David Barr's Sarasota and Venice Real Estate Blog

A lot of homes in Venice FL and surrounding area have small kitchens.  I'm working with an investor who is in the midst of a flip of a small home and I shared this idea with him. A white kitchen maximizes space with elevated breakfast bar This picture comes to us via propertynews.com, a UK real estate website.  Our friends across the pond have lots of properties with small spaces, and this is a fine example of how to maximize space in a small kitchen. I've been writing about using white in small spaces and this again shows why.  The elevated breakfast bar is a fantastic idea that is inexpensive and unexpected.  This would be what I call "a differentiator" for a property investor that wants to create a memorable space and minimize cost. If you are investing in Venice FL real estate , please contact me help you locate property and sell your investment for more.

I have worked with a lot of Venice FL home buyers over the years.  Buyers take their time to make a decision on which property to purchase and are looking for a WOW factor to help make that decision. If you are thinking of sprucing up your Venice FL real estate to sell, consider something different for kitchen countertops: stainless steel. Photo courtesy remodelista.com Stainless steel counter tops are not for the budget minded investor or seller, but it can give that WOW factor to a property and help it stand out in the mind of a potential buyer.  Consider installing a stainless counter top in just one part of the kitchen. Stainless counter tops mix well with a butcher block island If you have a section of counter top in a standard cabinet width, check out restaurant supply websites that sell prefabricated counter tops:  http://www.webstaurantstore.com/advance-tabco-vctc-243-25-x-36-flat-top-stainless-steel-countertop/109VCTC243.html?

Are you getting ready to sell your Venice, FL home or condo? You may not have to spend a lot of money on a kitchen makeover to attract a buyer and get top dollar for your property. A fresh coat of paint on walls and wood cabinets makes a huge difference.  Note the colors in this kitchen, and how the white and gray colors are punctuated with wood tones.  The space also appears bigger because the flooring color softens the transition to the walls. Photo courtesy of modernize.com Read the entire set of 20 easy ways to modernize your Venice FL kitchen in this link  from modernize.com When you're ready to sell, please contact me for pricing, staging, and marketing solutions that will help sell your home.

I've been blogging about how Venice FL home owners and real estate investors can make the most of their property for today's home buyers by using light colors to help create an open feel in any space. This kitchen, from modernize.com, is a perfect example.  The light counter tops, cabinets, and wall color all combine to create an appealing, timeless kitchen design. Notice the spare use of color I have mentioned in previous blog posts.  I also thought the pine flooring was an example of the vintage appeal buyers are searching for, as evidenced by a recent report from Google Trends. Wood flooring is not the best choice for a Venice FL home, especially if the home is constructed on a concrete slab.  Concrete slab foundations emanate water vapor from the ground, which will cause warping, mold, or decay, of real wood floors. You can mimic this look by using wood-look ceramic tile, available in Home Depot or Lowe's.

Today I took a tour of a home builder's design center and found some interesting contrasts in design elements they are presenting for kitchens in their Venice FL new homes for sale. One of the trends is for a contrasting cabinet color for the kitchen island space.  The white color of this island makes it seem like it is floating in space against the light floor, retaining the feeling of openness in it's use in an open floor plan. The builder also provided more traditional cabinet colors and stone counter top colors.  The counter top material on the island in this picture is actually a laminate, with an embossed natural stone pattern. There are 4 different counter top choices in this kitchen below.  Notice how the dark cabinets draw the eye in, as opposed to a light or a white cabinet that would blend and make the space appear bigger. Remember, design is a personal choice.  But, if you're preparing a home for resale, or buying a starter home and nee...