer to French Colonial So, that means sprucing up the curb appeal becomes important. One of the major concepts of the modern home is that it has an open floor plan. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service. With some proper planning and a little bit of flexibility, it is possible to transform that 1950s look into something that has a much more modern, updated feel to it. You can see the appeal here. Landscaping is new. Nowadays, its very common to see split-level construction when it comes to building a home on the side of a hill. Weve already explored some of the advantages and disadvantages of each individual type of split-level house. You actually get 3 levels for living space so you really get a sense of depth being in the house. Whereas, the upper level will have a dining room, living room, and kitchen on one side and more bathrooms and bedrooms on the other. The use of mirrored sliding cabinets not only saved space but it also added to the illusion that the room is bigger than it actually is. You can certainly look on the bright side and see it as an opportunity to get more exercise in your home. Even if the contractor promised to deliver the work at a certain time, you still need to make allowances for possible unforeseen delays that may happen. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldnt wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Split-Level Remodel: Challenges, Ideas, Before & After - Contractor Quotes Split-Level | Remodeling Many see this design as being very impractical, considering all the stairs you have to climb in order to access various areas of the home. Construction by CG&S Design-Build. Your house payment will be lower, property taxes will be less, fewer headaches, less clutter. No matter which you choose, youll get multiple levels connected by short flights of stairs, but each style has unique features. To the right of the front door is a tiny window allowing peek-a-boo views of guest arrivals from inside the daughter's closet. Similar to a side split home, back split houses are divided into multiple levels. If there are multiple bedrooms present and you dont need some of them, merge two or more to create a bigger room. Try taking out some of the interior walls wherever possible. The dining room had once been the homes living room, but we had other plans in mind. Split Foyer Converted to Two Story - Owings Brothers Contracting The outside is often another story. There are many sub types of the Colonial style, with each world power at the time putting its own unique stamp on this traditional style. The bedrooms are usually situated right above the foyer. Both. Moreover, it presents serious challenges when it comes to renovating the entire space. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. To even out the temperature all over your home, you can get furnace fans installed and get them to run at a low setting. This type of construction is very common among townhouses. [Master Suite] Photos by Richard Pasley. To modernize a split-level home you can take action and add some recessed lighting to the first floor, as well as some skylights, throughout the home. The old backyard used to have some trellis installed and the entire garden looked unkempt. This style of home is good for entertaining,and there is a nice separation of space, which creates a deeper sense of separation. The floor plan is generally a story and which is popular everybody loves a big deep front porch. The first staircase that leads downwards goes to either the basement or some other type of informal living space. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. Zillow Group is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Even better, adding a skylight has a ton of benefits from every aspect: economical, functional, and aesthetic. The original use of the cottage was to house agricultural workers on a farm. Contractors are updated with the cost of most construction materials, which makes setting a budget for your project much easier. Again, as with the cape cod , the siding may need regular maintenance. Although you have limited remodeling options, you can still turn your home into something worthy of a spot in an architecture magazine. This way, you can maximize the space by adjusting the alignment of furniture and fixtures. We added a new garage, laundry, master bedroom and bath and 1/2 guest bath on that same level. Whether architects like it or not, the split-level may be the "it" remodel of the future. The Difference Between Raised Ranch and Split-Level Conversely, you can consider adding in a window or two to really allow more natural light to permeate the space. The top floor typically features taller ceilings and houses the main rooms, such as the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, dining room, and living room. 10 Things You Need to Do When Buying A Home, 3 Reasons to Live in a New Home Before Renovating, DIY Backyard Fire Pit: Build It in Just 7 Easy Steps, This Checklist Is the Key to Taking Care of Your Home (Without the Stress), How to Actually Afford to Buy a Home in America, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures. We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood. link to What Kind Of Paint For Garage Walls. Consider all of the pros and cons of the different types of split-level homes before making a final decision. The Empire State Building is a glowing example of the Art Deco style and its reach for the sky ethos. On terrain that is rough, rugged, or hilly, sometimes staggering the floors is the best option for building a home. The entry has sets of stairs leading up the main floor and another set that leads to the lower level of the home. Wherever possible is important because some of (or all of) those interior walls could have major structural implications on the rest of the home. This additional floor either becomes the highest floor or is the cellar or basement located just below the floor where your main living space is. The Cape Cod is truly a no frills style home. There is also hardly any room for experimentation when it comes to remodeling a tri-level home. Foyers in split-level homes typically contain the linen closets, coat racks, and other storage. The original spec was probably a steel door with very little curb appeal. The lower level, on the other hand, has lower ceilings and is partly below ground level. The main level is street level so there is no need to be climbing up or down stairs with groceries etc. Add A Level to Convert Ranch to Colonial Convert a Cape or Ranch to Colonial As a general contractor I had the chance to renovate many homes in the lovely state of Connecticut, but nothing beats the wow factor you receive whenever you convert a single story cape or ranch into a beautiful colonial. The separation of the floors means that youll be less likely to be awakened by the sounds happening on the lower levels. It may be a bit more difficult but it is definitely doable. But again, you need to visualize how the exterior will connect to and complement whats inside your home, including the functions of each level. Unlike traditional home layouts, split-level homes, also referred to as tri-level, feature at least three levels that are connected by stairs. Comments (39) Oh, we added 1100 sq ft. We converted the old garage into the living room, moved the front door, made the old living room into the dining room, opened everything up and gutted the kitchen. AFTER: Our design includes a new entryway gabled roof along with a combination a shake and lap siding, cultured stone, Pella craftsman style garage/entry doors and Pella 450 Series Casement windows with decorative flower boxes below. After all, you dont have to spend a single cent for it. You should know the various types of split-level homes before you can consider buying or building one of your own. Sadly, youre limited to these three choices.

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