Tips & Tools : kitchen

Hot New Trends in Kitchen Design

RE.com Tips & Tools — Sat, 19 May 2007 15:06:00 GMT

The modern kitchen has evolved from a cooking-and-eating room into a bona fide living space. Find out about the latest kitchen design concepts.

Step aside, family room! The kitchen is emerging as the most important room in the house. Next to the front entranceway, it receives the highest volume of foot traffic and is quickly becoming the place where families spend the most time together.

If your kitchen is destined for a remodel this year, here are some of the new and emerging trends you’ll want to keep an eye on.

DESIGN

• Multi function. Today’s kitchens are increasingly designed to serve as multi-function areas with dedicated space incorporated for TVs, computers and workstations.

• Island paradise. Islands maximize kitchen workspace while simultaneously offering more storage room. Cooking is increasingly becoming a family activity, and an island (especially one with an integrated sink), makes it easier to share that space.

• Green space. Increasing consumer demand for environmental responsibility and energy conservation has produced a wealth of energy-conscious appliance options. Natural gas-burning stoves, low-flow dishwashers and improved waste disposal devices are becoming increasingly popular and add to your home’s resale value.

• Custom finishes. Many of today’s countertops, cabinetry, flooring and appliances are available in a galaxy of colors and finishes to enable kitchen components to complement one another. If your contractor says what you want can’t be done, scout around. Chances are you can get it your way.

CABINETRY

• Easy access. With more people choosing to eat healthy and cook their own meals, ease of movement within the kitchen is at a premium. Counter-level cupboards that reduce bending and stretching are on the rise, as are space-saving cabinets with adjustable dividers and sliding trays.

• Furniture design. One of today’s hottest trends in kitchen design is to give cabinetry the look and feel of furniture. Decorative molding and textured hardware are big, as are painted or glazed finishes and combinations of organic textures like wood, glass, metal and stone.

• Bright and white. White or light-colored cabinets are a good choice for a small or under-lit kitchen as they give the illusion of more space. Darker shades can be used as accent colors for area rugs and kitchen accessories. The latest cabinet hardware is satin-finish nickel.

• Open shelving. Replacing some solid cabinet doors with translucent ones is a great way to help break up the monotony of a long bank of cupboards. Some doors may be removed altogether to showcase attractive chinaware.

• The great outdoors. Natural, outdoorsy colors that create a warm, homey feel are big these days, with the palette dominated by shades of taupe, camel and sage.

• Continental flavor. Styles that borrow elements from other cultures are also on the rise, with Asian- and Italian-inspired ideas taking the lead. Their streamlined, uncluttered looks create a clean, modern design with links to the past. Paneled, dark-stained cabinets with crown or dentil molding and oil-rubbed bronze fixtures are popular with those looking for a more traditional western European look.

LIGHTING

• Brighten up. The current trend in kitchen lighting is more lights in more places -- especially over workstations, islands and the kitchen table.

• Be discrete. Halogen puck or pin lights, built into the ceiling, are popular in that they’re powerful enough to illuminate the entire room without obtrusive light fixtures.

COUNTERTOPS

• Mix it up. Countertops arranged at varying heights at different workstations can reduce back strain. Also, offsetting one surface material with another -- such as a stainless-steel counter and a granite-topped island -- is a popular way of breaking up the color and design.

• Rock stardom. Stone countertops continue to dominate due to their durability (they’re usually heat- and acid-resistant), uniqueness and wide array of color and pattern options. Granite is the most popular stone, with grey-swirl Carrara marble, slate and soapstone also scoring high.

• A touch of glass. Stainless steel countertops remain popular. If your kitchen already has a significant amount of stainless steel, consider tempering it with a softer (yet still modern-looking) glass countertop. Engineered stones like Silestone, Zodiac and Corian are also popular because they look and feel like real stone but come in a wider variety of colors.

APPLIANCES

• Power to the people. America’s changing eating habits have prompted a shift in refrigerator design. Increased user control of temperature and moisture is a leading trend these days as consumers seek to maximize the life span of their organic and natural foods.

• Home on the range. The greatest shift in kitchen appliances is in stoves and ovens. Gas ovens are starting to overtake convection ovens due in part to their more efficient use of energy and faster cooking speeds. Wood-burning ovens are also coming into demand as the current trend towards professional-grade kitchen appliances continues. Even the utilitarian stove hood is getting a makeover with many new sculptured designs.

• Now you see it, now you don’t. The size and visibility of appliances seems to be going down two separate paths. For some, the trend is toward inconspicuous appliances that integrate seamlessly with the cabinetry or can be hidden altogether. For others, large, stand-alone stainless steel appliances continue to be popular.

FLOORING

• Walk on wood. Enviro-friendly surfaces are very in. Bamboo and hardwood (especially wide planks salvaged from old buildings) are leading the charge, with cork and Marmoleum (made from wood flour, linseed oil, jute and limestone) projected to be big performers.

• Fit to be tiled. Oversized ceramic, slate and limestone tiles are also popular, as is linoleum, both for its eco-friendliness and retro vibe.

With so many new kitchen design options, there’s something to fit every budget. Just put your imagination to work and you can create the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of owning.

Features That Add Value To a Home

RE.com Tips & Tools — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 18:25:00 GMT

When buying a home, you should consider whether it has features that may boost its future resale value.

Understanding what features add the most value to a home can help in your home buying decision.

Curb appeal
Home value begins on the outside. What initially attracts a potential buyer is curb appeal. This can be enhanced with attractive, well-maintained landscaping, a well-manicured lawn and attractive bushes and trees. Shrubbery and foliage should not be placed too close to the house as they may detract from its appearance.

The kitchen rules
The single most value-boosting feature of a home is an appealing, up-to-date, user-friendly kitchen. Kitchens have become a magnet for today’s families -- the hub of activity for everything from eating dinner to doing homework.

Beauty and the bath
A close second in adding to a home’s value is the bathroom. It needs to be functional and attractive. There should also be enough bathrooms for the size of the home. For example, a three-bedroom house with just one bathroom could be a problem at resale.

Detailing
A home that has been well maintained is more likely to retain its home value. There are also a few other aesthetic aspects that can help. Gleaming hardwood flooring is always popular. And a fresh coat of paint provides easy and cost-effective appeal.

Choose a Home That Will Hold Its Value

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:43:00 GMT

Before you buy, think about how appealing your new home will be when it's time for you to sell.

The most important features that help sell a home are the three you hear about all the time: location, location, location. But beyond neighborhood, there are a number of factors that influence resale value.

This is an important consideration. Even if you believe you’ve found your dream home and will never move, chances are you will sell it one day.

Here are some of the home features that help sell a home:

Outside
REALTORS® cite curb appeal as key to selling a house. In fact, it can add five to 10 percent to a home’s value. But if a home doesn’t make a good first impression, a stunning interior seldom compensates. So, if a house has curb appeal when you buy it, maintain it, because it will work for prospective buyers, too, when you want to sell.

Ironically, the elaborate garden or pool that attracts you to a house is a deterrent for many prospective buyers because it looks like too much work to maintain. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to add what many REALTORS® consider the best landscaping feature for resale: very large, healthy, mature trees. A garage is a definite plus for resale, especially if most houses on the street have one, and the rule is the bigger, the better.

Inside
On the inside, the ambiance of the house matters almost as much as how new it is or how well finished individual rooms are. A light, bright feeling appeals to buyers. Look for a home with large windows, good sun exposure, walkouts to the garden and perhaps even a vaulted ceiling in the main room.

The floor plan is a vital consideration for resale. If it is cut up into small spaces with rooms that relate to each other awkwardly, the house will always make a poor impression on prospective buyers, even with superb decorating. Layout preferences vary from region to region and are often related to climate. But some features are universally popular: a large separation between the master bedroom and secondary bedrooms; a central area where living, family dining and kitchen areas flow together; and a main or second-floor family room.

Not surprisingly, experts say kitchens and bathrooms are the areas that affect resale value most. The only debate is over which room has the most impact. A contemporary kitchen with new appliances is a big draw. Updated bathrooms, especially a luxurious master suite bath, are also popular.

Most REALTORS® say that a three-bedroom house has a much wider market than one with fewer bedrooms. Four or more bedrooms don’t necessarily help sell a house, but shifts its market to larger families. A spacious master bedroom is an expected feature in newer homes, at least, rather than a selling point -- if you don’t have one, it can be a problem. Ample storage and closet space are also compelling resale features.

Services and structure
Modern services, especially those that are difficult to add, such as built-in air conditioning and central vacuum, are important features for many buyers. Up-to-date wiring and plumbing are not so much selling features as significant deterrents to potential buyers if they are not present. Even in older homes, these must be up to current standards or the house languishes on the market.

Just as sparkling new kitchens and baths help sell a home, certain flaws have the opposite effect. For instance, damp basements, signs of water damage (especially from leaky roofs), or permanent damage from poor maintenance, are major sales detriments. Avoid a home with these obvious problems unless you know you can afford to fix them and make your money back when it’s time to sell.

New Home Upgrades

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:22:00 GMT

In a new home, certain upgrades are worth the money and can add to the home's value.

Building a new home requires making many decisions. You have to choose which floor plan you want, the lot, and, of course, the upgrades that you want to incorporate into your new home. Choosing your upgrades can be a difficult process. You want to make your new home as nice as the model, but you quickly realize that upgrades can drastically increase the price of the home. Therefore, you want to make sure the upgrades you choose give you the best value.

Before choosing the upgrades for your new home, there are some important things to consider:

What is your budget? Know how much you can spend on the home and how much that leaves you for upgrades.
Consider how long you expect to be in the new home. If you may move within a few years, you may not want to spend extra on upgrades. If you think you will remain in the new home for several years, then you can feel more comfortable spending a little more on upgrades.
Know what is important to you. Price out the upgrades that are most important to you and subtract from your total budget.
Know the area. You don’t want to upgrade your new home so much that it is over-the-top for the neighborhood.
Keep resale in mind. (More on this below.)

The following can be good upgrade choices to add value to your new home.

1. Kitchen
Perhaps the most popular area of a new home to upgrade is the kitchen. Upgrades here tend to pay off at resale. The upgrade possibilities are almost endless, and include the following:

Cabinetry. Upgraded cabinets are a good choice. There are several options here. You can upgrade the basic cabinetry, add glass-front cabinets, or extend the cabinets.
Countertops. Granite is an upgrade that tends to keep its value. Granite countertops are popular and can create a beautiful kitchen.
Appliances. Upgrading to stainless steel or energy efficient appliances is another good option in the kitchen.

2. Flooring
One option to consider with a new home is upgrading to hardwood floors. Hardwoods tend to be an upgrade that have good value, certainly over linoleum and even over tile. Having hardwood floors throughout family and living areas adds an elegant touch to your new home.

3. Crown moldings
Crown mouldings are another upgrade for your new home that can be a great value. Adding crown moldings is not that expensive and it greatly improves the look of a room. If you can afford to extend crown moldings throughout the new home, consider that upgrade.

Building a new home and choosing the upgrades can be a fun process. However, it is important to not get carried away when selecting options. You can easily go over your budget or price your home too high for the neighborhood. Focus on what is important to you and the three areas that tend to pay off at resale.

Tips to add value to your home

RE.com Tips & Tools — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:39:00 GMT

Hint: Start with the kitchen, master bath and the siding, and forget about the satellite dish

Granite countertops will add value to your home. So will a deck. Brushed-nickel fixtures won’t. Neither will wiring the den for Surround Sound.

Confused? You have plenty of company – namely a few million other homeowners.

“It’s extremely difficult for sellers to put a certain value on their house,” says Shirley Smith, broker-in-charge of the RealEstate.com brokerage in Charlotte, N.C. Real estate professionals, on the other hand, generally base the value on square footage and comparable sales of nearby homes with similar features, she says.

That’s not to say that nickel fixtures, Surround Sound wiring or a security system won’t attract some buyers, she says: “People might like that better, but that doesn’t mean it adds value.” In other words, you’re making your home more appealing, which is good, but you’re not adding features that allow you to increase the asking price.

Take a swimming pool – please. Although some buyers won’t even look at homes without pools, many more see themselves being drowned in upkeep costs. Swimming pools can even reduce the value of a home, especially if they’re in poor good condition. And Smith says satellite dishes are only attractive to buyers who specifically want a home with a dish.

Projects that add square footage generally add value. So do kitchen renovations; a major renovation adds the most value, but Smith says shiny new, upgraded appliances alone can add value. Bathroom upgrades and extras, especially in the master bath, also add value, Smith says. And guess what? Regular preventive maintenance also adds value to a home, she says.

But don’t overestimate the value added by home improvements. The bible on this topic is Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, which looks at the average cost of popular renovations and upgrades in 60 cities across the country and the return for the dollar on each.

The magazine notes that the return on investment varies from market to market, but it does break out national averages. In its 2006 report, Remodeling says that the cost of renovations has steadily increased nationwide, while the value added fell to 2002 levels. Basically, you’ll pay more for remodeling but get less back on resale these days.

It’s rare that a remodeling project returns 100 percent or more of the cost at resale, the magazine says – although it can happen in certain markets. In today’s more steady market, a typical project normally returns 75 percent to 80 percent on the dollar at resale, the report says.

Nationwide, on average, putting up vinyl siding is the most cost-effective renovation, returning 87 percent of the investment at resale. Major kitchen renovations, bathroom remodeling projects and replacement of wood windows are close behind, at 85 percent, according to the report.

The least cost-effective renovations at resale? Remodeling a home office, with a 63 percent return, and sunroom additions, at 66 percent.

Smith says it also makes a difference how long ago the renovation was completed. In general, you shouldn’t expect to get full value at resale three years later, she says.

Renovate to enhance resale value

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:26:00 GMT

Planning to renovate your home? Here's the lowdown on what's trendy and what will always sell.

Your home is more than a place to live; it can be a lucrative investment. Whether you’ve owned it for a number of years, or recently purchased an older property, putting money into renovations and upgrades can significantly increase its value. What’s more, updating your home is likely to make it more appealing to a wider range of buyers and therefore make it easier to sell.

However, it’s important to note that not every renovation pays back so handsomely. Very trendy or low-quality finishes can turn off potential buyers. Use these tips to help ensure you get the biggest bang for your renovating buck:

Kitchens

Even if they aren’t gourmet cooks, today’s homebuyers are looking for a home with an up-to-date kitchen -- one that’s large and attractive enough to live and entertain in. Recent trends in kitchen design have favored stainless steel for cabinets and appliances, but some experts say it may be on its way out because of the perception that it’s a high-maintenance finish. You’ll likely get more for your money going with plain white, which looks clean and is practically impervious to trends. But make room in your remodeling budget for solid-wood cabinets, quality appliances and recessed task lighting. The cost of a minor kitchen remodel rings in at just under $15,000 -- but you can expect to recoup an average of 98.5 percent* of that investment in pumped-up resale value.

Bathrooms

If your home has only one bathroom, adding a second will add around $20,000 to its resale value and allow you to recoup an average of 86.4 percent of the cost of remodeling. Many buyers want both a soaker tub and a shower stall in the master suite. Spring for the clean look of a frameless glass enclosure and avoid colored sinks, tubs and toilets. Again, the watchword is white.

Bedrooms

Adding additional sleeping quarters will usually increase the resale value of your home by more than the cost of the renovation (unless your home already boasts four or five bedrooms). On the west coast converting a two- or three-bedroom house into a three- or four-bedroom house costs an average of $41,244, but adds $43,357 to its resale value. Across the country, expect to recoup an average of 93.5 percent of your remodeling costs.

Flooring

Hardwood reigns supreme. Installing new hardwood floors can increase a home’s value by up to 10 percent according to a recent survey of real estate agents across the country. But opt for mid- or light-colored oak or maple over dark and moody tones. And though wood-look floating laminate floors are somewhat cheaper, it pays to spring for the real thing.

Painting

A fresh coat of paint is among the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make your home more appealing. A recent REALTOR® report says it will typically give you around a 29 percent return on your investment dollar. But avoid picking vibrant, trendy colors. You may think a bright purple dining room looks stunning on the pages of your favorite home decor magazine, but it won’t suit many buyers’ tastes. It’s best to choose neutral colors that will have a wider appeal to potential future home buyers. Like an uncluttered home, a neutral backdrop makes it easier for house hunters to imagine moving in and decorating with their own possessions.

Backyard deck

Buyers want outdoor living space, not just an expanse of grass or a few flowers. Putting in a large, well-planned deck is a project with good payback, adding an average of 90 percent of its cost to your home’s resale value.

Before you undertake any home renovation, it’s a good idea to talk to a local REALTOR® or appraiser, even if you aren’t yet ready to sell. These professionals can advise you on whether the improvement you’re planning is likely to appeal to future home buyers -- and whether the potential payoff makes it a smart investment.

Kitchen organization tips: cooking without clutter

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:12:00 GMT

Try these great ideas to get your kitchen organized for good.

It’s easy for clutter and mess to take over the kitchen. However, with a little kitchen organization, you can regain and maintain control over the clutter.

1. Assess the situation

Walk into your kitchen with an open eye and a notebook and pen. What is the layout? You can make a very basic sketch of your kitchen to help in the new kitchen organization. First, take a critical look at your counter tops. What needs to be there? What doesn’t? Make a list with two columns, one for what stays on the counters and one for what goes. Also, look at how your cabinets are organized. Are things located close to where they are used?

2. Organize to fit your needs

Now that you have an inventory of what you have, the next step in your kitchen organization project is to know where to put everything. Using your map and the list from above can help make this step easier. The following are also some great tips to help:

Have cooking utensils near the stove.
Put drinking glasses near the refrigerator.
Create a little coffee station that has all of your coffee supplies right above the coffee pot.
In the pantry, buy step shelves so that you can see your cans of food. Buy a plastic milk crate and put any extra cans in the crate at the bottom of the pantry. You can use that to re-stock.
Create a lunch-making section with all the supplies that you need to pack lunches.
Instead of saving all of your cooking magazines, cut out the recipes you use (or want to use) and create a notebook binder of recipes. Placing the recipes in plastic sleeves can keep them clean while you cook.
Create another binder for takeout menus.

3. Maintain

Now that you have completed your kitchen organization, the key is to maintain it. Spend ten to fifteen minutes a day de-cluttering your kitchen. Make a new rule -- nothing stays on the countertops unless you use it everyday. Do you really need that mixer and blender cluttering your countertop? Put them where you can get them when you need them. Also, if the car keys and mail stubbornly return to the same spot on the counter, go ahead and give in. But first, buy some sort of cubby that can attractively hold these items.

With a little hard work and continual maintenance, you can have the kitchen organization that you have always wanted.

Bright Ideas to Sell Your Home Faster

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:44:00 GMT

Increasing your home's lighting is the quickest and easiest way to make your home look brighter and sell faster.

Want to make your home more appealing with the simple flick of a switch? Install bulbs with the maximum wattage your fixtures will safely allow and turn on all the lights. With the right interior and exterior lighting, your home will become more appealing and easier to sell.

1. Outdoors

Make your home sparkle with bright exterior lighting. Dust off and clean the covers of outdoor light fixtures to let as much light shine through as possible. Also, add some low-wattage accent lights along your driveway or around your garden to show off your property’s best features.

2. Front entrance

Make a great first impression with a well-lit front entrance and hallway. Install high-wattage bulbs and keep light fixtures clean and cobweb-free. If you have pot lights or recessed lights (which can make a hall seem roomier), perhaps you can tilt them to highlight artwork. Another way to create a bright, open entryway is to paint walls a light neutral color and add mirrors.

3. Kitchen

The kitchen is the most popular room in the home, so make sure yours shines. Put the spotlight on your kitchen’s best features with a mix of recessed lights in the ceiling, task lighting around work areas (i.e. hidden fluorescent lights over the stove and countertops) and accent lights over your table.

4. Living room

The more light that fills the room, the bigger it will appear. So, keep the window shades and curtains open and let the sun shine in. Turn on all the lights during showings, trying not to cast any shadows. Ensure table lamps have 40- or 60-watt bulbs with attractive, translucent shades that cast a nice glow for entertaining or reading. Add a couple of non-scented candles for extra ambience.

5. Bathroom

There’s nothing worse than a dingy looking bathroom, so make sure the room has sufficient lighting -- especially over the tub, shower and vanity mirror. Use fluorescent bulbs with a color rendering index (CRI) of 80 or more to enhance skin tones and other colors. A night-light is also an inexpensive way to add a nice warm glow.