Seven Kitchen Remodeling Decisions You'll Never Regret!
I’ve
seen lots of kitchen trends during my years as a Realtor, so I know it’s easy
to get swept along with what’s in vogue, only to get bummed out by your faddish
design choices a few years later. Thank you — and damn you — Pinterest!
But
chances are you’re only going to remodel your current kitchen once. After all,
the annual “Cost vs. Value Report” from “Remodeling” magazine
pegs the average price of a major kitchen remodel at $56,768. With that much on
the line, you want to make all the right moves. If you do, you could recoup
about 68% of your investment if you sell.
So I’m here to future-proof you from angst by naming the seven definitive
kitchen features that will retain their beauty, marketability, and value —
all while giving you lasting enjoyment.
#1: White is the Dominant Color
Bottom line: White is the most marketable color. You’ll always find it atop the
National Kitchen and Bath Association’s annual survey of most popular kitchen
colors. It simply doesn’t go out of style.
White’s mojo:
- Throughout history, it’s been
associated with happiness, purity (think Snow White), and new beginnings.
- It’s a bright color that
reflects light and makes even small kitchens feel larger.
- It’s a neatnik’s dream — dirt
has no place to hide.
Even
better, it’s uber-tolerant of both your budget and taste: A standard color for
any manufacturer, you’ll find white cabinets, tile, counters, faucets, sinks,
and appliances at any price point.
And
with a white backdrop, you can be as conservative or expressive as you want.
After all, it’s about your enjoyment, not just dollars and cents. For example:
- Add your personal touch with
colored glass knobs and pulls.
- Show off antique Fiesta ware on
open shelves or in upper cabinets with glass fronts.
- Paint walls the color du jour —
even off-white!
Heck, with a white palette, you can
change your mind about paint color on a whim. Those all-white basics will make
any hue you choose look fresh and contemporary.
#2: Hardwood for Flooring
It’s been our foot fetish for
years. That’s especially true ever since hardwood flooring was mass-produced
during the Industrial Revolution, making beautiful flooring readily available
at a reasonable cost.
Today, more than half of home buyers who purchased a home without hardwood
floors say they would have paid an extra $2,080 for them, according to the 2013
Home Features Survey from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. And among
buyers of any age, upwards of 80% say hardwood floors are “somewhat” or “very
important.”
“It’s the one feature men and women agree on,” says Debe Robinson, NKBA
treasurer and owner of Kitchen Expressions Inc. in Sheffield, Ala., who’s also
worked in the flooring industry.
Why? The love of wood is in our genes. Our nesting instincts know that hardwood
has warmth, personality, and makes our homes cozy and inviting. That’s why this
clever chameleon pairs well with any kitchen style — from casual cottage and
sleek contemporary to the most chi-chi Park Avenue traditional.
More reasons why wood flooring is the goof-proof option:
- Perfect for open floor plans. It flows beautifully from the kitchen into adjoining
rooms.
- It’s tough. Hardwoods such as oak, ash, and maple will shrug off
your kitchen’s high-traffic punishment for years. Solid hardwood flooring
can be refinished 10 to 12 times during it’s typical 100-year lifespan.
#3: Shaker Style for Cabinets
Thank
heaven for the Shakers. While they were busy reducing life to its essentials,
they made cabinets with clean, simple lines that will forever be in style.
Shaker cabinets are an enduring legacy of American style and, like wood
flooring, have the knack for looking good in any setting. Their simple
frame-and-panel design helps reduce the amount of busyness in a kitchen, making
it a soothing, friendly place to be.
“In a kitchen with a timeless look, you want the cabinets to be part of the
backdrop,” says Alan Zielinski, a former president of the National Kitchen and
Bath Association. “You don’t want to be overpowered. You’re looking for plain,
simple, clean lines.”
Those plain, simple, clean lines are a perfect fit for transitional style — a
beautiful combo of traditional and contemporary styles. In fact, the National
Kitchen and Bath Association says that after creeping up on traditional for
years, transitional is now the most popular kitchen style.
As
our families grow more diverse, transitional style will only get more popular.
It lets us personalize and blend cultural influences — Latin, Asian, Mideastern
— into our homes; it’s the perfect balance of old and new, just like
Shaker-style cabinets.
#4:
Carrara Marble for Countertops
Carrara
marble is a timeless classic that’s been used in homes for thousands of years.
(Michelangelo’s “David” was carved from Carrara.) It’ll look as good in the
next millennium as it does now.
Here’s why:
- Carrara’s lacy graining and
subtle white colors look terrific in a white kitchen (or any kitchen, for
that matter).
- It has a whiteness you won’t
find in other natural stones.
- It’s readily available, making
it less expensive than other high-end choices, such as quartz.
- It’ll last for generations.
If
you Google it, you’ll find a lot of debate about it (and marble in general)
because it stains easily. But if you want something truly timeless, Carrara is
the answer. And with today’s sealants, the problem of staining is almost moot
if you reseal once or twice a year.
Still
not sold? Or don’t have the budget? Laminate countertops are relatively
inexpensive and can be upgraded to stone when you do have the budget.
#5: Subway Tile for the Backsplash
Subway tile goes back to the early 1900s, when it was used to line New
York’s first subway tunnels. Classic subway tiles are white, 3-inch-by-6-inch
rectangles — a look that became popular in American kitchens and baths, and has
stuck around ever since. Now it’s an iconic part of the American design
vernacular, destined never to go out of style.
In the kitchen, ceramic tile excels as a backsplash, where it guards against
moisture, is a snap to clean, lasts forever, and always looks classy.
Sure, a backsplash can be an opportunity for a blast of color and pattern, but
neutrals will always be current and blend with any look. Plus, a subway tile
backsplash and a marble countertop make a dashing couple that will stand the
test of time.
To make it even more enduring, keep it achromatic and camouflage dirt with gray
or beige grout.
#6: Ergonomic Design
Adaptability and universal design features mean easy living at any age.
A recent survey on kitchens from the American Institute of Architects points to
the growing popularity of smart ergonomic design, a sign that kitchen
adaptability will stay in vogue.
Smart ergonomics simply mean convenience — for young or old, party people or
homebodies — a key factor when remodeling a kitchen that will function well,
retain its value, and always feel right.
No matter you or your buyer’s current or future needs, everyone wins with these
approaches:
- Create different countertop
heights. Standard height is 36 inches,
but you can raise or lower sections of cabinets by altering the height of
the base. Add color-match shim strips to the bases of countertops that
don’t include sinks or appliances. You (or a new owner) can easily remove
them or add to them to adjust the height.
- Swap a standard range for a
wall oven and a cooktop.
Ranges have fixed heights. There’s no getting around the fact you have to
bend to access the oven. But a wall oven conveniently installs about
waist-high.
- Add pull-out shelves to base
cabinets. Lower cabinets with doors mean
having to twist like a pretzel to see what’s inside. Pull-out shelves put
everything at your fingertips.
- Keep wide clearances. Kitchens attract people, and with open floor plans,
you’re apt to have folks hunting for snacks, helping you cook, or just
hanging out while you prep meals. Keep traffic flowing with a minimum of
42 inches between counters and islands.
#7:
Smart Storage
Today’s families store about 47% of their kitchen stuff outside the kitchen —
in laundry rooms, basements, even sheds — according to data released at the
2013 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show.
We blame it on the fact that kitchens have evolved from a tucked-away place at
the back of the house into a multiple-chef, multi-tasking space that’s the hub
of family life. Plus, our love of open kitchens and stocking up at warehouse
stores means less wall space and more stuff, kitchen design expert Robinson
says.
The solution: smart storage. Cabinet manufacturers have you covered with nearly
unlimited storage options — shelves and compartments that unfold, turn, extend,
and slide.
But it’s not just about having storage, it’s about designing it smartly. Follow
these guidelines to make your storage timeless:
Create a primary storage zone. This is an area 30 to 60 inches high and
within two feet on either side of your body. Store your most-used items here —
your favorite work knives, measuring cups, salt and pepper for cooking, your
trusty pots and pans. With one easy motion, you can grab what you use all the
time.
Plan for the unknown. A truly timeless kitchen anticipates and
adapts to future needs, such as:
- A space that can easily convert
to an office, wine storage, or a closet.
- Lower cabinet spaces that can
accommodate a wine cooler, under-counter refrigerator, a second dishwasher,
or new must-have kitchen appliances on the horizon. (Remember when
microwaves didn’t exist?)
- An open space that fits a
freestanding desk or favorite antique that can personalize the kitchen —
no matter who owns the home.
I work hard to keep you informed about all the latest news, trends and happenings in home style, prices & sales in the Triangle NC area. Thinkin of buying or selling a home? Call me today for more information.
Elizabeth Scott, Realtor®, Broker
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Be Savvy...Call the Smart Realtor!
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Diamond Award – High Sales Volume
e-PRO,
Strategic Pricing Specialist
Fathom
Realty NC, LLC
Phone: 919.306.9699
Email: Elizabeth@TheSmartRealEstateAgent.com
