FALL Home Improvement

Kitchen And Bath Transformations

Making the right choices for your home

Water quenches and cleans. Just as it takes care of us, we take care of it. In looking for ways to make your house more livable and sellable, go straight to the water sources: sinks and showers. Before making kitchen and sink updates, first look within.

“Think about how your kitchen functions, how you work in the space and what works for you, but what doesn’t work is important, too,” says Kim Armstrong, local lead designer and owner of Kim Armstrong Interior Design. “Start pulling visuals of the kitchens that appeal to you.”

A professional can then help you find patterns, she says. Consider your preferences before renovation, like double ovens or an extra sink, and ways in which you function, such as cooking habits and the number of family members.

“A deep sink can hide the coffee pot in the morning that doesn’t quite make it into the dishwasher,” says Armstrong. “If there are existing countertops, you need to make sure the sink fits the space. You want a good, functioning faucet, one that’s not going to drip over time. Invest more money in the faucet than in the sink.”

One option is a motion sensor faucet, which can save money and help your house be more resourceful. Sharon Flatley, owner of Flatley & Associates, says this is great for “people with limited mobility or people who are cooking and maybe their hands are covered in flour.”They can usually be found at home improvement stores, she says.

In choosing sinks, double-bowls used to be more popular but Flatley says they might not be as relevant today. Whatever you choose, it should be right for you. “If you have a great kitchen, it makes you happy,” says Flatley.

Like kitchens, bathrooms are more than just a key area to reselling; they are a part of daily life. One way to make your bathroom seem larger and showcase the tile work is to add glass shower doors.

“You’re in your shower once or twice a day,” says Jason Gantenbein, owner of Shower Doors of Dallas. “Older framed showers can break down, they’re difficult to clean and they can be outdated. With a frameless shower you still have to maintain the glass, but if you do, the shower is going to last a lifetime.”

Depending on the shower, bathroom walls or tile might need to be renovated before one can be installed. In hiring someone to renovate or install, Gantenbein advises finding out whether the company personally hires, background-checks and trains the employees. “It’s uncomfortable to let people inside your home, so it’s important that the company you are working with is actually performing the install,” says Gantenbein.

There are many “ingredients” in thinking about changes, Gantenbein says. “Look at the drainage and basic layout. When thinking about purchasing a frameless shower, it is important to have a professional look at the opening, tile and wall conditions to ensure proper fit and stability of the glass enclosure.

In regards to choosing a shower door style, glass options include frosted, embossed, clear, tinted and etched. Almost any design can be etched into the glass but remember this might be a lifelong decision.

“For resale value of the home, stay elegant and simple,” says Gantenbein. “If you ever decide to sell the home, it will be more appealing to people who might want to buy the home. To keep things simple, many people stick to the basic clear frameless shower.”