Owners of Day Star Construction Lori and Stephen Dorsky recently shared advice about major home remodels or just a little updating here and there, especially when it comes to older, historic homes in the area.
No matter how small or large the project, the husband-wife team said that with proper planning, a remodel of any size is almost always worth it.
Steve founded Day Star in 1980, and it was incorporated four years later. The company started out doing smaller jobs like skylights and bathrooms, or “fixing door knobs,” as Lori likes to say.
The full-service company handles anything from remodels to new homes. They work with architects and interior decorators to implement plans, and they also do design-to-build projects.
Below are some of the tips on remodeling the Dorskys shared with Journal Editor Laura McAlister.
OTMJ: What advice would you give to someone who is looking to update an older or historic home?
Stephen: It depends on the stature of the house. If it’s already an awesome house in Mountain Brook or somewhere like that, we’re going to strongly recommend you talk to an architect.
I always think that the best way to approach (a remodel) is through an architect, a trained professional. We think a design from a trained professional is the best way to go.
Lori: We do work with people and help them if they don’t have an architect. That’s where our design-to-build comes in.
Stephen: Really, it also depends on how big the project is. The bigger and more complex projects are when you’re going to really need to get permits and plans
OTMJ: Where do you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to remodeling? What’s most worth investing in?
Stephen: I really don’t think anything ever takes away, but I think always kitchens and master suites, particularly bathrooms. But everything is predicated on doing do the job right. If it’s not thought through, that might not be the case, but if it’s done well and right, those areas certainly pay back.
Another thing I also tell clients is, if you think you’ll be there 10 years or more, almost anything will be worth it because it’s a value of living and comfort and enjoyment
Lori: I think it’s important to take the time to think about what it is you really want to do with the space and not just rush into it. By going through that process, you’re going to come out with a better plan. Some homeowners take a year to live in their house before they know what they really want. Often the development and design can take as long as the construction process.
OTMJ: What are some of the trends you are seeing today?
Stephen: Since the economy has not been so great, I think there are certainly more remodeling additions than new work. Kitchens are of course always popular, screened porches …
Lori: Screened porches are huge, and so are basements.
OTMJ: What are some of the unexpected things homeowners need to be aware of when undergoing a remodel, especially that of an older home?
Stephen: With historic homes, a lot depends on the city. The city of Birmingham definitely has a lot of neighborhood design committees. They’re trying to respect the neighborhoods and quality, and it can complicate the process as far as construction goes.
Sometimes you also just have to open up an older house to know what you’re working with.
Lori: One house comes to mind. It was their structure. The variables were different, and we didn’t know that until the demolition had started.
Stephen: Sometimes you do have to work through a process and really open it up and see what you find and address it.
OTMJ: What are other things homeowners need to consider before undergoing a major renovation?
Stephen: One question that always comes up if it’s a sizable project is, are the owners going to stay in the house? This one we’re doing now, they want to stay, so we’re doing the construction in phases. Me, I’m my worst client. We did a renovation of our house about 12 years ago with youngish kids, and I hated it. I encourage people to move out during the renovation.
Lori: When we go into someone’s home, it is kind of like we’re living with them. We try to be very mindful of the families, and we do pride ourselves on keeping a very clean job site.
OTMJ: What is your favorite type of work when it comes to remodels? Does any particular job come to mind?
Stephen: For me personally, I love the big, fat, juicy ones that you just really get to sink your teeth into. You really get to create a unique, one-of-a-kind space. It takes a lot of planning with architects, owners, interior designers. It’s the real “meat on the bone” stuff that I like to do. The small projects are important, and we want those too.
I think a kitchen remodel we did in the city of Birmingham, in the Clairmont Essex Road area, was really one of my favorites, and it was just a kitchen, but it was a huge job. It was built in the 1910s or ’20s. It involved all these old systems. We had to tear out walls from this tiny kitchen and tiny eating area and create this really awesome kitchen. That’s really one of my favorite rooms. This was actually a design-to-build project where the cabinet maker and I really designed the room. It was a gigantic job that had all the idiosyncrasies of an old house, and we helped it live in the 21st Century.