26 — Say you saw it in The Real Estate Browser of Lynchburg — Volume 9 Number 9 www . LynchburgRealEstateBrowser . com
Kitchen Remodeling Decisions You ’ ll Never Regret
We see lots of kitchen trends at HouseLogic , so we 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 , a complete kitchen renovation has a national median cost of $ 60,000 , according to the “ Remodeling Impact Report ” from the National Association of REALTORS ®. With that much on the line , you want to make all the right moves . If you do , you could recover about 62 % of your investment if you sell .
So we ’ re 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 .
• 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 “ 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 .
It ’ s eco-friendly . Hardwood is considered a green building material when it ’ s certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and comes from sustainably managed forests .
# 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 .”