Articles Tagged "Kitchen Renovations"

People often say that the kitchen is the heart of the home. But the pantry is a close contender! As the place where you store your snacks and cooking ingredients, your pantry deserves to be an organized, efficient space. You'll love being able to open the door and find what you need in an instant without having to search multiple shelves. So, how do you go about organizing a pantry? Our real estate agents have broken this task down into seven steps, which are presented below.

1. Sort Through Everything
   Before you start putting items into place, pull everything out of your pantry. Sort through your items, throwing away products that have expired. If there are foods you know that you'll never use, donate them or give them to friends.
   
   With the extras gone, make a list of the products that remain. If there are items you use regularly but don't have on hand right now, make a trip to the store to purchase them. Then, add them to your list.
   
   
2. Categorize Your Items
   Look down your list, and start dividing your items into categories. Good categories to include are spices and seasonings, pasta and dried goods, canned goods, baking ingredients, and sauces. Once you've categorized your list, move your actual items into piles based on how you categorized them on paper.
   
   
3. Transfer Open Items Into Clear Containers
   It's hard to maintain an organized pantry with a bunch of half-empty bags and boxes. Plus, opened boxes attract pests. So, invest in some clear containers and empty those boxes and bags into them.
   
   There are lots of good brands that make clear, plastic, and glass pantry containers. Pick containers that are stackable and easy for you to open.
   
   
4. Label Your Containers
   Even if you can see into the clear containers, labels make things more clear. You'll also have an easier time figuring out what you need to buy to fill empty containers. If you have a label maker or can borrow one from a friend, that's awesome. Otherwise, you can make your own labels by writing, with markers, on white stickers.
   
   
5. Line Your Shelves
   Before you put your containers back into the pantry, use a stick-on shelf liner to line your shelves. Our agents have seen this in some Bradenton homes for sale and Sarasota homes for sale, and it really does make pantries easy to clean. Choose a cute pattern or a solid color that matches your pantry walls. The shelf liner should come with application instructions on the package.
   
   
6. Organize Your Shelves
   Decide on a shelf for each category of items. You'll want to put items you use more often on shelves close to eye level. Those that you use less often can go further down where you have to bend to reach them. For example, if you only bake a few times a year, your baking items can likely go on the bottom shelf.
   
   
7. Add a Few Extras
   Once all your food is back in the pantry, it is time to add a few extras to help keep the space more organized. Consider mounting a marker board on the pantry door. You can use this to keep track of your shopping list. Find a bag holder to mount to the pantry door, too. This will give you somewhere convenient to stick plastic bags when you get home. Add any other extras you think may come in handy, too.

If you spend the weekend organizing your pantry, you'll save so much time when you cook and snack later on. Contact us if you're still looking for the perfect home — and pantry — to call your own.

Changing up your backsplash is a quick but powerful way to update the look of your kitchen. While there are certainly premium materials available, there are also many inexpensive ways to transform your backsplash. Here are a few simple methods our real estate agents recommend for updating your backsplash.

• Paint Your Backsplash
  Don't have the money for new materials for your backsplash? A can of paint may be your answer. You can paint over the existing backsplash, or if you're particularly crafty, use a stencil and paint to update the tile with a patterned appearance.
  
  
• Use Peel-and-Stick Tile
  If you want the look of tile but don't have the money or the skill set to install tile and grout, you can more easily get the look you want with peel-and-stick tile. It goes on over your existing backsplash, is easy for anyone to install, and can be removed easily, too, if you decide to change your kitchen's look again later on down the road.
  
  
• Achieve a Classic Look with Beadboard
  Beadboard is a fairly inexpensive material that is easy to install yourself and lends itself well to the country kitchen look that is popular in Sarasota homes for sale. Keep it white for a traditional look, or paint it a coordinating color to make it blend in with the rest of your kitchen. You can also vary your look by deciding whether to install it with the grooves vertical, as it is traditionally installed, or horizontal for a more modern look.
  
  
• Use Wooden Boards or Paneling
  If you like the traditional kitchen look that is trending now but don't like the look of beadboard, you can achieve a similar mood with painted wooden paneling. Wooden plank backsplashes have become popular and can even be achieved by mounting vinyl hardwood-look flooring to the wall for an easy-to-clean backsplash.
  
  
• Install Pressed Tin Tiles
  Another popular look in Bradenton homes for sale lately is pressed tin tile backsplashes. You can get real tin ceiling tiles, or there are also stick-on vinyl alternatives that are easier to cut and install. The metallic designs of these tiles make beautiful and interesting backsplashes and a modern twist on a traditional look.
  
  
• Mount Faux Brick
  Exposed brick is always a popular look, and you can achieve the look with the help of faux brick. A faux brick backsplash is trendy and classy, but if you're mounting it in areas that will be prone to grease splatters, look for a surface finish that will be easy to clean.

If you want a new look for your kitchen, your backsplash is a great place to start. It's especially good if you're updating your home to sell it, as the backsplash is an overall small square footage and will give you plenty of bang for your buck. For more suggestions of easy ways to get your home ready to sell, contact us today.

Nothing spruces up a home like a kitchen renovation. It improves how you make use of your home and can deliver a return on investment when it comes time to sell your home.  

The biggest challenge with a kitchen reno is knowing where to start.  Our REALTORS® have helped clients make the right decisions when renovating their kitchens prior to listing. Take advantage of these tips to make your kitchen reno project a huge success for your home.

1. Full Remodel Versus Upgrade
   The first step is to determine just how big of an effort you want or need to put into your kitchen. Some homes may require a complete overhaul while other kitchen spaces may require some well-placed updates and upgrades. Consider all of your options before you get out that sledgehammer.
   
   
2. Identify Likes and Dislikes
   Every space in your home has aspects that you like and those that you dislike. When planning your renovation, be sure to keep and enhance the parts that you like rather than just getting rid of what you dislike. This process allows you to allocate money from your budget to get more out of what you already enjoy. It might also mean you have to spend less to handle your dislikes.
   
   
3. Keep the Current Layout
   If at all possible, try to keep the current layout of your kitchen intact. Most home renovation experts estimate a $5,000 price tag every time a homeowner decides to move the location of appliances or plumbing. This will help keep your expenses down and allow you to allocate precious budget dollars where you need it.
   
   
4. Cabinets are Key
   Your cabinets are usually the first thing that you notice and the most used part of your kitchen. They also tend to make up about 30% of an overall kitchen renovation budget. With this in mind, take the time to find the best deals and the best use of space. Consider using innovative design ideas like the half moon lazy susan or double sliding shelves to make the best use of those blind corners.
   
   
5. Make a Dramatic Impact
   If you are trying to spice things up in your kitchen, then consider some options that can have a dramatic visual impact on your new space. One investment is in your backsplash. Experts suggest taking your backsplash all the way to the ceiling. Not only does it protect your walls but it also adds a fantastic focal point to your kitchen.
   
   In addition to the backsplash idea, you should strongly consider using contrasting colors. Many Bradenton homes for sale have added value and style by integrating these color schemes in their kitchen spaces. You can use this technique to draw the eyes of your visitors to the parts of your kitchen that you wish to showcase.
   
   
6. The Right Lighting
   One final consideration is the lighting in your kitchen. Too much light can be just as bad as too little lighting. Take the time to plan out the right amount of lighting to brighten your space without drowning out all your renovations.
   
   Take advantage of subtle lighting changes such as under the counter lighting. You can also upgrade the current fixtures to improve the overall lighting in your kitchen. Another simple change is adding green energy bulbs to lighten up the room and your monthly electric bill.

Our REALTORS® can answer your real estate questions whether you're buying or selling a home in Bradenton.  Contact Wagner Realty today to get started.