The kids have moved out. It’s a big change, both emotionally and practically. For a while, the house seems too empty and quiet. But then, you settle into the new normal. Many empty nesters take the opportunity to catch up on home improvement projects that they just didn’t have time for when the kids were home.
With a few upgrades, any room in the house can become what you want it to be: a creative space, a home office, a mediation retreat, or a movie room. Unused rooms can be transformed into valuable spaces that reflect your lifestyle and plans.
This Kozy Heat Nordik 29i gas fireplace is the centerpiece of a newly renovated open-concept kitchen/dining/bar space.
Functional Upgrades
Where do you consider the heart of your home to be? For many, it’s the kitchen and family room. Open floor plans mean more togetherness: and what better place to gather with friends than around the fireplace?
Any outdated fireplace can be upgraded, often without major renovations. An open wood-burning fireplace can be transformed into an efficient heater — one with a lot of style — with an insert. Whether you love the charm of a traditional wood fire or the convenience of a gas fire, you can choose from a huge selection of beautiful and efficient inserts to give the fireplace a facelift.
If you don’t have a fireplace, or don’t like where it’s located, another option is to add a freestanding wood or gas stove. One of our customers has a gorgeous see-through fireplace between the formal living room and the kitchen - but they prefer to hang out in the family room which is also just off the kitchen but on the north side of the home. A freestanding wood stove was the perfect solution to make the family room even cozier!
Freestanding stoves are a great solution if you’re looking to add heat to any room that you use or want to use more often without the expense of building an entire fireplace. Walk-out basements and of course any former bedroom that is being transformed into something more usable (like a home office or creative space) can benefit from the addition of a freestanding stove. The extra warmth is particularly welcome in north-facing basements or other rooms that rarely get sun. Cold rooms may be great for sleeping, but uncomfortably cold for daytime activities. A fireplace changes all that!
Details That matter
Many empty nesters live with certain aspects of their home “as is” when the kids are at home. When the kids fly, it’s time for a change. Outdated elements like kitchen cabinets and countertops, bathroom fixtures, lighting, walls, and fireplaces may be ready for a facelift.
A surprising number of smaller projects can rejuvenate a space without breaking the bank. Consider adding an electric fireplace to a room that is going to get more use in its new chapter. The modest heat and soothing appearance of a small electric fireplace does wonders for the ambience of a room that you’ll be spending a lot of time in.
Support Your Lifestyle
Maybe you’ve used a wood-burning fireplace, insert, or stove to heat your home for decades. Wood is a great source of heat, especially in our foothills communities where it’s abundant and often free.
But maybe you’re tired of the work associated with wood fires. The splitting, chopping, hauling, ashes, mess… it’s hard (though rewarding) physical labor that isn’t for everyone and maybe it’s time for something less demanding.
If you’re looking to make life easier, consider gas. A gas insert can replace any wood-burning fireplace or insert. Many gas hearth appliances put out significant heat but without the work of a wood fire (and, you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night to stoke the fire).
Purists will say that there is no substitute for a real wood fire. But, some modern gas fireplaces and inserts feature flames so realistic you might not care! The KozyHeat Nordik series, for example, feature EVO Elevated Burners that create an incredibly realistic fire. Instead of using burners along the firebox floor, EVO burners are elevated along the perimeter of the logs to provide the depth and height of a wood fire.
The Outdoor GreatRoom Cove 42 concrete fire bowl is a stylish addition to any outdoor space.
GO outside and play!
Don’t forget that outdoor spaces can probably use an upgrade too! Many empty nesters shift their focus to entertaining once the kids are gone. If your backyard was designed around kids, now it can be designed around what you love to do.
To make the most of your outdoor spaces, center your activities around a gas fire pit. You can safely enjoy a fire in a gas fire pit most of the summer, unlike wood fire pits where the risk of errant sparks starting a wildfire is high. Fire pits such as the Fire Garden Chat Table or the Outdoor GreatRoom Cove 42 fire bowl are excellent additions to a deck, patio, or secluded spot among the trees.
New chapter, fresh start!
Reclaiming empty spaces after the kids move out is all about creating spaces that support your lifestyle and give you the space(s) that you may have always wished you had. Spread out. Have your own space. Make it yours.
Mountain Hearth & Patio is here to help make your vision a reality. From installing brand new fireplaces or stoves, to refreshing an existing masonry fireplace with an insert, we have you covered. Come check out our unbeatable selection of wood, gas, and electric fireplaces, inserts, and stoves today and make that empty room (or rooms) one of your favorite spots to enjoy this new chapter!
