The kitchen is the heart of the home and we spend more time in it then any other living space. It's estimated that a new kitchen can add 4 to 7% value to the average property, so if you have the budget this is the most important room to tackle. A show-stopping kitchen will reel in buyers and may well over-shadow any doubts a prospective owner may have about other flaws in the property. We've gathered advice from some of the experts of the kitchen world to find out how a beautiful kitchen can persuade a buyer to part with their money.
Floor the buyer
"Select a good quality stone floor, such as limestone, for visual impact for the prospective viewers." advises Paul Walton, Senior Designer at Halstock.
image: https://southbank.secure.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96/00001fc19/28ab/Halstock.jpg
SAVE TO MOODBOARD
An example of a Halstock kitchen with swoon worthy stone floor.
Easy update
Kiran Noonan, Marketing Director at John Lewis of Hungerford, notes, "Changing the style of light bulbs in tired light fittings will really make a difference and this is an easy, on-trend update to install in the kitchen."
image: https://southbank.secure.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96/00001fc1a/c2bd/john-lewis.jpg
SAVE TO MOODBOARD
A John Lewis of Hungerford kitchen with on-trend brass light fittings.
Continued below.
"Choose on-trend colour schemes or a mostly natural colour palette. Avoid too many strong colours but include some colour interest with accessories." says Paul Walton.
Entertaining space
Alex Main, Director at The Main Company advises, "When designing a kitchen, consider breaking up the area with an island as they work as both a cooking and entertaining space by changing work surface materials to suit each area specifically. Make the ‘entertaining' section slightly higher than the cooking and preparation area, and bear in mind to keep a safe distance from any hobs or hot taps when designing your kitchen. Create an l-shape seating area to ensure stools are not in one long line as this makes chatting to each other a neck-cricking exercise. Also remember to break the surface of the island up with cooking or washing up components to ensure it's used to its full potential and to prevent it becoming a dumping ground!"
image: https://southbank.secure.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96/00001fc1b/58d8/The-main-company.jpg
SAVE TO MOODBOARD
An island unit in a kitchen by The Main Company
Appliances sell houses
- "Don't compromise on the quality of your appliances and make sure you select high end brands such as Sub-Zero and Wolf or Gaggenau." says Paul Walton.
- At AEG Sophie Davidson, Head of Product UK & Ireland, reveals, "Hot water taps are also becoming an essential in the kitchen. They help reduce water wastage levels and decrease energy level bills - making them appeal to new buyers. Some hot water taps use up to 50% less energy to boil water than a kettle, and help you use up to 85% less water as well."
- Neil Pooley, at Miele, observes, "Savvy buyers are well informed about the latest innovations and features in appliances - think about an oven with a pyrolytic self cleaning programme and an induction hob which is now more popular than gas and easy to keep clean. Including premium appliances in the house particulars is also a way to increase viewings."
- "Kettles, sinks and ovens that are metallic in colour will stand out against a neutral kitchen, and will help to break up pared-back tones and will make for a kitchen that is more interesting on the eye." advises Kiran Noonan.
image: https://southbank.secure.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96/00001fc1c/15bd/Miele-Gen-6000-PureLine-Appliances.jpg
