As housing prices surge, homeowners are investing in luxury renovations to upgrade their existing homes. Discover expert tips, budget strategies and the latest design trends from top builders and designers.
As real estate market prices soar, homeowners are beginning to look inward, transforming their current residences into their luxury dream spaces. For many, the thought of undertaking a home renovation can be a daunting experience, consisting of immersive planning and a disruption of everyday life. To assist homeowners who might be considering remodeling their home, or are currently in the process, renovation experts share their insider tips, professional advice and the current trends to help make the journey easier.
To begin the renovation process, it is essential for homeowners to prioritize what construction and design elements are most important to them, and how they can be budgeted appropriately.
“At Woodcrest, every renovation starts with a discovery phase—learning about the client’s lifestyle, needs and design vision,” Karen Wancho, the Director of Design and Interiors at Woodcrest Design + Build, explains. “Many homeowners don’t realize how much design decisions drive the overall cost. High-end finishes, custom features and layout changes can significantly impact your budget, even if the square footage remains the same.”
Both general contractors and design professionals recommend that homeowners consider renovating their entire home at once instead of in phases. Although this has a higher upfront cost, experts agree that it results in a more cost effective plan long-term, a more cohesive design and less disruptions to the homeowners’ day-to-day lives.
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“Depending on what the budget restrictions are, if you can renovate all at once it’s always the most efficient cost-wise,” Scott West, president of West Construction and Development Co., says. “For example, if the job involves a plumber, the plumber is already there, or if it involves an electrician, the electrician is already there. You’re only paying for additional time and material for them to be there, whereas if they’re mobilizing to come to the house separately [each time], you end up spending more.”
Once homeowners have started to plan their renovation, West says they should understand the temporary disruption that it will cause to their daily lives. From dust to limited access to certain aspects of the home, he emphasizes how alternative living solutions may need to be taken into consideration.
“Most homeowners think that they can stay in the house when they’re renovating it. Depending on the scope of the renovation, what we’re finding more these days is that most of the house is affected and the main arteries of the house, electrical and plumbing, are affected. The best decision for the homeowner is to rent a place while the construction is going on,” he explains.
In regards to what improvements bring the most value into a home, luxury kitchen and bathroom renovations are at the top of the list. Wancho says keeping functionality in mind when renovating these spaces is crucial to creating a space that is both stylistically pleasing and inviting.
“A beautiful renovation means nothing if it doesn’t function well for the people living in it. That’s why we focus on creating spaces that are not only aesthetically elevated, but also thoughtfully planned and built to last,” she says.
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Several new trends have emerged in home renovations with styles leaning toward warm tones and natural textures. Wancho also says there has also been a recent emphasis on wellness-based designs, like implementing spa-like features in primary bathrooms, as well as saunas, cold plunges and home gyms.
For many homeowners, being able to balance customization with comfort is what makes home renovations so appealing, especially in a market where the cost of buying a house or building a custom home is continuing to rise.
“Renovating gives you the ability to stay where you are, and you bring your home up to what your tastes, desires and needs are for today,” West says. “The benefit is that you get to be in the place you know, the place you want to be and not have the additional cost of building a new house.”
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