This Is the ONE Room Christina Haack Says “Sells Homes”
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After months of waiting, The Flip Off has arrived. The highly anticipated HGTV show premiered this week, and we finally got to see Christina Haack compete against Tarek and Heather El Moussa in the first of many renovation challenges. Since Tarek and Heather selected Real Housewives alum Heather Dubrow to judge the first round, Christina was able to choose the room.
So why did the Christina on the Coast star prioritize the kitchen in this major renovation? “The kitchen’s my favorite room in the house,” Haack told House Beautiful. “It’s what I feel like buyers are most interested in. It’s really the heart of the home, and I think it’s usually the biggest transformation as well.”
Turns out, a kitchen renovation can also have a offer a major return on investment. Not only did Christina say new kitchens “sell homes” in the premiere, but research suggests that a new-and-improved kitchen can recoup up to 60 percent of the money spent on your entire renovation. Let that sink in for a second, will you? However, it’s important to be thoughtful about the upgrades you bring to a kitchen renovation because they aren’t all value. According to Zillow, touches like yellow paint, silver hardware, and tile or laminate counters can actually hurt your home’s value.
During our interview with The Flip Off cast, Tarek and Heather poked fun at Christina’s penchant for kitchens. “Have you ever used a kitchen before?” Tarek asked, with a laugh. “We keep our shoes in our ovens,” Heather quipped.
While Christina admits her culinary capacity is limited to opening champagne and making a “mean” chicken nugget and fries—which, honestly, sounds great to us—she does know how to make a kitchen that wows. For this design pro, it all starts with creating an open and airy environment. “I don’t like when you walk through the front door and you’re in the kitchen,” she explained in the premiere. “We can open the space up and make it appear larger than it is.”
Christina removed some of her home’s constricting walls and moved to the kitchen to the opposite side. She also extended the current footprint to accommodate a spacious kitchen and small dining area. As for the style? “Classic design with a pop,” she says. “I want this kitchen to feel earthy, elegant, and inviting, all at the same time.” The elegant space is dressed to the nines with white oak cabinets, a high-end stove, and a porcelain backsplash and countertops with a pretty purple veining. And, of course, Christina says a large island was “a must.”
Despite spending less than Heather and Tarek—and having the “overall best design,” according to Dubrow—the El Moussa family ended up winning this round of The Flip Off. Still, we think Christina’s transformation is a total chef’s kiss.
Want to catch up on all the design drama? You can currently stream The Flip Off on Max or watch brand-new episodes every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on HGTV.
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