EMPTY NESTER RENOVATIONS

Empty nesters experience many mixed emotions as they say goodbye to their adult children while sending them off to college or moving them into apartments of their own. During this time of transition, it might seem appealing to sell the family home and move to a smaller location. Before hiring a real estate professional, putting up the for sale sign and going through the hassle of moving, consider a few of these empty nester renovations. They can help you take advantage of newly acquired space by making your home feel contained and manageable.

UPDATING THE KITCHEN

An often requested feature in any home is a gourmet kitchen with modern appliances and plenty of prep space. If your kitchen lacks space and modern amenities, this might be the right time to renovate. Steal some space from a now unused playroom or other oversized room to add an island to your kitchen and make room for a walk-in pantry or separate refrigerator and freezer. A wine rack, stainless steel appliances, gourmet coffee station and new counter-tops finish off your space and turn it into an inviting room for adult conversation and holiday family gatherings

When families are large, the basement is often used as a play space filled with toys or video games. After the younger generation has moved away, a child or teen-friendly basement transitions nicely into a media room or a man cave. Add a wet bar, purchase a pool table, splurge on a beautiful new television, update lighting and replace outdated carpeting with gorgeous new laminate, environmentally-friendly cork or tile with heating elements underneath. If your space allows, add an exercise room in the back or put in a guest bedroom to give your children a separate space when they come to visit.

TRANSFORMING A BEDROOM INTO AN OFFICE

With many empty nesters opening their own businesses or telecommuting, an office makes a nice addition to the home. A former child’s bedroom is easy to turn into an organized and comfortable office with the addition of a few shelves, an enlarged desk and new windows to let light in. If your office will double as a guest bedroom, consider placing a wall and pocket door between your desk space and bed to allow for some privacy and separation of space. In addition to making for a convenient home office, a small bedroom also transitions nicely into the walk-in closet of your dreams. If you have a secondary bedroom located next to your master bedroom, re-configuring the door, adding a closet organizational system and building a center island with additional drawers and storage can maximize your space and help you to finally get organized.

COMPLETE HOME RENOVATION

Finally, if you have ever considered re-configuring the entire layout of your home, now might be the perfect time to take on this project. Having rooms that you no longer need on a day-to-day basis gives you space to enlarge the family room, move the laundry room, build your dream kitchen, expand the foyer or create a spa-like master bath retreat. A professional contractor can draw up plans that bring your vision to life and help you to find that all-important balance between creating your dream home and staying within budget.

Empty nesters have a lot to look forward to, and they are in the perfect stage for a home renovation. Are you ready for a change? Contact Realty Renovation Kelowna today for a free in-house consultation.