The Boom was a good period for home builders. Most builders saw huge financial gains, but that success made many of them less than attentive. Back then, houses sold so quickly there was little need for worrying over design, floor plans, or materials.
That way of doing business is gone. Builders now have to construct houses with extraordinary features and work hard to sell them for less money than they would have five years ago.
A new paradigm is in place, requiring a whole new strategy, and builders want to know what they should be doing. Smaller houses with efficient floor plans? Yes. Energy efficiency? Definitely. Quality finishes? You bet. In the kitchen, alternate countertop surfacing is in, and warm, contemporary design is seriously in.
“I’ve seen this contemporary look more in remodeling than in new construction, but I think builders will be looking at this not only as a reflection of the economy, but also to attract younger, hip buyers when the market comes back,” says Connie Edwards, a certified kitchen designer and design director for Timberlake Cabinetry in Winchester, Va. Says Edwards, “It’s interesting to note that a similar look was popular in the downturn of the ’80s, although it was created with harder surfaces. Today’s look is warmer, more natural.”
Here then are five tips for creating kitchens and baths that can attract buyers in a slow economy.
Tip 1: The Kitchen is Still King
Just because there is a recession doesn’t mean buyers want bland, soulless kitchens with little appeal. It matters now more than ever. “Even in a down economy, the kitchen remains one of the most important features buyers look at when it comes to making a housing purchase,” says kitchen designer Connie Edwards. “Therefore, be careful where you cut.” For dollar stretching, Edwards recommends a strong focal point such as a finer material used sparingly, a clever cabinet arrangement, a dramatic range hood, or funky light fixtures. “Having something breathtaking to catch a buyer’s eye when they first enter the room makes it memorable, even if the rest of the room has been simplified,” she says.
Door Store: Cabinets aren’t just about the doors and the finish. Home buyers want to put things in them—lots of things. This manufacturer offers a variety of storage options with its Elements line. The collection incorporates storage for cutting boards, small appliances, and cleaning implements. Shown: the ChefCenter in Calibra plantation hardwood. Armstrong World Industries. 800-527-5903. www.armstrong.com.
Credit: Jeffrey A. Davis Photography
Warm Fronts: Sonoma cherry Bordeaux satisfies the trend for clean, contemporary design but does so in a warm, Shaker-style look that fits a transitional space. The line features adjustable concealed hinges, full-depth drawers, and 3/4-inch-thick plywood veneer boxes and shelves. Drawers are made with dovetail joints. Timberlake Cabinetry. 800-967-9674. www.timberlake.com.
Tip 2: Faucet Fix
The pro-style range often takes center stage in a kitchen, but who says the faucet cannot assume that role? A high-powered range may not make sense for homeowners who don’t cook. But everyone—even those who order takeout—uses a faucet, so a cool one might be the way to go. The trick, of course, is keeping costs in check. Scour the Internet for online vendors offering great deals or simply take a long look at a manufacturer’s entire offering. There may be some surprises in there.
Karbon Copy: Picture this baby in a loft kitchen or condo. Drawing inspiration from lighting and construction equipment, the manufacturer designed the Karbon articulating faucet to be highly versatile. The lightweight unit uses a combination of brass and carbon-fiber composite tubing and offers four joints that allow the spout to assume many positions. It uses ceramic disks and comes in polished chrome or vibrant stainless steel. Kohler. 800-456-4537. www.kohler.com.
Go Ahead, Touch It: The Pilar high-arc pull-down faucet functions in the traditional way, but its Touch2O Technology allows a user to start and stop the flow of water with just a simple tap on the spout or the handle. A blue LED light indicates when the technology is engaged, and it turns red when the batteries need to be replaced. It comes in chrome and Brilliance stainless, and uses Diamond Seal Technology and ceramic disks. Delta. 800-345-3358. www.deltafaucet.com.
Tip 3: Hardware Heroes
Cabinet hardware is a small element, but it plays a major role in the feel of a kitchen or bath—sort of like the olive in a martini. Resist the urge to use flimsy products, which feel cheap. Instead, look for inexpensive pieces that have an upscale look and solid feel. Some manufacturers offer high-end looking products starting as low as $5 in a variety of finishes and styles to suit modern or traditional cabinets. “The overall benefit is luxury hardware at a great price,” says Linda Jennings of Los Angeles–based Atlas Homewares. Plus, architects recommend using quality materials on surfaces that buyers touch often.
Budget Living: Luxury looks for a lot less is how the manufacturer describes its lineup of cabinet hardware. The Linea Collection is modern, but it’s versatile enough for a transitional space. Available in polished chrome and brushed nickel, the pulls are produced in 5-, 8 5/8-, and 14 1/2-inch lengths. Atlas Homewares. 800-799-6755. www.atlashomewares.com.
Tip 4: Appliances With Wow
With the proliferation of cooking shows and the extreme popularity of professional-style appliances, home buyers have come to expect a lot. Built-in refrigerators provide a seamless look, but they’re too pricey for most people, especially in this economy. Stainless steel is still the hot option, but more important are features home buyers will find useful. Look for ranges with more space, dishwashers that use less water, or refrigerators that conserve energy. If you’re building a high-end product, you can save money by using the entry-level offerings in a premium line. Greenwood, Miss.–based Viking Range Corp., for example, offers a four-piece appliance package that costs $10,000.
Energy Saver: Resource Saver is the industry’s most energy-efficient side-by-side refrigerator, exceeding federal efficiency standards by 30 percent and Energy Star by 10 percent. It features a technology that adjusts cooling to bring food to the desired temperature in half the time and has added foam in the door. Whirlpool Corp. 800-253-3977. www.insideadvantage.com.
Two for One: The Profile convection wall oven looks like one unit but is actually a double that allows homeowners to cook two dishes at two temperatures at the same time. Measuring 30 inches, the oven provides room to roast a 22-pound turkey in the 2.8-cubic-foot lower oven and the rest of the meal in the 2.2-cubic-foot upper section. GE Consumer & Industrial. 502-423-7710. www.ge.com.
Hot Stuff: This commercial-style induction range is 90 percent efficient, so it will save money on utility costs. The 30-inch unit offers 3,700 watts of power and a convection oven with a self-cleaning feature and a glass-enclosed infrared broiler. It has eight cooking modes and comes in 23 colors and stainless steel. Viking Range Corp. 888-845-4641. www.vikingrange.com.
Tip 5: Bath Time
The good news is that there is an almost limitless variety of products to help your bathrooms stand out among buyers, from countertops made with sandstone embedded in resin to lavatories carved from single blocks of onyx. Though this is not the economic climate for such extravagances, all is not lost. You can still make a style statement with alternative surfacing, an interesting vanity, and great medicine cabinets with ample storage.
Credit: (c) Laurie Rubin
Take a Powder: The manufacturer’s new line of vanities, toilets, and pedestal and vessel sinks satisfies traditional and contemporary tastes. Available in 24- or 30-inch sizes, the Orrington vanity (shown) comes in an antique cherry finish and features soft-close doors, interior side-pocket shelves, and removable storage trays. Danze. 877-530-3344. www.danze.com.
Credit: Francis Zera
Paper Chase: Instead of the obvious granite or marble, try EcoTop surfacing instead. The product is made from a blend of 50 percent post-consumer recycled paper and 50 percent wood fiber (including bamboo fiber), and bound with water-based copolymer resin. It comes in standard and custom colors. KlipTech. 253-507-4622. www.kliptech.com.
Flair for Drama: This customizable, eco-friendly vanity is sure to jazz up any bathroom. Made from bamboo plywood or Lyptus plantation-grown hardwood, the Avalon measures 48 inches wide, 20 inches deep, and 20 inches high. It has soft-closing doors and comes in 24 finishes. Vanity Flair. 888-479-4108. www.thefurnitureguild.com.