Five Ways to Transform Your Home With A Modern Remodel

Interior Design by Laura Kehoe Design | Photography by Laura Moss

Sometimes, the perfect location for your custom home already has a house on it. And sometimes, it’s the house you currently live in. Instead of razing the current structure and starting from scratch, reimagine the space with a full, luxury remodel.

A well-planned and intentional remodel can modernize a home with a more functional floor plan, an updated kitchen, and high-end finishes to make it uniquely yours.

Update Your Floor Plan

A home can go from awkward to amazing just by rethinking where one room ends and another room begins. By working with a high-end home remodel company, they can help you make sure you create a floor plan that mirrors your priorities, such as a good flow for entertaining and breathtaking views outside every window.

Spend time thinking through the feeling you want for your home, and what makes you happiest in a space. Perhaps it's the laughter of friends and family sharing a big meal. Maybe it's some quiet time in a comfortable chair, enjoying the natural light and a good book. It might even be space to showcase favorite heirlooms and artwork. Knowing this can help you and your architect design a floor plan that makes you smile every time you walk through your home.

When you are reimagining the floor plan, be intentional about what you see outside each window. The owners of the Fountain Vista home knew exactly the views they wanted, and they reworked the floor plan so they had picturesque landscapes where they spent the most time.

Don’t forget to create a space for yourself. This can be a dedicated gym and yoga studio or even a reading nook and sunroom. When you are at the design stage of a remodel, this is where you can find room for these spaces to make the home perfect for you.

Rethink Your Kitchen

The kitchen is often the hub of the home. Whether you love cooking five-course masterpieces or want to make healthy meal prep quick and easy, these kitchen remodel ideas will help you design a room that is modern, functional, and inviting.

Think through how you want to use the space. Will you be cooking big meals for friends and family, portioning out your meal plans once a week, or enjoying a cup of coffee with your spouse each morning to start your day? These requirements will enable you to hone in on the specifics that will make the space both functional and beautiful.

Island design and placement can create a smooth transition between spaces. From natural stone to marble, the aesthetic of the island countertop material sets the mood of the space. Integrating wood into the design concept can bring a timeless elegance that will make your kitchen longlasting. And not everyone wants an open concept kitchen, so consider sightlines when reconfiguring walls.

Also, pick out appliances that meet your needs. That might be an oven that can accommodate your family’s Thanksgiving turkey or a wine cooler to keep the perfect bottle ready for your next gathering. Now is the time to create the kitchen you’ve always wanted!

Bring in More Natural Light

There is plenty of data on the benefits of natural sunlight, from lifting moods to helping your body process important vitamins and minerals. Plus it makes your home feel open and connected to the outdoors. Enjoy the surrounding landscape and take advantage of the health benefits by incorporating more natural light into your modern remodel.

Wow your guests with floor-to-ceiling windows in your great room, creating fantastic sight lines to the breathtaking scenery. Moveable or telescoping glass walls can open your floor plan for a big holiday party, or close it to create more intimate spaces. French doors open to the patio and let in cool evening breezes.

Also consider adding skylights in places where large windows wouldn’t be practical, such as the kitchen. With skylights, you will want to keep in mind the direction that the eave faces to reduce the amount of direct sunlight (and heat). For example, skylights that are on the north side of the house will have the most indirect light and the least amount of heat. Skylights that face east can provide direct light and some heat in the morning, which can help shake off the night’s coolness. Be sure to look for skylights that have a self-cleaning glass treatment so you won’t need them cleaned as often. 

You may also consider built-in remote-controlled shades if you include hard-to-reach windows in a room where you want more control over the amount of light, such as a theater room or bedroom. 

While natural sunlight does have wonderful health benefits, it can be overpowering in the Scottsdale summer. And it can also wreak havoc on your furnishings. Make sure the windows you add to your remodel have a low-emissivity (Low-E) glass coating, which helps deflect the heat in the summer. It can also protect your furnishings and decor from UV light. If you have windows that you plan to keep, you can add a solar film to existing glass for a similar benefit.

Add Details with High-End Finishes

The major parts of the remodel often get the most attention, such as the location of the new master bathroom or creating a foyer where there wasn’t one. But where the remodel really comes together is in the finishing touches. Bring your remodel to life by incorporating your personality into the details.

While the home will be designed specifically for you, it’s the little things that will make it special. These small touches can pull an interior design theme together. For example, if you are working with your Scottsdale interior designer to create a warm, rustic feel to your remodel, hand-carved hardware for your doors and cabinets extends the theme.

These high-end finishes are also a good way to incorporate technology into your modern remodel. App-controlled light fixtures and outlets with USB ports make it simple to cultivate the ambiance you want with the tap of a button, from soothing background noise from hidden speakers to lightbulbs that change from warm to cool based on the time of day.

Also, be sure to work with your home renovation contractor to build nooks for treasured artwork and keepsakes. These can be as simple as built-in shelves for a first-edition book collection or spotlighted alcoves carved out for favorite artwork.

Make Outside Inviting

While you are focused on getting the inside of your high-end remodel perfect, don’t forget about the area outside your home. Get excited about spending time outdoors by making your patio a space you and your guests gravitate toward.

If the home doesn’t already have one, consider including a pool. They are a must if you have young family members who enjoy splashing in the desert summer heat, plus a pool can provide a space for quiet meditation and exercise. Water features such as fountains and infinity pools add relaxation and a place for reflection.

If entertaining will be a priority for your remodel, or you enjoy cooking outdoors, plan a patio kitchen and bar for easy plating of your favorite smoked meats or wood-fired pizza. Focal points, such as artwork, fireplaces, and entertainment centers, give your guests a place to naturally gather. The Desert Getaway remodel, for example, added an outdoor TV and two fireplaces to encourage comfortable conversation on brisk evenings. 

This is also a great time to plan a xeriscaped garden for a quiet getaway within your own property. The owners of the Shade Villa remodel, for example, added a courtyard as part of the entryway, which included a secret gate and sculpture garden.