Kitchen Remodels on the Comeback Trail

The explosion of remodeling shows on TV and makeover spreads in magazines has whetted America's appetite for glamorous rooms brimming with the latest furnishings, appliances and color schemes.

Kitchen remodels are among the most popular, according to a report in the just-published August issue of Consumer Reports and online at consumerreports.org. And the economic slowdown means there are outstanding deals on everything from cooktops to countertops. It also means kitchen designers and building contractors are eager for work and willing to negotiate.

But bargain prices and good looks aren't everything, said Celia Kupersmzid Lehrman, Consumer Reports' deputy home editor.

"When remodeling a kitchen, functionality is every bit as important as style. Fortunately there are many products that look good and work well," she said.

The design of your kitchen is every bit as important as what goes into it, said Jim Spence of Spence & Vaughn Fine Kitchen and Bath in Maitland, Fla.

The most functional design is based on the "work triangle" — the relationship between the prep area, the cooking area and the sink, he said. Ideally, the distance between them should never be less than four feet or more than nine feet. Of the three areas, the most-used is the sink.

When planning a remodel, determining your budget is one of the first steps. The National Kitchen & Bath Association calculates the average kitchen remodel costs between 10 percent and 20 percent of the home's value. But obviously, the extent of the makeover determines its cost. In its latest issue, Consumer Reports takes top-performing products and creates three design schemes: a do-it-yourself makeover for $5,000; a plan that costs $15,000 (the average spent on a kitchen remodel); and a full-scale renovation for $50,000.

Determining your priorities is another key step, said Phil Johnson, a partner at Spence & Vaughn and a certified kitchen designer.

"Do you love to cook? If so, now might be the time to consider professional-style appliances," he said. "Do you have a large family? Consider how best to accommodate them in your new space. Think about the things you love in your old kitchen — and the things you dislike."

In addition, Johnson recommends the following steps for a successful remodel:

—Do your homework. Watch TV remodeling programs, clip appealing pictures and articles from magazines, attend remodeling seminars, visit home shows and parades of homes. Consult with a kitchen designer who is a member of the NKBA, who has the training and experience to avoid many of the things that can go wrong with a remodeling project.

—Visit a showroom. Examine the options in cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, plumbing and lighting. Decide what you want — and can afford.

—Schedule a home visit. The designer/installer need to measure the kitchen and adjacent rooms, and make a note of existing walls, doors and windows, electrical supplies, ceiling height, attic access, type of wall construction, plumbing details, etc.

—Finalize the project. The design is refined, construction plans are completed, appliances and supplies are ordered — and the initial deposit is paid.

—Survive the dust, noise and workers. With proper supervision, the disruption can be kept to a minimum. Make sure materials are ordered and on the way before beginning the tear-out. Clear a space in the garage for workers' tools and supplies and items removed from the old kitchen. And communicate regularly with the designer/installer.

The August issue of Consumer Reports identifies these four rules for a successful kitchen remodel:

Don't rush. There are many kitchen products that combine value, performance and good looks. Take time to meet with professionals, browse the Internet and visit showrooms and home centers. Haste can be costly. Changing your mind after the project is started typically adds about $1,500 to the cost of a kitchen project.

Size matters. In addition to being expensive, oversized kitchens can be exhausting to work in and keep tidy. A more compact kitchen often functions better. The National Kitchen & Bath Association website, nkba.org, provides guidelines for optimal space between appliances, cabinets and islands.

Beware of budget busters. Leave a 10 percent to 15 percent cushion for surprises, such as unexpected structural repairs. Avoid settling for a cheap option, thinking someday you will replace it with something you really want. Chances are that will never happen.

Get it in writing. When using a professional for a remodel, the written contract should list each phase of the project; every product, including the model number; and copies of each contractor's license, and workers compensation and liability insurance to confirm they are current. Call references and, if possible, visit them.

Information provided by Jean Patteson via RISMEDIA

Good Luck on your remodel, whenever it may be!

Kent

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Kent Meyer
REALTOR
Lyons Realty
Cell: 806-236-7181
Office: 806-358-3900
Fax: 806-358-3904
kent@806homes.com

SIMPLE ROOM MAKEOVER

Do you have a room in your home that needs to be freshened up?

Just in time for summer home improvement, here are some simple tips to help do-it-yourself enthusiasts liven up any space.

*Pick the appropriate lighting for your paint color. The trick is to create a harmonious balance between color and light. Make up of the lack of light by adding in some table lamps, wall sconces, a chandelier or a mirror and watch how it makes the room look so much bigger.

*Don't forget about layering texture and pattern. It gives a room personality and stops the room from looking too flat. Silk curtains, a patterned pillow, or even a nice linen wallpaper are all things that can give the room dimension and make the room more interesting.

*Look for ways to mix and match furniture. Just because the furniture you like is available as a set doesn't mean you have to purchase it that way. Mix it up a bit. Consider going with a white lacquer bookcase and a wood coffee table in your living room or a leather sofa paired with a beautiful upholstered armchair.

I hope this gives you some ideas. These simple tips are offered by Stephanie Andre and Glidden.

Your comments are welcomed!

Kent

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Kent Meyer
REALTOR
Lyons Realty
Cell: 806-236-7181
Office: 806-358-3900
Fax: 806-358-3904
kent@806homes.com

Hot Property: Now They're Singing, 'Sold!'

I thought you might enjoy these stories about some homes of famous people.

Enjoy, Kent

By Lauren Beale

RISMEDIA, July 2, 2010--(MCT)--Country music superstars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have sold their Beverly Hills Post Office spread for $9.5 million.

The two-story Mediterranean, with panoramic canyon and city views and a swimming pool with a spa, sits on 4.85 gated acres — a fair amount of breathing room for a "city" home. The two-story entry features limestone floors. There is a step-down living room. The 10,500-square-foot house's six bedrooms and 7 1/2 bathrooms include a master bedroom suite with dual bathrooms and a connecting gym.

Hill, 42, has sold more than 40 million records. She and McGraw won a Grammy Award for best country collaboration with vocals in 2006 for "Like We Never Loved at All." Each of them has won multiple Grammys.

McGraw, 43, also has seen sales in the 40 million range. He starred opposite Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side" (2009). Hill appeared in the 2004 film "The Stepford Wives."

The duo, whose primary residence is in Nashville, bought the Beverly Park house in 2003 for close to its $6.45 million asking price, according to Times archives.

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A HALF-CENTURY OF BELLY LAUGHS

The longtime family home of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" actor Morey Amsterdam is on the market at $6,495,000.

The Beverly Hills Midcentury classic, with many of the original features and decor from the time of the comedian's purchase nearly a half-century ago, has a '60s vibe.

The single-story house was a place where guests could feel at home.

"Ronald Reagan would stop by to visit, and Dad would tell him jokes standing in the kitchen," said son Gregory Amsterdam, who lived there through his college years and beyond. "There were people popping in and out all the time."

The Amsterdams often entertained at home, throwing dinner parties in the formal dining room for 10 to 15 guests. Other times the area around the kidney-shaped swimming pool in the backyard was used for parties of 50 to 60, Amsterdam said.

"My father loved the sun," Amsterdam said, to the point where he would walk backward on a golf course to face it. The senior Amsterdam sometimes wrote quips while lounging in the pool area. "If there was any hint of sun, he would be out there getting a suntan."

The 5,854-square-foot house has walls of glass that open to the backyard, a living room with a fireplace and a step-down bar, a breakfast room, a den with a fireplace, four bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms. There is a three-car garage and large motorcourt.

Morey Amsterdam, who died in 1996 at age 87, played fellow office worker Buddy Sorrell on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961-66). The gregarious actor was in show business for more than seven decades.

"My father really loved people," Gregory Amsterdam said. "He'd go out to get the mail, and Starline Tour would go by and he'd stop to talk."

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VARIATION ON A VENICE HARMONY

"The X-Files" composer Mark Snow has listed his Venice home at $1,899,000.

Custom-built in 2007, the Cape Cod-inspired house has an open-plan first floor with skylights. There are three bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms and 2,860 square feet of living space. The master bedroom suite has a balcony, vaulted ceilings and two walk-in closets.

The Juilliard School graduate was a co-founder of the New York Rock & Roll Ensemble. Among his compositions is the theme music for sci-fi series "The X-Files" (1993-2002) and both "X-Files" films. He also wrote the music for "Millennium" (1996-99) and "Ghost Whisperer" (2005-09).

Snow, 63, is looking for another house in the immediate area.

He bought the property in 2007 for $2.2 million, according to public records.

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NEWLY MINTED IN BEVERLY HILLS

A newly constructed 36,000-square-foot mansion has come on the market in Beverly Hills at $68.5 million. It was built by C. Frederick Wehba, founder of the international real estate investment firm BentleyForbes.

The French Palladian-inspired three-level house has a hand-carved limestone exterior, marble columns, a two-story circular entry with a skylight and bronze beveled double-pane windows and doors. There are nine bedrooms and 13 bathrooms.

The grounds include a pool with a pavilion entertaining area, a tennis court and gardens.

The house sits on nearly two acres of what was once part of Beverly Hills co-founder Max Whittier's estate. In the late '70s, owner and Saudi sheik Mohammed al Fassi drew complaints from his neighbors by painting his white mansion green and its white plaster statues of nudes in multi-tone anatomical detail.

That house was gutted by fire in 1980 and later razed, and eventually the lot was subdivided.

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STEPPING INTO HOLLYWOOD PAST

A Hollywood Hills home once owned by actress-singer-dancer Ginger Rogers and her actor husband, Lew Ayres, is listed at $2,395,000.

Tucked away behind walls and gates, the 1927 Spanish-style house has a large second-floor studio, unobstructed 270-degree city and ocean views and a total of five bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms in 4,800 square feet of living space. The grounds include an enclosed outdoor patio/entertainment area with a barbecue pit, a fireplace and a koi pond.

Rogers gained widespread recognition for her performance in "Gold Diggers of 1933" (1933), popularizing the song "We're in the Money." She was often paired with dance partner Fred Astaire in films such as "Top Hat" (1935) and "Shall We Dance" (1937). Rogers won a lead actress Oscar for "Kitty Foyle: The Natural History of a Woman" (1940).

Ayres, with scores of film and television credits, starred in "Young Dr. Kildare" (1938). He reprised the role in more than a half-dozen subsequent movies.

(c) 2010, Los Angeles Times.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

--
Kent Meyer
REALTOR
Lyons Realty
Cell: 806-236-7181
Office: 806-358-3900
Fax: 806-358-3904
kent@806homes.com