If you are short on space in your home, a good contractor can help you create more.
There are lots of ways you can remodel and renovate your house to adapt to your family’s changing needs. All it takes is reaching out to an experienced contractor.
“You can absolutely use what you currently have in your home to create more space, update, and adapt to your family’s growing needs,” says residential contractor James Anthony. He and his wife, Carolyn, are adept at planning and executing stunning home renovations. They’re experts at everything from kitchen and bathroom remodeling to designing and building brand-new custom homes.
“We’re seeing a lot more people staying where they are in this climate. They’re not looking to move, but want to modify their current homes and make better use of existing space. They want to make their home work differently for their family and they want their spaces to be more finished,” says Carolyn.
A recent project saw them turn an unused, third-storey attic space into a useable bedroom and bathroom. The family who reached out to them had three children and a 3-bedroom home. As the kids got older, they each needed their own room, and their parents wanted them to all be in close proximity to each other. They also didn’t want the kids separated, with one two floors down; the basement was already being used as a family space.
This family was typical of many: though they needed more space, they had no desire to move. They liked the area and were settled there; it was close to work and school. They already had an established network of neighbours and friends and didn’t want to leave.
A lot of homes in the area have similar rooflines and thus, have loads of potential, untapped square footage. “Going up is a great option,” says James. This also negates the need to extend the house into the yard, eating up valuable exterior real estate.
Other projects involve using the space above a garage to do an addition, finishing basements, or changing up the use of certain rooms, like turning a formal living room into an office.
Perhaps the most popular request they hear from clients is taking walls out to create more open concept living. Main floor renovations have been very popular, especially eliminating dated floorplans that don’t flow and kitchen layouts that are very closed off.
“The one challenge with the open concept request is that piles of mechanical, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing need to be dealt with,” says James. “Luckily there are some very unique solutions to rerouting mechanical features we can use.”
Organization and functionality are also big ones. “In older houses, there are very few cabinets and small closets,” says Carolyn. “They weren’t very well thought out when it comes to storage.”
The pair often adds much-needed storage in laundry rooms, mudrooms, and entryways, making these spaces more functional and streamlined.
“With different layouts and storage systems, we can introduce a lot of space back into the home,” says James. “Removing walls and introducing millwork makes the house feel bigger because of the openness and the carefully thought out storage.”
Another popular request is for more natural light. “Lighting in general is a big request,” says James. “In houses built before the 2000s, there is often just one fixture in the middle of the kitchen and living room. It was not very well laid out at all.”
Now people are asking for pot lights throughout, fancier fixtures, and a lot of accent lighting.
The couple’s projects range in size and scope—anything from a modest bathroom reno to building multi-million dollar custom homes from the ground up. The family-owned company has several 5-star reviews on Google, with glowing feedback. It’s no wonder a great deal of this husband-and-wife team’s business comes from referrals!
“We work closely with homeowners throughout the entire project and have good working relationships with them. When the projects are completed, it’s bittersweet: our clients are very happy, but they often comment that they’ll miss working with us—and the feeling is mutual!” says Carolyn.
When starting a project, homeowners often think they need to have a solid idea in mind, a vision board, or detailed drawings ready before they call a professional. “If you have any sort of idea to explore, just reach out,” she says. “If you’re not sure what you could do with the space, it’s great to have a professional come in to help you form that dream space.” They are likely to have ideas you’ve never thought of.
“If you have the inclination to change your space, reach out to explore ideas with us and discuss loose costs. With our company, we collaborate with our clients to facilitate their vision for their home, in conjunction with the scope of work that they are open to and, of course, their budget. The service we like to offer is from concept to finish.”
Visit Anthony Homes, call 519-546-4642, or email [email protected] for more information.
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @anthonyhomesbuilds.