Your Kitchen - The Most Important Room in Your Home

Keith Sawlor, July 11, 2014 | Posted in Build; Tagged Interior Selections, Design Considerations

Your kitchen will be one of the most important rooms in your new home. Not only will your family use it daily, but it will also be the hub where friends gather when you host a get-together.

Give your kitchen the time and energy it needs to become the focal point of your home. Your builder should set up meetings with a kitchen design company early in the home building process. Bring your ideas to the meeting—magazine articles, photos, and appliance specifications are all helpful when creating your ideal kitchen. The kitchen designers will have their own list of questions and ideas to discuss with you, too. They will produce scaled drawings and/or 3D renderings for you to review.

Your kitchen design should include the make and model of all your selected appliances, the type of countertop and backsplash to be used, along with the hardware you’ve selected. With this information, your builder can instruct the various trades involved in building your house on where to install wires, lights, plugs, waterlines, and plumbing fixtures. Imagine the disappointment for everyone involved when you try to install your fridge and realize there weren’t any waterlines installed, or trying to install upgraded appliances that don’t fit with the electrical line suited to standard appliances! It is very difficult and expensive to make adjustments after the drywall is installed.

Most homeowners will require many consultations and design revisions before arriving at their perfect kitchen. Giving yourself lots of time to get to that point by beginning early in the home building process will allow the kitchen design to be fun and non-stressful.

When it comes time to sell your home, your kitchen will be the number one area potential buyers will focus on as well. Your kitchen can make all the difference in whether your home sells or doesn’t sell. Selling your home for top dollar will be the final benefit of your hard work.

Keith Sawlor

Keith Sawlor is the second generation Owner of Sawlor Built Homes. With more than 35 years experience building custom homes in Nova Scotia, Keith has built a team that mirrors his professional knowledge and values.

Keith is a Certified Residential Builder who is also certified with many leading industry organizations. He is a Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) Certified Builder, a Net Zero Energy (NZE) Certified Builder, a Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) R-2000 Certified Builder, and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS).

Keith is a Past Board Member of the Atlantic Home Warranty Program as well as the Canadian Home Builders' Association Nova Scotia. He is involved in many other industry programs and associations, such as the Canadian Home Builders’ Association National and Better Business Bureau.