Update 90s Home

3 years ago

Hi there! I'd like to explore ideas for updating my 1998 home. Specifically, opening the kitchen up a little further. I'm not in love with the thick columns and arches. I don't think I can get rid of them entirely, as they are likely load-bearing. I also do not love the high countertop between the kitchen and living room. I'm also looking for ideas for the fireplace. This room doesn't get a ton of light because we have a screened-in porch on the other side, so I am entertaining the idea of skylights. Any thoughts? Overall, I want a sleeker design to update the house. I plan to replace the flooring with a lighter blondish floor.

Thanks so much!

Featured Answer

kandrewspa

3 years ago

Unless you can't refinish what you have (don't know why that would be the case) you don't need to buy new floors. That would be wasteful. If you want to replace the carpet with wood, have the existing floors refinished to match the new. When I had an addition put on my last house the flooring company was able to do that. You don't need wider floorboards and I wouldn't even try to get it lighter. Just try to get the orange out. Very light floors are another trend. If you go light that will look dated in 5-10 years. If they're red oak you would have a lot of trouble getting them to look light without looking pink anyway.

You could have those arches flattened if they really bother you, and if it's time to remodel the kitchen you can eliminate the high counter. At least you don't have round columns. For me the thing that places a house squarely in the '90s is the half round windows. Unless you have them in another room and we can't see them, count yourself lucky you don't have them. It's a nice house. Mine was build in 1995 and I have the half round windows. They're hard to change. :-)

There are many ways to update the fireplace. Look at fireplaces in the Houzz pictures and create an Ideabook of the ones you like. Just keep in mind that the ledger stone look is already a past trend. I would just get a less traditional mantel. When the mantel is off you can change the surround, but the one you have looks pretty neutral, although I can't see any detail of it. I agree with the previous poster who said overall the room is too beige, so if you're keeping the carpet, change the surround.

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Comments (12)

decoenthusiaste
3 years ago
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/3042441/need-help-with-the-new-home
NagyMama
3 years ago
Interesting pix of 7 years ago. Frankly, akhochworter, your home is lovely. I personally think it has aged well and doesn’t scream 90’s. I’m no pro, just sharing my observations.
akhochworter thanked NagyMama
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upstatem
3 years ago
I agree this doesn’t look particularly dated. The arches aren’t my favorite, but I don’t think they are terrible, and the kitchen already appears quite open. Adding light, whether skylights or additional fixtures is always good IMO. I do think you could benefit from more color. It’s a lot of that beige/greige/grey color (can’t quite tell from the photo).
akhochworter thanked upstatem
eld6161
3 years ago
I wouldn't start removing the arches or columns.

I agree to get more color. Will there will wood where the carpet is?

I think a printed rug would be a good start.
akhochworter thanked eld6161
HU-187528210
3 years ago
I agree, it’s beautiful! Looks great!
You need to get a structural engineer out. If not, you’ll never know …
Honestly, I’d just rock the arches.
Maybe move the stove so that it’s centered to the arch…
akhochworter thanked HU-187528210
HU-187528210
3 years ago
Obviously, most of these, the style is way off… but this is what I meant…
akhochworter thanked HU-187528210
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BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
You want to do something with the kitchen and yet you only post one picture of the family room. The columns are obviously holding up the second floor and reducing their dimensions might make them appear too small in scale to actually do the job.

Looks like you have a bookcase between the columns. I'm assuming there are cabinets on the backside of the bookcases that are probably needed for storage inside the kitchen

Too many questions and not enough photos to advise you really on anything.
akhochworter
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you @kandrewspa. Very helpful response. I am considering refinishing the floors and matching the new areas. I agree the really light floors are trendy. I just have to be careful with dark ones because I have a toddler and a dog. We do have half-round windows in the front and our front door is a single with two long panes on the side. I really want a double door, but it will be very expensive! I appreciate your advice!
freedomplace1
3 years ago
There is really nothing architecturally wrong with the space. The existing wood floor is nice. Blonde floors and Skylights will not make it ”sleeker.” Neither will demolishing the columns. I would either paint the columns white, or a color such as SW Urbane Bronze - and maybe bring in a floor lamp.

In this rough visual, I used Behr “Wild Truffle“ on the columns:

Kira Home Sadie 60" Tripod LED Floor Lamp, 9W bulb (/), Honey Beige Drum Shade · More Info
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BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
The space might work better if the sofa were facing the TV.
PRO
Everything Home
3 years ago
You should be able to get rid of the high countertop between the kitchen and living room. The rest of the space doesn't seem to be that dated but we will include images of kitchen and living room designs of ours which might help you more.
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