Back to the Future Just because a home was built in the past, doesn’t mean it has to stay there. by Holly Regan There are many reasons to remodel a home. Remodeling can make a huge impact on homes that are still fundamentally sound, or that are not able to be rebuilt - for example, homes on the state's Historic Register are required to keep their structure intact. Whatever the case, homeowners can make significant improvements working with the spaces and fixtures they have.

Many Seattle homes date back to the 1920s and -30s, and their architecture stands in stark contrast to homes built in recent decades. These older homes feature smaller, more compartmentalized rooms, giving the layout the feel of cubicles. Appliances and fixtures are outdated; cabinet faces and countertops are worn and need replacement. Not only have the spaces changed over the years, but also the ways people interact with them; an ever-increasing number of kitchen gadgets, bigger appliances, and tendencies to cook with a greater number of fresh ingredients requiring larger preparation surfaces all factor in to the design of a new space.

Megan Malone, a Design Consultant for Almvig's Kitchen & Bath, is familiar with situations such as these. Many "D.I.Y." homeowners, she says, can become overwhelmed with the multifaceted remodel process, and working with professional consultants can help streamline the process. Sometimes, homeowners must revise their expectations for the cost and feasibility of their desired improvements, but they still end up with a home that is all their own, as affordable as possible and built to last.

One example of a successful project involves a couple from California and their newborn baby; having recently purchased an older home in Ravenna, they wanted to update the compartmentalized layout, outdated fixtures and insufficient workspaces of the kitchen. They brought in their plans, and made an appointment with Megan to plan their design within their desired aesthetic, function and budgetary restrictions. Measurements were taken at the home, and the design service helped the couple select materials for floor, cabinet, countertop, appliance and plumbing replacements. It is generally best, according to Megan Malone, to start with the aspects of the remodel that are the most limited, in terms of materials that will work within the existing structure of the home - for example, floors and cabinets - and work up to those features with the greatest availability of styles and materials, such as paint and appliances.

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After

Once everything was planned out, the couple selected a contractor based on Almvig's recommendation (though Almvig's customers can choose to use their own contractor, or do the work themselves, from this point). Walls were torn down to maximize space, including moving the entries to the kitchen and basement. Four layers of old flooring were torn up for the replacement. Lighting and fixtures in the kitchen were replaced, including the sink, range, oven and microwave; an ice machine, wine cooler and bar sink were newly installed. The room's old-fashioned, white painted cabinets were replaced with new ones, using alder, a wood similar in grain to cherry but more affordably priced. New, raised countertops were also put in place, for which the homeowners chose quartz - a material Megan describes as benefiting homeowners who "like simplicity and a worry-free surface", as it requires less maintenance than and is more durable than granite. The result of the updates is incredible, as the before and after photos exemplify; a kitchen designed for the early twentieth century was transformed into a modern, attractive and functional twenty-first century space.

Before

After

Of course, as Megan is careful to point out, homeowners are "never in control of a remodel", and this case was no exception. The contractor encountered plumbing issues, as is common in many older constructions. Problems such as the routing of plumbing, gas and sewer lines can impose previously unforeseen limitations on a remodel, and in some cases, may lead homeowners to opt for a rebuild instead. In this case, as in many others, the remodel plans were simply adapted to work within the limitations of the existing plumbing, and while the result may not have exactly matched the homeowners' original vision, they were extremely pleased with the result.

Before

After

The important thing, Megan says, is not to get too attached to your original plans; remodels almost always undergo adaptations as the project progresses, and the more flexible homeowners are willing to be - not only in terms of style, layout and material, but in terms of budget and timeline, as well - the more smoothly the process will go, and the more satisfied they will be with the result. Almvig's does its best, Megan says, to provide homeowners with a realistic estimate of costs and construction time, and its designers are quick to provide alternative materials, design and layout ideas to work within budgetary and time constraints. If homeowners are willing to sacrifice some of their initial conceptions, they can still end up with the home of their dreams – even though it may look a little different. Just because a home was built in the past, doesn't mean it has to stay there.


For more information, visit the Almvig's website.