So this is the countertop I picked out for the kitchen...

[ScreamingMeemie]

http://samples.wilsonart.com/c-86-passage.aspx <<<for a larger view.

Do you like it? I don't really care, because it's only to sell this place way below value even. Would you consider a house with this countertop? Speak now...

This is the color that I painted the kitchen (after tearing down all that nasty wallpaper)

http://dutchboy.com/colors/families/neutrals/versatile/index.jsp It's the family tree one.

I went dark because the cabinets are a lighter oak and, with oak not being in, I wanted to modernize and say,"Hello millenium" instead of,"hey, I'm screaming 1997 here..."

[AlCzervik]

1. i love that paint color and as far the the counter top, it's fine and really that would

not be a deal breaker for a buyer imo. The pic is kind of small but it looks ok to me.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Kitchens are a big time deal breaker here.

I always tell my clients, once you have the majors (roof, furnace, windows) people are going to look to kitchens and baths. My kitchen counters were pink...yes pink, would you believe? With a maroon edge. This actually wraps over the base and gives a granite look... Granite is consider super adequate in this area. Thanks chimps. This whole thing gives me a giant headache, and I just want to be sold and out, you know? :hug: I appreciate your input.


On edit: here is a page where you can roll your mouse over that swatch and see a larger size:

http://samples.wilsonart.com/c-86-passage.aspx

It's the one labeled night passage.

[AlCzervik]

3. i like it and i don't see it as a turn off. When i was in real estate most buyers were pretty

reasonable about counter tops as long as the kitchen was good. I think both of your pics are good choices.


:hi: :loveya:

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Thank you so much.

It's the things we have to do here in Michigan even to sell houses under market. I already have a house to move to and I don't want to lose it. :loveya:

[progressivebydesign]

5. Counters & paint look great.. I have questions for you. I'm an interior designer..

I would consider a house with that countertop, depending upon the price range of the house. People expect different qualities of the surfaces as it relates to the home price. Those would be an excellent option if a house in that price range or neighborhood would typically see either tile or laminate counters. If you're in a higher end market, have you priced out granite TILE?? It's a fraction of regular granite, and I see it in many homes now -- and people like it.

I do tons of work consulting people on maximizing their house for sale. I even wrote a book on selling your home... The Wilson HD counters are a great, and fairly inexpensive option -- I saw them in a showroom the other day and they look quite good. You were smart to lose the wallpaper. Unless someone invests in that trendy new stuff (which of course will be dated in 5 years), then wallpaper is a big no-no to buyers.

Love the wall color!!! Buyers are just so not into white walls anymore. you didn't mention the cabinet hardware, but if it's at all dated you might want to replace it with something more up to date (like polished nickel), or if the cabs have no hardware, you might want to add it.

If you have any specific questions, I am totally happy to answer them via PM.. or here (if you PM me and let me know to check the thread again.) I love LOVE love what I do and am always happy to help people out if I can, just for the joy of it!

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. I'm a real estate appraiser and granite is considered to be super

adequate and an over-improvement for this area. Thanks so much for your input. The cupboards are very late 90's (when the kitchen was last updated) oak, with no hardware, so I opted for a darker counter and wall to "modernize" because the cupboards are in good shape.

[amitten]

6. Thumbs up. n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. thanks!

:)

[sasquatch]

9. Does it go with you kittehs though?

:D

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. As a matter of fact...it does!!!

Thank goodness they are black. :) How are you?

[sasquatch]

18. Ok I guess

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. It's good to see you.

It seems like I haven't seen you in awhile.

[Lyric]

11. Reading stuff like this always makes me happy and sad at the same time.

Happy, because interior stuff is something new to learn about, and it's so interesting!
Sad, because I don't know if I'll ever be in a position to have a home of my own to decorate. Or maybe not even sad--just wistful, and maybe a little envious.

:hug: Good luck--I'm confident that you'll find someone who's going to love the house.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. Oh, oktoberain...keep faith.

I only have this because of the hard work of my husband. My life was one lived in a mobile home. He gave me everything I have. :hug: It's why I can't be here anymore.

[LiberalEsto]

13. Maybe consider putting out a bowl of lemons

or some other fruit on the kitchen counter when the house is being shown. Just to brighten it up a bit and add a homey touch.

I kept a small pot of water with a cinnamon stick on the stove whenever we had a house on the market. Whenever someone was coming over, I'd simmer it, then hide it in the oven. The house always smelled wonderful.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Thanks! I usually bake a batch of cookies just before a showing.

I am lucky in that my agent (who is also my aunt-in-law) is a pro at staging.


Funny side note: if I put out a bowl of lemons, WannaBe would eat them all up. ;) She eats lemons like oranges.

[marzipanni]

25. LOL-If a man is looking at the house by himself, use caution with cinnamon...

<snip>
Alan Hirsch, M.D., neurologist and psychiatrist, founder of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, and nationally recognized smell and taste expert is available to comment on how scent combinations affect physical attraction and physical arousal.
According to Dr. Hirsch, among the most "attractive" scents for women include

-Good & Plenty® candy and cucumbers

-Baby powder

-Good & Plenty® candy and banana nut bread

Attractive scents for men include:

-Lavender and pumpkin pie *

-Licorice and doughnuts

-Cinnamon buns *

While no scents were found to turn off men, women's turn offs include barbeque smoke and men's colognes.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_Feb_7/ai_n9494396

[Dystopian]

15. I love it!

I just finished off a kitchen (after 20 years in this house) over the garage...it's a separate/huge room with a loft...and I can't tell if I have the mountain passage or the canyon...but I love the one that you selected....It will look beautiful!
The dark counter will look awesome with the light oak cabinets...I just had those put in, also. I prefer dark cabinets, but....I had to go with the cheapest ones, and got a great deal via a friend.

Good luck with your house....wishing all the best for you... :hug:

peace~

edit to add:
I couldn't afford any of this...had to take out an equity loan...After all these years, finally finished this huge space so that my son could move back home and still have his own apartment....He had nowhere to live...and no place for a jam spot, so it works for me.....I really needed the income to keep the house...and hope that this works. If not, I'll be headed for foreclosure....and winter is coming....Just a dose of reality...

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. Thank you Dystopian.

I had had a lighter countertop in mind but realized the darker would look more modern. I am hoping this works out but the market is so tough right now. :hug:

[Dystopian]

17. Oh yes....

The darker counter top will look beautiful...very modern! Although the market is tough, my daughter and son are both in buying mode....I'm certain that the work you're putting into the house will pay off nicely...Keep the faith! You've got all the 'ins' and know what you're doing...not many have that advantage....:hug:

peace & love ~

[Midlodemocrat]

20. Love them both.

Good luck in selling the house, sweetie.

Any thoughts as to where you're going to relocate? I hear Virginia is especially nice. The Richmond area in particular.

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

21. I like your paint color, especially since you have lighter oak cabinetry

Which counter top Passage is the one you chose? If it's the Alpine Passage, would suggest you go to the next one lighter/warmer (Mountain Passage) as the Alpine could give the kitchen an overall dark/heavy look compbined with your neutral paint choice.

Are you using any trim color in the space, such as on baseboards and ceiling molding?
If you don't have any ceiling trim, you might want to consider putting up 1/4 round plain trim to give it all a finished look.

Are you painting the ceiling?


:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. I went with night passage. The trim is stained wood.

We have what is called a cove ceiling (which has been painted an off white) in the kitchen which does not afford for any type of molding work. It usually looks nice as it is. Thanks Whoa.. :hi:

[bigwillq]

23. I like them.

I especially like the paint color. :)

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. Thank you!

:) :hug:

[bigwillq]

27. I love different kinds of paint colors.

I just had my room painted again.

I kept three walls a lighter blue and then the main wall I painted a real dark blue. I think it looks cool. Blue is my fave color! :) :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

29. Sounds really neat. I plan on doing that in our new, forever, house.

I am trying to be neutral and yet interesting for the sale on this one. :hug:

[Sanity Claws]

24. No dealbreaker

The countertop looks more than adequate. The paint is a nice color.
Will there be any other colors in the kitchen?
I am concenred that so much gray will make the kitchen too cool and not give the warmth one expects in a kitchen. Emotions play a big role in home buying. If the people do not feel warm and cheered by the house, they may not buy it, regardless of how nice the counters are.

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. The counter has a lot of gold tone to it and the blinds have color in

them. The lead in room (living room/dining) is really warm and inviting, or so I have been told. Thanks!

[mwdem]

30. I like them both.

and good luck in your move. Remember, I'm in the DFW area, so if you need to stop on your way out here, give me a buzz, or pm, or whatever. You really are moving on!!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

35. Thank you and I will.

I am hoping to move sonner rather than later. :hi:

[Connonym]

31. I think they look nice

and I wish you the best of luck selling in this time of economic chaos. (that sort of sounds snarky but I mean it sincerely)

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. Thank you Connonym.

I go from upbeat to "this is a waste of time", in the space of a half hour.

[yardwork]

32. The paint and counter colors are beautiful and very "in" right now in new houses I see.

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. Thank you yardwork.

I hope it ends up being worth it.

[yellowdogintexas]

33. I saw WilsonArtHD in a model home kitchen last week, quite frankly in a house

that down here would be expected to have granite. It was beautiful. I am thinking of HD for my own countertops if we ever get round to doing the kitchen over.

I understand it is a really good product too. LOL mine has to be sort of coffee colored because I spill a lot of coffee, and it will complement the big brick wall I have at the other end of the family room.

Like your area, granite would be overkill in my area. Granite tile..maybe.. but if I am going with a hard surface, I think I would rather have a good grade porcelain tile .

Good luck!

[ScreamingMeemie]

38. It is reported to be 3x as durable as regular laminate, and I like

that they can round it over the edges with no seam.

[jobycom]

34. Lovecraftian.

Looks like the underside of a Leviathon masked by the depths all these eons...

[ScreamingMeemie]

39. I am hoping that is a good thing.

:D

[jobycom]

44. Yeah, it looked cool!

But, you know, I'm not big on the "Me, too!" posts, so I said something weird instead. :)

[zanne]

40. It isn't real granite, is it?

There was an area in Texas where people's granite countertops were making them sick. Granite can contain a certain amount of uranium.

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. No. Granite is an overimprovement in this neighborhood. This is my current

house, btw. :hi:

[yellowdogintexas]

42. Radon ? do you suppose it was actually the sealant that has to be applied annualy?

that is interesting, somehow I managed to miss that. What part of Texas, do you know?

I know Radon gas has been found to be in basements and caves, had not thought that granite slab would also have it..mainly because it sits around a long time from quarry to application.

I never thought I would want granite anyway; if I were going to go high end, I would go quartz, definitely.

[zanne]

43. Here's the link with the information about granite.

http://earthfirst.com/granite-countertops-may-be-tainted-with-uranium/