Renovating For Different Life Stages

Many life changes spark home remodels, like starting a family to buying your first home

Often when life brings you to the next stage, you celebrate by renovating your home. Whether it’s owning a home as newlyweds or the kids have moved out leaving you with a lot of extra space, chances are you’re dreaming of a home that reflects your life change.

At Sweeten, a renovation platform connecting homeowners to vetted general contractors, we’ve seen updates of newly purchased houses and of long-time family homes ready for a refresh. We share the stories of three Sweeten homeowners with life transitions and who marked the occasions with remodels and new outlooks.  

A family grows up, a house evolves

When Sandra and Nelson purchased their 1922 Tudor-style home in 1997, their main focus was on the education of their three children. Fast forward 21 years and their teenage kids all grown up, the couple finally felt ready to turn their attention to renovating their home. 

The ground floor experienced a revamp with a kitchen door turning into a window for more sunlight, parquet floors gave way to chocolate-colored wood planks, and pesky drafts were fixed. An office, adjacent to the kitchen, experiences new life as a pantry and sunroom with a sliding glass deck door.

A second baby, flexibility pays off

Searching for the perfect, move-in ready, three-bedroom apartment proved to be a challenge for Katherine and Chris and their two under-two babies. Instead, a former rent-controlled two-bedroom with a floor plan that could be rearranged was the key to just want the duo was looking for. Located in the neighborhood they were hoping for and within their budget, they prepped for a gut renovation.

The kitchen moved from the back of the apartment to the front next to the living room (yes, plumbing had to move) making a nice open concept layout. The kitchen became the new third bedroom. For the bathroom, the tub changed positions and turned into a luxurious marble and penny-tile haven with blue and gold touches.

From a rental to owning, a milestone reached 

After 16 years of living with roommates, rising rent, and saving for a down payment, 34-year-old Paul was ready to purchase a home to call his own. Finding a one-bedroom proved challenging and competitive, so he landed on a “junior one-bedroom” and put up a full wall to create the one-bed layout that he wanted.

The cramped 60-square-foot kitchen needed to be remodeled for more counter space and a complete refresh. By swapping the location of some appliances, a 14-inch wraparound ledge offered enough room to act as a breakfast bar. Along with the charm of a sunken living room, Paul scored his dream first home.

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If you’re looking to buy a fixer-upper, here is a step-by-step guide on the purchase and starting the reno process.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.