Alex Xakoustis is the owner of Italkraft, LLC working in Miami.
Every week, we ask a Miami real estate professional for their thoughts on the top three stories from the week before. This week, we spoke with Alex Xakoustis, the owner of Italkraft, LLC.
Miami Agent (MA): Can you explain a little how the roles of kitchens and bathrooms have evolved in Condos over the year, and why they’re now so important?
Alex Xakoustis (AX): When selling pre-development projects, the showroom always has a model kitchen and bathroom to give the potential buyer a first imagining of their home. Condo layouts have evolved in the past few years, and almost all condo floor plans now have open kitchens. With the kitchen transforming from just another room in a home to the new focal point of a residence, we see this room determining the overall look and feel for the décor of the entire home. Bathrooms are becoming more luxurious to resemble in-home spas, and getting ready in one that’s well designed can set the mood for an entire day.
MA: Drawing from your professional experience, do you think the trending of kitchen importance is a passing fade or it’s the new longterm standard, why or why not?
AX: Today’s buyer seeks integrated spaces that prove themselves to be more valuable as they are multi-functional. That’s a trend that won’t end. When a new building is being designed, developers take this into consideration and make the kitchen the heart of the home. Italkraft works with the designers from the project’s onset to create the overall feel of the entire development. Then we take the designer’s vision and value engineer it to fit into the budget of the developer, which we’re constantly seeing has an increasing amount allocated for the kitchens.
MA: Can you detail some of the ways in which Miami sets the stage for condo design?
AX: Miami is very interesting city for condos. Thanks to our developers, we have one of the best skylines in the country, and we’re seeing world-renowned architects being brought in to take residential real estate to the next level. The discerning buyer in Miami looks for statement properties, not just a home, and design is a top priority on their list of must haves. Italkraft has been fortunate enough to work with some of the top designers in the world, and we bring them the latest in materials and finishes. Shortly after, we see it spread to other parts of the country and know that we had it first.