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A kitchen with black and white cabinetry and a island countertop with gray chairs
Walker Woodworking

Design Notes

How To Modernize Your Outdated Home

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Does your home feel old and out of touch with the times? Have you wondered how to update its style and make it trendier? But do you also worry about the cost and effort of such a project? If you answered yes to these questions, we have the answers for you.

Every house eventually gets old. It doesn’t matter how well-designed the home is; this is bound to happen. As TEJRentals.com explains, that’s because popular house design trends are constantly changing as technology advances and buyer preferences shift.

And when preferences shift, you can’t go back and rebuild your home; you have to stay with what you have. But you don’t need to rebuild the house to bring it into the modern era. Updating your home does not require making massive changes to the property.

You need to understand the difference between style, class, and function. Although a house’s style may become outdated, it does not have to lose its class. Every home can remain functional regardless of its style and age.

An old-style home is one thing, but an obsolete home is an entirely different matter. In this article, we outline simple things you can do to pull your outdated home out of the past and into the modern period. You will be able to restore its appeal without giving up the quiet dignity that’s associated with old homes.

Declutter and Clean Your Outdated House

Giving the home a deep clean gives you the chance to look at the house with new eyes. You will be able to audit your belongings and reassess the usefulness of each item. You don’t know how much clutter you have accumulated until you do this process.

Simply getting rid of unused stuff and cleaning your carpets will make the home feel fresh. Doing a deep clean helps you see the actual state of the house. You can accurately assess the condition of various areas or objects in the home to determine the next steps.

Walker Woodworking custom cabinets peg drawers utensil drawer organized kitchen deep drawers dovetail drawers

Create More Space In Your Outdated Home

Modern homes have simple furniture and a lot of open space. They are designed to maximize airflow and allow ease of movement, unlike older homes, which often have huge furniture pieces.

Creating more space introduces the streamlined flow of a modern home into your old home. A few ways to do this are to replace large furniture with sleek modern ones, rearrange furniture to make rooms look bigger, get rid of carpets, discard old appliances, remove stacks of paper and other stuff, and rearrange cords and cables to hide or make them less messy.

Update Window Treatments

Blinds, shutters, and drapes determine how much light gets into the home and serve as a backdrop to the entire room. They can make a room feel confined, and just by looking at the window treatments in a home, you can guess what year the house was designed.

In place of inefficient old window treatments, use modern options like bright-colored drapery panels, sheer curtains, eco-friendly blinds made of rattan or bamboo, metal blinds with a wood-like appearance, or roman blinds.

Graber Window Treatments
Greenbrook Design

Repaint The Outdated Home

The color of the paint on walls and ceilings blankets everything in the home. If the paint is dull, faded, or old-fashioned, it will cloak everything in the home with these qualities. When painting your house, you must approach it strategically.

Merely applying a new coat of paint is not enough; the color palette you chose matters. Choose neutral interior colors to make rooms feel brighter, roomier, and airier. You should pay special attention to the colors of trims and crown moldings.

Update The Light Fixtures and Power Outlets

If the rooms in the home are poorly lit, most of your redesign efforts will become invisible at night. Poor lighting also makes rooms feel cramped. Additionally, aging light fixtures will feel out of place against the now redesigned home.

Replacing light fixtures and power outlets with modern versions that are more efficient and attractive will create a better overall result. The position of lighting also matters. By having sufficient lighting at various levels of each room, you will achieve the most illumination.

a kitchen with a marble island and stainless steel appliances
Walker Woodworking

Update Hardware

Door and cabinet handles, as well as plumbing fittings, draw a lot of attention. Swapping worn-out old designs for modern ones will have an immediate impact and lift your outdated home into the current. Visitors’ eyes instinctively go to the handles on doors and drawers, as well as the faucets on kitchen and bathroom sinks.

Small changes in these areas can have a significant impact. When changing the hardware on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, it is also a good idea to refresh the cabinets themselves by refacing or repainting them.

In closing, although far from being everything you can do in your home, these steps will get you on your way to a more modern home. Enjoy doing them. Cheers.

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CC Court house

Award-Winning Presentation: MORE THAN A WORK OF ART

In The News

Our very own hometown talent, nationally recognized photographer Randy McNeilly, has earned multiple prestigious awards for his exceptional artwork—proudly on display in the Greenbrook Design showroom.

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July 1, 2021/by Stacey Walker
https://i0.wp.com/greenbrookdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CC-Court-house.jpg?fit=1152%2C768&ssl=1 768 1152 Stacey Walker https://greenbrookdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Design-Center-Logo-1-02-300x213.png Stacey Walker2021-07-01 14:33:002025-07-09 18:13:23Award-Winning Presentation: MORE THAN A WORK OF ART
White kitchen blue kitchen island walker woodworking cabinets dura supreme cabinets tile backsplash cabinet lighting

Functional, Versatile, Timeless: Why Have a Kitchen Island

Design Notes

Will kitchen islands go out of style? The answer is no. The kitchen island is often the focal point in the kitchen and one of the most sought-after features in a kitchen renovation; in fact, it is one of the most versatile areas in the kitchen. Need a place to do some homework? How about a family dinner or brunch? Looking for a surface where you can spread out when cooking? Some extra storage for large pots and mixers would be nice, too. All of this and more can be accomplished with a kitchen island; some might even call it a mini kitchen within the kitchen. This flexible workstation can be created to reflect any style, accommodate any size, and suit any need. Today, we want to answer some common questions about the kitchen island, explore the benefits, and explain why it will never go out of style.

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June 28, 2021/by Stacey Walker
https://i0.wp.com/greenbrookdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/White-kitchen-blue-kitchen-island-walker-woodworking-cabinets-dura-supreme-cabinets-tile-backsplash-cabinet-lighting.jpg?fit=1920%2C1280&ssl=1 1280 1920 Stacey Walker https://greenbrookdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Design-Center-Logo-1-02-300x213.png Stacey Walker2021-06-28 15:55:342025-07-29 15:56:33Functional, Versatile, Timeless: Why Have a Kitchen Island
White gourmet kitchen gold pendent lights custom cabinets

Rebuilding Life: Changing Up your Home After the Pandemic

Life, Styled

As the COVID-19 pandemic slowly comes to an end, you may be ready to update your home and make a few changes. Perhaps being stuck inside during lockdowns gave you time to identify areas that needed cleaning, upgrading, or other home improvements. If you want to start rebuilding your house but aren’t sure how to get started, see how these tips can help, brought to you courtesy of Greenbrook Design.

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June 14, 2021/by Stacey Walker
https://i0.wp.com/greenbrookdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/White-gourmet-kitchen-gold-pendent-lights-custom-cabinets.jpg?fit=1920%2C1280&ssl=1 1280 1920 Stacey Walker https://greenbrookdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Design-Center-Logo-1-02-300x213.png Stacey Walker2021-06-14 16:00:442025-07-29 16:01:13Rebuilding Life: Changing Up your Home After the Pandemic
a bed with a book shelfWalker Woodworking

Functional Furniture: What is a Murphy Bed?

Life, Styled

When space is limited, it is valuable and greater thought is invested in creating a design that maximizes square footage to provide a functional space for the homeowner. Both manufacturers and designers alike are continuously thinking of new ways to give their clients the things they need, but using less space. One such item is the Murphy bed, yes, the one used in multiple comedy routines, but it has evolved into a stylish piece, yet remains as functional as ever. It is also comparable in price point to a traditional bed. Could the Murphy bed be the solution to your limited space problem? Let’s unpack exactly what it is and how it can help give you additional room in your home.

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June 7, 2021/by Stacey Walker
https://i0.wp.com/greenbrookdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/murphy-bed.jpg?fit=1500%2C630&ssl=1 630 1500 Stacey Walker https://greenbrookdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Design-Center-Logo-1-02-300x213.png Stacey Walker2021-06-07 16:11:352025-07-29 16:12:02Functional Furniture: What is a Murphy Bed?
A dry beverage center with a small refrigerator with cans and drinks inside itWalker Woodworking

Maximize Your Home: Creative Storage for Small Spaces

Design Notes

What to do when you don’t have the luxury of square footage? How can you create storage when there is not a lot of room, to begin with? Can you make small spaces work for you? These are good questions that we have helped our clients answer numerous times. While it may present more challenges than a larger home, it is possible to have the necessary storage for you to keep everything you need on hand. Small is not bad; in fact, it comes with multiple benefits, and a good design can help you maximize the space you do have to build a home that is exactly right for you. Let’s talk about some creative storage solutions for small spaces.

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June 1, 2021/by Stacey Walker
https://i0.wp.com/greenbrookdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Walker-Woodworking-custom-cabinets-beverage-center-backsplash-brass-hardware-frameless-kitchen-cabinets-white-kitchen-countertop.jpg?fit=854%2C1280&ssl=1 1280 854 Stacey Walker https://greenbrookdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Design-Center-Logo-1-02-300x213.png Stacey Walker2021-06-01 17:58:142025-07-29 17:58:59Maximize Your Home: Creative Storage for Small Spaces
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