By ABEY ALFASI AND MICHAEL COLMAN

It’s All about the Kitchen, Kitchen, Kitchen

There’s an old axiom in the real estate business that when it comes time to put your home on the market, you aren’t actually going to be selling your house—you will be selling your kitchen. That says a great deal about the central importance we place on the kitchen as a center of everyday living (yes, even more than your favorite spot on the living room sofa).

The 1800s Eastern European ideal of Kinder, Kirche, Küche (“Children, Church, and Kitchen”) goes back even farther to the medieval and ancient concepts of ‘hearth and home’. Take a look in the world’s premier magazines, and you will find advertising campaigns that are essentially a hommage to the miracle of the stainless steel faucet or sink.

Clearly there is an ideal of what it means to have the “perfect” kitchen. What’s your ideal, your vision of your dream kitchen?

It should certainly include cabinetry that is constructed from the best materials, including solid wood that is strongly built and backed by over 30 years of design engineering experience and an international reputation that includes prestigious awards.

The first step in planning your dream kitchen is to finding a professional design architect who can capture your concept and translate it into a finished product of the finest and most durable construction, made with an eye to your own unique style. For some people, this is a no-brainer. But for the vast majority, it’s important to trust your vision with an award-winning professional who takes the time to listen to you and conceptualize your ideas into the sturdiest granite countertops and the highest quality cabinets.

As well as using quality materials, it’s important to take into account other considerations, such as the use of color—or its absence—as well as the synergy between tiles, appliances, and cabinets, and the accents, backsplash, and subtle textures and softness that add both warmth and depth to your kitchen, a truly intimate place that is the heart of your home. It’s a place where family, neighbors, and loved ones gather to share meals and memories.

Your kitchen should be functional, yet pleasant and inviting. An experienced designer can give you advice about such things as creating a kitchen focal point using a beautiful backsplash, or capturing beautiful and unique designs created from tile, brick, glass, beaded board, recycled materials, and other elements that will enhance your kitchen and home.

(Let’s also not forget that among the benefits of remodeling your kitchen, one of the best parts is that you’re likely to get up to 85 percent of your money back if you decide to someday sell. It may cost a few thousand dollars to replace countertops, but compare that to the money you will save by not having a buyer knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen appears to be dated.)

Odyssey Kitchen Design provides pre-fabricated and custom built kitchen cabinets, as well as bathroom upgrades and new design, with installation available from the Florida Panhandle to the Florida Keys, shipping throughout the U.S. and anywhere in the world.

Whatever your dream: the clean lines of a modern kitchen, the warmth of a traditional setting, or a relaxed motif that evokes the look of the country, we have an award-winning design team that has made design magic since 1980, at some of South Florida’s most beautiful and luxurious homes.

Traditional to transitional, classic to contemporary, our cabinetry has a look and finish that will satisfy your every decorating taste.

Cost-conscious consumers will appreciate our attention to detail, solid craftsmanship, and the exceptional value you will find in cabinetry that is manufactured utilizing all-wood construction, not particleboard or wood substitute.

Our extensive selection of cabinetry in the most up-to-date styles, designs, and materials makes it easy to create a custom looking kitchen at prices that will leave you that “extra” you may need to complete your new room makeover.

Our work at Odyssey Kitchen centers around two concepts: the kitchen’s need for a modern work station area, and creating attractive, functional storage space, which create kitchens that are a pleasure to work in. (The work stations ensure your culinary endeavors can be completed within a single space, and the unique storage options keep everything easily within reach.)

We believe that new technologies should be applied to make life simpler and better, and that style should cater to one’s needs. We can help you create practical kitchens that are versatile and an enduring investment, rather than a short-lived fad.

Abey Alfasi is an award-winning designer and the owner of Odyssey Kitchen Design and Design Odyssey, offering a dedicated level of commitment, since 1980, to providing exceptional design, outstanding personal service, value engineering, and client satisfaction. He provides personalized architectural services to meet the specific needs of clients in an efficient and cost effective manner, providing creative and functional designs, experienced project management, open communication, and consultation, and can be reached at (954) 547-4441.

Michael Colman is a graduate of the M.E. Rinker School of Building Construction at University of Florida, and the founder of Bastion Construction, overseeing the building of residential and commercial projects across South Florida. He can be reached at (954) 650-2384.