What is the first thing to do when renovating a house?
So my answer may be a bit different than most would expect, but having renovated, remodeled and restored more than a dozen homes over past 30 years, I’ll impart some of my “wisdom”. I’m not an architect, nor am I a designer. I simply love to renovate homes. Give me an old house that needs an upgrade, and I’m happy!
The first thing I do when renovating a home is to spend time in it. I don’t mean a few minutes. I mean days, sometimes weeks, and frequently, months. And there is a good reason for this:
All of us have been in homes that just didn’t feel comfortable. Perhaps the layout seemed awkward, or the view was strange. Maybe the windows seemed too exposed, or the walls felt like they were “closing in”. What about how when there’s a group, people tend to congregate in some rooms, like the kitchen, and avoid others, like the living room or den. Have you ever felt awkward walking down the hall to use the toilet, or moving between rooms in someone’s home? Or have you ever sat in a chair that just felt like it was “parked” in a weird place?
People often renovate without thoroughly considering a number of factors that will impact the final outcome. So here are some things that I always try to spend time contemplating before making any final decisions during a renovation:
Exposure Generally speaking, in the USA and Canada, because we’re in the northern hemisphere, our sunlight (and warmth) come from the south. To the north is plenty of light, but not much in the way of warmth. Yet, I’ve seen people build large decks on the north side of the house… and then never use them because they don’t catch any sun!
On several homes that I renovated, I installed windows on the north side for light. In most cases, they were unique windows that weren’t meant to provide a view. Rather, their purpose was simply to allow natural light into the interior. And because of this, the “function” followed “form”. I used uniquely designed panes that brought architectural interest to the space. Some were tall and narrow, used over a stairway solely for light. In another, I used an actual brass porthole from a ship to provide light and ventilation to a shower that was in an outside wall of a beach house. And in another case, several small panes grouped in a random-looking pattern provided light into a dark corner of a study. The point is that had I simply used standard rectangle windows to provide light, it would have done nothing to make the space feel welcoming or inviting. By considering the function, it made sense to place form first.
Likewise, when building a house, I tend to position it as close to the north side of the lot as allowed, usually five feet away from the property line. This opens up plenty of room on the south side for decks, patios, play areas for kids, etc.
Light Progressions Many people never consider how light plays throughout their home. For example, when considering placement of a large window, I will spend time in the house watching how the light changes throughout the day. No, I don’t sit and stare. But as I’m working inside, I pay attention to the “movement” of the spaces I’m inhabiting. Light is a huge factor in how the inside of a home feels. Poor window placement can create dark pools that repel, while careful thought to how light enters through the windows of a home will help you find a balance that pleases. Consider the angles of light, such as the seasons (summer, when the sun is high in the sky, and winter, when it’s low), sunrise and sunset, and how light during those times will flow into the home. Consider compass points and surrounding topography too. Are there hills/mountains/buildings/trees/etc. that will cast shadows or block light and importantly, warmth? Consider that eastern exposure will provide some morning warmth from sunrise, while western exposure may get uncomfortably warm from afternoon sun, yet provide amazing views of sunsets. Watch how the light progresses through the house and use that information in planning your renovation.
Usage of Space Sometimes a house feels awkward simply because it’s laid out in odd ways. A hall seems too short, or a room just doesn’t feel comfortable. Angled walls, meant to add “interest”, suddenly seem jarring and strange. Space should be usable, and if it isn’t, it’s not just wasted, but glaringly awkward. Any space in the house should feel comfortable. This is a mistake that many architects fail to consider. To see what not to do, try going to one of those open houses that developers have when they’re trying to sell off homes in a newly built housing development. (You know the kind, where the cookie-cutter houses all look similar.) Walk through the houses and pay attention to space. You’ll see corners where nothing seems to fit: you can’t quite put a chair, or a table there, or a bookcase or display cabinet. Even a plant wouldn’t feel right. It’s just an empty spot that’s strangely lacking somehow! You’ll see hallways that feel cramped, or bedrooms that are somehow “off”, kitchens that don’t feel very inviting, and studies/dens/family rooms that seem awkward somehow. Look carefully and pay attention to the “why” of these spaces. Try to figure out what it is about them that seem awkward.
Like poor usage of natural light, poor planning for usage of space results in a home that feels less inviting and welcoming, and more like a stage set for a play.
Traffic Flow Like lighting and space considerations, thinking about how people move through a house is vital. I’ve seen homes in which one must pass through a bedroom to reach the bathroom! Or where the kitchen is separated from the dining area by a hall. Walking through a home should be a natural process that flows easily, not a maze or a treasure hunt. Communal spaces, like family rooms, living and dining areas, kitchens and other places where people congregate should feel accessible and inviting, and should be part of a natural flow of movement in the house. Private rooms, like bedrooms or private studies, should be accessible, but less inviting.
So how do you make a room feel inviting? Lighting is a big part. But another big part of designing this involves considering openings between rooms. Doors aren’t the only solution! A passageway from one room to the next can be small and “private”, as a doorway into a bedroom or bathroom, or they can be large and inviting, as between a living room or “great room” and a kitchen. And there are endless variations in between. I once divided a library from a living room by building a six-foot-wide opening flanked with fluted columns topped with Doric capitals supporting a Roman arch. In another home, I separated a music room from a family room with French doors surrounded by stained glass panels on either side, and leaded glass panels above.
Height is also a consideration. In both cases above, the ceilings were around 12 feet high. As a note, ceiling height plays an important role in how intimate a room feels too, as well as a factor to consider when installing molding, casing and trim.
Even small considerations can matter. I built one small rambler with the bedrooms in the back of the house. A hall led from the front to the rear door, which opened onto a patio and lawns. The bedrooms opened off that hall. And while the hall was wide and open, I needed a way to discourage guests from feeling invited into the area. So I simply built the entire back part of the house about six inches lower than the front! Entering the hall required one step down from the front of the house. And it was interesting to see people’s reaction when I had the “housewarming” party. They would walk up to the hall and hesitate to step into it, leaning their head into the hallway instead to get a look. That mere single step provided an unconscious message that said, “This is the private space in this home, not open to casual guests.”
So there is much to consider when beginning a renovation. Without sounding too esoteric or strange, I think my point is this: A home will “tell” you what it wants. You just need to pay attention and “listen” to it carefully.
Instead of spending your time doing this yourself, contact our professionals! We can come to your house and do these tasks for you—making it a safer environment for the entire family. Mr. Handyman can also perform other tasks to get the house baby-ready, such as painting a nursery, and more.