Interior Renovations

 Open floor plans, spacious rooms, and luxurious finishes - these are items valued by today's homeowners.  In Pittsburgh, however, many of the older homes simply weren't designed with these features.  We rarely work in a home today where we don't incorporate modifications to existing walls.  In most cases, significant changes can be made to increase the "openness" or "spaciousness" of the floor plan.  Refinishing or adding hardwood floors, installing crown moldings, and upgrading interior doors and trim work are all great ways to improve your home's interior.

Your home's entry can be upgraded through the use of large ceramic tile set in several unique ways to express your personal identity.  Ceramic works best in these areas as the winter snow and ice can wreak havoc on your hardwood floors if not handled properly.  There are also many beautiful choices when it comes to freshening up the stairway leading to the second level.  Wrought iron spindles have become very popular when used in conjunction with rich hardwood railings.  Sconce & recessed lighting when combined make a great addition to any foyer and provide ample light while eliminating the need to pay someone to clean a hanging fixture suspended two stories overhead.

Moving a little further inside, many of today's newer homes now have a home office incorporated into their floor plan.  With an increasing percentage of employees working from home either full or part time, this room has become the focus of many.  Spending 8+ hours a day in a room with a desk and four plain walls can be exhausting.  Schrock's of Walnut Creek makes some fabulous desks that can be stained to match your custom cabinetry, wainscot walls, and beamed ceiling.  The transformation can be amazing!

Family rooms have migrated their way into becoming great rooms.  Beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, custom fireplace mantles and built in entertainment units all help put the "Great" in great rooms.  Surround sound wiring can be concealed behind crown moldings and televisions can be shrouded from view by cabinetry or even designed to lower out of sight into a hutch.  Walls of windows can be added to brighten up the space during the day and can include Pella slim shades between the glass to isolate the room from outsiders upon demand.

Formal dining rooms are losing favor with today's casual crowds.  Many dining rooms are being combined with the kitchen to increase counter space, add a desk area, and provide enough room for a center island with bar type seating.  For those who choose to maintain a formal dining room, many are adding large moldings to walls and ceilings and increasing the size of baseboards.  The wainscot look is as popular as ever.  Many who have lived with carpeted dining areas are seeking the easy cleanup of hardwood or ceramic flooring to simplify their lives.

Utilizing your home's lower level is a much more cost effective way to increase living space when compared to a brick & mortar addition.  In many cases, a great design can incorporate both natural light and mandated "egress" requirements.  No longer referred to as the "basement", today's lower levels are often used as cozy retreats, media rooms, in-law suites, & teenage hangouts.  The finishes used today now mimic those found on the main levels of the home.  Drywalled tray ceilings with recessed lighting are commonplace.  Lush carpet or electrically heated ceramic floors can help keep you feeling cozy even in the dead of winter.  Many lower levels incorporate bar areas, kitchenettes, or even full blown kitchens to simplify feeding the troops who are hanging out having a great time in front of the big screen television.  Speaking of televisions, keeping up with the Joneses is become increasingly more difficult.  Projector screen televisions and even complete movie style theaters with stadium seating are popping up in neighborhoods near you.

Clark Renovations can assist you in upgrading your interior whether you choose to simply add crown molding and larger baseboards or decide it's time to leapfrog the Jones family. Contact us today for a free consultation.