Ultimate Upgrades
Practical tips to improve your home's function and ambiance
omeowners tackling interior
upgrades often focus their
attention on two of the mostused
rooms the in the house: the
kitchen and bathroom. Tailoring these
rooms to your personal preferences
may enhance your enjoyment of the
space, but most experts recommend
thinking long term for the biggest
return on your investment.
If a kitchen or bathroom renovation
is in your future, take a holistic
approach that considers how the
space will be used now and in the
future.
Kitchen Considerations
As the hub of activity for many
households, the kitchen is a space
that commands efficient, functional
design. Aside from the practical issue
of losing access to the space while
it's under construction, there's
another important challenge for
homeowners to consider when tackling
a kitchen remodel: for maximum
return on your investment, avoid making
choices that are too trendy or personal.
Design trends come and go, so
while a contemporary update is
almost always a good idea, many
design experts recommend sticking
with classic looks and styles that have
broad appeal, especially for big ticket
(and big price tag) elements like cabinetry.
Save your flair for aspects like
the backsplash tile or wall color, which
can be relatively easily changed by a
new owner or even yourself when you
want a refresh down the road.
Another area to give special attention
is the overall ambiance of the
room, which is largely influenced by
the light from natural and electric
sources. For a room that needs brightening,
skylights are a smart option
because they free up wall space for
more storage and cabinets while
adding abundant natural light.
However, natural light from above
isn't the only advantage of adding
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