So You Decided to Renovate Your Home: Key Design Considerations from Astral House
By Orshi Wren, Interior Designer | Astral House, St. Petersburg, Florida
Renovating your home is one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to breathe new life into a space that no longer serves you. At Astral House, we recently completed a full-scale renovation of a coastal St. Pete home that involved adding a second story, increasing the footprint, and completely reimagining the flow of the first floor. Whether you’re expanding your space or simply redefining it, thoughtful design rooted in your lifestyle is everything.
Increasing Your Home’s Footprint
One of the first questions to ask when planning a renovation is: Where do you need more space and why? Expanding your home’s footprint can dramatically improve comfort and functionality, especially if your current layout feels tight or disjointed. In our recent St. Petersburg renovation, the addition of a second story allowed us to create a luxurious primary suite while opening up the downstairs for better flow and everyday ease. We love working with clients to find smart ways to extend their home, whether that means building up, bumping out, or converting unused areas. Every square foot should feel intentional, not accidental.
Creating a Cohesive Design Story
One of the most important goals in any home renovation is cohesion. Especially when adding square footage, it’s critical that old and new spaces speak the same design language. We guide our clients through defining a clear design story, one that connects rooms through color palettes, natural materials, and textures. In our coastal St. Pete project, we repeated organic finishes and warm neutrals from room to room to ensure flow and visual harmony. A well-renovated home should feel seamless, like it’s always been that way.
Blending Old and New, for a Lived In Feel
One of the unique joys of renovation is preserving the soul of a home while elevating its function. At Astral House, we love honoring the character of older homes while weaving in new craftsmanship and modern features. Whether it’s original wood beams, vintage lighting, or even a well-loved fireplace, keeping elements that tell the home’s story adds depth and warmth. Our approach is never overly precious, it’s about creating cozy, layered interiors that feel collected and lived in, not like a showroom.
The magic of 3D renderings
We design all the details of your new bathroom in 3D, so you can visualize it with the materials and true-to-size dimensions. This allows you to see how the finishes, fixtures, and layout will feel in real life before anything is ordered. It’s a powerful tool that helps eliminate guesswork and brings confidence to every decision.
Prioritize What Matters Most
When it comes to budgeting, we always encourage clients to go big on the areas that will impact their lifestyle most. Is a spa-like bathroom a dream for your morning routine? Will a reconfigured kitchen finally bring joy to daily meals? In the St. Petersburg remodel, we prioritized a complete kitchen gut and a stunning new upstairs bath, two areas that now bring both joy and long-term value. If your cabinetry can be salvaged, we’ll make it work, but if the bones are outdated, starting fresh is often worth the investment.
Ready to begin your Renovation Journey?
At Astral House, we specialize in full-service interior design and thoughtful renovations across St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area. Led by Orshi Wren, our interiors are rooted in organic modern design, natural materials, and meaningful transformation. Whether you’re adding a second story or simply craving a better flow, we’re here to guide you through every step, from initial concept to final install.
Reach out to begin designing a home that finally fits you.
