Create Holiday Magic with a Remodel
There's nothing quite like being home for the holidays. But when you're the host, a home that doesn't work can turn a relaxed season into a frantic one.
Rather than accepting the chaos and hoping next year goes better, why not create spaces that work for you and your guests? Not just for the holidays, but for every day of the year.
Since 1996 we've seen just about every way a Fargo-Moorhead home can work against the family living in it. Water damage, mold and pests on one end. Boxed-in kitchens, dated finishes and not enough space on the other. Our mission is to bring families together through their homes, with spaces that reflect the people living in them. And nothing exposes a home's weak spots quite like a crowd expecting to be fed, housed and entertained.
Every remodel is different, but a few things never fail to make life at home better. Here are four to keep in mind as you plan.
1. Make the kitchen the heart of your home
You don't need to be a professional chef for your kitchen to be the gathering place. The snacking happens here. The coffee is brewed here. The conversations happen while meals are made, whether from scratch or in the microwave. So make sure your kitchen can handle the crowd comfortably.
You don't need a massive footprint. You need a flow that makes sense and places to sit.
- Add an island. It creates a natural walkway, adds seating and gives you surface space for everything from charcuterie boards to bowls of cereal.
- Define the work triangle. Use the island to create a clear path from food prep to cleanup to food storage.
- Add a nook or table nearby. In a larger kitchen, a breakfast nook or dining table next to the island creates small spots where people can visit, eat or help with holiday meal prep.
2. Create seating that makes sense
This is where interior design plays a big role. Transforming a space is about more than choosing a backsplash or a paint color. It's about choosing and placing the pieces that let you make the most of the room. How you position sofas, loveseats and accent chairs is key to the cozy gatherings you're picturing.
Create areas where you and your guests want to stay put, whether that's around the fireplace or in a chair angled just right for conversation with whoever's on the couch next to you.
Choose seating for how it will make the space function, not only for how it looks. Think of it as staging zones within the room:
- Clear TV views for game day
- A surface for board and card games
- Conversation groupings
- A cozy spot by the fire
The transformation shouldn't stop at the walls. Our Studio A designers help make sure it carries into what you put inside your new spaces.
3. Don't forget the bathrooms
Your guests will use the bathrooms, so if a yellowed sink, gunky grout or warped vanity doors make you want to save the room for the Grinch, make a bathroom remodel a priority. A small footprint can deliver a big change and a lot of personality.
- A pop of color on the vanity cabinet
- A wallpaper feature for pattern
- Unique lighting and plumbing fixtures
- A custom tile shower for a spa feel
- A retreat for you after the hectic season
Whatever the size, plan for surfaces that come back to life with a quick wipe-down, design that feels like an extension of the rest of your home and plenty of storage for extra towels and toiletries. Explore more on our bathroom remodeling page.
Hoping to host in a home that works next year? Start with a free 15-minute remodel consult and tell us what gets in your way.
4. Give yourself the gift of storage
The need for storage doesn't end in the bathroom. Build organization into everything from kitchen cabinets to closets.
- A custom built-in for your stand mixer that frees up counter space
- Shoe cubbies in the entry closet for a smooth path from the front door
- Vanity storage built for hair tools and skincare
Good storage builds confidence before the guests arrive. When you know where the suitcases, shoes, coats and hotdish containers will go, you can focus on enjoying the holiday instead of surviving it.
Even better, it makes everyday life easier. The cubbies for overnight bags hold backpacks the rest of the year. The extra vanity space for guest towels handles sleepovers. The cabinet layout that fits a bigger fridge makes weekly meal prep simple.
These four ideas matter just as much on a random day in March as they do the night before Christmas.
Your family should feel comfortable gathering in the kitchen. You need comfy places to unwind together. A bathroom can feel like a mini spa trip. And you can't go wrong with more storage.
Designed first, with one fixed price
Our Studio A designers plan your layout, finishes, lighting, fixtures and furnishings with you, and design is included with every remodel. Once your design is complete, you get one fixed price, so you know your number before work begins.
Holiday remodeling FAQs
Which room should I remodel first for hosting?
Usually the kitchen, since that's where everyone gathers. But if a dated bathroom is what makes you dread guests, that can be a smaller project with a big payoff.
Can a small kitchen still work for entertaining?
Yes. Good flow and a few places to sit matter more than square footage.
Does design cost extra?
No. Studio A design is included with every remodel we build.