Retro? Renovate?

I toured three homes this morning with clients, and despite their healthy budget, it's been challenging to find them a home.  As we all know, the market is tight, there is almost no inventory, and when homes come on, there's a rush to see them, a flurry of over-asking offers and then the waiting game begins again for the next property to come on the market.  

While I'm sure it's undeniably frustrating for my clients, with few exceptions, the homes that are coming on all needs some level of TLC.  Everything from having asbestos cork tiles in the living room to the most amazing retro kitchens and baths. Each of the homes we saw today, had a lot of retro going on and it got me thinking about how, when and why we renovate. 

When you're already at the top of your budget getting into a home, your grand plans for a new kitchen or bath may need to put on hold, neither are cheap and neither are likely going to be the next big project you tackle. 

But it's not all bad, other than the financial aspects, waiting to do a new kitchen or bath has some potential upsides too.  

The number one best reason to wait, besides the cost and mess, is to have the opportunity to live in the space as it is to figure out what works about the layout and what doesn't.  You may find that the space works better than you thought, or realize that the goofy position of the dishwasher is just as awkward as it looked.  Its important to have a chance to feel the flow, not just with you and your Realtor, but also with pots and pans and kids and dogs and guests all doing their thing too.  

The dishwasher example is personal for me.  One of my condo's had a dishwasher that when open, blocked the sink.  For someone short like me at 5'4" this was functionally impossible.  It was easier (most days) to hand wash the dishes rather than bother trying to get them into the dishwasher.  Alas, the kitchen was redone, and in the process, I was able to move some other things around to make the flow work better for me.  In contrast, my current kitchen, although original to my 1969 deck house, has a good layout.  Is it perfect? No. It does need more storage and I have a few other tweaks in mind, but that said, it's perfectly functional for now (which is likely why no previous owners made any changes either...)

Some older homes from the early 1900s still have their butler pantries where most of the storage and sometimes even this sink will be found.  These can be difficult spaces to deal with due to lack of counter space and narrow passages.  I still think it's worth waiting on these too because how you end up using the rest of the space in the home will impact what you eventually decide want to do in the kitchen.

So living in the space is part of it, but also think about embracing the vibe and making it your own. 

Old or retro isn't necessarily bad (taking aside lead, asbestos, the known evils)... Even though we're all tempted by the renovated beauties on Pinterest, sometimes what's old really is still good. It's possible that old cabinets are better than what you'd want to afford today. They may be real wood and if you don't have to change them to accommodate a new flow, maybe new counters and appliances would be enough to create your own personal style.  And while old appliances are not likely as efficient as newer ones, stoves and ovens of a bygone don't always have to be replaced, sometimes a good scrubbing can make them shine again.  

And one more thought, it's it an original retro kitchen its likely very respectful of the style of the home. There is something to be said for understanding the home, and maintaining a cohesive style and feel, so even when you do renovate remember it's not just a kitchen or bath, it's part of a larger whole. Apartment Therapy recently shared a great before & after of a mid-century home that had a dated (not retro) kitchen and how they approached making it work with the house. 

My point about an old, older, or retro kitchen is to live with it, understand it, then make it yours.   

And then there are the bathrooms.  I have not done a bathroom - yet.  I currently live with two that are original to my 1969 deck house and, like the kitchen, function quite well for us.  Yes, there are tweaks that need to be done eventually like vents and lighting, and with that new counters I'm sure.  For now they are clean, functional and feel right in our home.  

Assuming it's not just worn out, the hardest thing about retro baths is usually the color(s) and/or the split water faucets (you know what I'm talking about -- separate spouts for the hot and cold water).  And Sadly there's not much you can do except replace these. But if you can find a way to embrace the cool vibes of yesteryear, go for it!