Heart of the House - What's Happening to the Kitchen?

January 21, 2007

A great kitchen is more than a terrific range. It's not only granite countertops and custom cabinets. Those may be part of a great kitchen, of course, but what really make the difference between a great kitchen and a mediocre one are things that might not be seen at first glance.

How's the lighting? What's the access and relationship to the rest of the house? Is there a comfortable sitdown spot? Can the kitchen accommodate two cooks at the same time?

"A kitchen can make or break a home sale, especially on a new home," said Sandi Reeder, an associate broker with Keller Williams Realty.

"People feel a kitchen is the heart of the home," she said. "They want all the bells and whistles for entertaining and for resale reasons."

Even in older houses, a kitchen remodel can recoup a hefty proportion of the expenses when the home is sold. According to recent figures from Remodeling Magazine and Realtor Magazine, Albuquerque homeowners spending about $52,500 on a remodel of the kitchen can recoup more than 80 percent of that -- or $42,700 -- when the home is sold. A kitchen remodel costing $17,000 brings an average return of 87 percent.

Every kitchen, by definition, accommodates several functions, from food storage and preparation to cleanup. The flow and relationship between these zones can make a kitchen not only user- friendly but also downright inviting.

Whether a distressed-wood farm table or a gleaming granite island is the focal point, designer Kathy Jackson with The Branch Cabinetry starts a kitchen design by determining who, and how many, will be using the room.

"Lots of husbands and wives cook together on the weekends," she said. "In that case, it's ideal to have two prep areas so they aren't crossing paths. One area might be around the kitchen sink; the other might be a sink in the island. They can work in the same space without being on top of each other."

Jackson said one of the biggest regrets she hears from remodeling clients is that the original kitchen did not have two sinks.

Indeed, this seems to be the age of pairs.

Builder Thomas Cherner of Outwest Construction & Development took a top prize for Best Kitchen in his price category of $430,000 in the Homes of Enchantment Parade tour in October. He says his clients often want two of several things in the kitchen -- sinks, ovens (or at least an oven and warming drawer) and dishwashers. In some houses, there are even two kitchens of sorts with a butler's pantry (with sink, extra dishwasher, cabinets and a wine refrigerator) between kitchen and dining room.

Jackson considers the hallmark of a good kitchen to be ease of use. The types of cabinets and countertops play a role in this, as does the layout. Countertops of different materials (butcher block as well as granite, for example) and different heights are becoming more popular. She has included lower counters, at 30 inches, for bakers who want to knead bread, and higher counters for tall people.

Upper cabinets sometimes disappear entirely or are glass-fronted as a display area for seldom-used dishes or collections. Shelving and drawers in lower cabinets extend fully and hold dishes, cups and flatware. Pantries are walk-in size. Large islands often replace a kitchen table and are used for everything from preparation to eating.

"The main thing is to make everything easy to get," said Jackson. "The basics are in drawers at our fingertips."

Even in large kitchens, Cherner said, he sticks with a basic plan that minimizes steps for the cook. Efficiency is the goal, and it's partly achieved by the kitchen's location within the house. A great kitchen is at the heart of family activity and has easy access and views to other spaces within the house. Built-in dining nooks, breakfast bars or islands work as places where guests can congregate as the host and hostess prepare dinner. The days of a cook isolated from the rest of the house are long over. Jackson recommends a kitchen close to the garage so the grocery shopper doesn't have to carry bags far.

Buyers of custom houses expect expensive appliances, said builder Jerry Pendley, whose construction company of the same name won a "Best Kitchen" award in the Parade of Homes' $550,000 category. Commercial equipment for sinks, hardware, refrigerator, dishwashers and ranges is common in those kitchens, partly for its appearance, partly for its durability.

"I'm a big believer in granite," said Pendley, who uses the product on countertops, then fills in the backsplashes with tumbled stone. As a surface, the stone is seemingly indestructible and eliminates the need for a for a trivet under a hot pan.

"That's what homeowners want," said Cherner. "Granite is such a natural look, and so solid. It's like jewelry -- each little stone is different."

Natural lighting is also a big plus in a kitchen. Pendley installed a round skylight in his Parade home kitchen, and the adjoining breakfast nook is tucked up against windows. What once were outdoor views preserved primarily for great rooms are now for the kitchen as well.

"You want lots of lighting," agreed Jackson, whose kitchen designs rely not only on natural lighting, but also on electrical options.

Overhead recessed lighting is not enough, said Jackson. She recommends that additional lighting be installed under the cabinets to flood the countertops with light. Some homeowners even like toe- kick lighting around the base of lower cabinets, although that makes extra cleaning necessary. Kitchen islands should have good overhead lighting, and hanging lights can work. Lights should have dimmer switches to adjust from cooking to eating.

A great, functional kitchen is not devoid of personality. In his award winner, Cherner inserted a New Mexican influence with a plastered hood above the range. Pendley connected his breakfast nook with a patio. Boldly colored plasters, handpainted tiles, wooden beams and corbels can add a Southwestern style to any kitchen.

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