What exactly do people mean when they say “high end kitchens”? Usually, they are speaking about a kitchen that uses top of the line materials and which was designed for super-efficiency. Generally this means that the project would have been managed by a team of experienced professionals that included a contractor and a designer and maybe even some sort of architect or consultant.
The important thing about high end kitchens is that they should be seen as an affordable luxury. This is because they are something put to use on a daily basis, and they are also something which actually earns its keep. Consider that someone who purchases a high end entertainment system, or a high end dining room set will have a nice product, but it isn’t something as valuable as a high end kitchen.
Why not? First of all, individual items like televisions, furnishings, and other products will never increase the value of the home. Realtors will always indicate that there are only a handful of household upgrades or improvements that will generate a return that is close to the cost of the investment, and high end kitchens is at the top of the list.
This has to do primarily with the materials used in most modern high end kitchen installations. Consider that the cabinetry will always be hardwood rather than a mixture of different composites. The countertops will be made from granite, marble, concrete, butcher’s block, and Corian among other durable and long-wearing materials as well. The flooring, plumbing, lighting, and electrical services will be entirely updated in the modern kitchen, and all of this will add up to a very long life for this particular room.
Of course a luxury kitchen will also have top of the line appliances. While the best food processor and gadgetry might not improve the value of the home, an energy efficient fridge, oven, microwave, and dishwasher definitely will. These machines give impressive performances, and are often so efficient as to actually earn their owners some cash back incentives – not to mention the amount of energy and water most will save as well.
Though the space might be full of high-cost materials and machines, the fact of the matter is that it will have such an incredibly long life span and will serve as a central focus of the home for so many years that it can easily qualify as a highly affordable luxury upgrade.