Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: kitchen

  • Kitchen remodel: 8 must-know tips before you get started

    There are a number of reasons why a kitchen remodel is trickier than most other rooms in a house: furniture arrangement is less flexible, high expenditures are required on appliances, and a number of functions have to be accommodated by the layout. However, remodeling a kitchen is also a solid investment as it can drastically increase the value of your property. So, before you get started, check out a few tips that will help you make the process more time- and cost-efficient.

    1. Identify the purpose
    Before you select a color scheme or even get a contractor, make a list of the different functions of this space. Is the kitchen going to be used solely for cooking or will it also serve as a dining area? Do you have children who will hang out in this area with their friends after school? There are numerous ways in which you will use the space outside of the primary purpose of making meals, so think through each and every one of them and evaluate whether they all can be incorporated in the design or if you have to prioritize.

    2. Prioritize your investment

    There are items that are worth investing and those that you can try to save on. Of course, if you have your dream budget then there is no reason not to go with top-of-the-line products for everything. However, for the most part it is a puzzle game as we try to put together more expensive pieces with more affordable ones in a nice cohesive image.

    Here are a few things that are worth the investment:

    • Countertops: quality materials, such as marble, will both last you a very long time as well as increase the value of your home should you decide to sell at one point.
    • Proper drainage: there is a lot of waste that we dispose of in the kitchen, often times using a sink – cooking oil, for example. Make sure that you invest in a proper disposal system as well as install quality pipes.
    • Energy efficient and smart appliances: if you have to pay more for an energy-efficient appliance – be it a refrigerator or a microwave – do it. You will get this money back in reduced energy bills and, once again, if you ever decide to sell your house together with the appliances, you will be happy that you invested in energy efficiency. When it comes to smart technology, we are not talking about a fancy coffee maker, but rather a smart fire alarm system.

    There are also a few items where you can cut corners:

    • Hardware finishes: knobs and handles are not worth the investment. When selecting kitchen cabinets, pay attention to the quality of the cabinets, not the design of the knobs on them. You can purchase a different knob or a handle for as little as $4-$5 and it is easy to replace these elements.
    • Tiles: porcelain tiles are often recommended for kitchen floors as they resist chipping and cracking, while also being affordable.

    READ: HIGH VALUE ROOMS: IMPROVING YOUR KITCHEN TO BOOST HOME VALUE

    3. Design based on your habits
    How often do you cook? What is your cooking routine? For example, do you tend to cook 3-4 meals at the same time or in portions? How much counter space do you need? How often do you bake? How much food do you freeze? Do you usually cook alone or with another person? These are all the questions you should ask yourself before you remodel your space. No detail is too small. For example, does it make sense for you to create a sub-cooking space where other family members can microwave their food or wash dishes without interfering with your cooking process? How many items do you need to be easily accessible – from pots and pans to a spice rack? Do you purchase in bulks? That will determine the design of your storage space.

    4. Pay for the design
    Once you have identified what you want and what you want it for, allocate some of your budget for a professional design. Even if you think that you have thought through every possible detail, you will be surprised by how many items you couldn’t even envision that come up when you consult a professional. You may be able to create a pleasant color scheme. A designer will create a stunning one. You may be able to create a detailed storage plane. A designer will figure out how to use dead spaces in the kitchen for storage. You may be able to select quality materials. A designer will explain which materials work best for your maintenance needs. A designer will be able to take your idea and perfect it. This is something worth investing in. The best part is that it can be affordable as well. For example, you can use Arcbazar to crowdsource a dozen of designs from the network of thousands of architects for a fraction of the cost.

  • Tips to Reinvent Your Kitchen on a Budget

    The kitchen is one of the biggest selling points in a home, often the biggest, and an outdated one has the power to turn off potential buyers. Everyone can agree that a newly renovated room is a great selling factor – and that’s even truer when that room is the kitchen. While kitchen renovations are often associated with a high price tag, with these tips, you can reinvent your kitchen on any budget, no matter how tight it may be.

    Tips to Reinvent Your Kitchen on a Budget - bhgrelife.com1. Find the perfect flooring

    Floors are the largest surface in a home, and as such, have the power to make a massive impression on everyone who enters. If your kitchen floors look old, torn and worn, it’s time to do something about them, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Replace old vinyl tiles with newer ones and re-stain worn-out wood floors. You may also want to consider cheaper alternatives to your favorite flooring options, such as brick flooring, which is fairly affordable and emits a sense of warmth that comes from the rich red and brown hues.

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: What’s the best finger food to serve?

    Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today’s pro is Carolina Buia, Dream Team member and Lifestyle pro. She will share with us some of her favorite finger foods to serve at a party!

    Q: Finger food – what’s the best thing to serve?

    -Betty M.

    A: Here are some of my favorite finger foods, ordered from “super easy” to “a little more work”.

    prosciutto_breadsticks
    Thin, rosemary Italian breadsticks wrapped in prosciutto (prep 15 min ahead), you can also roll them in black sesame seeds.


  • No House is Perfect… But There’s a Solution for Everything

    In 2010, my husband and I bought our dream house. It is a beautifully crafted home, with lots of light, more space than we could ever need, and a wonderful backyard for playing and entertaining. We couldn’t have been more excited to buy it. Before our twins were born 16 months ago, we had a different relationship with our home. We worked long hours, traveled extensively, and used our home as a lovely crash pad in between the next adventure.

    As we prepared for the birth of our children, I started to look at our dream home in the harsher light of day. It wasn’t the house’s fault. All of these “faults” existed when we bought it. The only difference was – I was home a lot more.

    Why is the laundry /mud room so small? I’m constantly knocking into drying racks and tripping over piles of shoes on the floor. I hate our laundry room!

    How are we possibly going to childproof our main living area? The once-glorious sunken living room with major expanses of space is now a threat to my unborn children. Ugh!

    For a house that’s on the larger side, why are there only three bedrooms? Where are we going to put our family and guests who visit? In the oversized, useless foyer? Ridiculous!

    The many beautiful windows that bathed our home in natural light now annoy me because, let’s be honest, how can you possibly keep them clean? I wish we had fewer windows!

    Why did the builder design the “chef’s” kitchen with a teeny little island with no seating area? Do I have to redo the kitchen, too?

    I had to take a step back to remember our house is still a dream. It just needed a little re-figuring to fit the new stage of our lives as busy, homebound parents of twins.

    No home is perfect. But not everything needs to be solved by major renovations. Sometimes, even the gnarliest of problems can be solved in an easy way.

    So let’s commence with the advice.

    • First, get organized. Get rid of clutter. Streamline your possessions and dispense with things you don’t need. This will allow you to more accurately take stock of your living situation and the flow of your home. It will also help you prioritize what projects you need to do, and on what scale.
    • Repurpose rooms you are not using into rooms you will use. Not everyone needs a formal living or dining room, or a large home office. Is there a better use for your home’s existing assets?
    • Before you do anything major—a gut job or the like—live with it for a while. Really see how you use the space. Are there less expensive ways you can solve the problem? Either by better organization, or using after-market storage tools or structures? Will a simple cosmetic refresh do the job?
    • Your time is valuable. Sometimes it’s worth it to outsource some of your home’s upkeep. Be selective and outsource that which will give you the greatest return on your time.
    • If you have done the above and truly need to do a major project, get multiple bids. Put together your requirements so they are organized. Seek best practices from the myriad of home improvement and design resources out there first.
    • And most importantly: take into account the way you will also live in the future before you do anything! If you are about to have a family, perhaps you would do a bathroom renovation differently than if your kids are going off to college. Ditto for mud rooms, garages, kitchens, and basements.

    I gave away a ton of stuff we didn’t use: duplicate items that were collecting dust and taking up our valuable storage space. I organized everything according to the way we live. Made important things accessible. Stored things that we didn’t use in nicely labeled, clear containers. Consolidated three junk drawers into one. Attacked it all. And I’m trying desperately to keep it that way.

    We turned our third floor, originally intended as an office, into a fourth bedroom.

    As for the natural light? I had window washers come and deal with the grime – too many windows in the house for me to attempt. It’s an indulgence I will need to do every couple of years, so I’m budgeting for it. When it was done I felt like I had LASIK surgery. It’s a wonder how sharp your vision can be when you’re not looking through years of film!

    We are doing a full-scale renovation of our laundry room. There was no way around it. I am more excited about that – weirdly enough – than any other home improvement project I have ever done. We ripped out the kitchen island and replaced it with something appropriately sized for the space, with tons of storage and plenty of spaces for seating. This saved us from having to redo the kitchen. We also designed it in a style that would blend in with any future kitchen renovation we wanted to do.

    Kitchen_Island

    There was no way to childproof the living area in a traditional way, so I bought a massive, brightly-colored play yard and have trapped my precious little ones within it when I need to be in the adjoining kitchen. We de-cluttered and safeguarded our TV room on the second floor so they can roam free; that room is more easily gated and gives them the illusion of total baby freedom.

    Living_Room_Play_Pen

    So, the next time you want to break up with your house, remember, there is a solution for everything.

    Some relationships are worth investing in.

     

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Should You Remodel Before Selling?

    Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today we are talking to Dream Team member and interior design pro Jennifer Adams! Let’s see what she has to say about dated kitchens!

    Dated_Kitchen

    Q: I am looking to sell my home but my kitchen is looking a bit dated─ should I remodel it or leave it alone before selling?

    -Lisa Y.

    A: For potential buyers the kitchen can make or break the sale. If your kitchen is looking dated, you may be able to get away with a few basic cosmetic changes that will completely change the look and feel.  A good cleaning may be all your cabinets need to get them to look like new. Or, consider a fresh coat of paint which is an inexpensive way to dramatically change the whole look of the kitchen. Add a glass or tile backsplash to bring some warmth, texture, and color to a cookie cutter kitchen. Fixtures are also an inexpensive way to make the kitchen look like new. If your faucet is more than 10 years old, it’s time to replace it. You can look for them on sale at the hardware store to update your look. If your light fixtures can be saved, give them a good cleaning, otherwise a quick coat of spray paint in a metallic finish can instantly update the look. If you have old appliances, consider replacing them with stainless steel. The neutral tone will appeal to the majority of future home buyers.

    -Jennifer A.