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We live in a time of constant change. It can make us anxious and unsure of the future.
The only thing we can control is how we face it. One way to counteract this uncertainty is to make our homes a haven, a place where we live well and feel good. Our home nourishes our spirit, inspires our minds, and enhances our connection to ourselves and our loved ones.
The one room in the house that most embodies living well and feeling good is the kitchen. Everyone involved in a kitchen renovation wants it to be beautiful yet still be practical.
And we also want our kitchen renovation done right. Many Kansas Citians have turned to Karin Ross of Karin Ross Designs, known for her “timeless elegance” approach, creative space planning, and attention to detail.
“Today, your kitchen is the primary living space. Make everything custom, very high quality, for the way you like to live,” Ross suggests. “Choose elegance. Big islands. All of that never goes out of style.”
The Best Time to Renovate
Because things change all the time, there is never that perfect time to take on a kitchen remodeling project. “If you ask me when the best time is to remodel, it is now,” says Ross. “The cost of product and labor will not be going down. You have to weigh that against the cost of not doing what could bring you and your family joy right now. Waiting is not in your favor.”
Ross and her team regularly go to trade shows and markets debuting the newest appliances, colors, and products. “More than ever, it’s important to work with the right people who know the products, the layout, the best flow. Once we touch the kitchen, the room will feel completely new,” says Ross. “Every house has a way,” says Ross. “You just have to find the way.”
An extensive questionnaire for clients and an on-site visit gets the process going. “We get to know our clients and their home first, then present them with several design options and solutions,” says Ross, “after I have done all the research.”
There may be underused spaces that could benefit from a rethink. If you have a dining room you only use a few times a year, “You don’t want a museum you rarely visit,” Ross says. “Instead, combine the kitchen and dining room. Maybe revamp the dining room into a more intimate conversation area that can function for a small dinner party or a place to escape while others watch a movie or a game in the living room.”
When you work with a kitchen and bath designer, says Ross, it can save you time—and money, not to mention stress. “We try everything we install before we put it in a client’s home,” says Ross. “We try it in our home or in our showroom. That way, there are no surprises.”
There are no surprises, either, during the installation. Karin Ross Designs keeps products in stock, so no waiting. And Nick Ross, Karin’s husband, does the installation work with his team. “Our clients know we will take care of it all,” she says.
Elegance and Quality Are Always in Style
As trends come and go, keeping a timeless elegant look and investing in good quality pay off, now and in the long run. “A kitchen remodel should last for 15 to 20 years,” says Ross. “And after that, if it is done right, you should only need a few replacements to keep it functioning well and looking great.”
“When you decide to remodel, think of what you can enjoy now, and trust that if the design is done right, the value will still be there when you sell in the future,” says Ross.