Design Ideas for a Family Renovation

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Designing a family home can be complicated—how do you satisfy everyone’s needs without creating a chaotic aesthetic? cathy nyarkoh, a designer at Block, says parents should stick to their personal aesthetic while also making room for some fun and quirky kid-friendly elements. Here are a few of her tips for a family renovation.

tHinK aHeaD

How do you design a space for a family whose needs will change? one technique is to make things adjustable, rather than just miniaturize them to accommodate small kids. For example, nyarkoh recommends high stools at a kitchen counter or stepping stools in a bathroom to help little ones participate without permanent alterations. Also avoid kid bedroom built-ins to give the space more flexibility for the future. She also likes to use neutral shades so that when a princess-loving 6-year-old becomes a teenager, she can redecorate accordingly without too much disruption.

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KeeP tHe tuB

While you don’t need to make the whole home kid-friendly, the kid bathroom should be. Families who have a tub should always opt to keep it and pair it with a festive shower curtain—instead of a glass shower door. (It will make tending to the kids in the bath easier and safer.) nyarkoh also suggests a floating vanity so a stool can be hidden underneath it. She often opts for removable hooks in various colors at kids’ height and an accent wall or tiles halfway up colorfully painted walls.

involve tHe KiDs

Include the kids when selecting colors or patterns for their rooms or bathroom. “Make them feel like they are imagining what the space will look like,” nyarkoh says. Another idea—let them paint a couple of color swatches on their bathroom wall to see which one they like best. And it can’t hurt to give them a measuring tape and make them feel part of the process. nyarkoh also recommends kids help decorate by choosing their own towel or appointing certain toys to the tub basket.

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maKe sPaCe For storage

Maximizing storage will help hide the clutter—which is inevitable for a growing family and can really take over a small space. After hundreds of jobs in nYc, nyarkoh and the other designers at Block have become well-versed in spacesaving tips and storage opportunities. For example, go big with cabinets, vanities, medicine cabinets and closets; invest in storage bins or even beds with storage options. Also a pocket door can create a little more room in a tight kid’s bedroom.

Have Fun!

Finally, have fun with it! Use bright colors where appropriate and especially in kidfriendly areas. choose fun patterned tiles for an accent wall or use a bright pop of color when painting. But don’t forget principal number one: Kids grow up and their tastes may change. “Instead of a bright pink, go with a vintage pink,” nyarkoh says. “that way you’re still playing with color, but they are colors you can grow with.”

The Cost of a Home Renovation in New York City

A dream renovation can be costly. For example, you might spend on average $40,000 for a nYc bathroom renovation, while a major kitchen renovation can cost about $100,000. And even though those funds are well spent improving your home, it’s useful to know exactly where that money goes. We asked Hope Holland, a project planner at Block, to explain the most common and often unanticipated costs of a home renovation in nYc.