The predominant surface is generally smooth and clean. Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros, Split-Level Main Floor Remodel in West Seattle. A split foyer actually has a separate section that is on the ground level between the garage and the house. Updating the look and feel of your home, including the appliances like those in the kitchen above, will dramatically change the interiors. A cottage is typically a one bedroom dwelling meant for travelers or people on vacation. One set of stairs leads to the upper level, while the other leads to the bottom level. One of the best ways to modernize a split-level home is to avoid a roof color that's too light or too close to the house color. The main level is street level so there is no need to be climbing up or down stairs with groceries etc. This way, you can maximize the space by adjusting the alignment of furniture and fixtures. The original spec was probably a steel door with very little curb appeal. Thanks to its inexpensive style, the Cape Cod was a popular choice for many of the first major housing developments after soldiers came back from World War II. This information makes it easier to coordinate with pros. You can use our list to help you make sure that your remodeling project will be a resounding success. In most cases, these homes have a garage with the bedrooms situated directly above it on one side of the house. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Please switch to a supported browser or download one of our Mobile Apps. 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. Lighting is one of the most important features in just about any home layout. Split-level homes also provide more outside space. This type of split-level house will have at least three sections but may have more. Split entry homes have, as the name suggests, an entry that is between floors. A front porch was added, siding and stone are new, as are all the windows. If you come across an early cape it might seem a bit utilitarian on the inside but thats an easy fix with a little charm! Tri-level homes already look unbalanced and adding extensions to its sides makes it look even more unbalanced if not done properly. The Cape Cod is truly a no frills style home. Required fields are marked *. The chimney and fireplace became mostly decorations. 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. You can see the appeal here. One alternative is to re-do the exterior only; by converting the windows to a traditional colonial style (four upstairs, picture window downstairs). 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). 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. Technically, the term "bi-level home" refers to a house built on two levels, both of which are ground floors. He's an authority on the Florida real estate market, as well as selling a house by owner. Placement of the family room, kitchen, dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms can all vary in this style. The raised ranch came into popularity as land in the suburbs became more scarce and families wanted to get more of a house on a smaller piece of property. It may be a bit more difficult but it is definitely doable. The classic faade of a split-level home is very simple. Consider all of the pros and cons of the different types of split-level homes before making a final decision. Bryan Jones, Principal Jones Pierce Inc. An Atlanta based Architectural firm specializing in custom home transformations and custom retirement homes in fun places. That's not usually a good thing. The classic faade of a split-level home is very simple. Split-level homes can feel dated. Although each type of split-level home is different from one another, they all share the same characteristic of having multiple floors that are connected by short flights of stairs. Split Levels and Split Foyers became popular in the United States in the 1970s. Breathe new life into a dated split-level with these tips you have more options than you might think! This allows you to adjust the temperatures separately to even them out. This browser is no longer supported. The bedrooms would be upstairs, and the basement or garage would go down. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. With proper drainage, you can keep the yard dry and clean, making it more appealing for potential suitors. We can help you out with that! Photo: Robert Braddock. Many see this design as being very impractical, considering all the stairs you have to climb in order to access various areas of the home. Unleashed by production builders in the 60's and 70's, split level homes are the most difficult type of house to transform into the way our customers want to live today. We designed a new story above, with turned-gable roof lines to complement the main roof. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan. But the good news is that there are plenty of methods for bringing a more modern aesthetic to your split-level home. The dated kitchen plus both small main and master bathrooms were remodeled. Lengthen the present rooflines in your home, Match the paint of your garage door to the paint of your main door, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE7jN7ofmeI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKS8AnI6Ahk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHaeHzf4iBU. Now that we are living in them, what are some split level strategies that we can use to improve the experience. Updating a tri-level home is not a project that you can just DIY your way to completion. Once you see the possibilities and start looking at the changes that can be made, youll realize that a split-level may have more potential to look great in decades to come than almost any other old-school design out there. Add A Level to Convert Ranch to Colonial Convert a Cape or Ranch to Colonial As a general contractor I had the chance to renovate many homes in the lovely state of Connecticut, but nothing beats the wow factor you receive whenever you convert a single story cape or ranch into a beautiful colonial. A common configuration is having the first stairs from the entryway leading to the dining room or kitchen. Functionally, the client sought to replace a single-car carport with a new oversized two-car garage and to create a protected entry porch for their home. You can add a number of design elements, such as siding, tiles, wood, stone, and other decorative pieces to give it a new look. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. While adding a new floor is a possibility, the most ideal way to extend your home is by expanding your main living space at the back. On the other hand, this is not something you can do with split-level homes. . Please seek the services of a legal, accounting or real estate professional prior to any real estate transaction. Whether youre looking to buy or build a home from scratch, you likely have a specific architectural style in mind. This makes the entryway quite narrow and the easiest solution is to move the storage somewhere else. Connect with top-rated agents near you and save thousands on commission fees. Try taking out some of the interior walls wherever possible. Some split-level homes have ample space at the back and on one side. But you might be struggling to figure out what kind of paint to use on garage walls. Unlike traditional home layouts, split-level homes, also referred to as tri-level, feature at least three levels that are connected by stairs. Although only minimal work was done on this home, primarily with a fresh coat of paint and better landscaping, you can see how these seemingly simple works already made a huge difference to it. Step inside the house and youll see polished flooring, shiny appliances, freshly-painted walls, and so much more. The ranch has no stairs, the entire house is on one level. Also, your current foundations wont have to support the additional weight, because these additions will have their own foundations. The floor plan is generally a story and which is popular everybody loves a big deep front porch. [Living Room] Instead of the classic door leading to the back of your home, you can tear it down, together with the wall, and replace it with glass. That pop of color can give the right contrast to the rest of the home to make it stand out in a positive way. The use of mirrored sliding cabinets not only saved space but it also added to the illusion that the room is bigger than it actually is. Facing a set of steps every time you enter your house can get old, especially when you are doing stuff like bringing groceries in the house. While its rare that a person requests to have a split level house built today, it can be a great house for a new family breaking into home ownership in the suburbs. A lot of homeowners who want to add space to their homes make the mistake of not considering how it would look like in the end. In todays world many people find the formal areas of a colonial to be a waste of space. The front yard tree was protected and preserved through the construction period. This means youll have to climb multiple stairs in order to do your laundry in your own home. Moreover, the proper windows can play an integral role in the energy-efficiency of your home. The problem is that it may not be the easiest of plans to execute. The U shaped ranch gives you a ton of options for the open space in the middleyou can put a pool, front porch or a courtyard area there. The original 1950s split level was expanded and completely reworked. The exterior of a split-level home is whats giving away its age. At the same time, these homes are also in the current sweet spot for in-town renovations because of their location on the growth rings of cities. Bi-level houses are also commonly referred to as a raised ranch. In most cases, the lower level is partially underground but still has windows. The south roof slope of the home hosts a large solar array, barely visible here. Another common complaint about the ranch style of home is that the outside can tend to have a boring, lackluster appeal. This is in place of having to excavate bedrock to build a basement on a single-level home. With traditional multilevel homes, you have the freedom to do whatever you want with it. That allows for expansive decks to be put on or to simply enjoy the extra yard space for kids and pets. To modernize a split-level home you can take action and add some recessed lighting to the first floor, as well as some skylights, throughout the home. Painted a crisp shade of white with black trim details, the home now boasts modern farmhouse style. 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. This type of split-level home boasts four or five levels and numerous sets of stairs. Functionally, the client sought to replace a single-car carport with a new oversized two-car garage and to create a protected entry porch for their home. Residential inquiries: 404.446.3881 Commercial: 404.446.3882 Contact Us, Split level homes are efficient machines of 60s and 70 living, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). The landing is presented upon entering and the choice to go up or down stairs must be made immediately. In the case of side additions, it is vital that it blends with the existing faade, which means getting the same windows, paint color, type of roof, etc. This question is important and your answer will serve as your guide when it comes to updating your home. Espresso Cabinets, white dekton waterfall island and countertops, rustic lvt flooring, black appliances, globe pendant lighting, retro refrigerator, wire handrail, split level master piece. Rooms on the lower level are usually garages, dens, playrooms, and other informal living spaces. If you are still stumped but updating your home is something that excites you, visuals might help you picture out what you can do. William Feemster of ImageArts Photography. A split level home is often a great investment, and there are lots of pros to buying one. Some roof colors simply wont work with a contemporary design an old shingle roof usually looks anything but clean and smooth. Tri-level homes usually have small hallways that connect the garage and the main living space. However, the major disadvantage is the fact that you must climb multiple sets of stairs to reach each individual level of the home. On the other hand, bi-level houses have two levels that are accessed via a common entrance between the floors. Another great garage door style on a modern home is a wood-look door.