EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER | The New Age Home Eatery

It's that time of year when most people begin to assess their homes and commence the, ever-so-popular,  "Spring Cleaning", or the Extreme Home Makeover - where they pick out a DIY project or two that they've seen on a popular HGTV show, check out a YouTube tutorial or two, make a trip to Home Depot and Flip That House of theirs.  How do I know this is accurate? Well, my wife has us doing both of these initiatives right now… and I LOVE IT!! (especially if I want to stay happily married.)  At any rate, practical reasoning and real estate professionals agree that these projects can, and will, increase resell and property values of most homes.  As a matter of fact, our great friends at Trulia did a recent study to determine which rooms of the house potential homebuyers value the most.

Only second to the master bedroom and its walk-in closet, is the kitchen.  This makes sense: where you lay your head at night, followed by where you prepare the food you chow down on (I, personally, would have flipped this. Sorry, food is extremely important to me and my stomach.)  At any rate, since the master bedroom is pretty much an open space where you can make enhancements with the addition of stellar furniture and creative decor, I chose to focus on the kitchen: a place where permanent fixtures and structures are essential. Here are some helpful tips for you to create an EXTEME KITCHEN MAKEOVER!

1. Open up your kitchen design: A kitchen that encompasses a nearby dining area or adjoins the nearby living room makes for a prime entertainment gathering spot.

2. Incorporate an island if space permits. It's just plain "in style" and serves many purposes from food preparation space, to workspace, to space for having meaningful conversations about grades on a recent report card. This is the hub.

3. Cabinetry is one of the most expensive aspects of a kitchen, but one of the most essentials to the look. If you have a decent-sized budget, you can replace your cabinets with oak, cherry or stainless steel layouts. Dark stained cabinets can bring richness and a sense of warmth to your kitchen. Factory finished cabinets, built in double oven are popular right now. It’s easy to install and elegant in look. However, if you are on a budget, instead of replacing the cabinets, rearrange and reface the cabinets. Simply replacing hardware on cabinets such as knobs, pulls with unique, elegant shapes can offer a nice look.

4. GO GREEN. Choosing recycled glass and concrete countertop, available in a variety of designs and colors are small tips to make you an environmentally conscious homeowner… and these days, THAT COUNTS! Marble, ceramic, and granite are naturally occurring material and also very sturdy. And if you have a little extra cash to "make it rain", go for quartz countertops that are maintenance free and durable. Also, update your kitchen appliances with energy saving features and use recessed LED lights to cut down on your energy bill (my GRU employees reading this might not like that one.)

5. Sink and oven back splashes . Ceramic tiles are a popular choice due to their durability and easy cleaning; and they're cost effective too! You can also go with a glass, granite, or quartz backsplash with appropriate countertops.

6. Lighting is essential to enhancing your kitchen. Lighting is the main accent when it comes to kitchen ambiance. Accent lighting can add beauty and elegance to your kitchen. You can have under counter lighting with xenon, fluorescent, puck and more. However ensure to let the sunshine in.

7. Choose flooring materials that focus on the durability aspect and limiting exposure to moisture. There are a number of options like vinyl, tile, cork, engineered wood, and laminate to name a few.

8. Painting walls with contrast colors will enhance your kitchen’s appearance.

10. You can also choose to update your sink and customize your space by installing built-in chopping boards and wine chillers. To further enhance the look and appeal of your kitchen make better utilization of space, hang painting and place some artifacts.

Contact me if you have further questions or need anymore information.  I also love to hear your feedback if this information has been helpful to you.  Peace and increase!!

When it comes to Real Estate, Think Hurst First!