You’ve probably heard it a million times from your mom, best-friend, older brother, neighbor, or college professor. Now, you’re hearing it from us as we reiterate that piece of advice every homeowner can’t seem to get away from –
“Remodeling your home is one of the best investments you can make.”
Not only will a kitchen remodel enhance your level of enjoyment while at home, but it will also increase its resale value. Most people on the hunt for homes are not interested in purchasing something that needs work; buying a new home is enough work on its own. By remodeling, you have upgraded key parts of your home that might catch the eye of the young family looking for the perfect kitchen for hosting family gatherings or the business professionals searching for a bathroom they feel comfortable getting ready for their busy day in. Whoever your remodel appeals to, it will turn a dusty house into a dream home for a buyer or yourself.
Why should you remodel your kitchen?
Kitchen remodeling experts, Kitchen Tune-Up of Flagstaff, share why they believe remodeling your kitchen is so important, “The kitchen is usually the most used room in your home. It should be a place that reflects your style and makes cooking and eating a little bit easier. Other reasons include to increase the value of your home, help it sell faster, add bigger/more appliances, or increase the storage space and make the space more functional.” Kitchens need to be updated often and will end up being the biggest investment but they’re also one of the most important rooms for buyers. And, if you’re not looking to put your home on the market yet, a kitchen refresh can help the time you spend cooking for your family or meal prepping for the week become more enjoyable.
“The biggest benefit is that it makes you happy. If you increase the storage options, then it makes it easier to have a more tidy kitchen. You can actually make it easier to clean with the right countertop and backsplash making it more fun to cook,” says Andy from Kitchen Tune-Up.
What Should I Expect for the Designing Process?
The most overwhelming part of the remodeling process is making decisions. You will go back and forth on most decisions from, “Which shade of copper do we want for the drawer hardware?” to, “What backsplash tile goes best with a granite countertop?” It’s okay to take a step back and spread this process out over a span of months to even a year because it’s important that you are getting what you want and to not make any hasty decisions. While researching what looks beautiful on Pinterest, keep in mind the functionality of the cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, hardware and sink.
Deciding on a style for your kitchen can stem from inspiration from many outlets but it is always important to keep in mind what designers are saying about trends and functionality updates in the home design world. “Painted white cabinets have been popular for a while and will continue to be, but we are seeing more gray, navy, black, blues, and greens on islands or white on the upper cabinets and a contrasting color on the lower cabinets. Dark brown stains on wood floors bring warmth to a kitchen. Butcher block countertops, floating shelves, copper accents, and reclaimed wood will also be making its way into kitchens in 2019. Knotty Alder is a popular choice in Flagstaff because of its rustic warmth. Another common request we get is the desire for clean, simple lines,” says Andy from Kitchen Tune-Up. As an additional place to brainstorm design, check out our last blog about flooring and design trends we are seeing surface in 2019.
What About the Flooring?
Replacing worn flooring will give your kitchen an immediate facelift.
When selecting your kitchen flooring, it is important to consider durability and ease of cleaning. It is inevitable that a pot or casserole dish will fall on the floor so maybe the soft, Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring wouldn’t be the best solution for a heavily used kitchen.
If you are looking for hardwood, there are plenty of options that are durable but you may also want to consider tile or vinyl plank flooring. Tile has been a staple in kitchens for years, and the options are endless. Vinyl plank, a newer flooring option, is replacing tile in many homes. There are many hard flooring options available today; it is important to do as much research as possible and speak to flooring professionals about your budget, family, lifestyle, concerns, and ideas.
When replacing the flooring in your kitchen, it may be a good idea to replace flooring in surrounding areas as well. Carrying the theme and design of your flooring throughout your house is the most important for consistency in home design.
Know When You Want to Sell?
Do you have a pretty good idea that you want to sell the house in 3-7 years or even sooner? Remodel WISELY! Try to avoid major “trendy” trends by being careful with colors by sticking to neutral colors and fixtures instead. Picking the brushed nickel, chrome, and neutral sinks (think utility when it comes to sink and plumbing fixtures) options will appeal to many more people across the board.
If you are planning on staying for a while, pick what you want! Get the blue-green cabinets and crazy backsplash tile you’ve always wanted.
Remodeling gives your home a leg up on others and will result in a higher closing cost but it will also greatly increase your happiness in a place you spend your sick, amazing, productive, awful, and lazy days.
Visit Cunningham Flooring Direct to talk about getting that new flooring and let’s throw around a few design ideas while we’re at it.