A Phased Renovation by Calgary Interior Designer

Just like life, sometimes there are phases to renovations. Major updates like kitchens and bathrooms are high ticket items and highly disruptive, so it may make sense to tackle the most important and most used areas first so that you can adequately allocate funds to complete the updates to satisfaction.

Our #SCIDElbowParkRenovation was done in phases as this client had many things to update in her 1912 home here in Calgary - the kitchen and bathroom being the first ones to change. As you can see, the kitchen before looked more suitable to a garage (or the 1980’s!) rather than a traditional Century Home.

According to multiple sources, the ROI (return on investment) on a kitchen renovation is between 50-90%. If you’re going to live in your home for a while, a kitchen that functions and performs well and makes you ridiculously happy every time you are in it… well... that is worth every penny in our books.

New cabinets and flooring, new appliances, countertops and backspash were the update this room needed desperately! It was a pleasure to design a gorgeous new kitchen in keeping with our clients traditional aesthetic but also satisfying to make it a million times more functional as well.

The main bathroom was also in dire need of an update as it had a massive corner tub (that went unused) and a very cramped shower and vanity. First off - carpet in a bathroom is a no-no, incase you were wondering so obviously that had to go. The corner tub has also gone the way of the dinosaur - we rip those out the second we have the chance. This bathroom had angled ceilings which made locating the plumbing tricky - everywhere we turned, you were sure to bump your head.

However, the completed space turned out beautifully, with a new freestanding tub, marble mosaic shower and a custom vanity. We still get a thrill from seeing before and afters! It’s amazing to see what a space can become.

Because our client had an extensive list of updates she wanted to achieve and knew both the kitchen and bathroom would be costly, she chose to break the scope into phases. This allowed her to complete the spaces in a manner she was happy with using quality finishes that are timeless and have longevity.

We always say “Complete a space in its entirety.” Don’t fall prey to the notion that you can do a little here and a little there, or that you’ll finish things up later. You can’t and you won’t. Incomplete spaces don’t give you the fulfilment you are looking for when you need a change at home. A finished space will bring you joy and add value to your home and day to day life.

That is exactly what our client did in order to surround herself with a beautiful, designed-to-completion home.