There are all types of home remodeling projects. Some are simply plug-and-play, with standard upgrades in finishes for a space like a kitchen, bathroom, or basement.
While a standard remodel or "facelift" can improve the aesthetics of your home, it doesn't offer the type of complete overhaul that is possible with a custom home remodel.
A custom remodel goes beyond a surface-level makeover. Instead, it incorporates detailed interior design work to create something that's tailored to your needs. Through an engaging and iterative design process, it rejuvenates your home, enhancing both function and visual appeal.
In this post, I'll provide an introduction to custom home remodeling. I'll go over what it is, why it's beneficial, and how it's different from standard remodeling. I'll also explain how the design-build process is an ideal match for custom home remodeling projects.
A true custom remodel has a few core characteristics:
The primary difference between a custom remodel and a standard remodel is the project's scope and the degree of detail in the design process.
A standard remodel is often simply a cosmetic facelift focused on surfaces and fixtures. While you get to pick out materials, paint colors, and finishes, there's much less customization or consideration of your day-to-day experience of living in your current home. Standard remodels may use a boilerplate design to speed up the process, and structural changes are less likely to be included in the renovation.
In a custom remodel, the renovation plan is designed through extensive and ongoing conversations with the homeowner to maximize enhancements of the home in both form and function. From these conversations, the design may include more significant changes to a home's layout and organization.
Not all custom home remodels renovate an entire home, but it is common for them to involve at least a few rooms or an entire floor. With the time and attention required for a custom remodeling project, it often makes sense to take on a larger scope.
The design-build approach is a full-service process for a home remodel. When you hire a design-build firm, that same company handles both the interior design work and the hands-on renovation. With this approach, there's no need to hire a designer first and then shop around for a contractor.
Collaboration is essential to the design-build process, as designers, the construction team, and the client all work together to create a robust building plan. The detailed, iterative, and collaborative nature of the design-build process makes it perfectly suited to custom home remodeling.
The key benefit of a custom remodel is that it is designed specifically for you, allowing you to revamp your current home so that it better meets your needs. If you want to build out your dream home without having to move to another address, a customized home renovation is the perfect fit.
Because it can address both form and function across different rooms and spaces, or even your entire home, this kind of remodel can create more cohesiveness and harmony throughout your house.
A custom home remodel can also pay dividends in terms of your property value. If you decide to sell, the thoughtfulness and detail of a custom home remodel can make your home stand out, especially when compared to homes that have undergone only a cosmetic or cookie-cutter renovation.
If a custom plan is right for your home renovation, you'll go through a series of steps in order to transform your current home.
Look for a remodeler with expertise, experience, and people skills. Of those three, homeowners often overlook the latter, but communication and teamwork are critical to a successful home remodel. The design your dream home has will only be tailored to you if the designer actually listens to you and understands you.
Before choosing a remodeler, it's always advisable to meet with more than one firm. Getting referrals from friends and asking for references from a remodeler can help you find someone with a strong track record.
There's a lot of overlap between the work of a custom home remodeler and a custom home builder. The biggest difference is that a builder typically starts from scratch, working with undeveloped land or demolishing existing buildings.
A custom remodeler is more experienced in working within the constraints imposed by the structure and location of an existing home. This can require more careful and nuanced planning, especially if there are elements of your current home that you want to preserve in a remodel.
We are a design-build firm that has been handling complex and custom home remodels for over two decades, serving clients in the Geneva, Northern Illinois, and Southern Wisconsin areas. We pride ourselves on our ability to collaborate with clients, and we make achieving their vision our guiding priority.
You can learn more about us by browsing our website and portfolio, or drop us a line so we can start a conversation about your dream custom home remodel.