The Northside Number: A Whole House Remodel in Missoula’s Historic Northside
Missoula’s northside neighborhood has a long and colorful history – in 1883, the Northern Pacific Railroad came to town and the original depot was located at the location of today’s Orange Street underpass. When the depot moved over to Higgins Ave after the turn of the century, the Northside became home to the wholesale grocery district.
In 2023, the neighborhood’s character reflects its working class history – old boarding houses now house apartment buildings; and today the Northside has some of Missoula’s oldest homes, most built between 1883 and 1915.
Transforming a Northside Gem
During the height of the pandemic in 2021 (!) we took on a whole house remodel project on a Northside home. We wanted to 1) bring the home’s historic character to the surface 2) add contemporary comfort and 3) design and build in a style that fit the neighborhood. Like any remodel, the project had its ups and downs. Here are a few tips for your own whole house remodel:
1. Consider moving out during your remodel: Many folks understandably want to control costs by living in their remodel. But living through the dust and noise can make the day-to-day very difficult. For your own sanity, consider building in the cost for a temporary relocation into your project budget.
2. Plan, Look Around, and Plan Again: Once you understand how much the whole house remodel will cost, it is worth looking around for a house that you could purchase for a similar cost. Most people do find that they will come out ahead by keeping their current house and going for the remodel. In a whole house remodel, you maximize your current investment and get exactly what you want. But we always advise clients to look around before committing ... this just makes your decision feel even better!
3. Get Pumped: Get ready for your property to look and feel like a brand new house when you’re done. On this historic Northside remodel, we were able to maximize the value of the lot and make it incredibly comfortable and personalized.
Get Ready to Catch a Few Curveballs
As with most remodeling adventures, we encountered a few challenges. We dealt with a shaky foundation, meaning we had to true up existing walls –– a common situation when remodeling an older home. And another interesting “challenge” came when we stumbled upon an old bomb shelter in the backyard, adding a twist to the history that was coming to life. Finally, the house sat on a very narrow lot – again common in this historic neighborhood. The lot limitations did pose a fair share of challenges, but in the end the house sat on it like a glove, showcasing smart and efficient use of space which is one of our core values at Confluence.
Ready for the Next Generation
Our homeowners were expecting their first child when their whole house remodel began. It brought all of us a lot of joy to know that their little one's first memories would be made in this restored house.
