The Crucial Kitchen
I don’t know about you, but if my kitchen were my entry hall, the house would certainly stop there! Forget my beautiful living room or cozy TV room, or even the amazing picture of SLASH playing guitar in my bedroom. My kitchen is a great space that I took special pride in when I built my home…I always focus on the kitchen first.
I think it’s true for many people– the kitchen just ends up being the place everyone congregates, even if you live on a steady diet of frozen and take-out food. I’m not a cook but that did not stop me from building the best kitchen I could and making it look as if I can cook!
High funtionality, visibility and frequent use are what make a kitchen so valuable. It’s one of the bet rooms to put money into because it realizes the greatest return on investment in terms of both your own use and future resale value. You can see a 85 to 150% return on your investment with minor remodeling and 80 to 95% with major gut renovation, especially if you plan on selling within 2 or 3 years of the project’s completion. In the meantime, you add so much to your life by having a modern, comfortable kitchen– no matter what it’s size and how humble your talents as a cook. It does not matter!
What does matter are materials. MATERIALS MATTER! I don’t think you should skimp on kitchen materials. Buy the best you can afford and spend money wisely by choosing items with high-quality construction, timeless design (think simple and elegant so you won’t tire of them quickly), and high functionality. There’s lots to consider in a kitchen, from the designer to the cabinets, appliances, countertops, doors , archways , windows and more. For now I would like to introduce you to the various countertops to choose from that have come such a long way in recent years.
Countertops Can Make Kitchens Look New!
Out of date or worn countertops makes a perfectly nice kitchen with good cabinets look shabby and old. And that means just one thing and it is good news: a new countertop can make your old but still good looking kitchen cabinets look brand new and fabulous. Since you’re not spending money on an entire kitchen redo which can cost upwards of $40,000 dollars depending on the size and bells and whistles you can afford to splurge on a great countertop that will show off your cabinetry. And there are so many options in countertops now, from affordable granite to marble, concrete, quartz, and even paper yup, you read right, paper!
Here’ a look at my favorite new luxury countertop options:
Natural stone is gorgeous and it is my favorite countertop material. Granite, limestone, slate, marble and soapstone all have a very rich, high-end look. Stone is extremely heavy, durable and resistant to heat. Granite and limestone are porous and need to be sealed periodically. They cost anywhere from $75 to $300 per linear foot, installed.
Engineered stone is a composite of quartz and resin. Because it combines a hard natural material with a strong resin it is more scratch and stain resistant than solid surface and looks like stone but has none of the upkeep in terms of sealing. Depending on the brand, it can cost from $50 to $110 per linear foot, installed.
Concrete is resistant to heat and scratches. But it is porous and is prone to staining unless carefully sealed. Fossils, glass, and even bits of jewelry can be imbedded in concrete for a truly personal counter. It costs from $75 to $150 per linear foot, installed.
Paper is one of the latest countertop materials to hit the luxury building market. Manufacturers harvest wood pulp from managed forests, and treat it with resin. It is then cut to size and baked it comes in a whole range of colors from naturals to reds, blues and greens. It is a very durable scratch, stain, and heat-resistant, made from a sustainable, product, is ultra-modern looking and cost from $110-150 per linear foot, installed.
Well I hope you enjoyed reading my blog on kitchens and countertops. There is much more to cover in kitchens…but next week I will blog about getting your bathroom in the best shape possible. I will review various options and tell you what features are worth paying for and which ones are best left on the showroom floor! Remember to visit me at www.barbarak.com for more tips and my latest in cool tools.
Until then “Screw Bang & Drill” the Barbara K way!!
If I Can Do It So Can You!
Peace, Love & Tools…
Barbara K 
