Kitchen Updates That Pay Back

Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry
One of the trends we continue to track at Traditional Home is the growing importance of kitchens. They are the heart of any home and one of the smartest spaces to invest in. This elegant kitchen is the Southhampton from Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry.

Plain & Fancy
So if you're looking to update, what are the choices that will pay off, not only financially if you ever sell, but in terms of lifestyle? How do you get a real return in terms of function and style? Let's take a look at some of your best bets. This charming kitchen features a Shaker Beaded Inset door in Soft Maple finished in Dove White enamel from Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry.

Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry
First up, install an island. Functionally, they have a long list of benefits. This furniture-style island from Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry is from the Georgian Cottage Collection and features a Crackle Finish in Tavern White

Plain & Fancy
An island defines work areas and provides additional work and serving surfaces. Stylistically, there are lots of options, such as this classic Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry Contemporary-styled island in Buttercream.

Custom cabinets, antique table islands
Go rectangular or round, there's a style to fit any space. Antique tables function as dual islands in this Atlanta kitchen by interior designer Kay Douglass.

Mick De Giulio design
Kitchen designer Mick De Giulio created this hardworking island in a Chicago condo kitchen for a family that frequently entertains.

Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry
An island offers additional storage space, too. Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry's Southhampton collection features a furniture-style island with bin storage.

Plain & Fancy
Refrigerator drawers are tucked into this island from Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry.

Quality Custom Cabinetry
To really make your island stand out, vary the countertop and the cabinet finishes, such as this two-level island from Quality Custom Cabinetry.

Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry
Pay attention to detailing. This fine-furniture-style Stonehill island from Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry features the Square Edge Andover Raised door style in the deep elegance of Java finish on Cherry.

Baking island
A baking cabinet was built into this custom island designed by homeowner Eliza Gatfield and New York architect Stuart Disston.

Vasi Ypsilantis design
A marble slab tops the oval island that was fashioned using two chinoiserie chests and a center cabinet that was stained and painted to match. The kitchen was designed by Vasi Ypsilantis, a certified kitchen designer at The Breakfast Room, Ltd., in Manhasset, New York.

KraftMaid Cabinetry
Details such as s elliptical mullions on glass front cabinets and curvaceous Roman spindle legs on the island make a sophisticated style statement. The KraftMaid Cabinetry is Rutherford Maple in Dove White.

KraftMaid
Architectural detailing, such as crown molding, makes a kitchen feel more like a living room than a working kitchen. This KraftMaid Cabinetry is Glenberry Cherry Square in Vintage Biscotti.

Quality Custom Cabinetry
Two butcher block sections flank a marble-topped center, creating a multi-functioning island by Quality Custom Cabinetry.

Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry
A wood-topped center island contrasts with the elegant white Southhampton cabinets from Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry, and helps to visually ground the room.

Christopher Peacock
Another important design element of any kitchen is seating. A casual dining area is adjacent to this New York kitchen designed by Christopher Peacock.

Louise Brooks design
The kitchen opens to a sunny family room in this Connecticut home by residential designer Louise Brooks, allowing family and friends to converse with people working in the kitchen.

KraftMaid kitchen and TV room
Furniture-style cabinetry helps to blend a kitchen with other living areas. KraftMaid's Marquette Cherry in Burnished Ginger in the kitchen complements the Marquette Cherry in Vintage Onyx finish in the TV room.

Christopher Peacock
If you want to draw people into the space, you have to provide seating for eating and socializing. Think about where you want people to gather, around an island is an obvious choice. Upholstered chairs provide comfortable island seating in this kitchen designed by Christopher Peacock.

Mick De Giulio design
Create a cozy nook in a corner or around a fireplace. Banquette seating in a Chicago kitchen designed by Mick De Giulio makes smart use of a kitchen corner.

Louise Brooks kitchen
Backless stools make it easy to pull up to the countertop in this Connecticut kitchen by residential designer Louise Brooks. When not in use, the stools easily slide out of the way.

Sitting area by Denyse Rinfret
One end of a kitchen is transformed into an inviting dining area where guests want to linger. Designer Denyse Rinfret created this kitchen in for a New York show house.

Plain & Fancy
Banquettes provide seating without eating up valuable floor space in this kitchen by Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry.

KraftMaid
Seating at a rounded triangular island allows people to converse with those in the kitchen or adjoining living area. The KraftMaid Cabinetry are Putnam Maple in Willow finish and Putman Cherry in Cinnamon finish.

Stone countertop
Countertops are one of the most visible design choices you make. Natural stone countertops such as granite continue to be top sellers for kitchens.

Stone countertop detail
Each slab of granite is unique and colors options are great, so you'll want to visit the stone yard to make your choice.

Stone countertop edge
You can choose countertop edge treatments to complement the style of your room, from an elaborate ogee to a thick square edge.

Black marble countertop
Black marble countertops add elegance to a traditionally styled kitchen.

Sensa by Cosentino, Floresta Verde
Branded granites are also sold by some manufacturers. SenSa Granite, which is treated with SenGuard technology in Cosentino's facilities, comes in many colors, including Floresta Verde.

Sensa by Cosentino, Silver Silk
Sensa Granites by Cosentino, such as Silver Silk, are treated at the factory so they do not need to be sealed each year.

Sensa by Cosentino in Tuscany Brown
Tuscany Brown Is one of most popular colors offered in the Sensa Granite by Cosentino collection. The granite is treated to resist stains.

Marble
Natural marble is prone to stain but develops a beautiful patina over time and is a time-tested classic in traditional kitchens.

Cardosa limestone
Elegant gray-blue Cardosa limestone resembles soapstone but is harder and more durable, says designer Christopher Peacock, who chose the stone for a show house kitchen in Lake Forest, Illinois.

SenSa granite by Cosentino
SenSa Granite in the color Giallo Latina is finished with a curving, waterfall edge.

Silestone by Cosentino in Amarillo Palmira
Natural quartz is ground and mixed with a resin to make quartz surfacing, a highly durable surface that never needs sealing. The material also has a consistent pattern and color, so homeowners are assured what they see in a sample chip is what they get. Silestone Quartz by Cosentino in Amarillo Palmira is shown in a honed Leather finish. Polished finishes are also available.

DuPont Zodiaq Quartz
DuPont Zodiaq Quartz in Licorice tops an island that doubles as a cozy bench.

Christopher Peacock kitchen
Storage never goes out of style, and with so many great options and add-ons out there, this is a perfect way to make a real impact in your kitchen. Many storage-rich pieces feature furniture styling, such as these glass-front cabinets with diamond mullions designed by Christopher Peacock for a New York kitchen.

Wood-mode Provence
Cabinets such as Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry's Provence cupboard can stand alone or serve as subtle room divider, screening the kitchen from the dining area.

Vasi Ypsilantis
A red-painted china cupboard designed by New York kitchen designer Vasi Ypsilantis is a charming accent piece in a New York show house kitchen.

Plain & Fancy
Look for clever updates such as Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry's pull-out trays to store heavy items such as stand mixers.

KraftMaid Cabinetry
Drawers are constructed to handle stacks of dishes. KraftMaid Cabinetry's dish drawers with divider pegs keep plates in order.

Wood-Mode
Wire dividers in Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry's units provide vertical storage for trays and platters.

Wood-Mode
A swing-out Lazy Susan puts pots and pans in easy reach. From Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry.

Plain & Fancy
Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry's swing-out wire shelves make the most of tight corner spaces.

Wood-Mode/Brookhaven
Wood-Mode's Brookhaven Cabinetry's stainless steel cutlery dividers organize flatware and cooking utensils and are easy to remove and clean when needed.

Wood-Mode/Brookhaven
A snap-up shelf lifts a heavy mixer to countertop height. Cabinets shown are Oak Park from Brookhaven, a division of Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry.

Wood-Mode
Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry offers a pull-out towel rack to keep towels within reach but out of sight.

Wood-Mode/Brookhaven
Recycling organization is a must-have these days and Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry features a convenient pull-out center with two bins.

Plain & Fancy
Plain & Fancy Fine Cabinetry maximizes space with dual pull-out pantries flanking the stove for storing bottles of seasonings and oils.

Open floor plans
More than ever, families are living in their kitchens and are designing the spaces to flow into dining and living rooms.

Quality Custom Cabinetry
Cabinet design takes on greater importance with kitchens opening to other living areas. These stylish cabinets by Quality Custom Cabinetry are comfortable in a kitchen or living room.

Open floor plans
With open floor plans, it more important than ever to ensure a kitchen blends architecturally with the rest of a home. Whether it's an elegant Georgian, cottage-style, or Tuscan, such as this Maryland home designed by Mary Jo Donohoe, be consistent with style details such as colors, patterns, and architectural features. Take cues from that style and infuse it into your kitchen for a room that speaks volumes about you, your home, and your personality.