From an article in the Poughkeepsie Journal.com: "If you're thinking of remodeling, think about your kitchen.According to Money magazine, it can add 90 percent of its cost to your home's resale value. But, that's only if you do it right. And that means knowing what's up to date.
Three local experts filled us in on the details:
Style, Overall Look
The trend is toward cleaner, airier, sleeker - but still traditional, Caruso said. The rustic, warm and inviting Tuscan look is still popular. The heavy English Country look is out.
More kitchens combine lights and darks and also combine materials, Schanker said. For example, antique white cabinets may be paired with some dark wood cabinets for visual contrast. Or, some countertops (an island, for instance) may be done in another material or color.
Cabinets
Additional storage, darker colors and new woods bring plenty of options for cabinetry.
Standalone pieces offer extra appliance storage - a pantry, a baking center much like a Hoosier cabinet or a liquor and wine cabinet with glass doors and backlighting, Dahl said. They may be on legs and made of a different wood species or even painted to coordinate with the rest of the kitchen decor.
Darker colors, such as cherry wood in dark red stains and walnut or birch in rich, brown stains like espresso are popular, Caruso said. Oak has taken a back seat to maple, which is now the lighter-colored mainstay. Cabinets also have simpler, cleaner-lined doors with raised or recessed panels.
Homeowners also have more woods to choose from, like the plantation-grown Lyptus eucalyptus hardwoods, Schanker said. And the beauty of these more exotic woods is really showcased in the newer, simplified designs.
Countertops
Owners of even reasonably priced kitchens are sinking their money into countertops the way people used to with cabinets, Caruso said. They're going bolder with colors -greens, browns and soft yellowy-beiges - but not gray and black, which are too contemporary.
Granite is still the most popular choice, Caruso said, but quartz products mimicking the look are becoming popular because they're stronger than granite and don't require resealing. Solid surface materials such as Corian are waning in popularity. If the countertop material allows it, people are almost always choosing undermount or fused sinks, which have no raised rims or sealant, for easy cleanups.
Extras
Convenience is the theme of this category. Pot-filler faucets on the back wall of the range eliminate trips from the sink to the stove, Dahl said. A prep sink - a simple drop-in bar sink or a top- or under-mounted sink - simplifies meal prep for two or more cooks.
Warming drawers are also popular, Schanker said. Their convenience is now helping busy families keep dinner warm until after band or soccer practice.
Drawers also are housing appliances such as refrigerators, wine coolers and dishwashers. Cabinet door fronts can hide their purpose. A pair can be stacked on top of each other under countertops or split in different parts of the kitchen.
Microwave drawers are a new innovation, Caruso said.
Flooring
People still are very much into hardwoods and tile, Caruso says. Although you might hear that tile is out because it's hard to clean or hard on your feet, it's still fashionable and in demand."
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