Cabinet Craze

Changing the look of the cabinets will have the biggest impact on your kitchen’s overall look and feel. Grech suggests repainting existing cabinets and swapping hardware. “These are relatively affordable fixes that can make a world of difference. I recommend using a splatter resistant and washable paint in the kitchen. One of my favourites is Benjamin Moore ADVANCE – it is ideal for cabinetry and trim and offers the application and performance of traditional oil paint in a waterborne formula, making it easy to clean all those household messes.” You may also use Insl-X Cabinet Coat by Benjamin Moore. Cabinet Coat is the ultimate finish for refurbishing kitchen and bathroom cabinets, shelving, furniture, trim, and crown moulding. Delivers an ultra-smooth, factory-like finish with long-lasting beauty. Adheres to “hard-to-stick” surfaces, including polyurethane and varnish, without a primer.

Look on the Bright Side

AF-680 Wish

2114-40 Wet Concrete

Lighting has a huge impact on the look and feel of a space, helping to open things up while aiding functionality. Fortunately, you don’t need huge floor-to-ceiling windows or skylights to achieve a fresh and airy look. “A classic white kitchen can work wonders to create that airy feel we all crave,” says Grech. “Try cabinets painted with a neutral white like Wish AF-680,  combined with a rich wall colour like my current favourite Wet Concrete 2114-40,  which has just the right amount of a purple undertone to add some drama with a good amount of grey to keep it feeling sophisticated. This combination pairs beautifully for both modern and traditional styled kitchens.

Add a Pop of Colour

One of the simplest ways to update your kitchen is to add high-contrast colour with fun accents and accessories. “Dare to be bold with a uniquely coloured or patterned backsplash,” says Grech. If that seems too much of an investment, then accent with colour in cozy carpets; patterned fabric accents; fresh flowers or fruit; or colourful appliances such as mixers, blenders and toasters.

“The kitchen really is the heart of the home,” says Grech. “These days, it’s so much more than just a space where we cook – it’s a space where we gather to entertain friends and family which is why having a kitchen that you love is essential.”

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If there is a downside to the sizzling market, it is that a lot of homeowners are taking the opportunity to get in an on the action. So if you decide to put your home on the market, you’ll face lots of competition.

Stage Your Home to Maximize Its Value

With the heightened competition, there’s renewed emphasis on staging your home to increase its appeal to potential buyers. Professional home stagers are experts on making the changes to your house that appeal most to house hunters.

There are a number of relatively easy do-it-yourself projects that will help you save at least part of the cost of hiring a professional stager.

1. Paint the Interior and Exterior of Your Home

No other home renovation delivers a higher return on investment than a good coat of paint to both the interior and exterior of the house. Brighter colours inside will give your home a more spacious, airy feel. Neutral exterior colours increase the all-important curb appeal of the house.

2. Paint Bathroom Tiles

Along with kitchens (see below), bathrooms are one of the most important selling features of your house. If your bathroom has not had a recent renovation, you can cover dated, dirty and damaged tile with a high-adhesion primer and ceramic epoxy.

3. In the Kitchen

Cabinets are the largest visual feature of your kitchen. Replacing them can be costly. Instead, you can paint or re-stain them to make them look as good as new.

Never underestimate the importance of presenting your home in the best way possible. Even if you’ll already be getting far more for your home than what you paid, you can add thousands of dollars to its value by doing a few simple and inexpensive DIY projects.

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