Sprucing Up a Split-Level

Ramp Up the Curb Appeal

• Split-level homes can be seriously lacking in curb appeal -- big, ugly garage doors, monolithic rooflines, uninviting entrances and lackluster front doors. Increase the welcome feel and aesthetics of your home's exterior by exchanging your existing front door for a stylish replacement with decorative sidelights. Or revamp your current door with a fresh coat of red paint and a brushed nickel door lever and knocker. Construct a canopy or portico to inject architectural excitement into a humdrum front entryway, and break up continuous, boring rooflines with visually interesting dormers. Give your home a color facelift by applying a gray tone to the exterior walls, accented with pristine white trim and matching shutters. Trade in unattractive garage doors for contemporary substitutes.

Open Up the Interior

• A problematic design issue with split-level homes is the closed-off floor plan partitioned into several tiny rooms. The kitchen in a split-level is often wedged in the rear of the house, separating it from the rest of the home. Remove the interior walls dividing the living, dining and kitchen areas to fashion a modern, open-concept space for entertaining guests and fostering social interaction. Check with a licensed engineer to determine if any of the existing walls you want to remove are load-bearing before you begin tearing them down. Create a spacious master bedroom when you knock down a wall between two adjoining small bedrooms.

Let the Sun Shine In

• Because split-level homes were typically constructed without any windows on either end of the house, the interior spaces tend to be depressingly dark. Generate a brighter, cheerier atmosphere by adding windows at each end of the house and exchanging smaller existing windows for larger replacements. Build a sunroom onto the back of your house to provide a light-filled space where you can relax and enjoy the outdoor view. Add skylights or roof light tubes when possible to increase the amount of natural light streaming indoors. Remove heavy draperies and outdated blinds from existing windows; replace them with stylish wooden blinds, casual curtains or eco-friendly bamboo shades for an easy, modern update.

Make a Big Decorating Impact

• Spruce up your split-level's interior spaces with decorating changes that pack a powerful design punch. For example, generate a more open, airy feel between the staggered levels of the home by replacing an outdated wooden staircase with sleek metal handrails and streamlined balusters. Exchange gaudy brass chandeliers for stylish chrome replacements, and trade in groovy avocado shag carpeting for rich hardwoods or laminate flooring. Substitute "far out" metallic wallpaper for a fresh coat of neutral-colored paint -- tranquil taupe, creamy ivory, misty gray -- to generate modern vibes throughout the interior spaces of your split-level home.