Sell It Later (2nd in a series)

Sell It Later - or Never (7+ Years)
If your intention is to hold on to your home for longer than seven years, then a return on your remodeling investment should be a fairly low priority. After seven years, trends change quite a bit. As I said earlier, trends right now are for simple lines, warm wood tones, and a very uncluttered look. Seven years ago, in 2002, the trend was for heavy, Olde World design - distressed painted finishes, heavy moldings, and lots of detail. Seven years before that, in 1995, everything was crisp white: white cabinets, white appliances, white floors. See what I mean? Here are some recommendations for people planning on holding on to their home for the long run.

Focus on Your Lifestyle
You are going to be using this kitchen for a long time. Take a while to be introspective. Explore how your family lives, functions, and entertains in your kitchen.
Who cooks? And how many people cook at one time?
What activities besides cooking occur in your kitchen? Homework? Bill Paying? Crafts? Can specialized areas be planned to accommodate your needs?
What are your shopping habits? Do you do one big run to the grocery store each week or do you make a stop on the way home every night specifically for the evening's meal? One habit will require more pantry storage than the other.
What about entertaining? Do you do it frequently? How many people do you typically host at once? Do you get your guests involved in meal preparation?

Research, Research, Research
You have the luxury of time. Make sure you take the appropriate steps now to ensure you are doing what will suit your lifestyle for the long haul. There is nothing worse than realizing that a better solution was available after the remodel is already complete.

Structural Changes
Moving walls and mechanics to accommodate your lifestyle should be an acceptable expense in this scenario. If the kitchen seems too small or you want to pull other living spaces together with the kitchen, then go for it. Load bearing walls (the ones that hold up the roof or second story) are more difficult and expensive to modify than partition walls (the ones that merely separate two rooms).

Don't Be Afraid of Color
A splash of color can add some much needed drama to a space. Not brave enough to do electric blue appliances or fire engine red cabinets? Me either. Keep the permanent items (like cabinets, countertops, and floors) in versatile neutral tones, then make a pop with wall tiles, accents, and wall coverings. Painting the walls a deep tone is a great way to start if you're afraid of color. Afterall, a new color is only a brush stroke away.

Your Personal Stamp
So what is your personal style? Maybe you've got a collection of antique cookie jars. Perhaps you love the color blue. An avid baker? Find a way to make your space reflects your personality - whatever it is.

Proper Lighting Is a Must!
Can you tell this is a pet peeve of mine? Great lighting can make or break a room. And don't let someone convince you that proper lighting means as much lighting as you can get in a space. Sometimes ambient lighting and shadow cna have as drmatic an impact as a spotlight.

Be Value Conscious
Just because something is more expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's a better option for the long-term. Like I said above - do your homework. Understand the good and bad of each option. Rarely is there one solution that's right for everyone. Conversely, sometimes spending a little extra now makes sense in the long run. Just amke sure the extra price tag is warranted by extra value.

Aging In Place - Remodeling with the Future in Mind

It’s no secret. You see it in the news all the time: America is aging. The number of people turning age 55 each year will increase to 37.4 million by 2010. Not only that, but people are living longer as well. The average life span is now just below 80 years. Yet, as the senior segment of the population grows, they still want to maintain their independence and their own living environments. Let’s face it, very few people go to assisted living facilities willingly.

It is this reason that is prompting many consumers to think about designs that make their lives easier, now and in the future. Here are some options for the future worth considering before undertaking your next remodeling project.

In the kitchen: single lever faucets; easier to grip handles instead of knobs for cabinet doors and drawers; appliances mounted at heights that don’t require bending; countertops at a variety of common heights; roll-out shelves in lower cabinets; side-by-side refrigerator; rolling carts; a pull-out step stool; varied light sources with adjustable controls; and sufficient clear floor space for work and traffic flow.

In the bath: multi-level vanity heights with flexible knee space; support rails that compliment the aesthetics of the room; no-threshold entries for showers; easily accessible storage; plenty of floor space for maneuvering with walking aids; and heat in the floor and toilet seats, as well as towel warmers.

All of these examples are designed to make caring for yourself easier, to help remove the obstacles that come along with aging, and allow you to age in the place you’ll be most comfortable - in your home.

So if you intend to live out the remainder of your life in your home, make sure you contemplate these suggestions and others as you plan your remodeling endeavors.