Westfield Real Estate Agent Sharon Steele Joins HGTV Stars And Other Experts On Kitchen Design Panel

WESTFIELD, N.J. (March 1, 2016) – Sharon Steele, a sales associate affiliated with the Westfield West office of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, recently shared her kitchen expertise in a panel hosted by Electronics USA at One World Trade Center in New York City.

The panel discussed the emergence of Black Stainless Steel and ways homeowners can increase the value of their homes through kitchen design. The panel included HGTV design stars David Bromstad and Emily Henderson, who also co-hosted “Limitless Design,” a kitchen showcase inspired by LG's Black Stainless Steel Series that brought Pinterest boards from the digital world to the real world. Matthew Bremer, principal at Architecture in Formation, also took part in the panel, and Sara Peterson, editor-in-chief of HGTV Magazine, moderated.

“The kitchen is the one place in the home where ‘the phones go down’ and people are interacting face-to-face over a meal,” said Steele. “A fantastic kitchen is truly the heart of the home.”

Steele offered some of the following insight on kitchen design:

• One of the biggest mistakes a homeowner can make is to spend more on their remodeling project than the value of the home can support. The smartest thing a homeowner can do when redesigning a kitchen is to consult with their real estate agent for market advice and then hire a professional designer.
• Smart home technology such as Nest is becoming more common. LG has a Smart Diagnosis feature that detects problems with an appliance and sends a message to your smartphone. Today’s buyers are well versed in the use of technology, and the presence of smart home technology can be a real selling point.
• One of the newest kitchen designs trends is the installation of charging centers where phones, computers, and other devices are plugged in.
• Today’s ideal kitchen is spacious and offers ample storage with lots of countertops. A large kitchen island is ideal, as we have seen a shift in the way people use their kitchens. The modern kitchen is used not only for meal preparation, but for entertaining and family time. Large refrigerators and elaborate kitchen islands with built-in beverage centers, warming drawers, storage and lots seating are popular.
• Granite countertops will always work, but people are drawn to other options such as concrete, quartz, stone, wood and even stainless steel.
• Stainless steel will always be popular. At a lower price point, a basic stainless steel appliance package can be enough to make a home stand out. At higher price points, buyers expect high-end appliances with all the bells and whistles.

“I’m intrigued by the LG Black Stainless Steel Series, not just for the look, but for the ease of cleaning. ‘No more fingerprints’ should be the catchphrase,” said Steele.

For more information about residential real estate, contact Sharon Steele with the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Westfield West office at (908) 233-0065 or directly on her cell at (908) 447-3579. The office is located at 600 North Avenue West in Westfield. Area listings can be seen at www.SharonSteeleRealEstate.com.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New Jersey and Rockland County, New York, a leading residential real estate brokerage company, operates approximately 50 offices with more than 3,000 affiliated sales associates serving all communities from Rockland County, N.Y. to Monmouth County, N.J. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New Jersey and Rockland County, N.Y. is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. Visit www.ColdwellBankerHomes.com for more information.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Westfield West real estate agent Sharon Steele was invited to share her kitchen design expertise in a panel hosted by Electronics USA at One World Trade Center in New York City. She is pictured separately, and with HGTV design star and co-panelist David Bromstad. The panel featured (left to right) Matthew Bremer, principal at Architecture in Formation; HGTV design star Emily Henderson; Bromstad; Steele; and moderator Sara Peterson, editor-in-chief of HGTV Magazine.