Hi everybody. We bought our house about ten years ago, at which point it hadn't really been updated since the 1970s. We built a small extension at the back and made the kitchen open plan then added a loft conversion and did some internal updating and decorating. It's looking pretty tired now and we're thinking about doing a refurb.
It sounds a bit weird but I have no idea how to go about it. I would really like to get a really high quality finish (who wouldn't) but even when we did the kitchen extension we didn't quite manage that - our house is a typical Victorian semi built in 1900 and is a bit wonky for a start, but the finish was just a bit patchy.
Anyway, to get a high quality finish, do we need to rip most things out and start from scratch? I mean, skirting boards, new floors, etc?
We also have a really awkward layout upstairs and I would quite like some advice on how we could arrange the space differently. Should I get an architect for this? I am worried that would be a waste of money as I can't really see how much we could do with the space other than move the bathroom but would an architect see something that I can't?
Any advice on this really vague set of questions would be gratefully received.