I Renovated My 134-Year-Old Home’s Kitchen — Here’s What 2 Experts Say I Should Have Done Differently

I recently renovated my kitchen and, even though I’m only four months into enjoying the shiny, new space, I’ve already realized there are a few things I would have done differently. Going darker on the grout is a big one — it wouldn’t have cost any more, yet it would make my life easier. Then there are, of course, the areas I wish I had splurged but that I know weren’t realistic (a panel fridge is a big one!). 

And while I don’t have any plans to sell this house in the near future, it’s also fascinating to me how the changes I would have made differ from those that a real estate expert would recommend when they’re thinking about a house’s marketability.

So, out of curiosity, I talked to both a real estate broker and a feng shui expert to figure out what they would have done differently in renovating my kitchen and what I should keep in mind for next time (hopefully many years down the road!) or if I ever try to sell this beauty.

My 134-year-old house has a major quirk — the kitchen is on the second floor. When we bought the house, it definitely gave us pause, but we decided that we liked the layout and the fact the house might not be as appealing to others. But will that same reasoning hurt us in the future?

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker at Compass, Tali Berzak, thinks it might. 

“Kitchens on the second floor are generally not ideal, are arguably functionally obsolete, and could hinder sales and impact resale value unless a home is situated with the primary living spaces on the second floor for a reason such as to enable a mountain or ocean view. If you can change this, you probably should.” Ouch! 

We went with middle-of-the-road appliances, which was totally fine for our purposes, but that won’t cut it in some markets. 

“When clients are perusing homes online, they appreciate brand recognition. They like seeing a Wolf range or Miele appliances throughout the home,” says Berzak. 

Panels on appliances are expensive, but every time I walk into a kitchen that has them, I wish we had been able to splurge on it. It’s one of my biggest regrets of my own kitchen renovation, and Berzak backs me up. 

“Paneling the refrigerator and dishwasher are simple renovations that are extremely impactful and create a seamless aesthetic for the kitchen.” 

But she really triggered me with this comment because … we already have at least one dent on our fridge. “Not having stainless steel appliances exposed also lowers the risk of scratches and wear and tear.”

“Something like a pot filler is so easy to install and makes such an impact — especially if you actually cook. It is a ‘wow’ detail to have in a kitchen,” says Berzak. I focused more on the practical workings of the kitchen and less of the functional details, but thankfully these are easy to add later.

“Think about placing a hood over the stove instead of having a microwave in that location,” says Berzak. “There is likely a better way to hide the microwave or place it within a cabinet.” 

Unfortunately, with a small kitchen, there isn’t an empty drawer for a microwave, but I get it. A hood is the dream — if you have the space.

Feng shui expert, architect, and co-author of the book Mindful Living, Anjie Cho, supported my choice of going warmer than white with my cabinets, but she prefers a slab style when it comes to resale. “You can make it more transitional with the door hardware.”

Cho looks for USB outlets wherever someone might want to charge their phone. It’s these little details that make life easier. I actually didn’t opt for these purposefully — I read technology changes too often to make these practical (especially if you’re getting custom brass outlet covers).

But Cho adds, “A lot of clients like concealed plug mold strips under the cabinet, so you don’t see the outlets on the backsplash.”

Cho would like to see a floating shelf or drying rack where people can rinse off and dry their dishes. This is a detail most people won’t be familiar with, but, as soon as they see it, they’ll wonder how they lived without it.

While Cho notes that, although I’ve probably maxed out on how big I can go with the sink, she does think the bigger the better when it comes to ROI in a kitchen. 

“From a resale perspective, everyone is loving the farmhouse sinks.”

I love my glossy checkerboard flooring, but I realize it was a divisive decision, and Cho has her concerns about whether that would affect the house in a sale. “A neutral color floor that matches the cabinets would be better than the checkerboard,” says Cho.

Luckily, I love almost all of the choices I made with my kitchen renovation — and it’s my home to live in and enjoy. But if I ever do consider selling this house, I may come back to these tips and tricks to maximize my resale value — or I may add these details, like the pot filler, over time. For now, I’m happy and very satisfied with my kitchen!