How to Remodel a Split Foyer House

Design an addition that will enhance visual appeal. Install an enclosed porch with both siding and glass to improve curbside appeal. Expand the rectangular shape of a split-foyer house with a large bonus room on the back of the home, as another choice. Build some extra square footage to keep a typical raised ranch from seeming cramped. Add some additional living space to increase marketability.

Figure out ways to add light and open floor space. Install glass blocks on an exterior wall in the kitchen or bath areas. Add a skylight to the kitchen as well. Paint walls white, off-white or pale taupe. Take down a wall between the living room and kitchen, especially if the kitchen is small. Build an arched doorway between the rooms for an elegant look.

Design and remodel a new living space and kitchen. Make improvements that give each room a clean, open look to reverse the dated look of a 1970s house. Change furniture and window treatments in the formal living room. Purchase framed prints, art objects and throw pillows to give the living room a finished look. Paint walls off white, for example, and add new sofas and an area rug. Install new kitchen cabinets in a lighter finish. Remove the old, dark cabinets typically used in that era. Add a new stove and refrigerator.

Upgrade bedrooms and baths. Add white plantation blinds to bedrooms and baths. Paint walls a pale neutral color and add new flooring. Buy new carpet for bedrooms and lay white tile flooring in the bath to reflect light. Upgrade all light fixtures in bedrooms and baths as well. Buy a new vanity cabinet and sink for each bathroom. Change all main bath fixtures to white, if colored fixtures from the 1970s are installed.

Create new curbside appeal. Replace exterior siding and add stacked stone on the front. Use a retaining wall of stacked stone near the curbside to match. Change the colors of window shutters and house overhangs to give a newer look. Install a wide sidewalk and yard landscaping to give the whole house front a face-lift. Use post lanterns and solar lights to add a polished appearance to the yard space.