Living in old Del Mar, one of the most beautiful communities along the Pacific Coast, is an exceptional experience. But what do you do when your home in old Del Mar no longer suits your lifestyle? For recent JDR clients, the time had arrived to choose between buying a new home or choosing to undertake a whole home remodel.

Our clients lived in a 40 year old home they had owned for more than 15 years. During that time, their children had grown from babies to teenagers and the couple’s interests, lifestyles and tastes had changed. They found themselves living in a large home where they only used a small percentage of the space because the house was not designed to adapt to their current way of life.

After researching a number of upscale tract home choices, our clients recognized that option was not right for them because they wanted a more personal expression of their style and a home customized for their needs. They decided that a whole home remodel was the best choice for them at this time in their lives and they selected JDR’s expert team for the project.

Using our unique design build process, JDR made significant structural changes to the existing home, adding height on the top floor and over 1700 additional square feet overall. The new home was designed to take advantage of beautiful views of the Torrey Pines State Reserve. Because the couple’s aging parents often come for extended visits, a new bathroom was added with universal design features to accommodate their changing needs. Each room of the new home was custom designed with the needs and desires of the clients in mind, so the family now fully enjoys their appealing new environment.

After doing the research, this couple recognized that rather than moving from their home of 15 years, they could work with a unified team of architects and designers to transform their environment with a whole home remodel that captures a spirit of renewal.

When you’re choosing the right team for your remodel, you might wonder how much of a difference it makes to have an architect on your project. How do architects contribute to a successful remodel? Here are some points to consider:

1. Expertise: Architects are licensed professionals who have undergone rigorous education, internships and exams. The role of an architect is not just to design buildings. Through the design, the architect must also protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public and the users of the buildings. Therefore, like medical doctors, one must have a license granted by a U.S. state or territory in order to refer to oneself as an “architect.” (source: AIA – American Institute of Architects)

2. Perspective: A home remodel is a complex fusion of planning, design and construction. Architects are able to see the many aspects of a remodel – the homeowner’s needs, space and materials requirements, budgets, timetables and permits – and develop the best possible solutions.

3. Vision: An architect can help you clearly define your project – its scope, features, purpose and functionality – and achieve your goals both functionally and aesthetically. The architectural design discipline includes organizational and technical expertise; it also requires the intangible aspects of emotion, psychology and artistry. Giving the responsibility of designing your new home to a draftsman or design consultant can often lead to inappropriate, inaccurate and uninspired design solutions. An architect helps you express your own very personal vision.

4. Value: Because an architect is able to forecast how new construction ties into your existing home’s structural and technical systems and ensures that construction documents are prepared efficiently and accurately, you avoid any costly mistakes during the transition from concept to reality. Architects are also trained to capture energy savings and improve the overall efficiency of your home. The enduring marketability of good design contributes to your home’s value.

When you work with a design build remodeling firm with architects on staff, you access a team of designers, architects and construction professionals that share the expertise to make your remodel more inspiring and less stressful during every phase. Working with an architect can make the difference between “new” space and “dream” space.