Design with Resale in Mind
Recently, on a busy Monday afternoon, I took a phone call at my desk. The caller was a staff writer for Food & Wine magazine, based in New York City. She was calling kitchen designers around the country to get input for a story she was putting together. She wanted to know how I design a kitchen in regards to resale value. I thought to myself, “What a great opportunity to let her know how things work in our neck of the woods.”
I told her with new homes, homeowners normally like to keep everything very neutral. This is especially true if the home they’re building isn’t the one they’ll live in for the rest of their lives. Many homeowners worry about using too much color, for fear of not being able to sell the home when the time comes. In a remodeling situation, I told her that especially in older homes, it’s best to have the style of the kitchen mimic the style of the home.
I told the reporter it’s crucial to remember above everything else, a kitchen needs to function. I preached the importance of choosing your appliances first, since their selection can dictate the design of the kitchen. If a kitchen is properly designed with function in mind, just about anyone can go into that kitchen and use it.
When I was looking for a new house in February, the kitchen in the home I bought was a big selling point. There was a great deal of counter space, enough room for a bistro table, the work triangle was just right, and I liked the neutral cabinetry and countertop. The sweet lady from whom I purchased the home told me the kitchen had always been very workable for the 35 years she was there.
I wasn’t sure what she meant until I started whipping up elaborate meals that didn’t consist of something to help hamburger. I think about all the meals she prepared for her family in the kitchen over the years, and I know why it was such a good arrangement for her. When I stand at the sink doing dishes and look out the large window, I’m completely happy with my choice of this new home. Working in the kitchen is a joy for me now. I must be doing something right, since my teenagers actually eat the meals I fix. TPW
I told her with new homes, homeowners normally like to keep everything very neutral. This is especially true if the home they’re building isn’t the one they’ll live in for the rest of their lives. Many homeowners worry about using too much color, for fear of not being able to sell the home when the time comes. In a remodeling situation, I told her that especially in older homes, it’s best to have the style of the kitchen mimic the style of the home.
I told the reporter it’s crucial to remember above everything else, a kitchen needs to function. I preached the importance of choosing your appliances first, since their selection can dictate the design of the kitchen. If a kitchen is properly designed with function in mind, just about anyone can go into that kitchen and use it.
When I was looking for a new house in February, the kitchen in the home I bought was a big selling point. There was a great deal of counter space, enough room for a bistro table, the work triangle was just right, and I liked the neutral cabinetry and countertop. The sweet lady from whom I purchased the home told me the kitchen had always been very workable for the 35 years she was there.
I wasn’t sure what she meant until I started whipping up elaborate meals that didn’t consist of something to help hamburger. I think about all the meals she prepared for her family in the kitchen over the years, and I know why it was such a good arrangement for her. When I stand at the sink doing dishes and look out the large window, I’m completely happy with my choice of this new home. Working in the kitchen is a joy for me now. I must be doing something right, since my teenagers actually eat the meals I fix. TPW