HGTV; realtor.com
“Property Brothers” stars Drew and Jonathan Scott are accustomed to helping families in need of a nicer home, but on the latest episode of their show, we meet a couple who lost their home in a house fire, so they’re understandably eager to get settled in new digs.
In the episode titled “Vegas for Good,” Las Vegas couple Del and Jen tell the Scott brothers that they’re soon-to-be empty nesters, with two kids already out of the house, and their last, daughter Carli, only a year away from college.
This means these parents will soon have the house to themselves. But what should their downsized digs look like? Here’s how Drew and Jonathan create their perfect place, and some tips we can take home with us.
A kitchen island beats a peninsula
When the family first see the house they decide to buy, they like a lot of what they see. But they’re unimpressed by the kitchen—in large part due to a peninsula that blocks access and seems unnecessary since there’s also a tiny island.
So, the brothers take down the peninsula and expand the island. While many kitchen islands feature just a few stools, this one has plenty of room for everyone, even when those fledglings come home.
This change makes for a much better use of the space, plus it gives the kitchen a much more open and welcoming feel.
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Take cabinets all the way to the ceiling
Another sticking point in the kitchen is the cabinetry, since Del and Jen need plenty of storage space.
“There’s so much space between the ceiling and the cabinets,” Jen says. “These ceilings are so high, why not use more space?”
Jonathan agrees that there’s a missed opportunity there. So, he takes out the old cabinets and puts in new, white ones that go all the way to the ceiling.
The result is a clean space that feels open and large.
And the bonus? Since the cabinets are so high, the brothers install what could be the next big trend in kitchens: a sliding ladder to reach the high shelves.
Jonathan shows the family how to detach the ladder from its tracks and reattach it elsewhere. Carli immediately climbs up to reach a top cabinet. It’s a fun and functional feature, but it also looks pretty cool.
“This is so beautiful,” Jen says when she sees the end result. “I can’t believe that this is my kitchen.”
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Want clear kitchen countertops? Stash stuff in the pantry
Even after putting in new cabinets, the Scott brothers aren’t done when it comes to kitchen storage.
The house comes with a pantry, but it doesn’t impress Jen when she first sees it.
“It’s kinda small,” she says.
But Jonathan has a way to make the space more functional: He takes out some shelves and creates a counter inside the pantry, with storage space underneath. It opens the space up and also provides room for small appliances (like a coffee maker or toaster) so that these items don’t create clutter on the kitchen counter.
Lockers don’t need to look like high school
While the Scott brothers are sure to put plenty of storage space in the kitchen, Jen and Del knew they’d need some storage in other parts of the house, too. They know right away that their dream house would need a mudroom so that everyone in the family could put down their outdoor things when they come in.
However, Jen was concerned that her family’s stuff would pile up in the mudroom, so she came up with the idea of installing lockers for each family member.
The idea was certainly practical, but Jonathan wasn’t about to install ugly high school lockers in this family’s fancy new mudroom. Instead, he installs three large, white cabinets that have a locker feel.
When the family see the finished space, they love the mudroom—and the updated take on lockers.
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A desk can go anywhere—even a mudroom
When it comes to the kitchen, the pantry, and the rest of the house, this family’s requests seem fairly predictable. But Jen manages to surprise Jonathan with one odd request. She wants her own desk space—in the mudroom.
Jonathan notes that this is an odd place for a desk, but Jen explains that she wants a space there so she can keep things organized.
“I want a place where I can drop stuff on a counter,” she says.
But Jonathan gives her much more than simple storage. He creates a large desk space with nice drawers under big windows. It may be an unconventional space for an office, but it works. Plus, it reminds us that there are lots of ways to organize, and with a little creativity, a seemingly boring space can become one of your favorite rooms.
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A fireplace looks better centered
When Jen, Del, and Carli first tour the house, they’re put off by the ugly, off-center fireplace. The brown tiles date the space and make the whole living room feel dark and small. The Scotts know, right away, that they’re going to have to fix up this space and, of course, they don’t disappoint.
Jonathan’s design moves the fireplace so it’s centered on the wall. He replaces the dark tile with a marble slab, and then adds a gray mantel. To top it off, the team adds storage to both sides of the fireplace, and a TV up top, to turn this space into a stylish media center.
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So, do the Scott brothers deliver?
After losing their belongings in a house fire, the family have longed for a place to call home. What they get is a dream home that ticks off every item on their wish list.
This house does come at a hefty price, though. While it was listed at $859,000, Drew was able to save a little bit of money with a purchase price of $850,000. Meanwhile, Jonathan was able to stick to his renovation budget of $150,000, which means the whole project comes in at $1,000,000—right on budget.
“This is so beautiful,” Jen says when she sees her new house. “I can’t even believe it.”
The post The Property Brothers Reveal the Next Big Kitchen Trend (Hint: It Moves) appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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