Today’s kitchens are not just the epicenter of the home, they are also the room prospective buyers often turn to first when considering whether to buy a house.
From appliances to cabinet styles and countertop materials, a kitchen has the ability to almost instantly age a home, or if done right, make it stand out.
“Buyers recognize that kitchens are an expensive room to renovate and update and thus appreciate the value in a ‘move-in-ready’ kitchen,” said Jennifer Reddington of the Georgio Reddington team at Compass. “Moreover, when buyers see an updated kitchen, it signals to them that the entire home has been well cared for. When working with sellers, I often tell them that money spent on the kitchen will likely see a strong return on investment.”
Given the importance of this singular room, it is no wonder that so many contractors and designers are dedicated to getting it right.
“The kitchen is really the hub of the home and it’s where so many of my clients put their time and energy in decorating,” said Interior Designer Sasha North-Clauss of Sasha Meredith Designs. She said she sees her clients taking smaller risks while trying to make sure their kitchens still remain timeless.
“Things are trending more traditional and less contemporary, but with more color and smaller risks,” she said. “For instance, I have a lot of clients who have invested in a cool backsplash, an interesting countertop, or a different color kitchen island.”
And while she admits that the two-toned kitchen may be “one of those passing trends,” she added that it can be a great way for clients who are risk averse to have some fun.
For those less willing to go dramatic, there is good news — washed oak cabinetry in soft muted colors that pair well with warm paint colors are all the rage. Think soft sage green, light milky almond, and warm whites that exemplify that kind of classic laid back California vibe.
Jennifer Howard of JWH Design & Cabinetry designs a lot of kitchens in Rye, and still sees a lot of the timeless white kitchen, but with one key difference: a move toward a warmer tone.
“Since the pandemic, people have migrated towards softer whites, such as Chantilly Lace,” Howard said. And she joined North-Clauss in noting that people are “adding a pop of color or a textural contrast” to infuse the kitchen with a bit of personality that doesn’t go overboard.
Howard noted that another trend on the rise is kitchen countertops that match their backsplashes.
“We are seeing a lot of ‘slab’ backsplashes that match the countertop material,” she said. “This provides a monochromatic look and a continuous surface for easy cleaning.”
As far as materials go, there a lot of great “engineered” materials nowadays. Quartz also remains popular, because it’s easy to maintain and it comes at a budget-friendly price.
Many kitchens now boast two ovens — one a steam or convection oven and the other a full-size electric oven for those Thanksgiving turkeys, said Howard. The configuration, she added, depends on the space.
And if you’re thinking about floors, wood floors — particularly a light-washed wood — are the current favorite. Tiled floors have yet to make a comeback.
If all that sounds overwhelming, that’s because it is.
“Any kitchen renovation benefits from professional advice,” Howard said. “It is too big an investment to fall into a totally DIY category. We start by looking at the existing layout to evaluate potential improvements in the flow and function.”
How long your kitchen renovation will take depends on the size and scale of the project. Costs vary greatly. That said, the investment in a kitchen can pay dividends to the overall value of your home, and it is rarely a bad choice.
