Split Level House Remodel: How We Sold 80K Over Asking (Before & After)

What Is a Split Level House?

A split-level house has two floor levels that are staggered. Walk in the front door and you’ll find a small entry with two short staircases, one leading to the lower level, one to the upper.

Key characteristics:

• Staggered floor levels with short staircases
• Upper level typically contains kitchen, living room, and bedrooms
• Lower level often unfinished or used as basement space
• Built primarily in 1960s-1970s with small, boxy rooms

The layout is almost always the same in every split-level, which actually makes renovation planning easier once you know the formula.

The upper level is where the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms live.

How to Modernize a Split Level Interior: The Game-Changing Wall Removal

Jim updated this entire 1970s split-level over the years.

The biggest change?

He added an addition and created an open concept vaulted ceiling living room. (Be sure to check out our post on how to add a load bearing beam to vault a ceiling.)

The #1 complaint about split-level homes: Rooms are small and boxy.

The #1 solution: Take down the walls between the kitchen, dining room, and living room.

In the picture above, there used to be a wall separating the kitchen from the dining and living room.

What You Need to Know About Removing Kitchen Walls in Split-Levels

When removing a kitchen wall in a split-level house (or any load-bearing wall), you’ll need:

• An architect to design an engineered beam
• Beam must span the entire kitchen and living room space
• Professional installation (kind of important if you want to keep your house from falling down)

Result: Kitchens with cathedral ceilings offer a space that feels modern and large—not cramped and dated.

Side note: If you’re interested in opening up your ceiling like this one, read our post on how to add shiplap to a vaulted ceiling.

The transformation: Removing the kitchen wall in a split-level or raised ranch and vaulting the ceiling creates an open concept space that actually matches how people live today.

The skylights in the kitchen provide maximum natural light, which makes the space feel way more open and inviting.

Split Level Addition Ideas That Add Real Value

Down the hallway past the bedrooms, Jim decided to open up one of the bedrooms and enclose an existing screened porch, creating an open concept sunroom bar space.

Why split-level additions work:

• Add significant livable square footage
• Increase home value substantially
• Can create missing master suite (common problem in split-levels)
• Provide flexible space for entertaining or private retreat

The trade-off: A typical split-level has three bedrooms and one bathroom on the upper level. When Jim opened up the third bedroom (above where the bar is) and added the sunroom below, he lost a bedroom but gained a unique entertaining space that buyers loved.

Design elements that worked:

• Skylights in vaulted ceiling
• Wood plank walls and ceiling for warmth
• Open flow between bar area and sunroom
• French doors for visual openness

Bedroom Flexibility in Split-Level Remodels

Heading back down the hallway toward the kitchen, there are two bedrooms and a full bathroom.

The bedroom below was Jim’s daughter’s room.

A few months after Jim and I started dating, we decided to make a room for my son so he’d have his own space on Friday nights when we’d head to Jim’s house for the weekend.

My son typically goes to his dad’s on Saturdays, so it was nice once we made over the spare bedroom into a space for him.

You can see this small split level bedroom makeover before and after here.

Modern split-level entryway: I don’t have a picture of Jim’s entryway, but it’s very similar to this split level entryway we recently remodeled. The open concept stairway with metal balusters gives it a clean, modern look.

Split Level Basement Ideas: Creating a Master Suite Below

Jim lost the third bedroom due to the sunroom and bar addition, so he created a master suite in the lower level—genius move.

Why finishing a split-level basement adds massive value:

• Adds significant square footage of livable space
• Can solve the “no master suite” problem common in split-levels
• Provides privacy separated from upper-level bedrooms
• Cost-effective way to add a bedroom compared to building up

Design strategy that worked:

• Open flow hallway at bottom of stairs
• French doors for visual openness (not closed off and dungeon-like)
• Full bathroom with corner shower
• Cedar walk-in closet
• Office/fourth bedroom option
• Laundry room across hallway

He created an open flow hallway at the bottom of the stairs and used French doors, which added a feeling of openness to the space.

This split-level basement bedroom is not your typical master suite.

Finishing off the lower level (or basement) in a split-level home adds so much more square footage of livable space.

Check out how we refinished the basement in our other split-level home we sold last year.

The master cedar walk-in closet (no picture, sorry), office/fourth bedroom, and laundry room are across the hallway and around toward the master bedroom bathroom.

Jim even built in a small beer refrigerator in the shower.

I remember when I first saw this when we started dating and I was like, “You have a beer fridge in the shower?”

He stocked it with my favorite Trulys, and then I knew he was a keeper 😂.

Key takeaway: The possibilities are endless with a split-level house when you start taking down walls and opening up the ceiling.

Split-Level Exterior Remodel: Backyard Transformation

The backyard is completely private—surrounded by lush plantings, trees, and vinyl fencing.

Outdoor features that added value:

• Paver driveway and walkways
• In-ground pool with surrounding patio
• Hot tub deck
• Full pool cabana with metal roof
• Firepit space
• Movie cabana area
• Extensive landscaping and greenery

As you enter the backyard from the paver driveway, a pretty walkway leads you to the pool and massive entertaining space.

Jim loves plants, shrubs, and all things greenery, which really made this outdoor space pop.

There were so many cool features in his backyard—from the hot tub deck to the full cabana, firepit space, and movie cabana.

Looking at all these pictures makes me miss this place.

Jim ended up buying the neighbor’s split-level house, so be sure to check out the split-level home remodel exterior on that home. It’s dramatic.

At the time Jim decided to sell, the market was insanely hot, and the fact that he could move in with me and not have to buy something else was even better. He was able to cash in on all his hard work over the years—and the work paid off, plus some.

Pool Cabana Design with Metal Roof

The Jimmy Buffett–style pool cabana was such a great place to hang out, have some drinks, and enjoy the pool.

Shortly before Jim had to move out, I asked him if he was sad about leaving.

He said, “Yes, definitely sad, but time has run its course here and there isn’t anything else I can do to this place. I’m ready for a new challenge—a new house to either build or renovate.”

Needless to say, Jim had the ultimate bachelor pad ever.

How Much Value Can a Split-Level Remodel Add?

Real-world results: Jim’s split-level house sold 80K over asking price in Massachusetts—and this was during the pandemic when market conditions were unpredictable.

What added the most value:

• Removing kitchen walls for open concept
• Installing vaulted ceilings with skylights
• Finishing the basement with master suite
• Adding sunroom/bar entertaining space
• Professional outdoor living space with pool and cabana

Split-Level Remodel Checklist: Key Takeaways

To modernize a split-level home successfully:

• ✓ Remove walls between kitchen, dining, and living areas (requires engineered beam)
• ✓ Vault ceilings where possible for dramatic height
• ✓ Add skylights for natural light
• ✓ Finish the basement to maximize square footage
• ✓ Create master suite if upper level lacks one
• ✓ Consider strategic additions (sunroom, extended living space)
• ✓ Update entryway with open staircase and modern materials
• ✓ Invest in outdoor living spaces for increased appeal

Bottom line: Modernizing a split-level home by removing kitchen walls, installing vaulted ceilings, adding skylights, and finishing the basement will definitely add value to your home.