For some homeowners, a home remodel starts out ambitious and exciting — before reality sets in.
To reduce anxiety, those exploring a remodel should set clear parameters for the objective of the project, map out a plan, and, perhaps most importantly, establish a top-end budget before starting any demolition in the home, says Blake Sutton, president of Scottsdale-based Est Est Interior Design. The company, established in 1959, says it is Scottsdale's oldest interior design firm.
The company name harkens back to medieval times, when traveling monks would send runners ahead to the next town in search of accommodations. Those runners would place a label of “est,” or “it is,” on suitable homes, or “Est Est” on top-of-the-line homes.
Sutton has been on both sides of the remodeling process, from upgrading his own home to working with a portfolio of clients, including homeowners and developers, throughout Arizona.
Among the more challenging projects on his resume was a new-build home on a lot that was split by a wash, or shallow creek bed. The team ended up using the wash as a design point, with a walkway connecting the home to the primary bedroom.
He has also conceptualized an RV garage that wasn't allowed on the property. The solution required the build-out of a hybrid property encompassing a collector's car garage, gym and closet space.
The bigger challenge in front of Sutton, the better, he says.
"Every time there's a difficult situation in design, it's really just an opportunity to do something special," Sutton said.
Sutton, with a Bachelor of Science degree in construction management from Arizona State University, started his career in residential building, working for Kitchell Custom Homes and Rowland Luxury Homes before moving to Est Est to work alongside his father and the firm's president, Tony, in 2010.
In 2022, the elder Sutton died after a battle with cancer, and Blake Sutton took over as president.
Whether the goal is to create a more custom home or improve its resale value, Sutton has tips for tackling the remodeling process.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
What are common mistakes that individuals make when taking on a remodeling or new-build project?
Whether it's someone buying an existing home they want to remodel and they start the demo process too early, or they start remodeling one space without a plan for the rest of the house, it causes a number of problems. One is financial. A lot of people run into problems with going over budget really fast or having to stop a project mid-stream because they can't afford to complete it.
The best way to get there is to hire a designer to work with you to fully detail out what you want to do, select all the materials and engage with the contractor who can price everything out. The most important decision to make on any residential project is the team that you put in place. It's often the difference between success and failure.
If you're a homeowner that's looking to do a small remodel, you want to go through some of those same steps. There are resources to find a designer that's a good fit for you based on the scale of your project. The American Society of Interior Designers is an organization for interior designers, and anybody can pop on their website and get referred to a designer.
What are some questions I need to ask before starting a remodel?
Ask yourself, what are we trying to achieve? This helps set clear parameters.
The next question is how much money do I have to spend? And the final one is what design direction makes sense? Is my house contemporary? Traditional? A Southwest ranch? Those lead to different things that are appropriate design-wise, and you want to make sure that when you remodel, you're being true to the architecture of the house.
Once you set those parameters, it's easier to start filling in the gaps on next steps.
It's a messy process, and I always say don't start the mess until you have a plan in place. Having that plan in place to know your budget and the road map is really important before you start the demo process.
What are some strategies to remodel my home to try and sell it?
If you're looking to sell your home, what you care about is having the widest buyer profile possible, and drive up the price so you can get the biggest return on your investment. In that situation, you're looking for things that are high value and lower costs.
A few examples would be painting your walls — a fresh coat of paint psychologically makes a huge difference; changing out your light bulbs throughout the house so they are consistent, different color tones makes a really big difference; and maximizing your views, which sometimes means taking down window curtains or taking down blinds to increase natural light.
If you're looking to truly do a remodel, key areas to focus on are the kitchen, primary bathroom and living room area.