Selling Sunset's Emma Hernan says these kitchen colors are 'the perfect recipe' for selling your house
In an exclusive interview, the agent revealed the best colors for attracting potential buyers – and the ones that should be avoided
While design is an art, it is also an investment. If you are making massive changes to your home, there is an expectation that they will help garner a higher price when it comes time to sell. You can't guarantee returns, but you can do your best to choose timeless looks that raise the value.
Luckily, Emma Hernan, a high-end real estate agent at the acclaimed Oppenheim Group and star of Netflix's Selling Sunset, told Homes & Gardens the kitchen colors she swears by.
'I think you can't go wrong with white kitchens, big and small. They all look great with a crisp white cabinet and a crisp white countertop,' the agent explains.
Emma's advice doesn't stop with a coat of white paint. She continues:, 'I really, really like incorporating some type of wood into a white kitchen. Wood helps to warm up the property and brings that balance. Because you don't want it too stark with white. I don't think neutral wood mixed with white ever going to go out of style.'
With the rising popularity of wood kitchen cabinets, we're sure to see more of this look in the coming year.
Selling Sunset star Emma Hernan is the go-to agent for many luxury home buyers and sellers, both across the US and internationally. Alongside her place in the real estate industry, Emma has a rich background as an entrepreneur and angel investor – simultaneously serving as the CEO of her successful food company.
When asked if there is any particular shade of wood she prefers, Emma responded that it's all about light wood for her.
'A light wood mixed with white is like the perfect recipe. It's like a chocolate chip cookie. It's like a perfect combination of gooey goodness.' The combination results in a very classic Scandinavian kitchen look that will never be off-trend.
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However, don't get the idea that Emma is anti-color. She claims there are ways to incorporate color into a kitchen, with one important caveat. Emma told H&G: 'For those who are looking for a little bit more color, I always recommend staying neutral. So earth tones, olives, something calm. Just grounding colors, colors that are timeless, timeless, and calm.' These relaxed, neutral kitchens are still beautiful when it comes time to sell.
'That's what I would recommend to any of my clients. And that's personally what I would do. I own properties across the US, and that's all I would do. Anything neutral, whites and neutrals,' Emma adds.
Though light neutrals are fine, Emma categorically advises against dark kitchen cabinets for those planning to sell. She said: 'I think that back in the day, probably like 10, 15 years ago, you saw a lot of those dark colors, and those went out of style so, so quickly. And all of the houses that stayed neutral, they stayed white, they stayed with some kind of earth tones and wood, they never went out of style.'
She continued on the shades that date your home, stating: 'I see that a lot with my clients who are looking to either do a remodel or a little freshen-up before they sell. Not everyone is going to gravitate towards black. I think it can just be a touch much. Anyone who went with those darker tones all have to give their house a little bit of love before putting it on the market.'
Our White Paint Picks
One of the most popular white paints to use in the home, Sherwin Williams' Pure White is a bright white that has a subtle yellow undertone.
Wevet by Farrow & Ball is a versatile white shade with delicate hints of gray, establishing a barely-there effect that can work in rooms across the home.
A classic, soft white, Benjamin Moore's White Dove is a great choice for use on moldings and trims, creating a fresh and luminous effect.
A cool white with soft gray undertones, Tidy White can create a crisp and clean white painted finish.
With white, wood, and neutrals in your kitchen, you're on the right track to sell your home.
Sophie is a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens, where she works on the Celebrity Style team. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly excited when researching trends or interior history. Sophie is an avid pop culture fan. As an H&G editor, she has interviewed the likes of Martha Stewart, Hilary Duff, and the casts of Queer Eye and Selling Sunset. Before joining Future Publishing, Sophie worked as the Head of Content and Communications at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens and furniture brand. She has also written features on exciting developments in the design world for Westport Magazine. Sophie has an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.
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