The Complete Guide To Designing and Renovating Your Kitchen

Designing and renovating your kitchen can be a daunting task, especially if it's your first time.

A kitchen is the heart of a home, and its design speaks volumes about your personality and lifestyle. A well-designed kitchen can significantly boost the value of your home. It can also make cooking and entertaining an enjoyable experience for you and your guests. However, before you embark on your kitchen renovation project, there are some important factors you need to keep in mind. In this blog post, we'll give you a complete guide to designing and renovating your kitchen with tips for homeowners.

Plan Your Kitchen Renovation Project
The first step in designing and renovating your kitchen is to plan your project. This includes setting your budget, deciding on the design style you want, the appliances that will fit your lifestyle, and the materials you will need. It's important to prioritize your renovation needs so you can allocate your budget accordingly. A contractor or kitchen designer can help you plan your project and offer valuable advice.

Determine the Kitchen Layout
The layout and flow of your kitchen are crucial factors to consider when designing and renovating. You want to optimize your kitchen space to create a functional and efficient workflow. The three most popular kitchen layouts are U-shaped, L-shaped, and galley. Your choice will depend on your space availability and your preferred style.

Choose Your Kitchen Cabinetry
Cabinets play a significant role in the design and functionality of your kitchen. Consider the materials, style, and color you want for your cabinets. You can choose custom-made cabinets or semi-custom ones. Custom-made cabinetry allows you to have full control over the design, size, and materials. Semi-custom options offer more design options at a lower cost.

Select Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliances also play a significant role in the functionality of your kitchen. You want to choose appliances that fit your lifestyle and cooking preferences. Popular appliance brands include GE, LG, Bosch, Samsung, and KitchenAid. You can go for energy-efficient appliances to save on your energy bills.

Work With a Reputable Contractor
A contractor plays a vital role in designing and renovating your kitchen. You want to work with a reputable one who has years of experience and a good track record. Consider asking for references and viewing their portfolio before hiring them. A good contractor will help you stay within budget, ensure quality workmanship, and handle any unexpected issues that may arise.

In conclusion, designing and renovating your kitchen is a significant investment that requires careful planning and consideration. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your kitchen renovation project is a success. Remember to focus on functionality, design, and efficiency when making decisions about the layout, cabinets, and appliances. Additionally, work with a reputable contractor to ensure you get quality workmanship within your budget. Good luck with your kitchen renovation project!

Get more tips on RISMedia.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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Is the Housing Market Heading Toward a Soft Landing? Here’s What the Latest Statistics Say

Talk of a soft landing seems to be everywhere of late, as pundits ponder whether the Fed’s rate hikes can strike that tricky balance between cooling inflation without plunging the economy into a recession.

While it’s still too soon to say what will happen, many may also wonder: Does this hoped-for soft landing apply to America’s housing market, too?

So far at least, the U.S. housing market has been having a crummy summer that feels anything but soft for both homebuyers and sellers.

In July, homeowners mostly opted to sit tight and ride out the tough market conditions rather than list their properties for sale. That meant house hunters had slimmer pickings to choose from—40,000 fewer homes across the U.S., according to the latest monthly data from Realtor.com®.

“Sellers are still on the sidelines, locked in to lower interest rates with low expectations of rates improving significantly over the next year,” Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale notes in her report.

It all adds up to a housing market stuck in limbo, with would-be buyers and sellers watching and waiting, hoping things change in their favor.

Inside the housing market’s summer slump

For now, homeowners seem resigned to waiting for market conditions to change.

In July, according to the report, the number of newly listed homes entering the market was a whopping 20.8% lower than last year. For buyers, that meant that the total number of homes for sale (both new listings and old) was 6.4% lower than last year.

Among the 50 biggest metro areas in the U.S., the inventory of homes for sale is now just half what it was in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, it’s safe to say that no one is happy with home prices. Listing prices, or what sellers hope to get, are ticking lower—down 0.9% in July compared with last year—to $440,000. And the median sale price, or what’s agreed to in contracts, was also down, by 1.6% compared with last year.

For buyers, “Any relief is welcome, but let’s put it in context. This is a small bit of relief, not a huge discount,” says Hale.

Plus, she warns, “We don’t know how long it will last.”

Buyers are also contending with mortgage rates that have stayed higher for longer than most people expected or wanted. This has ratcheted up the cost of financing 80% of the typical home by 15.9% compared with July of last year, which amounts to an extra $317 per month.

Why the pace of home sales is slowing

Fewer homes at higher costs have understandably slowed the market. The typical home spent 45 days on the market this July, which is 12 days longer than the same time last year.

For homebuyers accustomed to seeing homes fly off the market in a matter of hours, this longer pace means they have time to let properties sit a while before deciding to pull the trigger.

However, from a big-picture perspective, homes are still spending 12 fewer days on the market than they did in the pre-pandemic era, suggesting everyone is having to move relatively quickly compared with in the past.

So as summer wanes, buyers might face a more existential question: Should I keep trying?

“This is not the time to hurry up and buy,” says Hale, but she definitely does not think buyers should give up entirely.

“Can you find what you need from the housing market and can you afford it? If you can, then it makes sense to keep looking,” she says. “Don’t try to time macro factors. If you’re always waiting for the right moment, you could end up waiting forever.”

Get more on Realtor.com

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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Some Free Activities to Celebrate Colorado's 147th Birthday Today!

Free museum admissions, governor’s mansion tours, alpaca petting zoos and performances from the State Bagpiper.

Aug. 1 marks the Centennial State’s 147th birthday, and a handful of places in Denver will be commemorating the day by offering free museum admission, governor mansion tours, State Capitol celebrations and alpaca petting zoos.

If you happen to find yourself outside of city limits, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering free entrance to all Colorado State Parks on the first Monday in August to celebrate.

Anyways, here’s a short list of fun birthday celebrations for our state in Denver:

Free Festival at History Colorado

Date: Aug. 1, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: 1200 N. Broadway

Denver’s History Colorado Center is putting on a free day-long festival featuring free admission to all of its interactive exhibitions, free face painting, an alpaca petting zoo, appearances from major sports team mascots and live music.

Musical guests include Swallow Hill Music, Cultural Mixtape, harpist Annastézhaa, bagpiper Michael Lancaster, Trent Campbell’s Electrorado, and Alex Keiser’s Colorado Bamb

There will also be a multi-sensory candlelight concert performed by the Range Ensemble string quartet band who will perform a Colorado Day setlist featuring songs from John Denver, String Cheese Quarter, Earth Wind & Fire and GriZ.

Tickets to the concert start at $35 and you can use coupon code CODAY2023 for $5 off.

Center for Colorado Women’s History

Date: Aug. 1, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location: 1310 Bannock St.

The Center for Colorado Women’s History will be offering free admission to the opening its latest exhibition, The Seeds of a Nation, about the impact of victory gardens during World War I and II.

The celebration will have vintage lawn games, live music, face painting, balloon art, free tours, a puppy adoption booth and a pie-eating contest.

Colorado State Capitol Celebration

Date: Aug. 1, 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: 200 E. Colfax

The Colorado State Capitol will be hosting a celebration on the first-floor rotunda, north and south wings, featuring live performances by our State Bagpiper, First Sergeant James DeGeorge; musicians Mike Gill and Maddie Jordan; and a presentation from the Colorado State Patrol’s Capitol inspection dog, Oly.

There will also be historical presentations, games, activities, food samples, book signings and tours.

American Museum of Western Art

Date: July 31, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location: 1727 Tremont Pl.

The American Museum of Western Art will be offering free self-guided tours of their space. Take some time to check out Colorado landscapes and works by artists who have lived in and visited the region. Last admission at 4 p.m.

Free Tours of the Governor’s Residence

Date: Aug. 1, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Location: 400 E. 8th Ave.

The Colorado Governor’s Mansion, also known as the Cheesman-Boettcher Mansion, will offer free tours of the residence from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as lunch made available by a local Colorado food truck.

Bedtime Stories: We Heart Colorado at Meow Wolf

Date: Aug. 1, 8 p.m.

Location: The Perplexiplex, 1338 1st St.

Meow Wolf will be putting on a neo-burlesque variety show that will feature hometown artists celebrating all of the reasons they love the mountain state.

Acts include burlesque, music, puppetry, dance and drag. The event will be hosted by Coco Bardot and will feature Miss Kitty D. Vine, Brody Danger, James Brunt, Blankslate, Buba Basishvili, and Enzo Benzo.

General admission tickets are $30.

Check out Celebrate Colorado for other free and discounted activities throughout the state.

Keep reading.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: From Dream to Reality

Client of Lora Martinez - W+M Agent

The owner of Brickle Bakery bought their place in 2021 with the help of West + Main agent Lora Martinez because they loved the Highlands Denver location, the large window presence, 14-foot ceilings, and the option for mixed-use space for a bakery.

In thinking about the remodel, they wanted the clean, minimal, earthy, and textured "Japandi" design that they love so much. They also wanted to add a huge solid island that could seat 10 people, ensuring enough space for rolling out dough and holding bakery classes. They also love hosting friends and family in their dreamy kitchen!

"We selected quartz countertops for durability and also wanted the kitchen to be very functional with huge rolling flour bins and a sheet pan rack that fits underneath the island," they explained. "By selecting a commercial grade fridge and freezer as well as a two door oven and induction stovetop that would fit a full size sheet pan, but not be overly deep in size so it can still fit in a residential area, it all makes sense and looks beautiful."

Once their kitchen was complete, they added plants above the cabinets. This simple touch brought a natural and welcoming vibe to the space.

A Slice of History

2951 Wyandot St. in the Highlands area of Denver was built in 1889 by Tallmadge and Boyer. Originally a horse and carriage turnaround point, it has served as a second hand dry goods store, carpenter shop, furniture shop, bakery, and more. It sat vacant from 1970 to 2001 and has since been used as a half residential, half commercial space, currently housing the bakery and living quarters. The original brick, stone, and stained glass windows still remain, making it one of Denver's oldest buildings and a hub for entrepreneurs since the 1800s!

MATERIALS AND SOURCES:

Cabinets: White and beige cabinets are from Ikea and the wood cabinets are from Kabi Custom Cabinets (to fit the wide oven).

Backsplash: TileBar Loft Sand Beach 2x8 Polished Glass Subway Tile

Front Wall Tile: TileBar Chips Macro Bianco White 8x8 Terrazzo Look Matte Porcelain Tile

Wall Slats: The Wood Veneer Hub

Paint: Taupe of the Morning and Natural White

Contractor: PDC Painting, LLC (pdc.paintingllc@gmail.com)

Interior Designer: Moe Elio of Moe Jo Designs

Electrical: Tegra Electric

Floors: Lee's Floor Service, LLC

Appliances: Ferguson

Stools: Room and Board

To see more photos visit:
westandmain.co/magazine

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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A boom(er) market on the horizon

There may be signs of hope for increased inventory if Boomers follow the pattern of past generations, but will they?

Just the term ‘baby boomer’ is sure to elicit a reaction, particularly from those in younger generations. Jealousy? Maybe because those born from 1946 to 1964 hold over half of all wealth in the U.S., and they own a comparable share of residential real estate. Contrast those trends with millennials, who hold less than 5% of the wealth in the U.S. There is also the inescapable fact that all Boomers will soon be over 60 and either retired or close to it.

Boomer behaivor

This, by itself, offers hope for easing the real estate inventory crunch that continues to dampen velocity in the market, along with high interest rates. If baby boomers follow the pattern of past generations, retirement means downsizing to condos or small homes, or moving to some type of retirement community. This could put a significant number of homes, particularly single-family properties, on the market over the next decade.

The multi-billion-dollar question, however, is: will they sell? Some data indicates that boomers will age in place longer than past generations because they have the health and wealth to do so. Census Bureau analysis, in fact, shows that the proportion of homeowners staying put after 65 and into their 70s and 80s has been increasing steadily over the past few decades. This trend is expected to continue as the last of the baby boomer generation moves into those age ranges.

On the other hand, 2016 research by NAR showed that baby boomers comprised the largest proportion of homebuyers amongst all generations. Since this survey included purchases of all types of primary residences, this likely demonstrates that a significant number of boomers are moving out of their family residences and downsizing. A 2018 article published by FannieMae pointed out that while the proportion of boomer homeowners choosing to move out may be less than previous generations, the sheer scale of baby boomer homeownership will mean a huge increase in the number of properties that will be sold. The Census Bureau estimates that homeownership by those 65 and older in 2026 will drop by 12 million, with a further drop of 15 million in the subsequent decade. This could mean an additional 27 million properties available to the market over that period.

Read the full article on Housing Wire.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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