Montclair's Colonials have wonderful bones and a few predictable quirks. Five things worth knowing before you start a renovation.
1. Respect the character that makes it worth renovating
The reason a Montclair Colonial is worth renovating is the same reason to renovate carefully: original moldings, proportions, and detail are nearly impossible to replicate. The best results modernize how a home functions while protecting the features that give it soul. Start by cataloguing what you love and want to keep.
2. Expect compartmentalized rooms
Colonials were built with formal, separated rooms — wonderful for definition, less so for the open, connected living most families want today. Much of the design work is deciding where to open things up and where to preserve the intimacy of a defined room. There's no one right answer; it depends on how you actually live.
3. Plan for light
Older Colonials can run dark, especially through the center of the home. Layout changes, reworked openings, and a considered lighting plan do more for how a renovated Colonial feels than almost any other single decision.
4. See it before you commit
Structural and layout changes in an older home are expensive to undo. This is exactly where 3D renderings earn their keep — you walk through the reimagined space and confirm the plan works before construction begins, not after.
5. Work with someone who knows the town
Every Montclair neighborhood — from Upper Montclair to the South End — has its own housing stock and rhythm. Working with a studio that designs across Montclair and the surrounding towns means fewer surprises and a design that fits both your home and its setting.
Planning a Colonial renovation? Book a free consultation and we'll help you map out the right approach.