The Greater Pasadena area is resplendent with fantastic architectural homes of all styles and sizes. As a Realtor, it is such a pleasure to have the opportunity to tour many of these homes. I marvel at the original design, the moldings and the array of other design details originating from the minds of such geniuses as Paul Williams, Greene and Greene, and Roland Coate (just to name a few). We are blessed to have such rich architectural history in our own communities and have an inherent responsibility to make sure that the alterations that we make to these homes is an improvement to the Architect’s original design, not a detraction.

One of the most striking changes that many families are choosing to make to these older homes is the expansion of the kitchen area and the addition of an attached family room. Many of these early 1900’s homes were equipped with small kitchens, which often had a nearby maid’s room, bath and laundry room. Back when these homes were built, the kitchen was not a place of opulence or indulgence but a place that the everyday work of meal preparation happened. Today, even those who have help in the home desire their kitchen to be one of the best rooms in the house, an inviting gathering place for family and friends.

According to area contractor, Lee Haslam, if you had to choose one item to improve in your home, he would suggest doing the kitchen/family room remodel. Beyond the enjoyment that it will bring to your own family, this configuration has universal appeal to home buyers. Haslam contends that as long as you spend your money wisely, improvements to this area of your home will go straight to your bottom line during the selling process. He suggests using high quality materials and contractors but warns against the tendency to over-spend. According to Haslam, “Every decision should be a business decision first and a design decision second.” Assuming that you work within the original footprint of the home and are not adding square footage, he believes that you can complete a very beautiful kitchen/family room for a maximum of $100,000.

Another very important and worthwhile upgrade is the bathrooms of the home. The addition of double sinks, water closets and larger and more elaborate showers and bathtubs are all a bonus for home buyers. Just because a bathroom is updated, it does not have to appear out of place. Stores such as Mission Tile in South Pasadena have an array of vintage tiles and materials that can give a bathroom a period feel. Whatever you do, make sure that it is in keeping with the home’s original architecture and scale. The whole object is to make these rooms fit in with the rest of the house, while adding convenience, attractiveness and function. If your home is Spanish, use materials which blend and harmonize with the terra cotta tile, rot iron and arches inherent in most Spanish Architecture. Assuming that you are working within your original bathroom footprint, a bathroom remodel should cost between $15,000 and $20,000 (including infrastructure), but Haslam thinks that you could to do it for as little as $10,000. Haslam advocates the use of simple moderately priced materials, such as white rectangular subway tile and white hexagon floor tile in bathrooms. You can never go wrong with these timeless and attractive materials, and they are extremely suited for our period architecture.

Sellers frequently ask me if they should redo their kitchen and baths before putting their homes on the market. These sellers have usually spent many years in their home and have never gotten around to the tedious renovation process. My usual advice is to leave them alone, unless there are major cracks or flaws. Well-maintained homes that are clean and original are very desirable to a large group of buyers. Many buyers will want to make their own improvements, and money spent in haste will probably not add dollar for dollar to your bottom line.