Main Floor Renovation in Scarborough
Have you ever felt anxious about the idea of renovating your home? If so, you’re not alone. Renovating is a big step that involves a lot of trust in the designers and contractors you choose to handle the work. We were happy to prove to our recent clients in Scarborough that working with an experienced team can reward them (and you) with a seamless and stress-free experience. They were a young couple with a teenage daughter living in a home that was built in the 1990s. While the home had seen some minor updates over the years, it had never been fully renovated to meet the needs of its current residents. Yet while the family was struggling to make the most of every square inch available to them, they were also understandably feeling a little remodeling anxiety. They had heard plenty of negative stories from friends and family members about projects that didn’t go so smoothly.
That’s where we come in. When the clients reached out to us, they could already tell that we were dedicated to making the renovation process easier for them. Our extensive planning process ensures that the design is created with plenty of input from the people who will actually live with it. That was the first step in getting them to feel comfortable and empowered by the idea of upgrading their home rather than being overwhelmed or concerned. Find out what we did to improve this Scarborough home and you might just feel your own renovation anxiety ebbing away.
Renovation Details
- Total Renovation Cost:
- $235,000
- Designer:
- Project Manager:
- Design Timeline:
- 3 Months: February 14, 2022 – May 9, 2022
- Construction Timeline:
- 3 Months: June 7, 2022 – September 9, 2022
- Pre-Renovation Drawings:
- Proposed Renovation Drawings:
- Proposed 3D Drawings:
Setting Up for Split-Level Success
It’s not surprising that our clients were nervous about making big changes because it was the first and only home they’d bought. We understand how clients can get attached to their homes and worry about risking damage to them or a loss in value. We met with the clients to discuss what they wanted to improve in their 3 bedroom, 1 bath split-level design. They explained how they had lived with a closed off Kitchen and a total lack of storage space for the last 15 years.
Within the first meeting with Andrei, our clients were feeling much more comfortable with the idea of making major changes. It’s a common thread with many of our projects. He built up their trust by explaining how the process would unfold, making sure they understood how involved they would be in all decisions. Of course, we backed up this initial trust with our “secret sauce” of great designs and professional installation services. Each team member that our clients worked with further supported the bond of trust and ensured the clients felt comfortable with such a major renovation. Taking the renovation process step by step soothed any anxiety about costs or big decisions. By the end, the homeowners had a space that fit their needs and expressed their unique sense of style without the stress or costs that could have come from a DIY attempt to handle the work.
Minimizing the Split in This Split-Level Design
Options for reclaiming space in older homes are usually limited by the existing structure. In this particular home, we had to work around the split-level design that was very popular in the 1990s. It was intended to make the most of a limited footprint by offsetting the arrangement of multiple floors, but in the clients’ home, it largely wasted valuable space. As with many Main Floor renovations on a home from this time period, we needed to remove the wall separating the Kitchen and Living Room areas to create a modern open layout. This created new opportunities for mingling when hosting family gatherings or dinners with friends.
BEFORE
AFTER
Kitchen Transformation
In the Kitchen, we took a storage-focused approach to give the homeowners freedom from the clutter that is inevitable in a busy kitchen. Several tall pantries were added to organize dry goods, canned foods, and other essentials. We also built a large island to create a new workspace that made better use of the center of the room. It was easy to brighten up the space and introduce a neutral color palette with white kitchen cabinets and a light gray highlight to match. Black hardware and fixtures provide plenty of contrast without overwhelming the design. It’s a design that will age well with time and won’t need constant updates to stay on trend. The herringbone pattern added to the backsplash hints at a classic style that continues with the gray-veined white countertops.
Connecting the Space with Subtle Touches
You don’t need to overhaul every room in a home just to give it an all-new look. We accomplished this in the clients’ home by connecting the three floors of the split-level design with new luxury vinyl flooring. It’s luxurious and easy to maintain at the same time, offering both aesthetic and functional benefits to the homeowners. We also targeted the staircases for improvements as a way of giving the whole place a fresh look. New spindles refreshed these transitional areas without distracting from the rest of the design. We also added new trim and baseboards through the space to modernize spots that still lingered a few decades in the past.
Bathroom Refresh
In the Shared Bathroom, the team put in new glass doors for the shower enclosure and a niche with matching accent tiles on both sides of the wall. The result is a freshened appearance that is backed up with new functional upgrades as well. A transitional vanity with a sleek gray color became the new heart of the room. Black accents from the fixtures to the wall sconces brought a sense of drama to the Bathroom to tie it all together.
Don’t let anxiety over renovation messes or unending timelines keep you from choosing these kinds of improvements. We were happy to work with the clients in a way that assuaged all of their worries and addressed any concerns along the way. At Sosna, we make it a priority to stay within budget and on schedule, along with communicating clearly about any changes or unexpected events that pop up. We’ve worked with homes that had all sorts of surprises waiting for us, including the need for extensive structural improvements to restore the safety of the home. You can trust us to tackle every challenge on your behalf so you can sit back and enjoy a whole new interior in as little as 5 to 6 months.
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It
Hear directly from our client about this renovation, and her experience with Sosna.
Let’s Get Started!
Ready to consider something new for your home in the Toronto Area? We’re the Renovator You Can Count On. Contact us today to start the process of discovering how stress-free these upgrades can be with the help of the right renovation team.
