Your House Needs to Change.
The Hard Part Is Knowing What Should Change and What Shouldn't.
You may need more space, a better floor plan, or a substantial addition.
But before you start drawing rooms or collecting contractor quotes, you need to know whether the plan actually makes sense for the house.
Because the expensive mistake isn't renovating an older home.
It's renovating the wrong idea.
Older Home Renovation Design for Metro Detroit | Specializing in 1930s–1970s Homes
If You’re Here, There’s a Good Chance You’re Asking One of These Three Questions.
Which Situation Sounds Most Like Yours?
You don't need to know exactly what service you need yet.
Click the closest problem you're trying to solve…
You like the house. You like the neighborhood. But the kitchen, circulation, bedrooms, bathrooms, storage, or overall layout no longer fits.
Before assuming you need a major addition or a completely different house, it is worth understanding what the existing home can realistically become.
You want to improve, expand, or carefully modernize the house, but you don't want the result to look generic, overbuilt, trendy, or obviously added on.
The rooflines, windows, entry, massing, materials, and proportions all need to work together so the finished renovation feels like it belongs.
You have ideas, contractor opinions, inspiration photos, and perhaps several possible directions, but you're not yet confident about what is worth building.
Before asking what everything costs, you need to determine what should actually be done, in what order, and whether the investment makes sense for the house.
We’ve Solved These Problems Before.
A Home Addition That Didn’t Look Added On
The homeowners needed substantially more space.
But they did not want the addition to overwhelm the original house or look like a separate building had been attached to it.
The design was developed around the architecture that was already there.
CLIENT QUOTE
“We consistently get compliments from our neighbors that the house looks like it has been planned for that addition since it was first built.”
That is the standard.
Not Ready to Hire a Designer Yet?
Start With the Older Home Renovation Planning Pack.
Before you call contractors or start drawing additions, use the Planning Pack to organize what you already know about the house.
It will help you identify:
what is actually not working
which problems may be connected
what deserves to be preserved
what ideas still need to be tested
what information is missing
and which decisions should happen before pricing
No consultation required. Start with your house.
The Real Risk Isn’t Renovating.
It’s Starting Construction Before the Important Decisions Have Been Made.
Most expensive renovation mistakes do not begin during construction.
They begin much earlier.
The addition was placed in the wrong location.
The floor plan solved the wrong problem.
The kitchen was designed before circulation was resolved.
The roofline was determined by the interior plan rather than the architecture.
Contractors were asked to price something nobody had clearly defined.
Or beautiful materials were selected for a house that still did not make sense.
A beautifully built bad idea is still a bad idea.
It is simply a much more expensive one.
This house had been random renovations all over.
We organized and redefined the overall vision for a memorable transformation.
This house got made bigger but not successfully.
Older Homes Are Not Blank Slates.
A 1940s Cape Cod, 1950s ranch, Colonial Revival, bungalow, cottage, or split-level already has an architectural logic.
Change the roof and the windows may suddenly look too small.
Add too much square footage in the wrong place and the original house disappears.
Open every room and you can eliminate the very walls that gave the house order.
The goal isn’t simply to make the house newer or bigger.
It is to make the house make more sense.
That means studying:
proportion
roof hierarchy
window rhythm
massing
circulation
entry hierarchy
architectural precedent
and the relationship between old and new
before construction decisions begin driving the design.
What Homeowners Want Most Is for the Renovation to Feel Like It Belongs
"The addition looks as though it had been planned when the house was first built."
That is the standard.
Not simply more space.
Not simply a newer exterior.
Not simply a renovated facade.
A home that works better while still feeling coherent, intentional, and true to itself.
You Don’t Have to Figure All of This Out Yourself.
I’m Nate Turner.
I founded Turnwood Design Group to help homeowners answer the architectural questions that should be settled before a renovation becomes an expensive construction project.
My work is focused particularly on older American homes and the challenge of adapting them for modern life without stripping away the qualities that made them worth owning in the first place.
I pay close attention to:
space planning
circulation
additions
roof hierarchy
massing
proportion
window rhythm
exterior character
renovation feasibility
3D visualization
and how the entire house works together
My job is not simply to draw what you ask for.
It is to help determine what the house should become.
Exterior & Curb Appeal Design
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Interior Renovation Planning
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Historically Consistent Additions & Expansions
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As-Built Drawings & 3D Modeling
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Exterior & Curb Appeal Design 〰️ Interior Renovation Planning 〰️ Historically Consistent Additions & Expansions 〰️ As-Built Drawings & 3D Modeling 〰️
You Don't Have to Start With a Full Design Contract
The first step is clarity.
Here is your simple path to a smarter renovation:
Step 1:
UNDERSTAND THE HOUSE
Start with the Online Home Revival Blueprint
$897 only $475
This 45-minute to 1-hour consultation includes a detailed evaluation of your home's current condition and design potential. Together, we’ll identify the most impactful ways to elevate your house using classical architectural principles.
What’s Included:
You’ll get a professional project analysis to uncover your property’s hidden potential and create a clear vision for a stunning transformation rooted in classical architecture.
You’ll gain clarity and confidence in your renovation decisions, knowing your home’s beauty and charm will finally shine through.
Plus, receive a free House Style Analysis to help you see how we could implement timeless architectural styles like Colonial, Tudor, or Georgian styles into your home.
What You’ll Receive:
A comprehensive post-meeting report outlining your home’s hidden potential.
Step 2:
ESTABLISH THE RIGHT DIRECTION
The IN-PERSON Classical House Consultation
$1289 now for $860
Your Architectural Strategy for Success
Building on the insights from Step 1, this session dives deep into creating a cohesive classical design strategy tailored to your style and home. Perfect for homeowners ready to refine their vision and confidently move toward the renovation process.
What’s Included:
You get a personalized architectural design program that blends historical elegance with modern functionality, tailored to your home’s unique character.
You feel empowered with a detailed, step-by-step design sequence that brings your dream home to life while preserving its charm and history.
Plus, we will perform a detailed Home Survey and LiDAR scan that captures the 3D geometry of your house so that we have an accurate set of as-built documents (Which can be purchased separately)
What You’ll Receive:
A detailed design program outlining the scope of your project.
Preliminary insights into potential improvements.
A clear direction for your project
Step 3:
DEVELOP THE RENOVATION
See the future home before construction
Timeless Design, Professionally Realized
Turn your vision into reality with a fully developed, architecturally precise design for your home. We provide everything you need to execute a stunning renovation seamlessly.
What’s Included:
Receive a complete set of architectural designs, construction documents, and premium visualizations to flawlessly execute your renovation.
Experience the pride of living in a home that feels timeless, cohesive, and uniquely yours—designed to elevate your lifestyle and investment.
Plus, access an extended 6-month visualization link, so you can revisit your 3D model and share it with contractors, family, or friends for feedback.
What You’ll Receive:
A formal proposal outlining the full scope of the project.
Clear payment structures and deliverables for the design process.
Multiple pricing options to customize the project to your needs.
Your home deserves more than a generic renovation.
If you own a 1930–1970 home and want to preserve its charm while improving how it looks, feels, and functions, start with the Home Revival Blueprint. It is the clearest way to understand your house before committing to major design or construction decisions.
