10 Kitchen Styles To Consider

Instagram users, please click the link in bio to read the whole blog.

Today’s kitchen looks very different from yesterday’s kitchen – just like tomorrow’s will look different than today’s! The point is that every year and every generation sees some kind of change in the design and style of any room. Kitchens are a big one, and this – from Better Homes and Gardens – is a helpful guide to what is “in” right now.

There are so many great styles to choose from when remodeling your kitchen. These 10 are pretty popular and all come with their own descriptions and keywords that make them unique. Check it out:

*Traditional kitchen (credit: Better Homes & Gardens)*

Traditional: traditional kitchens tend to be formal and ornate; they evoke feelings of elegance, sophistication, and timeliness.

Modern: modern kitchens are simple, functional rooms. Sleek and low-maintenance aspects of a modern kitchen give off a warm vibe.

Contemporary: a contemporary kitchen will often be more trendy, and might even have newer technology included in its appliances. They are typically dramatic and striking, while still maintaining a bit of minimalism.

Contemporary kitchen (credit: Better Homes & Gardens)

Transitional: not to be confused with a “traditional” kitchen, transitional kitchens are modern, simple, relaxed, and often informal.

Scandinavian: as one would expect from Scandinavian design, these kitchens are serene, low-maintenance, and functional.

Organic: exactly as it sounds, an organic kitchen is bright and clean with natural and classic elements.

Industrial: again, exactly as it sounds; an industrial kitchen is often large, gray, open, and unpolished. It is a very practical choice for those cooking a lot.

*Cottage kitchen (credit: Better Homes & Gardens)*

Cottage: a cottage kitchen is often described as sweet and bright. They can also be vintage, charming, and decorative.

Farmhouse: farmhouse kitchens, much like farmhouse homes, are warm, sunny, and rustic. They have simple, soft elements that invite guests in.

Country: a country kitchen is also a warm, casual environment with “worn” elements; don’t be fooled, these are also cozy and inviting kitchens!

What is your favorite kitchen style? Let me know in the comments!

Open House at 407 Midway Pl. (Martinez) this weekend!

Come check out 407 Midway Place in Martinez this weekend for a home with great curb appeal! It’s situated on a cozy court and has a large, flat backyard with redwoods scattered throughout with enough space for a pool if so desired! An entertainer’s delight with plenty of privacy, good shade and stone retaining walls with landscaping, and a basement area with water that can be built for an outdoor bathroom.

In total, it is a 4-bed, 2.5-bath with vaulted ceilings, multiple decks, a formal dining room and a kitchen-family room open-concept combination. The master bathroom is delightfully decadent, and the half-bath upstairs also draws high praise.

The home contains triple-pane windows, and welcomes in lots of light. An Owens Corning roof, new rain gutters, a high-efficiency water heater, and exterior paint creates the charming curb appeal. The landscaping in the front and side yards were re-done in 2014, and solar panels with a 20-year lease were added that year, too.

The aforementioned master bathroom was remodeled as recently as 2015, and an entertainment system with surround sound was added to the family room in 2016. The pictures, beautiful as they are, do not do this place justice. You have to swing by and check it out for yourself. You will be amazed!

The Open House will be held from 1-4 p.m. this weekend, on both Saturday, Mar. 10th and Sunday, Mar. 11th.

Open House this weekend: This home is a hole in one!

Get your swimsuit, invite your friends and enjoy your new home. But first, you must swing by our Open House this weekend at 1915 Blackstone Dr. in Walnut Creek. You’ll see an absolutely gorgeous home with more than $100,000 put into customizing and updating everything that has to do with the backyard and the view you have from the house.

Included in those updates are a custom home office, larger double-paned windows, a brand gas pool heater, plantation shutters and french doors. But perhaps the most exciting updates came by the way of the backyard, a major selling point:

Custom island kitchen for BBQ’s
Putting green
Full landscape remodel
Well pump for no-cost irrigation
Custom-built day bed for relaxing

More than $75,000 later, the seller has built a backyard one could only dream of. You can grill or host a party under the cabana while the kids swim in the pool and any avid golfer’s in the group hit the putting green. Plus, you get to enjoy a partial view of Mt. Diablo.

This single story Northgate rancher is an entertainer’s delight, with a great floor plan made for luxurious living, right in the heart of Walnut Creek.

Built in 1961, move in ready, yet some buyers may want to update the kitchens and baths, a slight remodel would put those pieces on par with the rest of this remarkable home. There are also plans for a deck off the master bedroom with a fire pit.

The 4-bed, 2-bath, 2,062-square foot property is on a 15,225-square foot lot and right near Berean Christian High School, Northgate High School, Foothill Middle School and Walnut Avenue Preschool.

You can’t beat this location, just down the road from John Muir, and five minutes from BART, the new shopping area with Whole Foods, Heather Farms and Arbolado Park. And you definitely can’t beat the comfort of living in such a perfect home.

Come check it out from 1-4 p.m. on both Saturday 9/30 and Sunday 10/1!

Open House: 4391 Pembroke Dr. (Concord)

The Kristin Lanham Team has another beautiful home going on the market – this one is in Concord, on Pembroke Dr. Take a look at some of the pictures below, and swing by for a peek at our Open House this weekend!

The home is a cozy, mid-century charmer with a serene, quiet backyard. There is room for an RV or a boat, which includes a spa and storage shed, all surrounded by professional landscaping and lots of plants and flowers.

An open concept makes it warm and welcoming. The updated kitchen with its expansive island is the centerpiece for family gatherings and additional storage. The open-beamed ceilings add to the interior charm. There are stylish updated bathrooms, dual-pane windows, lots of natural light and great flow from outdoor to indoor for entertaining.

This house has been meticulously loved – an updated, warm interior and a vibrant backyard planted specifically to attract hummingbirds, butterfiles, and bees. A perfect place to call home!

Come take a look at the Open House this weekend from 1-4 p.m. on both Saturday (9/9) and Sunday (9/10)!

3 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1250 sq. ft. |.17 acre lot

Offered at $580,000

To take a virtual tour of 4391 Pembroke Dr., click HERE!

How bathroom remodels are trending

Of all the things to remodel in a house, bathrooms and kitchens are probably the two most popular rooms.

Houzz.com wrote a cool article about how homeowners are “craving stylish, beautiful spaces, with luxurious finishes and big showers.”Their study surveyed more than 2,100 Houzz users in the U.S. who own homes and are currently renovating their bathrooms, are recently done with a renovation, or are planning on one in the near future.

Check out some of the graphs that reveal the current trends for bathroom remodels:

How People Upgrade Their Main Bathrooms, and How Much They Spend

Open House this weekend: 3650 Sun View Ct. (Concord)

The Comforts of Home: 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom corner lot home!

Enjoy an eye-catching kitchen enhanced with new flooring, dual pane windows and a rebuilt back deck. The home boasts a 2-car garage, inside laundry, spacious bedrooms and updated bathrooms.

3650-sun-view-ct-2

Simplify your commute with a short walk to the North Concord BART station while living in a quiet, tucked away neighborhood.

Come check out the Open House this weekend! We’ll be open both Saturday (12/3) and Sunday (12/4) from 1-4 p.m.

Check out the virtual tour of 3650 Sun View Ct. here!

10 tips for adding value to your home before you sell

When you sell your home, it’s all about adding value before it goes on the market. There are some small tweaks you can make around the house to make sure you get top dollar for your house. Here is a whittled-down version of the top 10 tips from Houzz.com on how you can increase that value:

1. Add square footage: Move furniture around to fit the room better and make it feel larger. Perception is powerful, even if that true square footage won’t budge. You want prospective buyers to see a lot of space, and therefore, a lot of potential.

2. Traditional sells too: You don’t have to buy a bunch of new stuff to show off your home. Every buyer has his or her own style, so staying honest to the home’s roots can pay off.

3. Master bedroom closet upgrade: Add custom closets to the master bedroom. A large, walk-in closet will add value to any home and excites buyers. Finding an affordable way to do it isn’t terribly difficult with a little research.

4. Kitchen is king: If you do spend money on your home before it hits the market, put it towards your kitchen. Even updated light fixtures will add value to a space used for eating, drinking, gathering and storage by even the worst cooks.

5. Storage, storage, storage: There is no such thing as too much storage. It’s important to provide ample storage space, so utilize it as much as possible when selling!

6. Fresh paint is magical: Painting is the most cost-effective way to freshen up a space. Freshly painted rooms feel updated, clean and crisp and won’t break the bank. Try to avoid colors that are too bold and might scare off buyers. Traditional, neutral choices can do wonders!

7. Try to be energy-efficient: Buying a home involves closing costs, moving fees, energy bills and more on top of just the sale price. If you offer buyers energy-efficient options (CFL or LED lightbulbs, solar panels, etc.), they may find that long-term cost savings attractive.

8. Bathroom updates help: Behind the kitchen, bathrooms are going to be the most important part of your home to get updates in when selling. A little bit can go a long way in most bathrooms; replace outdated features or change light fixtures to start.

9. Hire a professional organizer: Don’t try to do everything yourself. This process is stressful enough! A professional organizer can help you de-clutter your home and help open up manageable space. That organization will impress buyers.

10. Add curb appeal: You only get one chance to make a first impression, right? Make sure your front yard is tidy and well-groomed. Don’t let peeling paint or cracks in the walls scare off buyers before they even make it in the door.

Open House this weekend: 131 Appalachian Dr. in Martinez

You can’t beat the beauty of this home! Come check out this 4-bedroom, 2-bath, single-story home nestled in the Martinez hills.

The backyard has a deck with a hot tub, a fire pit, and an awesome fort for backyard adventures. Not to mention that breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside!

The home is 1,609 square feet of pure comfort. The kitchen has all updated, stainless-steel appliances and flows nicely into the living room, complete with a cozy fireplace.

A spacious master bedroom with plantation shutters and hardwood floors

put the finishing touch on this gorgeous house. We’ll be holding two Open Houses this weekend for your viewing pleasure.

Come by, say hi and check it out this weekend. I’ll be there and am happy to talk about the market and what it takes to get a home sold for top dollar in this market.

Visit our Open House this weekend from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday (8/20) and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday (8/21)!

You can see the virtual tour of 131 Appalachian Dr. here.

Hack Your Life: Dryer Sheets

Everybody needs to learn a life hack once in a while. Recently, we came across an awesome list of creative uses for dryer sheets. Check these out – can you think of any other good uses?

Pick up stray hair: Apparently, running a dryer sheet over your floor will pick up all the hair nicely and easily. Who knew?

Clean the toilet ring: Nobody likes seeing that nasty buildup in the toilet bowl – one swipe of a dryer sheet should do the trick.

De-grease the kitchen: Tired of ruining your hand sponges scrubbing grease off the stove? Just use a dryer sheet and toss it!

Replacement Swiffer pad: Believe it or not, a dryer sheet can be attached to a Swiffer if you run out of pads, and we’ll serve essentially the same function!

Freshen up the garbage: This one could really come in handy – stinky garbage? Stuff a dryer sheet or two in there to improve the scent.

Scare away mosquitoes: Don’t spend big bucks on bug spray, especially when you can keep a dryer sheet in your coat pocket to ward off the little blood-suckers.

Clean your iron: Be careful with this one – make sure it’s on a very low setting. Then, swipe a dryer sheet over the warm surface to pick up any gunk that might be left from previous uses!

Clean your scissors: Again, be careful. But wiping down your scissor blades with the rough dryer sheets may just make them good as new!

Silence your shoes: If your new shoes still squeak, rub down the soles with a dryer sheet to eliminate the sounds. Also, you can keep a dryer sheet in each stinky shoe to improve the smell!

6864 Waverly Rd. Open House

Don’t miss this gem! Storybook charm in the desirable Virginia Hills neighborhood with all the bells and whistles! This property is move-in ready with a recently updated kitchen and added deck off the living room. On a corner lot, near Pleasant Hill Schools, with separate family and living rooms.

Plus, there’s a large yard – perfect for entertaining! Conveniently located within walking distance to local parks and shops.

Stop by this beautiful home at its great location on the border of Pleasant Hill and Lafayette, and see for yourself! We’ll have an Open House both Saturday and Sunday this weekend (2/20 & 2/21) from 1-4 p.m.

You can see a virtual tour of 6864 Waverly Rd. right here.