Increase Your Realty Value With Smart Kitchen Renovations

The kitchen has always been considered the gathering space in our homes. Today, our modern lifestyle may mean we spend less time in this room with family and friends. Yet when we do find time we enjoy being in a space filled with the fragrances of fresh baked bread or the savoury spices of dinner slow-roasting in the oven. Before renovating your kitchen, consider your likes and dislikes of course, but don’t forget to study trends in today’s modern kitchens. You may find something you like even more and at the same time up your chances of increasing your property value.

   

It wasn’t all that long ago that granite countertops were considered a luxury reserved for high-end properties. The same goes for the sleek, stylish stainless steel appliances, now considered standard equipment in many properties. Gourmet chefs today, even the self-appointed home variety, consider high-end kitchens must haves in any dream home. Too qualify in the ultra-luxury category today, it means upgrading to brushed copper for those appliances, sometimes sporting colored glass accents. Open floor plans are the rage, but if that kitchen is kept far away from the front door, that’s an even bigger plus.

Designs that incorporate a pantry that separates the kitchen from the garage are preferred. Imagine getting out of your car and not have to lug those groceries past that pantry door. Gas stoves are preferred over electric, despite the extra cost for the initial installation. Decorative hood fans not only rid the kitchen of cooking odors, but add a bit of class.

   

Kitchen islands are highly sought after, especially if they are conveniently wired and are large enough to double as an impromptu buffet table. Forget the old kitchen lamp in the ceiling, ambient and accent lighting features are in. Colored lights are even better, as are dimmer switches. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of mellow ambiance in your cooking space. Oversize cabinets and lots of drawer space are the rule, not the exception.

All of the improvements listed above will increase your home’s value and your enjoyment of that home. If you are a wine lover, a wine rack might be up your alley, but it won’t do much for property value. Appliances that can’t open without hitting something or someone won’t help either. Some people prefer their kitchen islands to have sinks, perhaps to make it into a wet bar. If this is not the primary sink in the kitchen it might work. But sinks invariably attract dishes. Set up some ground rules so both sinks don’t end up as dirty dish graveyards.