convert split level to colonial

If you have a bigger budget, you can actually expand your home through the back. Opendoor: How Much Will It Pay For My Home. The addition of Colonial-style features, from the cupola on the garage roof to the dramatic front porch supported by traditional columns, lends antique intrigue . Consider this if you are more concerned about maintaining an even temperature in your home than the expenses that it can lead to. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. But on the other hand, this may not be enough to make significant changes to your home. Your Do You Need an Addition or Remodel Contractor? Aside from these two requirements, the design work involved aesthetics: enhancing the front faade with a modern architecture and high quality materials. Instead of a centralized heating and cooling system, consider having separate thermostats for the spots known to be cooler or hotter than the rest of your home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. Here are some concepts and ideas you can use for your own home. Cape Cods are a story and a half high with a steep, pitched roof designed to keep the snow from piling up on the roof. You need to consider if the changes you plan to make to your home will have a negative impact in terms of your entire homes functionality. Its also nice if you just prefer to have everything on one level. Consider these options for altering the exterior: This isnt as simple as yes or no. The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. The problem is that it may not be the easiest of plans to execute. But again, you need to visualize how the exterior will connect to and complement whats inside your home, including the functions of each level. Weve been getting a lot of questions on this so we figured we would dive and and provide the definitive guide on home styles and how each style affects the livability, aesthetics, and the cost to make changes / additions to each style. However, from the outside, they appear like there is only one level. Being a Los Angeles resident, Jessica spends a lot of her time looking for her next DIY project and sharing her love for home design. Many people have different ideas of what a cottage truly is, but the universal agreement is that a cottage is a small, cozy and old-fashioned house. This makes the entryway quite narrow and the easiest solution is to move the storage somewhere else. The lot needs to have a certain slope for the split level style to work. Zillow Group is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Step inside the house and youll see polished flooring, shiny appliances, freshly-painted walls, and so much more. Plants and trees will help balance the overall look of your home and make it look much more even. Design-wise, it is also much easier for you to work with new home additions that are placed at the back. Split-level homes tend to be small, in terms of square footage . Although you have limited remodeling options, you can still turn your home into something worthy of a spot in an architecture magazine. A split foyer actually has a separate section that is on the ground level between the garage and the house. The exterior can have a look that might be considered dated. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. The big tree doesnt help at all, since it just makes the left side heavier than the other side. The substantial addition at the rear of the home is barely visible here--the only hint being that the main ridge is a little higher from this point of view. The outside is often another story. Jessica considers herself a home improvement and design enthusiast. The split level can be built on a sloping a sloping lot (cheaper) with more square footage under one roof (cheaper! Typically, split level homes are good candidates for an architectural intervention. Then, the middle level is where the majority of the entertaining and living happens. The functionality and cost-efficiency of split-level homes made it a hit for families that prioritize practicality over aesthetics. Please switch to a supported browser or download one of our Mobile Apps. Below you can get a better understanding of the different types of split-level homes to help you determine which design is perfect for you. For listings in Canada, the trademarks REALTOR, REALTORS, and the REALTOR logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. That allows for expansive decks to be put on or to simply enjoy the extra yard space for kids and pets. Some split-level homes use an open-plan layout, which can feel overwhelming for some. The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. But a few simple modifications can transform them, making them one of the best fixer-upper options. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. While we know that the design of a split-level house can vary, many of them will have a set of stairs outside that lead to the front door instead of a flat sidewalk. Colonial Homes A typical colonial style home. Exterior accessories such as light fixtures and house numbers can make a huge difference. This works well if your house has other trappings of colonial style. Most types of split-level houses will feature several staircases that lead to the different levels of the house. This browser is no longer supported. The lights will stay relatively hidden and wont become a distraction, either. Lets explore the numerous variations of this ubiquitous architectural style. ), Plus it looks like a really sophisticated structure, so neighbors will be impressed (good!). William Feemster of ImageArts Photography. There are 6 main split-level house designs, including standard-split, split-foyer, stacked-split, split-entry, back-split, and side-split. But dont worry, there are ways that you can transform the space without having to tear the walls down (but you can do that if you want). Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. A front porch was added, siding and stone are new, as are all the windows. Split-level homes also provide more outside space. Another advantage is having the front door be level with the sidewalk outside. Bi-Level or Split-Level Remodeling Tips For Homes Built in the 1970s. Zillow, Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple states. Replacing old windows with a more modern style can greatly modernize your homes look. But you might be struggling to figure out what kind of paint to use on garage walls. Popularity for the split level style was at its greatest in the 70s after the style was featured as the Brady Bunch home. Back additions are also generally cheaper than top level additions to a tri-level home. Skylights are a great modern addition that can bring a split-level home into the 21st century. Bi-levels were popular in the era of splits, as developers would offer new homes in four configurations: colonials, splits, bi-levels or ranches. Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you. This is in place of having to excavate bedrock to build a basement on a single-level home. A roof is far more than a utilitarian way to keep precipitation out of the house its an important design element that can make or break an exterior remodel. With standard split homes, inhabitants and visitors enter the house from the ground level. These are just a few ideas, and you can use them as a simple spark of design inspiration to get you going. Try taking out some of the interior walls wherever possible. If you were a fan of The Brady Bunch, then you know exactly what a split-level house is. There is a large chimney in the center of the house used to keep the home warm during the harsh northeastern winters. Commonly, however, the term is also used to denote split-level homes. Split Foyer Conversion to Two Story Exterior 16,244 views Oct 26, 2018 60 Dislike Share Save owingsbrothers 222 subscribers This Plain Jane split foyer was given more than a facelift, it was. They were an off-shoot of the post-war modern movement. What Companies Offer the Lowest Real Estate Fees? 34 Incredible Before-and-After Exterior Home Remodels Another reason why these types of houses are desirable to homeowners is that the layout separates the living area from the sleeping area, offering more privacy. You actually get 3 levels for living space so you really get a sense of depth being in the house. The raised ranch introduces some stair climbing into the mix. They are close to town, and they have a reasonable cost basis, due to their older look. You need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and make final decisions before the work starts. Personnaliser mon exprience l'aide de cookies, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, Gregory Thomas, Architect, AKBD, CG&S Design-Build, Politique d'Utilisation des Cookies de Houzz. Over the years and more recently, we, as architects, have been more involved due to the riddle of the split level being so hard to solve. The original 1950s split level was expanded and completely reworked. Bryan Jones, Principal Jones Pierce Inc. An Atlanta based Architectural firm specializing in custom home transformations and custom retirement homes in fun places. The story and a is my favorite, especially if the children in the house are a bit older and dont need to be close to the adults,or if you have out of town company. There is also hardly any room for experimentation when it comes to remodeling a tri-level home. If you have any bedrooms not in use, transform them into one big storage room. Meanwhile, the topmost level is where all of the bedrooms and bathrooms are. Many homeowners concentrate on remodeling the inside of their home and neglect to work on the exteriors as well. Light can be the biggest factor in transforming a split-level home from an outdated space into one that looks fresh and modern. The shutters on the windows were originally used to protect the windows from the wind during a storm and the ceilings are kept low to maximize heat conservation. I've evolved this design to where the center pullout and adjacent shelves can be adjusted up or down. Split foyer to French colonial | Articles | fairfaxtimes.com Now, lets take a more comprehensive look at the pros and cons of the split-level architectural style as a whole. Please seek the services of a legal, accounting or real estate professional prior to any real estate transaction. Common features of split-level houses include large living areas, low-pitched roofs, and multiple attics with ample storage space. Kids can play upstairs in their rooms while causing minimal disturbance to parents and guests below. In this idea, you must pay more attention to the front door of the house. These give an illusion that the areas in the open space still have divisions that separate them. Unlike traditional home layouts, split-level homes, also referred to as tri-level, feature at least three levels that are connected by stairs. The Straight Ranch, also known as the Rambler is generally the cheapest house to build,also in the ranch family are the L shaped ranch and a U shaped ranch. We store towels, medicine, toiletry supplies, first-aid gear, massage devices, facial steamers, spare Painting your garage is a great way to improve the look of the space and make the walls easier to clean. Then, the stairs off of this room lead to the bedrooms that are stacked atop the foyer. Some split-level homes have ample space at the back and on one side.