It has long been said that the kitchen is the most popular room in the house for most families. Yet, it is often the bane of their lives for interior designers. Perhaps the reason for this is that the kitchen IS the most popular room, meaning everyone in the family has an opinion about it.Well, in case you were wondering, the adage is true. According to a study by Realtor.com, analyzing the rooms most mentioned in listing descriptions, the kitchen has overwhelmingly become the most popular room in the home at 69%, followed by the bedroom (49%), garage (35%), and living room (21%).This means that, as a designer, you must place as much importance on kitchen design, functionality, and comfort as your client does. Obviously, knowing which features of the kitchen will help it stand out among other homes is critical to a successful redesign.Some features will add value to a kitchen, while other amenities are less relevant to buyers. Custom cabinetry ranks at the top of the list for adding value to a kitchen, followed by a kitchen island, creative lighting, granite counters, large pantry, stainless-steel appliances, tile backsplash, and breakfast bar. To protect yourself from angry clients, stay away from over-the-stove microwaves, maple cabinets, and 4 x 4 tile floors.If buyers like custom cabinets (and they do), and they also like wood (and they do), then it makes sense to focus on finding the right custom wood cabinets to add value to your client’s kitchen.Custom Shaker-style wood cabinetry offers far more than ample storage in this redesigned kitchen. (NewHomeSource.com)
Lighter woods also have their place when the client wants an open, roomier feel. (NewHomeSource.com)
The simplicity of design does not have to mean simplistic. Paints and veneers add flexibility to wood cabinetry that is hard to match. (Phil Kean Design Group)The concept of “home” still pulls at the heartstrings, and homebuilders say that upgrading certain features and adding special flourishes remains high on buyers’ shopping lists. As shown above, #1 on that list is the kitchen!Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
Simple Bathroom Upgrades for Better Home Improvement ROI
In a previous post, Value of the Most Popular Home Improvement Projects, we outlined for you where your clients can expect the greatest return on investment for remodeling the rooms of their homes. While none of the most popular home improvements offered an overwhelming return, bathrooms and kitchens consistently showed the best ROI. Here, we present some of the easiest and most profitable bathroom upgrades to improve the ROI of a remodel.
You can use these tips to help close the deal when you have a client that wants to “think about it some more”.
Can a Bathroom Make a Statement?
An especially quick and easy bathroom upgrade, and one which most homeowners never consider, is to add artwork to the space. From eclectic to elegant, this simple step can completely change the feel of a normally neutral room, making a statement about the homeowner’s sense of style. (Image from HuffingtonPost.com)
The 70s Called to Get Their Bathroom Back
This jetted bathtub should be a place of relaxation and respite for an exhausted homeowner. But, the dated tile and dingy colors do nothing to create a sense of tranquility.
Now, with a cottage-style makeover, done for less than $1000, this bathtub has become a destination to which a homeowner can happily return for her “Me Time”, after a busy day. (Image from HGTV.com)
Turning Classics into Contemporary Pieces
If innovation truly is the mother of invention, then adaptation may be the father of innovation.
This stunning piece employs the classic idea of a wash basin combined with an antique dresser to create a sink with modern plumbing that is truly unique and lovely. (Click here to learn more about how you can offer this innovative idea to your design clients, with how-to instructions from thisOldHouse.com.)
It certainly adds more style than this old house could do. (See what we did there? LOL)
Turns out, the perfect client may not be the one who says, “Money is no object”. First, they rarely mean it, and second, they’re as rare as a stylish mullet. On the other hand, homeowners on a budget are numerous, and frequently willing to accept outside the box solutions, which is exactly what some of these bathroom upgrades are.
Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.