Remnant Architecture

The floor plans of the houses in Knoxville’s neighborhoods can be categorized into eras. The Victorians with many rooms. The smaller Craftsman bungalows and Post-War Ranches. Basement Ranchers and Split-Levels. Colonial Revivals with attached garages and bonus rooms. Your neighborhood likely had most of its houses built around the same time and maybe even by the same builder so the floor plans can be very similar.

Does the area where you want to live have a floor plan that fits your life? If so, then maybe you don’t need an architect. If not, maybe you are considering some changes to the floor plan but aren’t sure if you should do anything drastic.

To Renovate Or Not To Renovate – Factors To Consider

Return on investment is a common thought that people have when contemplating a renovation or addition to their house. How long you plan to stay in your house is a major factor. With a large scale renovation, you may not recoup 100% of the cost if you sell right away. However, if you live in the house for many years, its overall value may eventually exceed your original purchase price plus renovation cost. Also, if you renovate and stay in your house, you will gain enjoyment from it, which isn’t always reflected in your appraisal but is still valuable to you.

Budget is also a factor in considering a renovation. Construction costs in Knoxville have increased significantly since before the pandemic, so it is important for you to decide how much money you want to invest in a renovation and determine if it is financially feasible to complete your envisioned renovation. You need to identify your must-haves and nice-to-have items so you can determine whether the project meets your minimum goals.

Especially if you are nervous about ROI or budget, it can be helpful to look at other houses to see if you could sell and buy another home, instead of renovating. Compare the cost of selling your current home and buying a new one with what the renovation to your current home would cost. If your search is limited to a narrow target area, then you may find that the available homes are similar to your current home. Expanding your search to different areas of town, may make it more likely to find a home closer to what you want.

Challenging Neighborhood Expectations

What if the ROI and budget work for you, but you don’t want to be the “weird house” in the neighborhood? A thoughtful approach would be to preserve the front of your house or the curb appeal to be compatible with the other houses in the neighborhood. Check out our Fountain City Farmhouse project to see an example of a house whose front elevation changed but remained consistent with its original character and context.

In many historic districts, exterior changes visible from the street are not allowed. Additions are recommended to be on the rear of your house and should be designed to complement, not overwhelm, the form of your current house. You can apply this philosophy to neighborhoods without strict regulations so your house still feels like part of the street character.

When the street-facing view of your house is compatible to your neighborhood, homeowners can have greater freedom to change the interior or expand on the rear side of the house. Your home should work for the people living in it, while not detracting from the neighborhood. Not everyone has the same lifestyle and preferences so not every house needs the same layout.

Many homes have similar plans because they were designed for efficiency, broad market appeal, and predictable construction costs. A renovation provides an opportunity to adapt your home’s layout to your unique priorities.

An architect can help you weigh trade offs. Is there another house out there that would meet your needs better? Or do you value your current neighborhood so that renovating is the better path for you?

If you think renovating your home is the best path for you, then Remnant Architecture can help you redesign your home. Fill out the new client application to get started.