South Jersey Interior Remodeling and Renovation

The difference between interior remodeling and interior renovation is starting over vs. making the best of what you already have. Although many homeowners think their spaces aren’t working for them at all, it may only be a question of rearranging and optimizing an existing home layout.

Outside of kitchens and bathrooms, home interior renovation projects that add a lot of value include:

• Installing or refinishing hardwood flooring
• Finishing a basement
• Adding or expanding closet space

For more in-depth coverage of return on investment, visit our Cost Vs. Value page.

There’s no getting around the fact that the renovation process can be disruptive, but Ayars Complete Home Improvements takes the utmost care to minimize any mess we leave behind — through floor protection, zip-walls with plastic barriers, a HEPA air filtration system, and the introduction of a “negative draft” to keep debris contained within the work area.

Here at Ayars, we prefer to apply our time and expertise to projects with major impacts (e.g. bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, and finished basements). Minor, disconnected, or one-off tasks such as painting, installing appliances, repairs, or electrical work are best left to other contractors.

As craftsmen, we look to enhance your enjoyment of your entire home through all the work — it’s not just topical for us! Throughout the whole process, we value a collaborative relationship with our clients, nurturing their ideas, and going above and beyond what they expect. That is the kind of project we look forward to.

In South Jersey, interior remodeling costs typically range from $100-250 per square foot, depending on the quality of materials and complexity. A kitchen remodel averages $30,000-80,000, while bathrooms typically run $15,000-40,000. Living spaces are generally less expensive at $50-150 per square foot. Remember that older homes (particularly pre-1980s construction) often require updating electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, which can add 15-25% to your budget.

Yes, most interior remodeling in South Jersey requires permits. Any structural changes, electrical work, plumbing modifications, or changes to load-bearing walls absolutely require permits. Even seemingly simple projects like finishing a basement or removing walls between rooms require proper permitting. Each municipality has slightly different requirements, but failing to pull permits can result in significant fines and complications when selling your home later. 

Not to worry — we’ll sort out all of the technicalities before beginning work on your project!

For a comprehensive first floor remodel in South Jersey:

• Allocate 35-40% for kitchen renovations
• 20-25% for main living spaces
• 15-20% for entryway/foyer improvements
• 10-15% for powder room updates
• Always include a 15-20% contingency fund (and don’t forget about window treatments and furnishings!)

A typical 1,200-1,800 sq. ft. first floor remodel ranges from $120,000-250,000, depending on finishes and complexity. Consider phasing the project if budget constraints exist.

Floor plans are the foundation of successful remodeling. They ensure proper space planning, traffic flow, and furniture placement. They’re essential for identifying structural issues, ensuring code compliance, and calculating accurate material quantities. Without detailed floor plans, projects frequently encounter expensive mid-construction changes, delayed timelines, and budget overruns. Every successful renovation starts with a professionally developed floor plan.

Before creating an open floor plan, you need:

• Structural engineering assessment to identify load-bearing walls
• Potential additions of support beams (LVLs or steel)
• HVAC modifications to ensure proper airflow in the larger space
• Electrical plan updates for lighting and outlets
• Flooring strategy to create visual continuity
• Sound management solutions since noise travels easily in open spaces
• Proper permits from your municipality

Open floor plans are almost always requested — especially connecting rooms from the kitchen to the family room, den, and/or formal dining room. This does not always make sense, since the increased size of the kitchen is either not necessary, or has so many cabinets and countertops that it becomes unaffordable.

We really like working with partition walls and defined space, depending on the style and potential usage of the space.

To create a more inviting South Jersey entryway:

1. Start with a front door: Here at Ayars, we custom order and install ProVia entry doors to perfectly suit the look of your upgraded space.
2. Continue with the main foyer: Here a staircase, mudspace, closet, light fixture or other focal point often becomes a topic of conversation. If you have kids, wall hooks and shoe bins are a great way to reduce clutter.

   If there is a staircase in view of the foyer (as is often the case), upgrading handrails, balusters, and risers can really elevate the space.

Painting all rooms the same color has the potential to create visual continuity and make spaces feel larger. This approach works particularly well in open floor plans or smaller homes. We recommend using different sheens for different areas (eggshell for main walls, semi-gloss for trim, satin for high-traffic areas) to add subtle variation. In South Jersey homes, neutral warm grays, soft whites, and light beiges tend to work well with our natural light patterns. Consider using accent walls or slightly darker versions of the same color in secondary spaces for dimension.

One cohesive flooring throughout the first floor is often requested, but there are times where it is not necessary or not recommended. The look of one floor is great, but defining spaces with carpet in a den, living room, great room, or home office can offer a touch of warmth and sound deadening which is great. The cost of carrying the same flooring type throughout is expensive and often disturbed the base trim and casing, which can be a cost driver.

That said, for South Jersey’s climate and lifestyle, engineered hardwood or high-quality luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring typically offers the best balance of aesthetics, durability, and value. Engineered hardwood provides the beauty of real wood with better dimensional stability for our humidity fluctuations. Modern LVP products offer excellent water resistance and durability while mimicking natural materials.

For entryways, consider porcelain tile transitions. Avoid solid hardwood in below-grade installations or homes with radiant heat systems.

Creating an open staircase requires:

• Structural engineering assessment to ensure stability
• Cable, glass, or custom iron balusters to replace solid walls
• Reinforced mounting systems for handrails
• Properly sized newel posts for structural integrity
• Compliance with building codes (particularly baluster spacing)
• Consideration of floor system modifications at stair openings

This project typically costs $8,000-25,000 depending on materials and complexity. The investment dramatically improves flow and light throughout your home.

As a South Jersey remodeler, we can tell you that adding a powder room to your first floor is one of the smartest investments you can make in your home. Here’s why:

• Guest Convenience: Provides visitors a bathroom option without accessing your private spaces upstairs
• Everyday Functionality: Reduces trips up and down stairs for family members
• Entertaining Value: Essential for hosting gatherings and holidays (particularly important in our region’s family-oriented communities)
• Aging-in-Place: Creates ground-floor accessibility for older family members or those with mobility challenges