Is it just me, or does the kitchen in that picture seem really impractically large? I feel like I'd need to be on roller skates to do any really cooking or baking.

Anonymous wrote:This is a good amount without going overboard on custom everything and crazy appliance brands

Uh, hello. This is NOT a cheap kitchen. The cooktop looks like a Dacor or Wolf six burner, the rest of the appliances are fairly decent, the counters are granite, the cabinets, lighting, backsplash are not cheap. I'd say this cost $80k, depending upon how much re-arrangements of walls, etc. had to be done, re-wiring, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But f not granite, then what? Or is it the dark piece on the island that's revolting some? I'm remodeling my 1987 (!) kitchen bit by bit & have painted white the nasty oak cabinets & changed out appliances, but the countertops are the biggest PITA because granite feels personal, but quartz (my preference) is still looked down upon. In a traditional townhouse, there aren't that many options that will blend in.

Who says quartz is looked down upon?? I would definitely do quartz over standard polished granite. In higher end kitchens, most buyers are going to be looking for marble or soapstone (or maybe honed granite).

Thanks! I prefer quartz, but a couple of realtors and decorators have suggested that local buyers turn their noses up at it. I wonder if it's the HGTV phenomenon- must have stainless and granite and apron sinks or it's just too blase for words. In a NoVa townhouse, I just can't see adding marble or soapstone- they're absolutely gorgeous, but too high-end for this neighborhood. Plus, they scratch and stain a bit more than quartz. I need something that resists both wine and koolaid splashes right now!

Quartz is a higher-end finish than granite and more practical to boot. DC is often behind the times in terms of style trends.

This is true, and NOVA is behind DC.

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I like to cook and though I prepare far more quick meals than elaborate ones, when i do settle in to cook I want a nice kitchen. So I'll be willing to spend a lot of money there as compared to the rest of the house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But f not granite, then what? Or is it the dark piece on the island that's revolting some? I'm remodeling my 1987 (!) kitchen bit by bit & have painted white the nasty oak cabinets & changed out appliances, but the countertops are the biggest PITA because granite feels personal, but quartz (my preference) is still looked down upon. In a traditional townhouse, there aren't that many options that will blend in.

Who says quartz is looked down upon?? I would definitely do quartz over standard polished granite. In higher end kitchens, most buyers are going to be looking for marble or soapstone (or maybe honed granite).

Thanks! I prefer quartz, but a couple of realtors and decorators have suggested that local buyers turn their noses up at it. I wonder if it's the HGTV phenomenon- must have stainless and granite and apron sinks or it's just too blase for words. In a NoVa townhouse, I just can't see adding marble or soapstone- they're absolutely gorgeous, but too high-end for this neighborhood. Plus, they scratch and stain a bit more than quartz. I need something that resists both wine and koolaid splashes right now!

Quartz is a higher-end finish than granite and more practical to boot. DC is often behind the times in terms of style trends.

The kitchen is the most important part of the house for me. When I am not sleeping, I spend 95% of my time in the kitchen. While it doesn't necessarily need to be updated, it MUST be functional: Place the dishwasher so that I can access it from either side; place the microwave so I can reach in easily as opposed to reaching around the door; do not put the oven/stove right next to the refrigerator (energy issue); there must be plenty of storage and prep space (including prep space next to the stove).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But f not granite, then what? Or is it the dark piece on the island that's revolting some? I'm remodeling my 1987 (!) kitchen bit by bit & have painted white the nasty oak cabinets & changed out appliances, but the countertops are the biggest PITA because granite feels personal, but quartz (my preference) is still looked down upon. In a traditional townhouse, there aren't that many options that will blend in.

Who says quartz is looked down upon?? I would definitely do quartz over standard polished granite. In higher end kitchens, most buyers are going to be looking for marble or soapstone (or maybe honed granite).

Thanks! I prefer quartz, but a couple of realtors and decorators have suggested that local buyers turn their noses up at it. I wonder if it's the HGTV phenomenon- must have stainless and granite and apron sinks or it's just too blase for words. In a NoVa townhouse, I just can't see adding marble or soapstone- they're absolutely gorgeous, but too high-end for this neighborhood. Plus, they scratch and stain a bit more than quartz. I need something that resists both wine and koolaid splashes right now!

Anonymous wrote:But f not granite, then what? Or is it the dark piece on the island that's revolting some? I'm remodeling my 1987 (!) kitchen bit by bit & have painted white the nasty oak cabinets & changed out appliances, but the countertops are the biggest PITA because granite feels personal, but quartz (my preference) is still looked down upon. In a traditional townhouse, there aren't that many options that will blend in.

Who says quartz is looked down upon?? I would definitely do quartz over standard polished granite. In higher end kitchens, most buyers are going to be looking for marble or soapstone (or maybe honed granite).

Op, I just want it to be clean, sturdy and attractive. Doesn't have to be fancy.

The sellers we bought from were very smart - did updates of just the kitchen and bathroom, which were definitely selling points. What attracted us was the new appliances, new counters with adequate space, and great lighting. And little details too that made it more useable, like pull-out bins for the lower cabinets. A sturdy pot rack was also great. They didn't even redo the cabinets. So basically, I think what normal buyers want is a little bit of shiney new stuff, convenient touches, but not a huge expense that jacks up the price. I mean, it's silly, but that pot rack was a big factor! It wasn't anything we couldn't have done ourselves, but for the normal buyer (well, maybe we are more lazy than normal) it was a nice touch that let us picture an organized daily life out of the box in the kitchen.

But f not granite, then what? Or is it the dark piece on the island that's revolting some? I'm remodeling my 1987 (!) kitchen bit by bit & have painted white the nasty oak cabinets & changed out appliances, but the countertops are the biggest PITA because granite feels personal, but quartz (my preference) is still looked down upon. In a traditional townhouse, there aren't that many options that will blend in.

Anonymous wrote:I'm currently looking to buy. Honestly, I prefer kitchens that are in decent usable shape with newish appliances, but not recently renovated. The thing is, your beautiful renovation job is probably not my style. I'd rather pay to renovate it exactly how I want than pay more for something that's your taste.

If you can do an addition to add space, though, that's of value. I like a kitchen big enough for at least a table so it can be a gathering place.

I agree with this and what PPs said about functional layout. We are about to buy a house, and I'd much rather have usable work space, decent/newish appliances then fancy granite/tilework. I actually hate black granite and dark kitchens. Also, a nice/functional sink in a practical location is 10X more more to me than a kitchen island.

I also hate when the sink is far from the refrigerator and stove.

I know this is petty and tangential, but as a serious cook (my husband as well) I hate when people have super high end appliances/sinks and don't cook. It grates my n nerves. Sort of like someone who buys a sports car with an automatic transmission or buy a Porsche just to park it in the driveway for show-off.

It depends on the kind of buyer. Some buyers want move-in ready. But others, like me (I've remodeled our own kitchen so if we move, I would want to customize it again), would not want a newly done kitchen because it would inflate the price and likely not be something we like ( the pictures posted are lovely but not my style).

Anonymous wrote:This is a good amount without going overboard on custom everything and crazy appliance brands

I have to say, I really dislike this kitchen. The combination of dark wood floors and dark cabinets make it way too dark overall. It feels almost cave-like. And those polished granite countertops look really dated.

I agree with PP about these kitchens seeming pretty dark, especially the first one. And the functional layout of the first one might bug me, with the sink all the way over to the side.

I love the other PP's point about how the size and layout of the kitchen can shape family interactions. Our kitchen is a dump, but it looks onto a small family room and it's awesome not to be isolated in the kitchen.