articles

Kitchens on notice: how to gain the wow factor

Author: Gina Morris
Date: August 12, 2009
Publication: Sydney Morning Herald

IT IS the heart of the home, the hub of the house, the place you always end up in at parties. The importance of a kitchen should never be underestimated; it's the most saleable room in the house. If you want to increase the value of your property or boost buyer appeal in the market, this is the first stop for a renovation or revamp. More so than bathrooms, a fresh and functional kitchen can make or break a sale and, according to the experts, is likely to return a tidy profit from any financial investment.

"It's hard to put a percentage on how much value you can add," says Scott McElroy, director of Hocking Stuart. "But you are likely to double the cost of your outlay in saleability value. If you spend $20,000 renovating the kitchen, you can hope to be looking at getting that $20,000 back, plus another $20,000 on top as an absolute starting point. That's on a dollar value. It's hard to quantify the opportunity value, or the impact it can have in the market."

These favourable returns, combined with the current trend for incorporating the kitchen into the living areas for all to see, has made refurbishing the kitchen the most popular form of home improvement today.

When it comes to the scale and cost, the job should, ideally, reflect the home. It makes no sense to install a family-sized food hall in a one-bedroom apartment or cut corners in a Toorak mansion. Working out a budget, however, can be daunting and confusing. You can buy a flat-pack kitchen for a few thousand dollars but that doesn't include installation costs, so exactly how much can you expect to fork out for a basic fit-out?

"Realistically, you should be looking at from $15,000, excluding appliances," says kitchen designer Peter Treweek of Mod Kitchens in Richmond and Carnegie. "That's the price for a good, average-sized kitchen using quality fittings and laminate cupboards and bench tops. For that you will get a well-designed, good-looking and functional kitchen that will add resale value to your house."

To maintain a budget but still achieve the wow, Treweek believes benchtops and splashbacks are the way to go. "They are the first things people notice," he says. "If you want to know where to save and where to spend money, have laminate cupboards and drawers and get a beautiful stone benchtop."

With the continuing advancements in design transforming the kitchen into a high-tech zone filled with impressive tricks and gadgetry, how far should you go?

"The most important things don't have to cost that much," Treweek says.

"Little extras such as a pull-out oil and spices drawer next to the cooktop, a narrow drawer to vertically store all your baking trays, or an Italian waste bin system with the automatic soft-close lid. They all look terrific, are not overly expensive and will be real selling points."

Of course, it's not always necessary to rip out the kitchen and start afresh; a clever revamp can be amazingly effective for a fraction of the cost. Fiona Austin, of Austin Design Associates, whose clients include building and design professionals, has used a number of cheap-and-cheerful tricks to staggering effect.

"We have painted wooden kitchens," she says. "A lot of people freak out at that but it just makes an extraordinary difference. Solid timbers are so dark, heavy and really dated but usually beautifully made. If they're not, then most cupboards have hinges so you can just take the doors off and replace them — that's not expensive. You can also just replace the handles or knobs and that can make a big difference, too.

"For another instant lift, get rid of the old tiles. You don't even have to chip them off first; a new splashback can easily be fixed over the top.

"Another good tip," says Austin, "is to install new appliances like an oven or dishwasher. You could even take out the island bench and put in a table and chairs instead — add a few baskets and some fresh herbs and it's a country kitchen."

Ultimately it doesn't matter if you're a master chef or you can't boil an egg, the kitchen is a social area to which people naturally gravitate. Why wouldn't you want it to look its best?

"A lot of people are scared to do a renovation because it is expensive," McElroy says. "But it can change the look of a property dramatically. You can also just tart up an old kitchen to make it look good again. Whatever the extent you go to, it can certainly make the house a lot more saleable and a lot more appealing."

Making a splash Five looks for behind the stove

- DIGIGLASS

What is it: Artistic imaging in laminated glass
Why it's good: Durable, hard wearing and allows you to make a big personal statement.
How much: A 2.5m long by 0.6m high sheet will cost from $900. Artwork to be supplied by the client.
Where: digiglass.com.au, 8540 1700
Maintenance: Clean with a damp cloth.
Warranty: five-year warranty against fade

- ELBA MARBLE

What is it: A very hard grade of marble, with a much lower porosity than most stone.
Why it's good: Practical, hard wearing and naturally beautiful, it's cut to fit and can withstand high temperatures.
How much: A 20mm thick slab $250.00 + gst per m2. A 30mm slab costs $320.00 + gst.
Where: artedomus.com, 9428 9898
Maintenance: Household bleach removes most marks or else thoroughly reseal every six to 12 months. Artedomus recommends GEAL Basoil (0411 410 260).
Warranty: None. There are no guarantees with natural stone.

- AXOLOTI METAL

What is it: Axolotl are real metals that can be sandblasted, burnished, finished, engraved, textured or patented.
Why it's good: No joins. The panels are seamless and sleek, practical and stylish as well as heat resistant.
How much: Expect to pay between $250 and $380 per square metre + GST
Where: axolotl.com.au, 9882 6399
Maintenance: Warm soapy water.
Warranty: five years

- 2 CP RANGE

What is it: A two-colour stencil process that sprays designs directly onto glass using specially formulated glass paints.
Why it's good: Versatile and heat-resistant, you can create your own designs and have them tailored to perfectly fit the space.
How much: Full coverage design from $650 per square metre + GST
Where: Design Inferno, 9335 4477, designinferno.com.au
Maintenance: Wipe over with glass cleaner.
Warranty: seven-year warranty against colour de-lamination and discoloration.

- LAMINEX FUSION

What is it: A 2.7mm thick laminate in gloss or matt finish.
Why it's good: It's durable, resistant to staining and offers great creative potential.
How much: Pre-existing designs cost from $150 per square metre, customised art from $360.
Where: laminex.com.au, 132 136
Maintenance: A damp cloth. Avoid scratchy cleaning products.
Warranty: seven-year limited warranty.

kitchen articles

- Kitchens on notice: How to gain the wow factor, August 2009