A Pro Offers Her Top 5 Function-Packed Home Improvements
Read an experienced designer’s take on remodeling, resale and renovations that just might stand the test of time
Sabrina Alfin
6 June 2022
California CID.
“Will it affect resale value?” is a common question my clients ask me when discussing a remodeling project. But unless they’re flipping that property immediately or anticipate selling it within five years, my answer is, “It doesn’t matter.” Tastes change and so do materials. No matter what decisions you make, a new buyer 10 or 20 years down the line will probably want to make their own changes to suit their lifestyle. Therefore I tell my clients not to be overly concerned about the needs of someone they’ve never met and to instead focus on designs that work best for them and their family.
However, this is not to say that all renovations are equal. Colors, styles and materials might change over time, but the need for function is timeless. Here are my top five home improvements for those looking to add style and function to their house.
However, this is not to say that all renovations are equal. Colors, styles and materials might change over time, but the need for function is timeless. Here are my top five home improvements for those looking to add style and function to their house.
1. Built-In Cabinetry
Having enough storage space to keep clutter at bay is a common design dilemma for many homeowners. Adding built-in furniture-style cabinets is a great way to gain storage space while creating architectural interest in a home.
For this Los Angeles living room, LeMaster Architects added a wall of custom walnut built-ins to hide unsightly media equipment. The built-in bookshelves provide display space for art and accessories that add character to the space.
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Having enough storage space to keep clutter at bay is a common design dilemma for many homeowners. Adding built-in furniture-style cabinets is a great way to gain storage space while creating architectural interest in a home.
For this Los Angeles living room, LeMaster Architects added a wall of custom walnut built-ins to hide unsightly media equipment. The built-in bookshelves provide display space for art and accessories that add character to the space.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
2. Banquette Seating
Breakfast nooks with banquette seating are a perfect space-saving choice for small alcoves or corners of your kitchen. Many families like to have an informal place to eat, do homework or have morning coffee.
Wiseman & Gale Interiors added a U-shaped banquette to this Phoenix kitchen that can seat up to six people. The stylish pendant light above the rectangular table helps create a cozy spot to congregate any time of day.
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Breakfast nooks with banquette seating are a perfect space-saving choice for small alcoves or corners of your kitchen. Many families like to have an informal place to eat, do homework or have morning coffee.
Wiseman & Gale Interiors added a U-shaped banquette to this Phoenix kitchen that can seat up to six people. The stylish pendant light above the rectangular table helps create a cozy spot to congregate any time of day.
Shop for a pendant light
Another option is a booth-style banquette, like the one in this New Orleans home built by Jackson Cabinetry. It’s like having breakfast at your favorite diner.
Note the custom drawer at the base of the built-in bench to store less frequently used items. When remodeling, consider all the ways you can add storage to your planned modifications.
Note the custom drawer at the base of the built-in bench to store less frequently used items. When remodeling, consider all the ways you can add storage to your planned modifications.
3. Curbless Showers
A curbless shower is a great feature for giving your bathroom a sleek, streamlined look, but its benefits go beyond appearances. You’ve likely heard the term “aging in place.” It means designing ways for homeowners to stay in their homes as long as possible. One of the ways to do that is to remove barriers that might cause trips and falls as our mobility decreases.
This curbless shower in a Chicago bathroom by JAR Corp has a bench that, when paired with a handheld shower head, allows for showering while sitting down. I always advise clients who opt for this configuration to add support behind the shower wall so they can add grab bars later, even if they don’t need them now. It’s much easier to do during construction than after the fact.
New to home remodeling? Click here to learn the basics
A curbless shower is a great feature for giving your bathroom a sleek, streamlined look, but its benefits go beyond appearances. You’ve likely heard the term “aging in place.” It means designing ways for homeowners to stay in their homes as long as possible. One of the ways to do that is to remove barriers that might cause trips and falls as our mobility decreases.
This curbless shower in a Chicago bathroom by JAR Corp has a bench that, when paired with a handheld shower head, allows for showering while sitting down. I always advise clients who opt for this configuration to add support behind the shower wall so they can add grab bars later, even if they don’t need them now. It’s much easier to do during construction than after the fact.
New to home remodeling? Click here to learn the basics
4. Mudrooms and Drop Zones
Mudrooms are a great remodeling addition, particularly if your home is in an area with inclement weather.
This Boston space by Cummings Architecture + Interiors is a good example of a well-executed mudroom. It features easily cleaned tile floors and lots of cubbies, hooks, baskets and bins to contain clutter and keep wet clothing and shoes out of the main part of the home.
Mudrooms are a great remodeling addition, particularly if your home is in an area with inclement weather.
This Boston space by Cummings Architecture + Interiors is a good example of a well-executed mudroom. It features easily cleaned tile floors and lots of cubbies, hooks, baskets and bins to contain clutter and keep wet clothing and shoes out of the main part of the home.
Here’s a mudroom in Charlotte, North Carolina, by Arcadia Custom Homes & Renovations with a drop zone for mail and a bulletin board for family calendars and commitments. You could even add USB outlets in the drawers to charge devices.
50 Marvelous Mudrooms With Ample Storage
50 Marvelous Mudrooms With Ample Storage
5. Home Offices
The pandemic has certainly changed our views on the need for real office space in our homes. And now that many companies are likely to make working from anywhere a permanent change, your remodeling plans should definitely include carving out space for this purpose.
This Connecticut home office by Vita Design Group shows that you don’t have to devote an entire room to creating an office. Instead, you can earmark part of a hallway or an alcove.
The pandemic has certainly changed our views on the need for real office space in our homes. And now that many companies are likely to make working from anywhere a permanent change, your remodeling plans should definitely include carving out space for this purpose.
This Connecticut home office by Vita Design Group shows that you don’t have to devote an entire room to creating an office. Instead, you can earmark part of a hallway or an alcove.
A home office is a great place to invest in function-packed design. For this home office in Portola Valley, California, I designed a custom built-in desk and cabinets featuring a gray cerused oak veneer. Details include a pullout keyboard tray, a hidden trough for wire management and retractable cabinet doors for access to CPUs and other computer accessories.
Your turn: Homeowners, what home improvements are you planning to improve the functioning of your home? Pros, what function-packed projects are you recommending to your clients? Tell us in the Comments!
More on Houzz
How to Stick to Your Remodeling Goals
Look for an interior designer
Shop for home office accessories
Your turn: Homeowners, what home improvements are you planning to improve the functioning of your home? Pros, what function-packed projects are you recommending to your clients? Tell us in the Comments!
More on Houzz
How to Stick to Your Remodeling Goals
Look for an interior designer
Shop for home office accessories
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Curbless shower details -
My contractor offered me a low soft rubber lip to contain shower splashes, but the water splashing out a little hasn't bothered me. Like so many other commenters, I didn't want the hassle of cleaning glass so only use a curtain. Before I step in, I put down a bathmat with a nonskid back, and that's what I step out onto. Towels hang right beside the shower entrance, and each side of the entrance has a vertical grab bar for safety. (There's a vast number of attractive designs to choose from - they don't look "medical".)
I have a rectangular mop with a terry cloth cover. When I want to get rid of shower splashes, a quick swipe with this does the trick.
One of my reasons for choosing curbless hasn't been mentioned yet. I'm going to get the highly rated Roborock MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop combo. I will send it in to sweep up hair and lint from the whole bathroom, including the shower area, and it will also mop the off-white floor tile.
We just added a two car garage with a huge master suite above, then incorporated the old garage (that was on the ground level of our existing home) into the square footage of the home, with half of it becoming a huge mudroom off of the new garage and the other half has now doubled the family room space. All of the bathrooms were cosmetically updated as well as the kitchen getting new counters and a wall pantry, with the wall removed between the kitchen, LR and DR. It feels like a brand new, and very functional home that will be amazing for our family now as well as appeal to a future buyer. I’m very pleased that we accomplished both!
If we ever wanted or needed to live fully on our first floor, we had to add a bedroom and full bathroom. We extended out from the kitchen for the addition. There is a pocket door between the kitchen and the new bedroom (which we are using as a family room for now) so we can leave it fully open now and use it when/if we convert to a bedroom. The bathroom has a curbless shower and we had them tile underneath the vanity so if we ever want to put in a vanity that you roll under with a wheelchair, we won’t need to go looking for matching tile. Bonus is that after 35 years I got a new, larger kitchen.