That can help you save on electric costs over time. While we know that the design of a split-level house can vary, many of them will have a set of stairs outside that lead to the front door instead of a flat sidewalk. You can use the following materials or do the following to make noticeable changes outside, while looking neutral enough to complement everything else: If you recall, we made a list of remodeling ideas for the faade and front entry in an earlier section. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. But if extending your home is not a viable option for you, the next best thing is to gut existing rooms or sections to make certain areas bigger. A front porch was added, siding and stone are new, as are all the windows. Since split-level houses are stacked, they dont take up as much yard space and still provide plenty of square footage vertically on the interior. There are also one or two chimneys (remember in the old days how they kept the place warm). You can give them a figure and they can suggest materials that can be used for your home to make sure that the cost of materials and labor is well within your preferred budget. Make no mistake, retro is chic but split-level homes, to many, are still out of style. Keep in mind that easiest homes to maintain and make additions to tend to be rancheswhich is why they have become one of the most popular style of home! There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldnt wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Again, split-level homes tend to struggle with natural lighting. This makes the entryway quite narrow and the easiest solution is to move the storage somewhere else. The original use of the cottage was to house agricultural workers on a farm. Here are some concepts and ideas you can use for your own home. More information [Kitchen] In some places, homeowners with exterior steps will install a mailbox at street level. Many see this design as being very impractical, considering all the stairs you have to climb in order to access various areas of the home. link to What Kind Of Paint For Garage Walls. Why do you want to do a renovation of your split-level home? Used under license. There is a wonderful separation of space going on in the split level thanks to the small staircaseswhich are half of what it would be for a true 2 story. The story and a is my favorite, especially if the children in the house are a bit older and dont need to be close to the adults,or if you have out of town company. Whats not to love about a split-level home? The split level or foyer offered a stacking of floors taking a much smaller footprint of land reducing the cost to build a new home. Using bricks or decorative stones attached to the walls as accents, Adding more windows to balance out the elements of your home. Bryan Jones, Principal Jones Pierce Inc. An Atlanta based Architectural firm specializing in custom home transformations and custom retirement homes in fun places. Brokerage. You can also place raised garden beds if you want to disguise the slope of the land. This can be confusing to those who dont know the difference. Convert Ranch Into Split-level Ranch (Left side of house raised) Convert Ranch Into Split-level Ranch (Middle portion of house raised) Convert Ranch Into Colonial Convert Ranch Into Split-level (Do's & Don'ts) Add Rear Bathroom Dormer to Cape Convert Cape to Colonial (Cantilevered) Add Full Rear Dormer to Cape with Dog House Dormers Placement of the family room, kitchen, dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms can all vary in this style. 10 Things You Need to Do When Buying A Home, 3 Reasons to Live in a New Home Before Renovating, DIY Backyard Fire Pit: Build It in Just 7 Easy Steps, This Checklist Is the Key to Taking Care of Your Home (Without the Stress), How to Actually Afford to Buy a Home in America, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures. For some, this section seems like wasted space when you can use it as a den or mudroom. Unleashed by production builders in the 60s and 70s, split level homes are the most difficult type of house to transform into the way our customers want to live today. The French, Spanish, German, and Colonial Georgian are all sub types of this once dominant architectural style. The lower level, on the other hand, has lower ceilings and is partly below ground level. Bi-Level or Split-Level Remodeling Tips For Homes Built in the 1970s. With a split-level house, you could have at least three bedrooms and still have plenty of space for backyard recreation. The exterior of a split-level home is whats giving away its age. They were an off-shoot of the post-war modern movement. What made this transformation was raising the entrance to the main level, building out the attic space for an added level, and relocating the staircase to access all 3 levels. Similar to a side split home, back split houses are divided into multiple levels. Moreover, it presents serious challenges when it comes to renovating the entire space. Split-levels also showcase natural materials, minimal decorations, and double-hung windows with one large picture window. Whereas, the upper level will have a dining room, living room, and kitchen on one side and more bathrooms and bedrooms on the other. Refer to diagram below. Always consider even the most extreme ideas if youre planning to be in the home for a long time. You can also lengthen the front stoop of your main entryway by increasing the size of your entryways canopy or roof. More square footage on a smaller lota way to separate children and parents for increased sense of independence and privacy. Your link to How To Organize A Bathroom Closet. A split foyer conversion is no simple renovation, but Owings Brothers Contracting is up to the task! Split-level homes, also known as bi-level or divided-entry homes, are a very American home style. Lengthen the present rooflines in your home, Match the paint of your garage door to the paint of your main door, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE7jN7ofmeI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKS8AnI6Ahk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHaeHzf4iBU. As a result, their homes look even more unbalanced and the new additions are blatantly obvious not a look you should strive for. This is a split-level home, so there were limited aesthetic options in the entryway. Please switch to a supported browser or download one of our Mobile Apps. You can also turn it into your home office and place all your filing cabinets, bookcase, and other similar items there. With some fresh mulch and flowers, it can provide that freshness that can elevate any home. Photo and copyright by Renovation Design Group. Many homeowners concentrate on remodeling the inside of their home and neglect to work on the exteriors as well. The major disadvantage to this style of split-level home is the middle area that has no real function at all. The big tree doesnt help at all, since it just makes the left side heavier than the other side. Split-level houses feature an architectural style that was most popular in the 40s and 50s, and each type of split-level house has distinct features. The original 1950s split level was expanded and completely reworked. The reason is to prevent on-foot postal carriers from having to climb stairs to deliver the mail. When a home is cared for, it doesnt have that old, uncared for look that we think of with outdated homes. You can also have skylights placed on the section of your roof directly above your living space or bedrooms. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service. Doors with glass-like, translucent flat panels are beautiful in daylight and at night, when interior light can turn them into giant night lights all while obscuring the contents of your garage from neighbors. Changing the aesthetic of the exterior of your split-level can come down to some very simplistic changes. Windows can look simple at first glance, but they actually play a major role in the entire feel of the home. With some proper planning and a little bit of flexibility, it is possible to transform that 1950s look into something that has a much more modern, updated feel to it. The interior spaces flow. The aesthetic lends itself to an imaginative use of color, glass and circles. Many saw what was happening as a devaluation of human labor and an emphasis on mass production rather than individualism and hand-crafted items. Using a solid paint color ended up making the entire room look a lot more spacious than when wallpaper was used. Dont let the limited space of a split-level home hinder you from making all sorts of additions to your home. These are just a few ideas, and you can use them as a simple spark of design inspiration to get you going. Therefore, we thought it would be a good time to revisit strategies to turn the split level monster into a piece of architecture. We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. If youre looking for a home with plenty of space for your family and for hosting guests, the stacked split design is an excellent choice. It is not just about giving this type of home a fresh coat of paint every time you can actually make structural changes to a split-level home to add more space inside, or add partitions if you want more room. link to How To Organize A Bathroom Closet. The lower demand in most markets means that they are readily available for a cheaper price than other types of homes. The major disadvantage to split-level homes is the staircases that youll have to climb. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. Lighting is one of the most important features in just about any home layout. No matter which you choose, youll get multiple levels connected by short flights of stairs, but each style has unique features. The three resulting levels connect with staggering staircases. Balodemas said real estate developers saw them as a way. Glass is known to let in more light, and this allows you to save on electricity. Side split homes are one of the most common types of split-level houses and are the specific style portrayed on the classic TV show The Brady Bunch.. You are almost done - fill out this last step, Main entryway or door located at the middle level (often the part of the house with the single-story), or in-between the upper and lower levels (this style is also known as the split-entry home), The lower level is often the garage or an informal entertainment or recreational space, The middle level is the main living space that typically contains the living room, dining room, and kitchen, The higher floor is where bedrooms are located, How the rooms and functional spaces are divided in each level, Narrow passageways and very limited space near the main entrance (if the home incorporates the split-entry style), Minimal lights and details that are typical to this kind of home, Limited storage spaces, cabinets, and closets, Presence of cold and hot spots in certain areas of your home. There are many sub types of the Colonial style, with each world power at the time putting it's own unique stamp on this traditional style. Its much easier to move things in and out of the house when everything is on one level. Then, the stairs off of this room lead to the bedrooms that are stacked atop the foyer. The good news is that you can transform the floorplan to look like something out of this century. If you have a bigger budget, you can actually expand your home through the back. While some styles create space with doors, the colonial does it with staircase. Clients were also interested in: low maintenance finishes, usage of low/no VOC materials, good indoor air quality as they lived on site during the remodel, and preserving and refinishing salvageable resources. Contrast is key for on-trend style. Connect with top-rated agents near you and save thousands on commission fees. None have been built since the late 1970s. Another reason why these types of houses are desirable to homeowners is that the layout separates the living area from the sleeping area, offering more privacy. Unlike conventional floor plans, when you walk into the front door of a split foyer home, youll be greeted by the two sets of stairs. Have questions about buying, selling or renting during COVID-19? Keep in mind that the costs could be elevated from a standard renovation project because of the potential removal of walls and their load-bearing implications. A split-level home has a few great places to start. Colonial Home Style The colonial style is associated with the style of building used from the 17th to the 19th century, particularly in colonial America. The main advantage to standard split-level homes is the clear separation between the bedrooms and the kitchen and living room. To remedy this, you can install more lights all over your home; LED light is always better because it is brighter but doesnt consume much electricity. Garage doors are clad in metal. The home will include many sets of stairs, or in some cases, just a couple of steps, but the entry is generally at ground level. Not to mention, the steps can be a problem for elderly visitors or even simply carrying the groceries inside. Split foyer houses have two levels, with two sets of stairs. Although this will lead to inconvenience when moving around your home, you can also get doors placed on each level to maintain the set temperature. Photo Credit: Mid-Century Split Level Addition/Whole House Remodel, Front Yard That is, the middle and largest level is for the dining and living areas, the upper floor is for bedrooms, and the lowest floor is for the garage or cellar. Striking Split-Level. Written by In these instances, the floor plan will usually be designed by an architect to suit the specific topography of the lot. In Miamis South Beach, the Art Deco style saw a resurgence in the 1980s with pastel colors. Single-hung windows, which feature bottom panes that slide up to open the windows, are common in split-level homes from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Think of Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater, and take note of the contrast between perfectly smooth wall surfaces and the texture of natural stone used intermittently throughout the design. Ideal Agent: Learn the Truth About Its 2% Fees. Split Foyer Conversion to Two Story Exterior 16,244 views Oct 26, 2018 60 Dislike Share Save owingsbrothers 222 subscribers This Plain Jane split foyer was given more than a facelift, it was. An exterior remodel of your tri-level home may sound easy because you might believe you can just go for whatever design you want. The split level house design has evolved in the world of production builders following the ranch home. Colonial Homes A typical colonial style home. When you open the front door, you are led to a distinct foyer or entry space. This is the photo of the residence building before undergoing the remodeling process. Here youll typically find the living room, dining room, kitchen, and possibly a bathroom. Whether youre looking to buy or build a home from scratch, you likely have a specific architectural style in mind. One of the best ways to modernize a split-level home is to avoid a roof color that's too light or too close to the house color. You can add a number of design elements, such as siding, tiles, wood, stone, and other decorative pieces to give it a new look. Taken fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHaeHzf4iBU. These give an illusion that the areas in the open space still have divisions that separate them. You can also make use of that list as an inspiration for your project. With some proper planning and a little bit of flexibility, it is possible to transform that 1950s look into something that has a much more modern, updated feel to it. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. The roof is an oft-overlooked aspect of a homes exterior, which is surprising given the size of both the visible surface area of the roof and the investment required to have a new one installed. Check out another split-level project by Jones Pierce Studios: https://jonespierce.com/marietta-split-level-facelift/, 400 Plasters Ave. NE, #225 Atlanta, GA 30324 Due to the complexity of this type of home, acquiring the services of a professional or two is often the wisest choice you can make in this aspect. Walk in the front door at ground level, and you climb a flight of stairs to reach the living room, dining, room and kitchen level . Most split-level homes that have never been updated retain the retro vibe from more than half a century ago it makes the entire house look like it should have stayed on that era. With a regular split-level, when you enter, you can either go up or down. Another great garage door style on a modern home is a wood-look door. We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood. This open-plan layout made the space look a lot bigger. If you prefer a home that still separates the living space from the bedrooms, but doesnt require a full flight of stairs to reach, you may consider a side split style house. Although only minimal work was done on this home, primarily with a fresh coat of paint and better landscaping, you can see how these seemingly simple works already made a huge difference to it. You dont have to concern yourself that much with how it will blend in with the rest of your home, compared to having the additions done at the sides. Your garage takes up a lot of frontage, so it's a large portion of your guests' first impression. The scope also included the living and dining rooms, plus the front entry and stairwell. It may be a bit more difficult but it is definitely doable. If you can, taking a wall or two out is a great way to open up what is largely an enclosed space. In most cases, these homes have a garage with the bedrooms situated directly above it on one side of the house. Aside from these two requirements, the design work involved aesthetics: enhancing the front faade with a modern architecture and high quality materials. Since the house is all on one level, you will need more square footage to get privacy from other household members. After all, this is what split-level homes are known for. This results in a stark contrast, especially when the differences are very obvious. Je peux rejeter les cookies non essentiels en cliquant sur Grer mes prfrences . The main level is street level so there is no need to be climbing up or down stairs with groceries etc. The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. To recap, split-level homes have three distinct levels that are accessed via short sets of stairs. However, the major disadvantage is the fact that you must climb multiple sets of stairs to reach each individual level of the home. It is the literal antithesis of the modern floorplan. Moreover, the proper windows can play an integral role in the energy-efficiency of your home. If your split-level features garage doors that face the street, they may represent your easiest and best option for modernization. The classic faade of a split-level home is very simple. A roof is far more than a utilitarian way to keep precipitation out of the house its an important design element that can make or break an exterior remodel. Open front porches and stone features are common on the craftsman. Transfer your coat rack or closet from the landing to the top of the stairs instead, creating room for you to welcome your guests as soon as they step inside. Even better, adding a skylight has a ton of benefits from every aspect: economical, functional, and aesthetic. Noticing a theme yet? Instead of a centralized heating and cooling system, consider having separate thermostats for the spots known to be cooler or hotter than the rest of your home. We wont keep you guessing for so long you can make additions to a split-level home, despite the space constraints. Again, the main advantage to this type of split-level home is the lack of staircases connecting each level of the house. The garage is usually the first to attract the attention of anyone who looks at this type of home, since its door takes a lot of space. The exterior can have a look that might be considered dated. Split entry homes have, as the name suggests, an entry that is between floors. You may be used to shoveling the driveway, imagine if you had to add your roof to the list of items to shovel.