WE HEAR OPPORTUNIT Y.

It’s the place in your house where creativity, comfort and closeness happen. It’s a place where people hang out while empty stomachs get filled. The kitchen is a much-used room in your home. Some people even call it “the heart of the home.” So maybe it’s time to update your kitchen to make it more user-friendly and attractive. Not only does a remodel make the kitchen a more comfortable and beautiful place to use and enjoy, it can truly raise the value of your home.

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Resale value of an updated kitchen

When it comes time to sell your home, an updated kitchen can help encourage buyers to make an attractive offer.

“A kitchen remodel adds great value to your home,” said designer Katie Story of Arrowhead Supply in Duluth. “Unlike the kitchens previous to the 1950s that were tucked away in the back of the home, kitchens today continue to be a gathering place in the home. Home buyers want to see money well spent in the spaces they're going to be spending the majority of their time.”

Realtor Christine Fairchild of RE/MAX Results-Duluth agreed that a kitchen remodel can add value in the sale of a home.

“The added value is typically much less time on the market, which means a higher sale price and sometimes multiple offers if the home is priced right, prepared, and staged to sell,” Christine said. “There are just fewer objections when a home is updated in the key living areas and ready. Thinking that a buyer will do what they want after they buy is a myth, as most are looking for these key areas to be done.”

Christine explained that a kitchen update can be done at a variety of cost levels.

“There are different levels that I see in kitchen updates,” Christine said. “A ‘spruce up’ can cost about $200 to $1,000; a ‘minor remodel’ is $15,000 to $25,000; and an ‘upscale overhaul’ is about $100,000.”

A remodeler and potential home seller must decide which update level is right for the home.

“It’s all about the budget or whether a homeowner can afford to invest to capture the highest sales price,” Christine said. “In my opinion, a spruce-up (deep cleaning, fresh paint and staging) or minor remodel (deep cleaning, fresh paint on the walls and sometimes the cabinetry fronts, new hardware, new countertops, often a sink, new flooring and a new appliance package) is typically what I see when a seller is preparing their home for sale.”

The value of using and enjoying the updated kitchen

Another value of updating the kitchen — especially for homeowners who aren’t selling the home in the near future — is the pleasure of getting to use and enjoy the updates.

“Major and upscale remodels are usually done and evaluated for cost versus value when a seller is intending on staying in the home for a while,” Christine said. “They do not always see their return on investment, but they get to enjoy having what they want.”

Imagine using a kitchen with one or more of these contemporary updates:

• More natural light from added windows

• Specialty kitchen lighting including task lighting, cabinet lighting and smart lighting

• Convenient, beautiful cabinetry including pull-out cabinets and floor-to-ceiling cabinets

• Easy-to-clean quartz countertops

• Universal design such as movable countertops that work for cooks of all ages and heights

• Time-saving appliances such as convection microwaves and induction cooktops

People who use and spend time in the kitchen get to appreciate the value of these kitchen updates.

Trends and local favorites in kitchen design

If you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen, you’ll probably want to check out the latest trends and local favorites in kitchen design, décor, lighting, cabinetry and appliances.

“Most of the kitchen remodels that we do at Arrowhead Supply involve new cabinetry, countertops, appliances and plumbing fixtures,” Katie said. “Lighting is a huge element of a design and something that is well worth updating. The kitchens being remodeled today feel airy and bright. Many of the older homes in the area had soffits built in, so typically those are coming out, and taller cabinetry is going into the space. For our region, painted cabinets continue to be the most popular and second to that are rustic wood species such as hickory. We're seeing a shift away from dark stain colors that were once popular — the ‘espresso’ and ‘chocolate’ colors — and moving toward light or mid-tone stains. Painted white cabinetry is our biggest seller. There's such versatility with white cabinetry you can go in different style directions — contemporary, classic, or modern. Navy-painted cabinetry is on trend for this year, along with brushed brass accents. We're seeing more black accessories in not only cabinet hardware but plumbing fixtures as well.”

Other popular kitchen design trends include paints in neutral colors such as grays, tans, and whites.

“Blue in many shades is the hot favorite color,” Christine said. “Quartz countertops in light or more neutral shades seem to be the No. 1 choice, but also granite, recycled products, warm wood, cement and better Formica with farmhouse, stone and undermount sinks. I am seeing bolder tile backsplashes, and luxury vinyl flooring, tile or wood for the floors. Reclaimed wood and upcycled furniture often painted with chalk paint is trendy. Wallpaper, brass and rose gold are coming back, but I haven’t seen much of this in Duluth yet. Appliances are coming out in the slate grays (they show fewer fingerprints) and as bold, colorful statement pieces.”

Don’t forget the basics

If you can’t afford or don’t want a full-fledged major remodel or upscale overhaul of your kitchen, the basics can still go a long way in making your lessthan-modern kitchen a more inviting place.

“Inexpensive improvements would be a deep cleaning, decluttering, removing any bad odors, new, bright light bulbs, fresh new kitchen towels, and fresh light paint on the walls,” Christine said. D