FEBRUARY 2013
THE BERNARDS-RIDGE CONNECTION
PAGE 51
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More than Just Kitchen Design
www.trueleafkitchens.com | 908.766.2006
Frequently we are asked, “How much
of the cost of my kitchen remodel will
I be able to recoup when I sell my
house?”
When planning a kitchen renovation,
our clients want to make sure they are
adding as much value as possible to
their home. According to Remodeling
Magazine’s 2011-2012 Cost vs. Value
Report, a kitchen remodel will add 65
to 71% of it’s cost to resale price.
However, your kitchen should be
designed with your family’s needs and
preferences in mind, since this will be
the room in your house where you
spend the most time.
We’ve outlined the three major ele-
ments of a kitchen renovation and
detailed what will appeal to buyers.
COUNTERTOPS
Taking up a lot of eye-level real estate,
countertops are a major design ele-
ment in any kitchen. Granite and mar-
ble are perennial favorites for counters,
but don’t rule out wood, tile, soap-
stone, slate and others. Choose a sur-
face that is right for the style of your
home and kitchen design.
The current trends in countertop mate-
rials reflect what homebuyers are ask-
ing for. As an alternative to granite,
homeowners are installing
other natural surfaces
such as soapstone, lime-
stone and wood. Quartz is
also becoming popular
because it is more stain
resistant, needs no main-
tenance and it comes in
colors that look almost
like carrera marble or
honed black granite.
APPLIANCES
The functionality of a
kitchen depends, largely,
on the appliances. High quality, current
appliances not only will serve you bet-
ter in your kitchen, but also will be a
bonus come resale time.
Currently, stainless steel is what is
expected. Also, most people are look-
ing for ways to unclutter their kitchen
to create a relaxing environment; hid-
ing appliances behind cabinet fronts
and in an appliance
garage is a way to help
achieve this clean look.
CABINETS
Like countertops, cabinets
are a major visual element
in the room. Choose a
wood or material that is
consistent in style with
the rest of the house.
Hardware should also
reflect the feel of the
kitchen and the house as
a whole.
Trends in cabinetry are towards less tra-
ditional woods such as alder, birch and
walnut in both light and dark stains.
Sustainably harvested woods like bam-
boo appeal to a buyer who is interest-
ed in a greener house. White and off-
white cabinets are still the most popu-
lar color choice, however, other colors
such as light grey and black are nice
neutrals, perfect as an island or accent
piece.
Unless you are planning to sell your
house soon, it’s important to remem-
ber that the value of your kitchen lies
not only in resale, but also in the use
and enjoyment you and your family
will get from it. TrueLeaf Kitchens can
help you create a kitchen that your
family and future home buyers will
love. TrueLeaf Kitchens also does baths
and other areas of the home as well,
look for our new “TrueLeaf Bath and
Home” showroom opening soon.
RECOUPING THE COST OF A NEW KITCHEN RENOVATION
Submitted By: Jim Barna, TrueLeaf Kitchens
www.theconnectionsnj.com
link