Kitchen Tips When Preparing House for Sale

This guest blog was written by Lindus Construction.  Lindus Construction  is proud to have served over 75,000 happy customers in Western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities since the company’s founding in 1979. One Call. One Contractor.

In the realm of real estate, deciding how much money to invest in preparing your home for a sale feels like a tightrope walk. Nowhere is this truer than in the kitchen. Today’s homebuyers have refined tastes and it’s important to create an atmosphere within the kitchen that leaves them eager to place an offer. Here’s what you need to know!

What’s That Smell?

While an amazing scent cannot sell your home, unpleasant odors may send potential homebuyers packing. Run the garbage disposal as needed and empty trash bins prior to a showing. Create a pleasant lingering scent by baking cookies or using a vase of fresh cut flowers as a centerpiece for your kitchen table. Refrain from having a full load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher during home showings.

dining room table with vase of flowers on top
Photo by Lindus Construction

Time to Clean

Whether you do it yourself of hire a pro, a key component to selling your home is a sparkling clean kitchen. This includes cleaning the sink, countertops, floors, appliances and cabinets. Don’t forget the interior of cabinets and drawers. Prospective homebuyers are likely inspecting them for cleanliness and evaluating them for spaciousness. At a minimum, polish hardware. Changing outdated hardware could be a game-changer.  

Banish Clutter

While your norm may be a countertop full of small appliances and cookbooks, all potential homebuyers see is chaos. Eliminate all unnecessary items from the kitchen counter to establish order and make the space seem as large as possible. Stow away sponges and dish soap. Take down refrigerator magnets, and remove collections you have displayed on top of your cabinets.

Embrace Light

A kitchen can appear dingy without ample lighting. Craft an inviting atmosphere by cleaning windows and leaving shades open. Create an illusion of illumination and space with a strategically-placed mirror. A clamp lamp or undercabinet lighting can be utilized for spots in need of additional lighting. Evaluate the wattage of the bulbs currently in your kitchen and replace anything below 60 watts.

Photo by Lindus Construction

Replace Appliances

If your kitchen appliances are outdated or in bad shape, it’s wise to consider replacing them. Appliances in varying finishes can dissuade prospective homebuyers. New burner grates on a range enhance its appearance without incurring the cost of a brand-new unit. Be sure that the interior of your oven and dishwasher are pristine, as it’s highly probable potential buyers will open them for a closer look.

Stage the Island

An adequate number of chairs around the island helps potential buyers visualize entertaining friends and family. But take care not to place too many chairs around an island, which can make it feel crowded. Staging the kitchen island with placemats, wine glasses and a floral arrangement creates a homey vibe.

What made you fall in love with your kitchen? Let us know in the comments section.

Featured image via Café

Aging in Place Kitchen Design

This guest blog was written by Lindus Construction. Lindus Construction  is proud to have served over 75,000 happy customers in Western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities since the company’s founding in 1979. One Call. One Contractor.

As the Baby Boomer generation retires, a consistent theme those in the home remodeling industry hear is their desire to age in place, rather than incur the expense of moving into a long-term care facility. Because the kitchen tends to be among the busiest areas of the home, clients often ask how to make it an accommodating place to cook and entertain as the homeowner continues to mature. Here’s what you need to know about aging in place kitchen design.

Doorways

kitchen with wide doorways

Older homes tend to have a more compartmentalized feel. At times, kitchen doorways may be too narrow to allow entry for wheelchair- or walker-users. It’s recommended that undersized doorways be widened to at least 36 inches for this reason. Pocket doors are also an optimal solution for the ease of which they can be opened and closed. This concept also applies to levered doorknobs.

Flooring

Excessive wax and polish on kitchen floors creates a falling hazard, so keep this chore to a minimum. Steer clear of rugs, which can also create the perfect environment for a fall. It’s worth noting that the smaller and closer together floor tiles are, the lesser chance there is of a tripping hazard being present. Linoleum, tile and wood are the easiest materials for a wheelchair to glide across.

Cabinetry

As homeowners age, retrieving items stored in upper cabinets becomes more tedious. For those embracing aging in place, it’s wise to install cabinets that have multiple drawers in the lower levels. This allows quick access to items used daily, like plates, bowls and dishes.

Pullout trays and garbage can dividers also prove convenient.

Faucet

Not only are touchless faucets advantageous from a cleanliness standpoint, but they’re easier for people with limited mobility to operate. Sinks should have a depth of no more than 6 inches and include a pullout sprayer to prevent straining the user’s back.  

Appliances

Side-by-side refrigerators are the friendliest to the aging in place movement. That’s because both sides can easily be opened, allowing for access to all compartments. Pullout shelving helps reduce back strain.

Microwave drawers are also becoming increasingly popular, because they eliminate the need to reach up for hot food. When shopping, ask for ADA-compliant appliances.

kitchen with pullout microwave drawer in island

Lighting

A brightly illuminated kitchen allows for easier food prep. Consider under-cabinet lighting to brighten an area that oftentimes is starved for light. Skylights and sun tunnels allow consistent natural light to filter into the kitchen. Many seniors opt for their lights to be on motion sensors.  

With a few modifications, people can continue to live comfortably at home into their senior years. What other kitchen considerations are there? Let us know in the comments!

Top 2019 Kitchen Trends to Consider

Planning a kitchen remodel this year? Before you spice things up, find out what’s cooking in kitchen design. Our trusted construction and design partners share hot 2019 kitchen trends to consider.

Countertop Trends

Photo via Lindus Construction

Homeowners are gravitating away from granite countertops and toward quartz, according to Lindus Construction COO Andy Lindus. “Quartz comes in an array of colors, allowing homeowners to customize the appearance of their kitchen,” he says. Quartz also requires less maintenance and has a smoother surface.

Cabinet Trends

Kirsten Erickson, principal designer and founder of Alma Homes, continues to see color sneak its way into cabinetry. “Islands have been a very popular location if clients are afraid to commit to a bold color throughout the entire kitchen,” she adds. “And we’ve been seeing a lot more navy, black and deep green.”

Beautiful Chaos Owner and Lead Designer Sarah Martin echoes the bold color trend. “We are so excited to see kitchen color palettes brightening up,” she says. “It’s so fun to incorporate a pop of color in the heart of the home!”

Tile Trends

While Erickson says clients tend to stick to more neutral tones in their tile selections, creativity sparks when it comes to tile shape. This allows homeowners to maintain a simple color scheme while still adding interest to their kitchen. “We’ve been incorporating everything from marble mosaics to hex tiles to fun arabesque shapes,” she says.

Katie Kath of Jkath Design Build + Reinvent sees more homeowners taking a unique approach to classic subway tile, which comes in the form of handmade or beveled tiles. She says square tiles are also having a resurgence.

Wood Trends

“Wood elements have also made a comeback, with all signs pointing to more and more of this in 2019,” Kath says, noting trends of wood cabinetry, floating shelves and accessories.

And when it comes to the type of wood, Erickson says white oak has exploded in popularity in what seems like overnight. “We have been using it on kitchen islands, floating shelves, and it (or European Oak) is almost always our clients’ go-to for their hardwood floors,” she adds.

Owner of Adorned Homes, Katie Kurtz, says wood in the kitchen is best incorporated into a space that has the white woodwork we’re used to seeing in kitchens now, like in this custom kitchen from her real estate client TJB Homes, which features a mix of white enamel and white oak.

kitchen with white enamel cabinets and a white oak hood and island

Photo via Adorned Homes

While these trends produce beautiful results, Kassina Folstad of olliePop Design says first spend time defining what you truly love and desire in your home. Your home is one of your biggest investments after all. It never hurts to have a good designer on your side and a kitchen full of beautiful appliances.

Featured image via Café

Beverage Centers to Make You the Host with the Most

The most wonderful time of the year is here, and for some, so are your in-laws. Hosting, whether for the holidays or any other occasion, allows you to break out the nice glassware, prepare (or pretend to prepare) delicious food and spend quality time with loved ones. And with beverage center appliances from Warners’ Stellian, you can level up your host status. Impress your guests with the following beverage center options.

Built-in Coffee Makers

I love coffee graphic

Hosting for an extended period of time? Morning, noon or night, built-in coffee makers please even the pickiest coffee connoisseurs. Fill all of your guests’ coffee requests this holiday season. Once you purchase a built-in coffee maker, you’ll wonder where it’s bean all your life!

Netflix and Wine Chiller

undercounter Frigidaire wine chiller
Frigidaire Gallery 52-bottle wine fridge

For some, a basement refinish has been in the works since this summer and is finally coming to a close just in time for the holidays. But it’s still missing something. Wine not consider this sleek Frigidaire 52-bottle wine cooler to go with that swanky new basement bar? Warners’ Stellian carries countertop and built-in wine storage options, so find the perfect one to fit your aesthetic.

Ice, Ice Maker, Baby

Keep your drinks cold and your heart warm this holiday season with a Silhouette Professional Series Undercounter Ice Maker. This ice machine produces up to 32 pounds of ice daily. From nugget ice to clear cubes for cocktails, find the ice machine that suits your needs.

Draft Beer Dispenser

built-in beer tap on home bar
True 15-inch beverage dispenser

For those looking for a way to impress the “I only drink local beer” family member, look no further than your very own draft beer dispenser. Enjoy the perfect serve from the comfort of your holiday stretch pants.

Beverage Centers

pouring soda into glass

If you’re just looking for a simple way to keep the drinks cold – and don’t want to chill them in the snow – consider this Danby beverage center, which holds up to 120 cans. Enjoy holidays on tap with Warners’ Stellian’s variety of beverage center options.

While these specialty appliances add excitement to any festivity, let Warners’ Stellian help with your every appliance need, from a new range for holiday cooking to a laundry set that would make your mother proud.

What appliance do you think is the MVP when hosting guests? Let us know in the comments below.

5 Best Indoor Plants for the Kitchen

Consider yourself a plant mom or dad? If you answered yes, you came to the right place. Aside from an obvious aesthetic upgrade, houseplants offer myriad benefits, including naturally filtering the air, boosting your mood, and enhancing concentration. If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen, it’s a natural place to add some greenery. But due to fluctuating temperatures, the kitchen isn’t the most hospitable environment for houseplants. In other words – if they can’t take the heat, get them out of the kitchen! For the best results, add some of these plants to your kitchen.

1. Indoor Herb Garden

Indoor Herb Garden

What better place to grow an herb garden than the kitchen window? Snip the fresh herbs when you need them to spice up a dish! An herb garden adds interest to a windowsill. If planting herbs together, take care not to add any herbs that will take over the space, such as mint or lemon balm. Some of the best herbs for container gardening are basil, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, parsley, and sage. You can research how large the plants will grow when deciding how many to place in one planter.

2. Aloe

Burn yourself in the kitchen? Having a medicinal herb on hand to soothe the pain will help! To use aloe, cut off a lower leaf near the stalk, split the leaf lengthwise and rub the gel directly on a burn. No green thumb, no problem! Aloe is extremely easy to grow and hard to kill, meaning it can stand up to the kitchen test.

3. English Ivy

The English Ivy is great for purifying the air of pollutants. Ivy thrives in many environments, provided that it receives some direct sunlight. This beautiful trailing plant can be placed on top of the fridge or cabinets to create a lush effect. If you are tight on space, the English ivy can also be potted in a hanging basket.

4. Spider Plant

Add height and texture to your kitchen with a spider plant. This easy-to-care for plant dazzles in a hanging basket. As a bonus, it often offshoots baby plants, which you can use elsewhere in your house or gift to a friend! Another natural air purifier, this plant thrives in all light levels.

5. Air Plant

Let’s face it – sometimes you just don’t have any counter space to spare in the kitchen. You need your air fryer, instant pot, blender, mixer, toaster and various other kitchen appliances after all. In comes air plants! They take up no space at all, and can even be placed on the fridge with magnets. You don’t have to worry about soil spilling in your kitchen either!

What do you consider to be the best indoor plants for the kitchen? Let us know in the comments section below.