Home Renovation in University Park, TX

A whole-home renovation in University Park is a careful act of restoration and modernization. Within the city’s 3.68 square miles surrounding Southern Methodist University, homes routinely sell for $1.5 million to $10 million+, and when an owner commits to a full renovation, the expectation is that the finished home will reset the bar for the block while honoring the original architecture — not just freshen the kitchen. UHS Remodeling handles every part of that process: architect and designer coordination, City of University Park permitting, demolition, structural work, full systems replacement, millwork, natural stone, custom cabinetry, and the final punch-list the day the family moves back in.

Our University Park renovations are led by one dedicated UHS project manager and built by one W-2 crew for the life of the project — no rotating subcontractors, no phase-by-phase handoffs. We provide fixed-price contracts with full line-item transparency before we start, daily photo progress updates, and a written 3-year workmanship warranty covering every trade we touch. The result is a renovation process that University Park homeowners, their architects, and their designers can actually plan around.

University Park Home Renovation — 3 Project Tiers

University Park is an upper-tier market. Every renovation project here requires premium materials, architectural sensitivity, and craftsmanship that matches homes in the $1.5M to $10M range. Here is how our University Park renovation work breaks down.

Tier 1: Partial Renovation — Core Rooms Refresh ($220,000 – $500,000)

This tier serves University Park homeowners who want to modernize the most used spaces without a full gut. Scope typically includes: full luxury kitchen remodel with custom cabinetry and natural stone, 2–3 bathroom renovations (primary plus secondary and powder), refinished hardwood flooring throughout the main level, updated millwork and trim profiles, fresh paint and wallpaper throughout, new lighting plan with designer fixtures, updated hardware packages (door, cabinet, plumbing), and targeted electrical and plumbing upgrades. We preserve original architectural detail — crown molding, ceiling beams, arched doorways, leaded glass — and match all new millwork to the home’s existing profiles. Timeline: 14–22 weeks.

Tier 2: Full-Home Luxury Renovation ($500,000 – $1,000,000)

The core of University Park home renovation. This tier covers McFarlin Boulevard and Hillcrest Avenue homes where the owner wants every interior space brought to current luxury standard. Scope: complete gut and rebuild of the kitchen, every bathroom, and secondary spaces (laundry, mudroom, butler’s pantry, closets); new hardwood or site-finished white oak floors throughout; full millwork package including custom built-ins, paneled libraries, wine rooms, and mudroom organizers; whole-home plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems updates; new insulation, drywall, and interior doors; designer lighting throughout; closets and dressing rooms rebuilt with custom shelving and island; smart home integration (Lutron, Savant, Control4 or Crestron); natural stone and high-end tile across all wet rooms; and full paint and wall covering package. We coordinate with your interior designer or provide full in-house design-build. Timeline: 7–12 months.

Tier 3: Estate-Scale Gut Renovation & Additions ($1,000,000 – $2,500,000+)

The most ambitious University Park renovations reimagine the architecture, not just the finishes. Scope includes everything in Tier 2 plus: structural modifications (wall removals, steel beam installation, ceiling height changes, window enlargements); roof replacement or raised rooflines; second-story additions or dormers where permitted; whole-home envelope rebuild (windows, exterior cladding, stone or stucco, roofing); foundation work and waterproofing; excavated basements or wine cellars; outdoor living terraces, pools, cabanas, and outdoor kitchens; guest houses or detached garages with living space above; full smart-home wiring; commercial-grade HVAC; and landscape architecture coordination. These projects typically run alongside a University Park architect and interior designer from day one. Timeline: 12–26 months including permitting and design.

University Park Home Renovation Cost Breakdown

Where does the budget actually go on a full University Park renovation? Here is how the total breaks down across the three tiers.

University Park Renovation by Home Style

The right renovation approach depends entirely on the architectural language of the home. Here is how we approach the most common University Park styles.

Tudor Revival & English Revival Homes

University Park shares Highland Park’s Tudor vocabulary. These 1920s–1940s homes have arched doorways, leaded glass, dark wood millwork, stone fireplaces, and steeply pitched slate or tile roofs. A Tudor renovation preserves what defines the home — paneled libraries, hand-plastered walls, inglenook fireplaces, original oak or walnut millwork, hardware, and leaded glass. We modernize systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing), update kitchens and bathrooms with period-appropriate finishes (honed stone, unlacquered brass, inset cabinetry), and rebuild closets and laundry rooms without removing the architectural soul.

Colonial Revival & Georgian

Symmetry and formality define the University Park homes along Hillcrest Avenue and Preston Road. Renovations focus on restoring formal spaces — paneled dining rooms, center-hall entries, formal libraries — while updating private family spaces for how University Park families live today. Classic raised-panel millwork, marble countertops, polished nickel fixtures, and formal pendant lighting match the Colonial vocabulary. Where a modern open kitchen is desired, we work with structural engineers to remove interior walls while preserving the exterior symmetry.

Mediterranean & Spanish Revival

University Park’s Mediterranean homes near Daniel Avenue and the SMU campus carry a distinct palette: terracotta roofs, arched doorways, wrought iron, hand-troweled stucco, and courtyards. Renovations lean warm and textural — honed travertine or limestone floors, encaustic tile accents, wrought iron light fixtures, walnut or alder millwork, copper or stone freestanding tubs, and outdoor living that blurs the line between interior and courtyard.

Post-War Ranch & Contemporary Updates

University Park has a growing inventory of 1950s–1960s ranch homes being updated rather than torn down. Scope: opening the compartmentalized floor plan, adding an oversized island-centered kitchen, flat-panel walnut or oak cabinetry, quartz countertops, wide-plank European oak flooring, and minimalist stair and railing details. Often combined with structural work to raise ceilings and add glazing to the rear yard.

2026 University Park Renovation Trends

Full Systems Replacement as Standard

Even when the scope is cosmetic, University Park homeowners above the $350K renovation level are electing to replace whole-home HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems at the same time. The logic is simple — the walls are open, the disruption has already been absorbed, and the cost to retrofit later is 2–3x higher.

Dedicated Wellness Spaces

Gym, sauna, steam, cold plunge, and massage room additions are the fastest-growing renovation category in University Park. Lower-level basements and rear additions are routinely built around a 1,000–2,500 sq ft wellness suite with direct access from the primary bedroom or pool area.

Outdoor Living as a Full Room

University Park renovations increasingly treat the outdoor terrace and pool as equal-priority rooms — with full outdoor kitchens, covered dining and lounge areas, retractable screens, outdoor showers, and integrated automation.

Quiet Luxury & Restrained Palettes

University Park interior designers are moving away from high-contrast colors and statement marble veining toward warmer, quieter palettes — aged plaster walls, honed limestone, warm wood tones, and unlacquered brass that ages naturally. The result feels more timeless.

Preservation of Original Architecture

More University Park owners are choosing to preserve and restore original millwork, leaded glass, hand-plastered walls, and hardware rather than demolish and replace. Specialty preservation trades — plaster artisans, stained glass restorers, historic hardware refinishers — are increasingly part of the renovation scope.

University Park Renovation Project Gallery

Why University Park Homeowners Choose UHS for Full Renovations

• One dedicated project manager, one crew. Your renovation has one point of accountability from day one through punch-list — no rotating subs, no phase-by-phase handoffs.
• Fixed-price contracts with full line-item transparency. Every trade, every material, every permit fee is priced before you sign. We do not hide behind “allowances.”
• Architect & designer coordination. We have built University Park projects alongside the leading DFW architects and interior design firms. Shared timelines, shared specs, shared accountability.
• Preservation-minded. We respect and preserve original architectural detail — millwork, leaded glass, hardware, plaster — and match all new construction to existing profiles.
• City of University Park permitting expertise. We know inspection expectations, setback and height restrictions, and the specific standards of the University Park building department.
• Daily photo updates. You see your renovation progress every single day via text.
• 3-year written workmanship warranty. Every trade covered for three full years.
• 500+ verified reviews, 4.9-star average. Google, Facebook, and Angi — real reviews from real DFW homeowners.

“Our University Park Colonial renovation took nine months and touched the kitchen, all four bathrooms, all closets, the laundry, and the mudroom. UHS coordinated our architect and interior designer without a single scheduling conflict. The fixed-price contract held within 4% despite multiple owner-requested upgrades. We moved back in on the scheduled date.”
— Verified Google review, UHS Remodeling