Home remodeling increases home values | Opinion

With the current record-high home market, now more than ever we are seeing many homeowners remodeling as a future home investment but also as a way to enjoy living the South Florida life.

It’s a remodeling boom. Home renovation is on the rise and continues to flourish. From kitchens and baths to living and outdoor spaces, reconfiguring existing spaces affords homeowners the ability to change their design aesthetic without having to move. Designing rooms with an efficient flow and with less clutter is a current trend in design. And a well-executed renovation can completely transform a space, making what’s existing feel new again.

When renovating a home while you either wait for the housing market to stabilize or to simply give your existing home a refresh on point with the current trends, here is something to consider: Work with what you have. A room with high-quality millwork such as bookcases or cabinetry, custom carpet or furniture that has that perfect size and shape for your room can be reimagined to dramatically alter a space.

Recently, we handled the interior design and renovation plans of a home with a traditional library. The room had excellent woodwork, one-of-a-kind custom carpet, and a few pieces of furniture that the owner did not want to part with. But the room had passed its prime. By utilizing the colors in the carpet as our foundation and repurposing our favorite pieces, we transformed a once-dated space into something vibrant and of the moment.

The original library was dark, so our first step was to create an environment that was lighter in feel. While the design of the cabinetry was timeless, the mahogany finish was in need of a change. Rather than demo it and start anew, we opted to lacquer it in a bold cobalt color found in the carpet. The vibrant color was exactly what the space needed. The client loved the cozy recliner, but the original merlot-colored distressed leather was too heavy for our new look. Instead, we reupholstered it in velvet, in a shade similar to the built-ins, giving the tired chair new life. The rolled-arm sofa was replaced with a clean-lined, tuxedo style that we covered in bright citrus mohair, again inspired by the colors in the carpet. A mod chair helped reinvigorate the traditional space. Rather than paint the walls, we brightened them with a taupe-grey wallpaper that added texture and depth. By adding new accessories, changing the cabinet hardware, and selecting new artwork and lighting, we were able to update a room that had lost its luster. Artful pieces like a chinoiserie cocktail table can add a unique element of character to the room, so this piece remained in the library. We removed the dark drapes and added light window shades to keep the room bright and airy.

The result was fabulous and exceeded the homeowner’s expectations. While initially hesitant about such a bold choice in color for the bookcases, it quickly became their favorite part of the renovation.