Renovating a Split Foyer House - suggestions??

[Anonymous]

We own a split foyer house that we currently rent out and anticipate renovating in the next couple of years for our own use. We love the location but don't love the house. Has anyone undertaken a major renovation on this kind of house? If so, what did you do to it? Can you recommend your architect and builder? We have considered tearing it down and starting again but for a variety of reasons would rather renovate.

thanks!

[Anonymous]

The only guidance I can offer is that if it is a mid-century house, go with that instead of trying to give it a more traditional makeover. Yuk.

[Anonymous]

Morris-Day does very good work. Not sure what they could do with a split foyer, but it would certainly be worth talking to them.

http://www.morris-day.com/home.html

[Anonymous]

We used Kohler Associates Architects / Kohler Homes for our addition/renovation. I highly recommend them. Here is their website: http://www.kohlerhomes.com/

[Anonymous]

I was about to recommend Morris-Day, too! I seem to recall Rob working with this problem before.

I live in a Morris-Day; we love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We own a split foyer house that we currently rent out and anticipate renovating in the next couple of years for our own use. We love the location but don't love the house. Has anyone undertaken a major renovation on this kind of house? If so, what did you do to it? Can you recommend your architect and builder? We have considered tearing it down and starting again but for a variety of reasons would rather renovate.

thanks!

I renovated and expanded split levels but a split foyer is much harder to handle . A lot depends on the number of stairs and the grading. Is the back walkout on the lower or upper level? If it's in a neighborhood with a lot of split levels, ramblers, split foyers just put in some new windows [maybe larger windows], average new baths, kitchen. Add closets on either side of windows with a seat in the middle. If it's in a Spring Valley or Franklin Park neighborhood with a lot of variation you can do more.

[Anonymous]

I have always been told its cheaper to tear down and build from scratch rather than renovated a house like yours (i.e. you dislike the actual style/design of the basic structure).

[Anonymous]

If it is a split entrance foyer, tear it down.

[Anonymous]

Hi there, we recently renovated/added on to our 1950's rambler and are thrilled with the outcome. Our architect was very good-- Gadi Romem at ROMD Architecture--email is [e-mail]. He was also reasonably priced.

[Anonymous]

11:21 -do you think the style is that unworkable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:21 -do you think the style is that unworkable?

Check the before and afters on this website from a firm in bethesda. What they call a split foyer is also known as a split level. You walk in on a LR-DR-kitchen. If this is what you have it is doable:
http://www.pgadb.com/featured_split_foyer.html

if it is a bi-level you have a tear down except for some curb appeal and basic fix ups on key rooms.

http://www.splitlevel.net/bi-level.html

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the feedback. To answer some questions - it is a walkout on the lower level and in a neighborhood that was 1950s and 60s homes and now has a lot of renovations and new houses in the $1.2 mill range so I think we could do some significant work without making it too nice for the neighborhood. That being said....given the state of the economy we are not looking to put $600K into the house! I was thinking new facade, addition off the back, new kitchen and baths. I'd love to do something funky but many avenues are pointing to the hire someone to tear it down and build a quasi cookie cutter as the cheaper/easier route.

[Anonymous]

10:09 here. OP, it sounds like you could have a potential modern classic on your hands after a thoughtful renovation. I understand, though, that there's not a lot of market for that in the 'burbs (I assume given the neighborhood description) around here even in good years. In LA (where I grew up), a lot of iconic mid-century homes are getting those "country kitchens" ripped out and being restored to their architects' intentions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the feedback. To answer some questions - it is a walkout on the lower level and in a neighborhood that was 1950s and 60s homes and now has a lot of renovations and new houses in the $1.2 mill range so I think we could do some significant work without making it too nice for the neighborhood. That being said....given the state of the economy we are not looking to put $600K into the house! I was thinking new facade, addition off the back, new kitchen and baths. I'd love to do something funky but many avenues are pointing to the hire someone to tear it down and build a quasi cookie cutter as the cheaper/easier route.

[Anonymous]

We had one and decided to move rather than renovate. No matter what we did it would still be a split level when we were done with it.