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Architects Share Helpful Tips From Their Own Home Renovations
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Architects Share Helpful Tips From Their Own Home Renovations

These expert insights will help you navigate the dos and don’ts of the remodel process.
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When an architect decides to remodel their own home, the design vision is usually the easy part. The realities of the renovation process can present numerous hurdles, such as budget constraints, resale concerns, or unexpected roadblocks that only reveal themselves when demolition starts. We asked several architects who recently completed their own home renovations for their best tips on navigating the journey.

Consider the Trade-Offs

Before: Catherine and VW Fowlkes, coprincipals at Washington, D.C.–based Fowlkes Studio, remodeled the 1930s residence they share in the city’s American University Park neighborhood.

Before: Catherine and VW Fowlkes, coprincipals at Washington, D.C.–based Fowlkes Studio, remodeled the 1930s residence they share in the city’s American University Park neighborhood.

After: The architects removed the home’s existing shutters and swapped in casement windows. The brick exterior was painted with Gray by Benjamin Moore and a metal roof protects the porch.

After: The architects removed the home’s existing shutters and swapped in casement windows. The brick exterior was painted with Gray by Benjamin Moore and a metal roof protects the porch.

After: The couple splurged on eight-inch European white oak plank floors throughout the home, "because we thought even if there is no furniture, the bones of the house will feel great," says Catherine. The trade-off? "We saved by buying gently used appliances and keeping some of our original ones," she says. "Appliances can be easily replaced down the road, if need be." 

After: The couple splurged on eight-inch European white oak plank floors throughout the home, "because we thought even if there is no furniture, the bones of the house will feel great," says Catherine. The trade-off? "We saved by buying gently used appliances and keeping some of our original ones," she says. "Appliances can be easily replaced down the road, if need be." 

While the supply of creative ideas in a remodel can feel boundless, the money is not. "The trick is to identify a few splurges, as well as areas where it makes sense to stick with the bargain option," says architect Catherine Fowlkes, coprincipal at the Washington, D.C.–based Fowlkes Studio. "Sometimes you don’t know what’s worthy of a splurge until you’re in the weeds of the design process and priorities reveal themselves," adds the architect, who renovated the 1930s home she shares with VW Fowlkes, her partner and founder of the firm.

See more of Catherine’s remodel: An Architect Couple Deftly Expand Their D.C. Home Without Losing Its Lived-In Charm  

Balance Compromise With Curiosity

Before: Rafael Santa Ana, founder of the eponymous Canadian architecture workshop, resisted the urge to "start from scratch" when renovating the Vancouver home his family had lived in for 10 years. Instead, he explored questions about the original structure that resulted in interesting design solutions.

Before: Rafael Santa Ana, founder of the eponymous Canadian architecture workshop, resisted the urge to "start from scratch" when renovating the Vancouver home his family had lived in for 10 years. Instead, he explored questions about the original structure that resulted in interesting design solutions.

After: Rafael vaulted the ceilings, installed skylights, and widened the connections between the home’s various rooms. Light wood floors, new drywall, and a fresh coat of white paint give the renovated family home a luminous quality.

After: Rafael vaulted the ceilings, installed skylights, and widened the connections between the home’s various rooms. Light wood floors, new drywall, and a fresh coat of white paint give the renovated family home a luminous quality.

Compromise is inherent to the remodel process, as the existing structure or budget might impose limitations. But it’s important to remember that these constraints can encourage imaginative design solutions, so a renovation should be a balancing act. Architect Rafael Santa Ana, founder of the eponymous Canadian architecture office, considered his family’s affection for their Vancouver, Canada, residence—which they’d lived in for a decade—when brainstorming a new design for the home, despite the urge to demolish the structure and "start from scratch," he says. The founder of Rafael Santa Ana Architecture Workshop explored what could be accomplished by keeping the roof, exterior walls, and post-and-beam structure—which, it turns out, was quite a lot. Now, the renovated home garners an airy feel with vaulted ceilings, skylights, and a lighter material palette, while still retaining the familiarity that the family loved.

See more of Rafael’s remodel: A Towering Library Becomes the Beating Heart of an Architect’s Home

Incorporate Your Personality

Before: Architect Cecilia Yuan, founder of Melbourne-based Blank Canvas Architects, wanted to open up the rear of her Victorian home to the backyard and modernize the interior to her taste.

Before: Architect Cecilia Yuan, founder of Melbourne-based Blank Canvas Architects, wanted to open up the rear of her Victorian home to the backyard and modernize the interior to her taste.

After: By relocating the existing ground-level bathroom, Cecilia expanded the available space for the kitchen and dining area at the rear of the home. Now, 16.4-foot-wide bifold doors allow the residents to move seamlessly between indoors and out. The architect combined pale oak flooring with custom, blue-gray cabinets and textured marble countertops. Black cabinetry, hardware, faucets, and appliances provide notes of sharp contrast.

After: By relocating the existing ground-level bathroom, Cecilia expanded the available space for the kitchen and dining area at the rear of the home. Now, 16.4-foot-wide bifold doors allow the residents to move seamlessly between indoors and out. The architect combined pale oak flooring with custom, blue-gray cabinets and textured marble countertops. Black cabinetry, hardware, faucets, and appliances provide notes of sharp contrast.

After: The original bathroom was relocated so that the shower could take advantage of a window with views of the private side yard.

After: The original bathroom was relocated so that the shower could take advantage of a window with views of the private side yard.

Whether—and how—personalized design changes will impact a home’s resale value is a common concern for owners embarking on a remodel. But don’t shy away from incorporating details you love in order to create a space you want to live in, as there’s a good chance the next buyer will appreciate them. "Don’t be afraid of bold statements, including the use of color," suggests architect Cecilia Yuan, founder of Blank Canvas Architects, who renovated her family’s Victorian home in Melbourne, Australia. "While you shouldn’t lose sight of resale value, your house should be—at least in part—a reflection of your personality," the architect continues. "You might only get the chance to build one dream home!"

See more of Cecilia’s remodel: An Architect’s Verdant Victorian Home Makes the Most of Every Inch

Remain Flexible and Expect Changes

Before: The previous owner of Philadelphia-based architect Lauren Thomsen’s 19th-century row house added a bathroom on the second floor above the kitchen. "It was not well done, so all of that had to be restructured," says the founder of Lauren Thomsen Design.

Before: The previous owner of Philadelphia-based architect Lauren Thomsen’s 19th-century row house added a bathroom on the second floor above the kitchen. "It was not well done, so all of that had to be restructured," says the founder of Lauren Thomsen Design.

After: Lauren stacked a new third-floor bathroom atop the existing second-floor space, then wrapped the entire addition in clear cedar and refinished the stucco exterior of the original structure. The windows are by Marvin.

After: Lauren stacked a new third-floor bathroom atop the existing second-floor space, then wrapped the entire addition in clear cedar and refinished the stucco exterior of the original structure. The windows are by Marvin.

When remodeling an older home, flexibility is a virtue. "The existing conditions [of the home] are only truly exposed during demolition, and the renovation may need to be modified from what was originally planned," says architect Lauren Thomsen, founder of the eponymous Philadelphia-based design firm. "There may be opportunities to engage the existing building and add character to the project in ways you did not imagine during the design process," notes the architect, who renovated her own Philadelphia row house that dates back to the late 1800s. "It’s important to be open to that type of development," Lauren continues.

See more of Lauren’s remodel: A Philadelphia Architect Opens Up Her Historic Row House

Details Matter

Before: When the cofounder of New York City–based I-Beam Design purchased her fixer-upper home in the Catskills region, the midcentury dwelling featured a patchwork of different materials. 

Before: When the cofounder of New York City–based I-Beam Design purchased her fixer-upper home in the Catskills region, the midcentury dwelling featured a patchwork of different materials. 

After: To restore her home’s existing wood beams, Azin spent three days on a ladder staining them herself. Azin advises the following rule when making material choices: "Use ‘real materials’ such as wood, stone, or tiles, rather than [options] that try to mimic [them]. There is nothing wrong with using vinyl or porcelain, so long as they are not faking another material," she says. 

After: To restore her home’s existing wood beams, Azin spent three days on a ladder staining them herself. Azin advises the following rule when making material choices: "Use ‘real materials’ such as wood, stone, or tiles, rather than [options] that try to mimic [them]. There is nothing wrong with using vinyl or porcelain, so long as they are not faking another material," she says. 

While the major updates often get the most attention, small details—from light switches and door hardware to construction materials—deserve careful consideration as well. Even though the renovation process can be long and exhausting, it’s important to remember that the decisions you make in this phase should bring you joy in the long run. "Taking shortcuts always comes back to haunt you," says Azin Valy, cofounder of New York City–based practice I-Beam Design, who redesigned her midcentury chalet in New York’s Catskills region. "Any renovation or architectural intervention in a home is potentially a lifetime investment that you want to make sure you can live with, and that will make you and your family happy," she continues.

See more of Azin’s remodel: An Architect Peps Up Her Midcentury Chalet in the Catskills

Assemble a Trusted Team

Before: New York City–based architect Ali Höcek and his partner, Cynthia Corsiglia, put together a talented team to help them remodel their midcentury building in Newburgh, New York. In the backyard, the landscape was regraded and a dry well was installed to avoid chronic flooding and protect the structure.

Before: New York City–based architect Ali Höcek and his partner, Cynthia Corsiglia, put together a talented team to help them remodel their midcentury building in Newburgh, New York. In the backyard, the landscape was regraded and a dry well was installed to avoid chronic flooding and protect the structure.

After: A new gabion wall holds the slope and serves as a decorative feature. The couple can step out of their bedroom and enjoy the new back garden. "We feel a part of the city, but there’s still this sense of privacy," says Ali.

After: A new gabion wall holds the slope and serves as a decorative feature. The couple can step out of their bedroom and enjoy the new back garden. "We feel a part of the city, but there’s still this sense of privacy," says Ali.

After: A new door and window combination improve access to the private garden.

After: A new door and window combination improve access to the private garden.

A fantastic design isn’t much without the proper execution from a trusted construction team. "I cannot stress enough the value in finding a consistently responsible local contractor and subcontractors," says architect Ali Höcek, who renovated a 1973 building in Newburgh, New York, to include a commercial space at the front and a one-bedroom apartment in the rear. "The latter may include electricians, carpenters, and plumbers," continues the founder of the eponymous New York City–based architecture firm. "If a reliable or available local crew is not possible, it might be worthwhile—and in the end, a financial savings—to bring in a trusted builder from someplace else and provide them lodging for a period."

See more of Ali’s remodel: A Crumbling 1970s Building Is Revived as a Dual-Unit Home with a Barbershop

Observe the Job Site 

Before: Years of deferred maintenance made the ’60s bungalow that architect Jocelyn Dickson and her husband purchased in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, ripe for reinvention. The cedar shingles and existing windows were in rough shape, with many of the glazed openings painted shut.

Before: Years of deferred maintenance made the ’60s bungalow that architect Jocelyn Dickson and her husband purchased in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, ripe for reinvention. The cedar shingles and existing windows were in rough shape, with many of the glazed openings painted shut.

After: Jocelyn reused some of the salvageable windows from the original home and replaced others with new Jeld-Wen units that she liked better for their size, shape, or function. 

After: Jocelyn reused some of the salvageable windows from the original home and replaced others with new Jeld-Wen units that she liked better for their size, shape, or function. 

Maine-based architect Jocelyn Dickson suggests one way to gauge prospective teams: "Pay attention to the state of the job site!" More specifically: "A neat and organized job site is an indication that the contractor is managing their team effectively and taking good care of your property," says the founder of Jocelyn O Dickson Architecture, who renovated the ’60s beach bungalow she shares with her husband in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. "Conversely, a messy job site tells you that work is not being completed in an organized manner, and there is a possibility that equipment and finishes are going to get damaged as a result," the architect continues.

See more of Jocelyn’s remodel: An Architect Resuscitates Her Funky Beach Bungalow in Maine

Stay Positive

Remodels require an abundance of patience, especially when there are unexpected delays or problems. "I am [very] familiar with the hardships and frustrations that go into the process of construction," says Azin. "[But] the rewards are greater if you have perseverance, which was something I had to remind my husband from time to time." 

One helpful strategy is to remind yourself to "trust that the project will be worth it," Lauren adds. "Renovations require a significant commitment of time and energy—but once completed, it is incredibly gratifying to have a thoughtfully designed space that you have transformed into your own."

Related Reading:

Top 5 Dos and Don’ts of a Home Renovation From a Real-Life Couple

9 Critical Tips to Read Before Kicking Off a Home Renovation

6 Questions You Should Always Ask Before Hiring a General Contractor

Melissa Dalton
Dwell Contributor
Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon, who has been writing for Dwell since 2017. Read more of her work about design and architecture at melissadalton.net.

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