You’ve done your research. You’ve picked the layout. You’ve chosen quality appliances. You’ve got a great idea for the countertop, backsplash tiles, cabinetry and trim. You even have the necessary funds budgeted. However, before you proceed with your much-anticipated kitchen remodel, there is one all-important final variable to consider: return on investment. Sure, you want your newly retooled kitchen to look elegant, feel comfy and function excellently. But money doesn’t grow on trees (or cook up on your stovetop), and you want your investment to pay off for your kitchen remodel.
Whether you’re thinking of eventually selling, or you plan to stay in your home forever, you want the value of your investments to steadily increase over time. At Metropolitan Contractors, we know how to get you the best bang for your buck. We’ve remodeled thousands of kitchens, and can offer you time-tested, experienced backed advice for maximizing your kitchen remodel’s return on investment.
When it comes to your kitchen remodel ROI, a minor update to your kitchen will often end up bringing you closer to breaking even. A small kitchen remodel project is a great investment for your home. Resurfacing kitchen cabinets, changing their hardware, installing marble look-alike porcelain countertops, and making similarly manageable improvements, can boost your home’s value to the point that your kitchen remodel comes very close to paying for itself, with the added benefit of making your kitchen a more pleasant and joyous place to spend time.
Small kitchen projects earn a return on investment of more than 83%, according to the latest Cost vs. Value report from Remodeling magazine. That means that, on average, for every $100 spent on the upgrade, a home’s value increases by $83. That’s a much better return than many owners get from other home projects, including basement additions, bathroom upgrades or even replacing the roof.
Don’t sleep on a major kitchen remodel, however. A full-scale kitchen remodel is beneficial in myriad ways, and boosts value as well, by creating a sleeker, more modern, and eminently functional space. These are the types of game-changing enhancements that give your home an edge in our competitive market, and can be the difference in getting your house off the market faster.
A reliable general yardstick is to expect that you will spend between 5 - 10% of your home’s value on a kitchen remodeling project. Aim to recoup .81 cents for every dollar spent.
At Metropolitan Contractors, our team of experienced and friendly experts are Northern Virginia and the Washington D.C. area’s reliable remodel specialists, and we will guide and advise you every step of the way.
High Return Renovation
Below is a list of kitchen renovation projects that are sure to fetch a good return on investment. Metropolitan Contractors and our team of expert designers and installers will ensure that every penny you invest is well spent on your kitchen remodel.
Install an Island or Peninsula
Add an Island or Peninsula. When a potential home buyer walks into a kitchen and sees an island, their eyes immediately light up. An island translates to more counter space, easier cook prep, additional seating and an aesthetic boost. It’s a proven way to get your remodeled kitchen in Northern Virginia or Washington D.C. to really stand out.
Kitchen peninsulas are another excellent option. Like islands, peninsulas are highly coveted because they provide the perfect marriage between function, flow and entertainment eminence, plus they offer a tremendous amount of workspace flow. Very doable even in a smaller kitchen, a mini eat-in peninsular breakfast bar with under storage will be well worth the initial cost.
Cabinetry is Key
- Upgrade Your
Cabinetry or Reface Cabinet Fronts. Depending on how thoroughly you want to retool the space, you can either add new paint and update the cabinet’s hardware, or you can go for a full custom replacement. When refreshing your cabinet, make sure you never sacrifice functionality for appearance. The key is to find that sweet spot that optimizes both.
Updating cabinets with fresh paint is a great option if the color is simply dated, but refacing existing cabinets is where you will typically get the best return. When you reface your cabinet fronts, you maintain the layout and original structure, while achieving a contemporary look. A standard kitchen cabinet refacing will run to $4,000 to $6,000, as opposed to installing new cabinets. This translates to the ROI remaining essentially the same, while achieving significant upfront savings.
One solid rule of thumb for maximizing the return on your kitchen remodel is to invest in cabinetry that can withstand the test of time. Cabinets typically represent about 30% of a remodeling budget and should be expected to perform for at least two decades if not longer. Think quality and durability first, and aesthetics second. It does not mean you can’t have the stylish cabinets you desire, but make sure they are finely built and expertly installed. Metropolitan Contractors are cabinet gurus, we will guide you every step of the way.
Don’t Count Out Countertops
- Install Marble, Porcelain, or Quartz Countertops.
Countertops are critical to ensuring your remodel fetches a fine return. There are a few different ways of achieving this. Marble countertops are highly sought after and yield a good return, however the upfront cost for genuine marble is quite high. A good option for those on a stricter budget is to specify porcelain look-alike countertops that look fantastic, cost less and yet still achieve a solid ROI.
Quartz is another popular material for countertops among homeowners looking to yield high returns on their kitchen remodels. Quartz is stain resistant, antimicrobial, easy to clean and maintain, and available in any style, color, and décor that may be desired.
Ensure Your Remodel Makes a Splash
- Subway Tile Backsplash
. The backsplash is designed to stop spillage from the sink, but it is capable of making a real splash in your ROI. Subway tile is a popular and cost-effective backsplash option because it provides multiple design and color possibilities that are also easy to clean and maintain. Generally speaking, the material chosen for a backsplashes should be:
- Flame, Stain, Water and Scratch Resistant.
- Easy to Clean and Maintain.
- Mold, Mildew, and Bacteria Resistant.
Unlike painted drywall, adhesive wallpaper, or vinyl flooring, tile is the only material that manages to check off every one of the above boxes. These features make subway tile quite appealing to both existing homeowners and those looking to buy. While selecting tile material is important, the ultimate ROI of your subway tile features is determined by the skill and expertise of its installer. This is where Metropolitan Contractors comes in. We’ll make sure your tiles pop and your backsplash shines. Our team of expert installers are dedicated to maximizing your ROI.
In the realm of aesthetics, one fabulous advantage of using tile is that it offers unmatched design versatility. There exists a remarkably vast selection of colors, patterns, textures and price points to fit any interior scheme and every budget. Marble, for instance, adds unsurpassed sophistication to any interior, and holds its own in modern, traditional, contemporary, and transitional settings.
Appliances Are Not an Afterthought
- Coordinate High Quality Appliances.
The mix and match look repels most buyers, and thus many expert designers recommend upgrading your dishwasher, oven and refrigerator, so they all jive and feel like one big happy family. Stainless steel remains the most popular material (but you could also go with matte black or gleaming white). Opt for a smudge-free finish and perhaps a single fancy amenity, such as an ice maker or butter dispenser.
Here are a few common appliance motifs to consider:
- Neutral Stainless Steel Appliances
. Stainless steel appliances became the standard for kitchen elegance and simplicity a couple decades ago, and the style remains a popular choice today. The reason is simple: stainless steel is the ultimate neutral appliance color, and thus works beautifully with any design scheme.
- Classic White Kitchen Appliances
. White appliances look best in kitchens with white cabinetry or light stained wood. One can also use white appliances successfully when choosing to cover the cabinets with a light paint color.
- Basic Black Kitchen Appliances
. Black appliances give homeowners more options when choosing metal finishes for their kitchen. Metals on sink fixtures or lights, such as brass or copper, may clash with stainless or white appliances, but the sleek and muted coolness of black will inevitably highlight their beauty. Black also helps to balance a room with bold wall, cabinet, or countertop colors.
To give an idea of upfront cost and expected return, the average cost for new, well-coordinated high quality kitchen appliances will run between $5,000-$6,000, and features an expected ROI of ~60-80%.
Layer Lighting and Expose Shelves
- Layer Lighting. Lighting is critical to the overall vibe of your remodel. Aim for ambient lighting for general illumination, and task lighting for specific jobs, so you can clearly see what you’re doing when dicing up those pico de gallo veggies. Consider adding under-the-cabinet lights as an easy and impactful upgrade, as well as opting for cool conversation-starting lighting over your island or peninsula. Clever fixtures and soothing illumination can add the flair and personality you want in your kitchen, with the added bonus that they can be easily changed out when your house is sold.
- Expose Shelves.
Open kitchen shelving is a classic interior design trend that will always feel new. Even better, exposed shelves provide fantastic ROI. If your kitchen shelves are craving a new theme, consider open kitchen shelving. Nothing compares to open kitchen shelves for versatility, functionality and ease of use. Below are a few popular exposed shelving options.
Types of Exposed Shelves
Kitchen Wall Shelves. Kitchen wall shelves add space and provide storage. Cantilevered open shelves or horizontal stack open shelving are both good choices for showcasing your antique tableware or china soup bowls. There are also floating or wall-mounted shelves, and both are affordable options and easy to install.
Corner Open Shelving. You can’t beat the convenience of a corner-open shelving kitchen. The shelves are cheaper than anything else you’ll find. They also provide added storage space. You don’t have to put plates or cups on the shelves. You can reserve the space for special photos or artwork.
Modern Open Shelving. You can create modern open shelves with metal, wood, or glass. The idea is about finding a mixture and balance. And like the other open-shelf styles, they’re cheaper.
Farmhouse Open Shelving. A farmhouse-style open shelf kitchen is becoming more popular, due to the cottage core trend that’s emerging in US households. For a rustic, old school ranch feel, this country shelf style is hard to beat.
Choosing the Right Kind of Tile
- New Wall and Floor Tiles
. Wall and floor tiles like glass, porcelain, or natural stone can present your newly revamped kitchen in a favorable light and greatly increase its value. Firstly, they are much more durable than other materials used to cover interior surfaces. They can last a lifetime! Below is a breakdown of the benefits of each type of tile.
Popular Tile Styles
- Ceramic.
Regular ceramic floor tile is sometimes called “non-porcelain”
to clearly differentiate it from porcelain. Made from clays, t’s softer than its porcelain cousin and glazed to create a hard wear surface in virtually any color. Because it’s softer, it’s easier to cut and install. Although it’s more porous than porcelain, the glazing creates a surface that’s impervious to kitchen spills and splashes. It's easy to install but slightly more prone to damage than porcelain.
Porcelain: Glazed or Unglazed? Porcelain tile has sand added to the
clay mixture and is made with heat and pressure to produce a tile that’s harder, denser and less porous than regular ceramic tile. It’s a good choice for high-traffic areas, kitchens and bathrooms. It’s tough enough to be used outdoors in any climate.
Glazed porcelain tile has a glass-like coating applied during firing to produce a colored surface. Unglazed porcelain has color added to the clay mixture, so the color and pattern remains uniform throughout the tile. Any wear or scratches won’t show on unglazed porcelain.
Something to consider with porcelain is that it can be difficult to install and requires special tools, making installation a less DIY-friendly project. Once again, that’s where Metropolitan Contractors comes in! Our experienced and dedicated team thrives under any remodeling circumstance, and we can certainly help you to expertly install porcelain floor or wall tiles if that is what you desire.
- Stone
. Natural stone floor tiles may be made of slate, granite, limestone, travertine and marble. Most stone tiles are porous, and thus need to be refinished with a quality stone sealer every two to three years. Stone can be polished or honed. Polished stone surfaces are slippery when wet, but the polishing really allows the natural beauty of the stone to shine through. Honed stone tiles provide more traction but lack sheen and have a less vibrant look.
Something to consider: while stone is beautiful and durable, it requires skill in sealing and is the most expensive form of tile. As always, should you choose stone tiles, Metropolitan Contractors will ensure the result is top notch and to your liking.
Whatever you choose for your kitchen remodel in Northern Virginia and the Washington D.C. area, rest assured that Metropolitan Contractors will guide and advise you every step of the way. We take great pride in our remodels, we understand how important return on investment is to our clients, and our team of seasoned experts will not rest until you achieve the kitchen of your dreams.
Why Choose Metropolitan Contractors?
We at Metro have the know-how, the experience and the equipment to facilitate even the most ambitious kitchen remodeling projects. Metropolitan Contractors has designed and built hundreds of kitchens in Northern Virginia over the past 32+ years. Here at Metro, we know that every kitchen matters, as kitchens are the home’s gathering place and one of the most trafficked rooms. We design and build each kitchen in Northern Virginia according to the homeowner’s vision, and we tailor each design to satisfy both the family's aesthetic preference and desired functionality. We have also cleaned up jobs many times where the contractor hired did not have the necessary tips and tricks to benefit the homeowner or simply were not able to finish the build. The process of a kitchen remodel can vary, but we have found that an initial estimate works nicely to discern the homeowner’s vision and to create a blueprint for your new dream kitchen.
We begin by mapping out the kitchen, ensuring that it fits your scheme, meets your family’s functional needs, and that the project is a worthwhile investment into your home. Finally, we execute the build. Rest assured, your dream kitchen is in the best of hands when you trust the project to Metropolitan Contractors.
Why Choose Metropolitan Contractors for Your Remodel?
Beginning in 1991 as a Class A Licensed and Insured General Contractor in Northern Virginia, we had initially focused primarily on custom home renovations (interior and exterior), room additions, and common areas. We have the necessary certifications and real-world experience to successfully estimate, design and build beautiful and functional dream kitchens.
We’ve taken our 32+ years of custom kitchen remodeling expertise to homeowners with the most complete home restoration experience Northern Virginia has to offer. Taking our years of experience and processes as a custom remodeler/builder, and applying these same standards to repairing homes damaged by Fire, Water or Storms, we have been able to offer that same “custom touch” approach and excellence standards to repairing or rebuilding homes covered by an insurance policy. There are clear differences between the two remodeling modalities, but understanding the reality of the process, and utilizing insights we have gleaned over the years, can provide unique opportunities to clients that might otherwise have been overlooked.
Serving Northern Virginia since 1991
Metropolitan Contractors is located at 3909 Railroad Avenue, Fairfax, Virginia. For over 32 years, our company has grown and expanded our services to serve Northern Virginia’s homeowner needs in an ever-changing and ever-expanding market.
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