How to Update an Old House

In our practice, we’re often called on to modernize or update an old house. What does that mean, exactly, and what’s the best way to do it? It means different things to different people, and it can depend on what the homeowners’ goals are. But there are some elements in a home renovation that can certainly upgrade the comfort, convenience, energy efficiency, and resale value of the house.

Consider Trends

Especially if the goal is resale value, it’s important to consider trends. According to the latest AIA Design Trends Survey, the demand for a dedicated home office space continues to rise. Outdoor living is on trend, with heated exterior spaces growing in popularity. Interest in multiple laundry facilities is increasing. With the graying of Baby Boomers and Gen X, there continues to be demand for first floor primary bedrooms, wider doorways and hallways, and accommodations for multiple generations. Certainly, some of these preferences started during the pandemic. Traditional living room-dining room-kitchen layouts were just not living up to the realities of spending ALL of our time at home, in some cases with extended family or returning adult children.

Update the Kitchen

Well-executed kitchen renovations can check all the update boxes—they can improve life for the homeowner and increase the property’s value. Depending on where you live and how much you spend, researchers say that home values can increase by 40 to 90 percent or more of the cost of the remodel. According to real estate experts, updated kitchens and baths are still the number one priorities for home shoppers in 2022. A kitchen is really the heart of a home, and a new kitchen with wow factor can make a big impact on the feel of the entire house. Beyond good looks, a great updated kitchen should also be super functional, with a spacious layout for convenience, adequate lighting, plenty of storage, and the latest appliances. Consider how your family lives and entertains—what special features would you add? A juice or espresso bar? Two dishwashers? A wine fridge? Will the kids be cooking with you in the kitchen? There are lots of decisions to make in a kitchen upgrade, but the rewards can be great.

Upgrade the Tech

Any renovations to an older house will mostly likely need to include upgrades to electrical systems and energy-efficiency by code. Beyond these basics, there are lots of modern tech options to consider. One of the best ways to modernize an old house is to include a home automation system. This could include smart thermostats, outlets, locks, lighting, safety, and other devices. New LED lighting can be controlled via smartphone to change the mood of a room or correspond to the changing daylight. Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, there are tax credits available for installing certain energy-saving improvements, such as heating systems, new electric panels, windows and doors, and so on. More and more, electric vehicle charging stations are becoming a must-have in the modern home.

Modernize the Layout

Many of our clients looking to update an old house start with the idea of a kitchen addition, or a primary bedroom suite remodel. But we often find real modernization when we include changes to the layout and circulation of the home, opening interiors up for more daylighting, making better connections between the interiors and the outdoors, and making spaces less formal. Often in older houses, the kitchen feels isolated from the rest of the house, and there’s no informal gathering space for the family. Underused square footage, like formal dining rooms or separate breakfast rooms can be repurposed or combined for ease of movement and modern use.
While we design for our clients’ individual needs and objectives, our goal in modernizing an older house is always to create beautiful, useful spaces designed for the way families live today.