How to Redesign a Split-Level House Into a Victorian Home

Tour local neighborhoods and take pictures of Victorian homes which you find attractive. So many different home styles fit the Victorian category that you need to narrow down the options to those you like the most. A typical split level home can be converted into some Victorian styles but not to others. You need to narrow the field to hone in on a few options.

Take pictures of your home from all four elevations. Print these pictures out on your computer in black and white, and practice sketching Victorian elements onto the home. Victorian homes are at least two-story dwellings, sometimes three. Discuss with your spouse how the lower level can be converted to two stories, and how the upper level can be modified to accept Victorian architectural elements. The first step in any design process is brainstorming to focus on a few favorite elements while eliminating others.

Consider how the interior rooms will change as a result of the exterior remodeling. In a Victorian home, each room was designed for a particular purpose. Formal dining rooms, living rooms, sitting rooms, libraries and kitchens filled the lower levels, while living quarters, studies and bedrooms filled the upper levels. Conversely, tri-level homes often combine rooms for multiple uses. Decide on the goals for the interior of the home as part of the planning process.

Investigate financing options and decide on a hard budget. Before starting the formal building process, home owners must know their limits and use this budget as a means to select options and narrow down their choices.

Meet with a builder to discuss the home's foundation whether the substructure will carry the additional weight of the second story. Adding a second story to a home will almost double the weight of the structure. An experienced builder should be consulted as part of the discovery and planning stage to determine if the project will require excavation and foundation reinforcement in addition to the structure's physical remodeling.

Hire an architect or an experienced "design and build" general contractor to convert the ideas, sketches and plans into blue prints. This project requires complete redesign of the existing home, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems. The project must be thoroughly planned in order to determine the feasibility and cost.