Kitchen ROI

            Last week we discussed the ROI value of bathroom remodels and additions. This week we will focus on kitchens. After all, they are the heart of the home. Or as I like to say, your kitchen is where life’s most important conversations take place.

 

            Remodeling magazine’s cost vs. value report for 2011-2012 shows that if you spend between $5,000 and $25,000 on a kitchen remodel, you can expect to recoup 75% of your investment. If you spend $25,000-$100,000 on your kitchen remodel, you could expect to recoup 71.1%. These are great numbers! Even with the shape our economy has been in, it is good to know money invested in your kitchen is not lost, but highly valued.

 

            Now is the time, with interest rates holding at their low rates, to take the plunge and make the investment into your kitchen. Your family will thank you, you will thank you and you will have an enjoyable space to enjoy over the months ahead. I would love to hear how your project goes.

Bathroom ROI

            It’s springtime! The yellow film of pollen covering every surface is a sure sign. Warmer weather brings more action in the real estate market and more people are considering changes and updates to their home. Maybe you have considered updating a bathroom in your home but wondered if you would really be able to recoup your cost if you decided to sell your home down the road. Today we are going to take a look at the return on investment of a bathroom remodel.

 

            Remodeling magazine recently published their findings of a cost vs. value survey they conducted. They found that if you spent between $5,000 and $25,000 on a bathroom remodel in our region, you could expect to recoup approximately 70% of your investment. Now that’s not 100% but it sure is a great percentage. The same survey found that if you spent $25,000-$100,000 to add a bathroom to your home, you could only expect to recoup a little over 50% of your cost.

 

            So take the plunge! Get an estimate on remodeling a bathroom in your home and decide if the investment is worth the return. I don’t think you would regret doing it. I’d love to hear how your project goes.

Personal Valet

            A few years ago, I remodeled my closet adding lots of hanging space and pull outs. Sure, the extra shelves, full length mirror and pull outs are nice, but my favorite feature, hands down, is the pull out valet rod. It’s a small metal rod that pulls out from the face of a cabinet or shelf. I use it EVERY DAY to hang my outfit for the next day, an event or assist in packing for a trip.

 

            This small $20 part by Rev-a-shelf sure makes my life easier and more organized. No longer do I have clothes laying over a chair, on the bed or on the floor. If you could use a little more organization in your life (can’t we all?!), take a look into this product. You can find it online or at your local Lowes or Home Depot. It is inexpensive and easy to install yourself with just a few screws.

 

What’s your favorite feature about your closet? Or one thing you would definitely add if you had the opportunity?

Tangerine Tango

            The 2012 Pantone Color of the Year is Tangerine Tango. A spirited reddish orange, this color provides the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

 

            That’s great and all, but what does the Color of the Year have to do with me? Or better yet, how can I incorporate it into my life? There are many ways you can add this fun color to your home and life. Paint your front door. This is a low cost way to change the look of your home. Add this color to your kitchen with new towels, mixing bowls or vases. Add some throw pillows to your couch. Swap out your table runner for one in this bold color. Little black dress with a pop of Tangerine Tango shoes? Yes! Perfect color for summertime nail polish. A cute clutch can really add pizazz to any outfit. Paint one wall in your home. Maybe the powder room? Add two lamps to your bedroom or living room in this great color.

 

            There are many simple ways to incorporate this color into your life and home. Take the plunge and try something new. I bet you will be glad you did. I would love to see what you come up with and where you decide to add this color, so please send me a picture!

Free Hanging

            Gone are the days of a solid sheet of mirror stretching wall to wall in a bathroom. If you have that in your bathroom, chances are it may be chipped or the finish is wearing around the edges. It is probably adhered with construction adhesive or screwed to the wall. Either way, if you are looking for a simple, relatively inexpensive way to update your bathroom, the mirror is the way to go.

 

            Frame your mirror in the same style and material as your vanity, a sleek stainless steel frame or an ornate gilt gold or silver frame. Try a single frame for each sink instead of one large frame stretched over the entire space. Go tall. Utilize the tall ceilings, if you have them. Consider removing the overhead vanity lights and go with sconces between the mirrors. Make sure you have enough overhead lighting if you decide to do this. There is nothing worse than a poorly lit bathroom. Don’t sit the mirrors directly on the backsplash, rather, hold them up about 2” to give a more custom look.

 

            If you are brave enough to try to remove the old sheet mirrors yourself, try using dental floss to thread behind the mirror to ease it away from the sheetrock and adhesive. If you are lucky enough to be able to remove the mirror without breaking it, you can repurpose it by having it cut down to fit a frame.

 

            Framed mirrors can be found in many places. Hobby Lobby, Pier 1, TJ Maxx, Target, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and West Elm have some of my favorites. Framed mirrors can add that little extra pizazz to what can sometimes be a dull space.

Trends in Luxury Bathrooms-Part 3

            I have yet to meet anyone that enjoys cleaning the shower. And who enjoys cleaning the metal track that your shower door sits in? Yuck! Thankfully, there is now another option. The trend in any bathroom is a frameless shower door. Simple and beautiful, this type of shower door takes a back seat and really allows your beautiful tile work to shine.

 

            Typically 3/8” thick with 3 hinges and a handle, cleaning this shower door can’t get much easier. There is no metal frame or metal track needed. Available in clear glass or several other opaque styles, there is sure to be one that suits your space. The most common hardware finishes are satin nickel, oil rubbed bronze and polished chrome. Most of the time, the hardware on the shower door will match the faucets in the shower. There are several companies in Athens that can supply and install one for you. Quality Glass, Keith Porter Specialties and K & G Installations to name a few.

 

            If you are considering a bathroom remodel or are in the midst of one, insist on a frameless shower door. Don’t use something that will detract from your tile. Instead install something that will only enhance your space and give you a better return on your investment. This is one trend that is not going to go out of style.

Trends in Luxury Bathrooms-Part 2

            Most bathroom floors are tiled and in the winter time, that makes for some cold feet in the mornings. Who wants to jump out of bed when they know their feet are going to hit some cold tile? That sounds like an excuse to hit the snooze button if you ask me. One item that is becoming almost a requirement in luxury baths and most master baths is heated floors. It is like walking on a warm beach. Now who doesn’t want to do that in February?

 

            Electric radiant floor heating is simple to install and radiates even heat with no cold spots. It is also effective in helping to heat your room. This mat of wires is placed between the durock and tile and is controlled by a programmable thermostat on the wall. Particular spots to make sure the mat is placed are in front of the sinks, in the general walk path and in front of the toilet. If you have a tile shower, also consider placing it under the floor tile. This will help heat you shower and you won’t have to waste many gallons of water heating up your tile shower before you step in.

 

            This heated floor mat can be placed under any tile, whether in the kitchen, laundry room, mudroom, sunroom or bathroom. We have used the SunTouch brand purchased through Traditions in Tile and have been very pleased with the ease of installation, service and value. If you are looking at redoing a tile floor, seriously consider installing the heated floor mat while you are at it. You will not be disappointed.