site-logo-mob
CLOSE MENU

Empty Nesters: Do You Really Need to Keep Your Child’s Bedroom?

The kids are long gone! Now, what on earth should you do with their bedrooms? Do you… A. Leave the room intact on the off chance that they come home for a visit? Or, B. Transform their old room into something that you’ll use?

Let us start by saying that if your kids have left the nest, it’s 100% okay to turn their bedroom into a space you can utilize, you don’t have to feel guilty!

It’s a different time in your life. Your baby is now a grown-up. What worked for them when they were younger won’t work for them as an adult – nor, will it work for you. Plus, there’s no reason to hold onto a bedroom that will only be occupied a few times per year. Instead, you can transform that room into an office, yoga room or dedicated hobby space that you’ll use daily.

In making changes to your home’s layout we do have one bit of advice to keep in mind. Do your best to avoid reducing the number of bedrooms in your home, as this can cause your home value to drop. For example, it doesn’t make sense from a home value perspective to take two bedrooms and convert them into one large media room.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take stock in all the square footage you have available in your home, particularly if you’re also considering a home addition. At the end of the day, you need to think about the best way to use the space in your home and how you want to handle overnight visits. Moving walls and repurposing rooms lets you take advantage of the valuable space you already have for everyday enjoyment, and your son or daughter can stay at a hotel or sleep in another room when they come to visit. There are Murphy beds and pull-out beds for brief stays, or if you do keep their room as a bedroom, it will typically become a guest bedroom, so redecorating is in order anyway.

When the number of people living in your home changes, it’s not surprising that you’ll use your home a little differently. This is a good time to reevaluate and embrace the new dynamic in your household, now that your habits and daily activities are likely to have changed. You may even have time to read, travel, or cook now that the active parenting years have passed, imagine that!

It’s easy to talk through the options for your home, just set up a time to meet with a designer and they’ll come prepared with all sorts of questions, and an open mind for your home’s potential. Or, register to attend an upcoming remodeling workshop to gather more insights. You can also follow Normandy Remodeling on Facebook and Instagram for more design ideas and inspiration.

Coffee Bar Design Ideas You’ll Love a Latte

Two coffee bars, on the left is a wood stained version with a mini fridge, on the right is a black alcove with an espresso machineCoffee, espresso, latte or mocha… No matter how you fuel up in the morning, we’re serving up some great coffee bar design ideas courtesy of Normandy Designer Laura Barber, AKBD. Read below and make your morning Starbucks run a thing of the past…

Here’s what you should consider adding to make the most of this design:

Glass Front Cabinets – This is the perfect way to display your coffee cups. It’s also a way to infuse a little bit of your personality into the space.

Small Sink – A small sink with an instant filtered hot water faucet will allow you to easily add water to your coffee pot or make tea at the ideal temperature.

Drawers & Specialty Storage – You’ll want additional storage for filters, sugar packets, tea, and other miscellaneous coffee supplies.  You can even add organizers for K Cups if you have a Keurig.

Small refrigerator – This will allow you to keep milk and creamers nearby.

“Aside from the obvious morning cup of coffee, you can also utilize coffee bars as a wine bar or entertaining area for family and friends,” said Laura. “Since this area is outside of the main kitchen, guests can help themselves to drinks without coming into the main workspace.”

Set up a time with Laura to start working on your space, or learn more about the remodeling process by visiting our FAQ page. You can also visit the Normandy Remodeling photo gallery or follow Normandy Remodeling on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest or TikTok for even more inspiration.

Schedule an Appointment