The family room was designed in this Seattle, Washington transformative home by Sherri Monte, interior designer at, Elegant Simplicity.

Consider the concept of a transformative home. It’s a home that goes beyond the look of your space and provides you with a home that actually enhances your life. It’s more than just “you”—it’s where you want to be because it’s fulfilling.

Let’s take a closer look and explore how Elegant Simplicity’s philosophy of creating spaces that spark joy could better suit your life.

What Does a Transformative Home Really Mean?

Transformation seems like a trendy word (and that’s everything we don’t want this project to be). Yet transformative homes are renovations that comprehensively change your home in a way that goes beyond the odds and ends that you pick up at the store. It's about creating a home that supports your growth and needs over time.

Ultimately, you want your home to reflect who you are right now, with your current interests and lifestyle needs. Having a timeless home that reflects your style isn’t a new concept (have you read our recent blog on it yet?). But let’s take a deeper look at how you can update your home in a way that’s truly fitting to who you are.

“Ultimately, you want your home to reflect who you are right now, with your current interests and lifestyle needs”, quote about transformative homes by Sherri Monte, interior designer at, Elegant Simplicity in Bellevue, Washington.

Identifying Your Home’s Transformation Needs

Remember growing up in those magazines you used to read (yes when magazines were printed!)? You took quizzes to assess everything from the perfect type of clothing for your body style to the best type of partner for your future. We need to do that deep dive for your home.

Let’s do a self-assessment of your needs and the areas where your home is lacking in fulfilling them. Our goal is to understand best how your home impacts your emotions and lifestyle goals + aspirations.

Ask these questions honestly to yourself:

Is there an area of your home that’s just outdated + no longer serving you?
What areas of your home do you struggle with every day, first thing in the morning or before bed? Those in-the-way areas – what are they?
What do you crave in your home? It could be more space, a better layout + design, or perhaps even a hidden space ideal for meditation.
What areas of your home feel “off” when you’re in them? These are spaces that don’t make you feel comfortable.
What’s your “I wish” list? Think about not just what but why you want that feature or space – what is it that it checks those boxes for you?

Key Elements of a Transformative Design

Friends, we have to bring you back down from the “that’s a dream” design to what’s reality. The fact is,

“transformative design isn’t about having a luxury space that’s pristine but one that can handle the rough and tumble aspects of your life in a way that still ensures your space feels right.”

Your home should function as an extension of you, and communicate who you are. How do we do that? We best understand your interior design style through these areas:

Space and Flow

Focus first on optimizing the use of space and flow in your home. This is nearly always a way to enhance how your home feels.

Could a dining room that just collects “stuff” be transformed into a multi-functional space for hobbies?
If you converted your patio into a cove with a space for relaxing in nature, could that help you bring some of that meditation into your day?
What about that closet that’s jam-packed with stuff you haven’t used in years? Could that become a space for you to store things you actually love?

Light and Atmosphere

Light plays a big role in how your home feels. Consider natural light layered with a lighting scheme that helps your mind ease into the day in the morning or into deep sleep at night.

Personalized Touches

Function does not replace personal style. Incorporate décor pieces that help you feel good, bring a smile to your face, and let your personality shine. Just remember to choose items that are truly representative of you, not whatever trend and style are playing out in trendy home design.

Quality and Longevity

As you consider all of these projects and ideas rushing into your mind now, there's one important factor to think about – quality. Whatever you put time and effort into needs to be worth it for the long term. That means investing in superior craftsmanship and quality materials. Getting help from professionals who care about the details like us *wink*

The bathroom was designed in this Seattle, Washington transformative home by Sherri Monte, interior designer at, Elegant Simplicity.

Room-by-Room Transformation Ideas

If you’re still looking for transformative home ideas, check out these places to get started. Choose a project that feels like it would make life that much more enjoyable for you.

Living Rooms: Relaxation and social gatherings happen here. Make it a space that represents your personality, especially if you spend a lot of time here. Is your great room great?
Kitchens/Dining Rooms: They must be functional, but they can also incorporate a bit of your culture, food interests, and the tasks you like to do (while also creating ways to organize what's most important to you).
Bedrooms: Bedrooms should be a craving – a place where you know you are going to sink into relaxation and rest. Rid your bedroom of anything that creates friction or fosters noise + gets in the way of soul-searching dreams.
Home Office: Productivity happens when you’re organized, but you can still be you. How can you update this layout to make it easier to function within each day?
Outdoor Areas: Make them useful spaces that improve your quality of life. This is your retreat and sanctuary.

Avoid These Mistakes

There are plenty of opportunities to transform your home, but don’t over invest on a trend that’s going to be outdated. That’s why you have the guidance + support of an interior designer *wink*

The primary bedroom was designed in this Bellevue, Washington transformative home by Sherri Monte, interior designer at, Elegant Simplicity.

The Power of Transformative Homes Is Exciting

Take the first step towards creating a dream space that you’ll love. Elegant Simplicity’s commitment to helping you work through the transformation process is always there to give you the gentle nudge you need. We’re friends, after all, and we’ll keep you informed when we think you’re going in the wrong direction and praise your successes along the journey.

That’s our riff for today, friend — thanks for tuning in! :) If you’re in need of design help, Let’s chat. Of course, you can always check out our design recipes and find the perfect inspiration for getting started.

P.S. Let’s not overlook the need to declutter from a digital perspective – our guide makes it simple.

P.S.S. Are you following us on Elegant Simplicity’s social media channels? We’ll give you inspiration along the way.