Our How-To Guide For Maximizing Your Fairfax Kitchen Remodel.
A Fairfax kitchen remodel is a smart investment in a county known for rising home prices. According to recent data published by realtor.com, the median list price for a Fairfax County home is $675,000. That price has increased by 12-½% compared with last year. While this has been an unusual year for real estate, the current numbers and historical data for Fairfax County indicate that remodeling delivers a higher-than-average return on your investment. Whether you’re planning to sell in the next couple of years or enjoy your home in its coveted location, these tips will help you get the best bang for your buck.
Tip #1: Take Your Time
A kitchen remodel is not a project to rush through to completion. Take your time and consider your options before you jump into the style or functional design of the space. Ask yourself these questions to determine what it is that you need and how it should work and look:
- Does my current kitchen function well? What do I like and don’t like?
- What technology or features would streamline cooking or entertaining?
- Does my kitchen accommodate the use of a wheelchair or walker?
If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll feel more confident telling our designers what you do and don’t like
Tip #2: Coordinate With Your Architecture
Nothing looks more out of place than an uber-modern kitchen in a brick colonial. While it can be tempting to mix and match (and you can do a little of that), it’s important to design a space that accentuates and complements your existing home. Here are some ideas for mixing and matching without overwhelming the space:
- Open shelving is a contemporary element that can look positively vintage if you choose a natural wood to coordinate with traditional painted cabinetry.
- Modern faucets won’t distract from a traditional kitchen but they will give you that little bit of contemporary flair you might be missing.
- A funky light fixture can work well in a modern or traditional kitchen. Sometimes, that element is all you need to distinguish your space from your neighbors.
Tip #3: Be Practical, But Don’t Skimp
We all love a bargain, but purchasing a discounted jacket off the rack isn’t the same as a kitchen remodel. Get at least three estimates for your project and get to know the contractors you’re pricing. Most contractors that provide solid quality work, will be priced similarly. Go with the contractor whose pricing seems fair and communicates the best. There are things that every kitchen needs, so make sure you prioritize your list of where to splurge and where to save. Here are some examples of what we mean:
- A double wall oven makes total sense if you love to cook, bake, and entertain. You can bake a pie in one oven while your roast cooks in the other. Double wall ovens aren’t cheap, so you may need to cut back somewhere else.
- Some cabinet lines offer all-plywood construction or partial particle board construction. All-plywood is better, but it can cost 30% more. If you tend to be fairly easy on cabinetry, you can probably go with the less expensive option. If you have kids that are hard on your furniture, it might make sense to spend more on all-plywood cabinetry and save somewhere else.
- Don’t forget to consider longevity. If you plan to stay in your home for years, we recommend spending more on items that are harder to replace. Perhaps you can splurge on the better cabinets but use a lower-level granite that can be replaced in ten years.
Do you have additional questions about your Fairfax kitchen remodel? Our experienced designers can walk you through the process and discuss your options and needs.
