Considering a kitchen or bath redesign? Homebuyers go googly-eyed when they see updated kitchen and baths, in my experience. And if you’re thinking of selling soon, it may not be a bad idea to consider updating yours.
90+% Return on your Investment
Minor remodels on your kitchen can garner you a 92% return on your investment, and a midrange bathroom addition can get you 94% back in Fairfield County, according to Remodeling Magazine’s annual “Remodeling 2018 Cost vs. Value Report.”
Wilton resident Veronica Campbell, a designer at Deane, Inc., which specializes in redesigning rooms, especially kitchens and baths, says she sees people remodeling their kitchens and baths both for their own enjoyment and the eventual resale of their home.
“I think with the real estate market as it is, people say, ‘I may not get this money back, but I am going to enjoy my home for the time I am living here…if I do it right, when I go to sell the new buyers will appreciate it,’” Campbell says. “I never urge people to redo a kitchen to sell a home; a new buyer will want to do that their way. That is what a fresh coat of paint is for!”
What’s Hot in Kitchens?
The most popular kitchen designs of the year are farmhouse, transitional and contemporary-styled, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) annual trends report, based on interviews with more than 800 U.S. and Canadian industry designers, remodelers, architects, dealers, and manufacturers.
Farmhouse style is marked by the use of barn doors, painted cabinets, shiplap wood paneling, and mixed metals throughout. Transitional-style is a blend of contemporary and traditional with arched doorways and simple lines. Contemporary-style kitchens have clean lines, sharp angles, and open shelving.
Campbell says she sees Fairfield County residents leaning towards a transitional style. In particular, this is what she sees:
Kitchen trends for us Nutmeggers
- WHITE. “I guess it never goes out of style,” Campbell says.
- Grey also is hot. “I have no idea for how long or if it will be dated. Its funny because it goes both ways: either calm white, grey, beige/earth tones or a big pop of color.”
- Blue cabinetry.
- Flooring: still wood floors, but porcelain tile as well.
- Granite is out.
- Quartzite, a natural strong stone, and Quartz, a manmade stone, for countertops.
- Auera stone, a durable and easy-to-care-for stone.
- Mixed metals, especially in range hoods.
- Steam and speed ovens.
Ok, what about bathrooms?
For bathrooms, the most popular style, according to NKBA, is transitional. The look features wood cabinets, painted walls, brushed-nickel fixtures, and a color palette of white, gray, and blue. Contemporary, which has quartz countertops, free-standing bathtubs, and curbless showers, came in second, followed by more traditional bathrooms.
Bathroom trends, according to Campbell:
- Lots of marble.“It doesn’t require as much maintenance in a bathroom as it does in a kitchen.”
- Porcelain tiles.
- Nano glass for countertops. “So beautiful and clean looking.”
- Smaller soaking tubs. People are pulling out those old whirlpool tubs, she says.
- Big showers.
Both photos are courtesy of Deane, Inc. Both are projects designed by Veronica Campbell.
Lisa Bender is a realtor with the Wilton office of William Raveis and a regular contributor to GOOD Morning Wilton. She writes about the Wilton real estate market. She can be reached at 203.246.6986 or via email.