Cobble Hill sounds as if it’s a quaint village somewhere in England — like Notting Hill — but in reality, it’s a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. It occupies an area of about 40 blocks and exceeds 7,700 residents. Cobble Hill real estate is known for many excellent examples of 19th-century houses. Among them is the DeGraw Mansion, constructed in 1844. Legend has it that the mansion was the location of one of the first private elevators in the city of Brooklyn. Certainly, these grand dames of architecture would be snapped up in a New York minute if they ever joined the ranks of homes for sale in Cobble Hill.
The Brooklyn area is experiencing a seller’s market as people flee Manhattan due to ongoing socio-economic events fueled by the COVD-19 pandemic. If you’re thinking of joining homeowners with homes for sale in Cobble Hill, here are some tips on upgrading your kitchen to increase your home's ROI.
Kitchen upgrade or a complete remodel?
Complete kitchen remodels — cabinets, appliances, floors, ceilings, windows, and lighting, to name the basics — can cost $20,000 and up. If your kitchen has good bones and you can get away with a few upgrades, that's a safer bet, especially if you're putting your home up for sale.
On the one hand, you want a modern, upgraded kitchen. On the other hand, spending a lot of money to remodel your kitchen could be something that a buyer doesn’t wish to do, especially if the remodel doesn’t fit the buyer’s needs or design aesthetic. What you’re aiming for is a balance between functionality and form. Here is one sure enhancement: if your kitchen is small and crowded, research the costs of enlarging it. If there's no room inside the house, you might need to expand into your backyard — if the kitchen faces it — or reconfigure your kitchen/dining room space, so it's all one “great room” concept.
On the one hand, you want a modern, upgraded kitchen. On the other hand, spending a lot of money to remodel your kitchen could be something that a buyer doesn’t wish to do, especially if the remodel doesn’t fit the buyer’s needs or design aesthetic. What you’re aiming for is a balance between functionality and form. Here is one sure enhancement: if your kitchen is small and crowded, research the costs of enlarging it. If there's no room inside the house, you might need to expand into your backyard — if the kitchen faces it — or reconfigure your kitchen/dining room space, so it's all one “great room” concept.
Evaluate your kitchen cabinets
Few things can age a kitchen more than its cabinets. Are your cabinets old-school pine or oak cabinets with matching pulls and handles? Are they super modern flat resin panels that make your kitchen look like a futuristic laboratory? There are several ways to upgrade the cabinets without a full-scale replacement. One option is to strip and repaint the cabinets. You can choose to do this yourself or hire a professional. If you don't like the texture of the paint, consider stripping the wooden cabinets and staining them. Refacing is a slightly more expensive option than just painting, but it's also much easier on the budget than a complete cabinet replacement. Refacing options include wooden veneers, a super-thin wood topper that easily adheres to your existing cabinets; plastic laminates, which offer a variety of colors and finishes; thermofoil, a non-porous vinyl siding finish; and solid wood.
Consider the sink
Is your kitchen sink cracked, with stained surfaces and antiquated chrome fixtures? Is it small and hard to wash large dishes? Is it a brushed stainless steel sink from the 1980s with a noisy food grinder attached? These scenarios can drag down kitchens inside homes for sale in Cobble Hill and make them appear uninviting.
The sink and its hardware must be brand-new looking, even if it’s not. And that means upgrading this kitchen is a must-have to bring it into this century. Try a roomy, rectangular farmhouse kitchen sink, usually about 2½ feet wide by 16 inches across and 9 inches deep. They come in ceramic, tile, and stainless steel. Replace the faucets with touchless hardware or those with pull-down faucet extensions that make rinsing and pot-filling easy.
The sink and its hardware must be brand-new looking, even if it’s not. And that means upgrading this kitchen is a must-have to bring it into this century. Try a roomy, rectangular farmhouse kitchen sink, usually about 2½ feet wide by 16 inches across and 9 inches deep. They come in ceramic, tile, and stainless steel. Replace the faucets with touchless hardware or those with pull-down faucet extensions that make rinsing and pot-filling easy.
Explore the space
Traditionally, homes are built with kitchens separate from breakfast nooks and dining rooms, and many are partially separated from eating spaces by a half-counter. In today's fast-paced world, where families are spending more time at home due to remote work and remote schooling lifestyles, the kitchen and dining areas are taking on more of the "great room" concept.
Great rooms are blended rooms — such as a living room and den and family room, or a kitchen and living room — that aren't separated by walls or dividing counters. The plans allow residents at different times of the day to do whatever they're doing in the same ample space instead of being forced to compartmentalize their activities. Think of it as a chance to hang out with your loved ones — the kids are doing their homework at the dining table while mom is learning a DIY project on the couch, and dad is taking a Zoom call in the corner workspace.
Great rooms are blended rooms — such as a living room and den and family room, or a kitchen and living room — that aren't separated by walls or dividing counters. The plans allow residents at different times of the day to do whatever they're doing in the same ample space instead of being forced to compartmentalize their activities. Think of it as a chance to hang out with your loved ones — the kids are doing their homework at the dining table while mom is learning a DIY project on the couch, and dad is taking a Zoom call in the corner workspace.
Incorporate new countertops
Back in the day and until a few years ago, kitchen counters were topped with ceramic tile or laminate coverings like you’d see on fast-food restaurant table tops. In more recent years, granite and quartz countertops have become popular finishes and become more affordable because of their popularity. Old laminate finishes were not durable and scratched and stained very quickly. Old-school tiles with grout are hard to maintain. More options include restaurant-quality brushed stainless steel, textured or smooth concrete, or modern-day laminates that are far more sturdy than their older counterparts. See what we did there?
Local realtor Steven Szczur is an expert in Cobble Hill real estate. If you want valuable advice, they will gladly assist you in suggesting additional ways to upgrade your kitchen. When you’re ready to take the next step, reach out to Steven Szczur for assistance.
Local realtor Steven Szczur is an expert in Cobble Hill real estate. If you want valuable advice, they will gladly assist you in suggesting additional ways to upgrade your kitchen. When you’re ready to take the next step, reach out to Steven Szczur for assistance.
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