Do you need a custom home expansion for your family? Let a Miami architect guide you.

New whole house remodeling in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida

Did you just come to Miami from New York or California?  And what did you think – that you would buy the house and just move in?

Guess what?  Miami has a lot of old, out-of-date housing, so if you are like the many clients I work with, who value design and want to live in a comfortable house, you are going to need to invest in your new residential purchase.

Custom home expansion

United Architects specializes in custom home expansions and family-focused renovations.  I advise my clients to think about what they want to do before they come to me.  This article, What 20 questions should you ask yourself before building a new house in Miami? can be used as a reference.  Most of the questions for a home addition or remodeling will be the same.  What is important is that you be clear with what you want and why you want it.

Some people just need more space because they have a growing family.  Some people want a more sophisticated look and the latest trends.  Some just want a house that looks fresh and up-to-date.

In the last few years, everybody wanted an open kitchen, which is great if your family is very organized and keeps all the kitchen appliances, tools, and dishes in their place.  But now, people are rethinking this, precisely because they are not the neatest people.  Walls now seem to be in favor again. So think about this carefully before you start thinking about removing walls.

Miami opportunities

So, what are the opportunities in Miami housing?  Unquestionably, there are some fashionable neighborhoods, such as Coral Gables, where just by adding to the house, you will immediately reap equity.  Coral Gables houses are selling for approximately $1,000 per square foot.  But a simple addition could be built for about $300-$400 per square foot.  So, there is value in building an addition to a house.

I like Coral Gables because of its beautiful trees and foliage.  As Miami gets hotter with climate change, trees are a wonderful way of creating shade and cooler temperatures in and around a house.

Important considerations

The first item on your list is to verify if you are in a flood zone.  If you want to read why this is important, read this article.

What are some of the important things to consider with an addition or remodeling?  First, remember to site the addition in a way that will leave room for a future pool and not cast a shadow on the pool.  Second, I like my bedrooms to have an eastern exposure.  And if possible, it is good to have cross-ventilation by having windows on two walls.  This will allow for a nice breeze in the winter.

If you have decided to remodel, here are some ideas to include that are energy-saving.  Read this article.

If you have a growing family or have a family that already includes teenage children, you may want to consider how to segregate the house so that the kids are not on top of you when you have a home office and you actually want to get work done.  Can you have separate wings of the house for different functions?  Can you separate the children's rooms from your working areas and the master bedroom?  These are things you need to think about before you even consider going to see an architect.

Make sure that while you are remodeling, you change all the windows and doors to impact.  This will greatly reduce your insurance costs and may even reduce the cost of air-conditioning the house. Impact windows and doors generally allow less air filtration in and out of the house.

Miami winters

If you haven’t gone through a winter in Miami, you will really appreciate it here when you do!  Miami winters are glorious.  So why do I tell you this?  While you are renovating the house, do you want to add a covered terrace?  Backyard barbequing and watching kids play is a wonderful experience in a Miami winter.  If you can include a covered terrace with an outdoor kitchen, you will be very happy that you did, once winter comes around.

Contact Information

If you have any questions and would like to discuss your project with us, call Maria Luisa Castellanos, R.A., the principal of the firm, on her cell phone, 305-439-7898.  We would love to discuss your project with you.