Above: A sleek, modern kitchen custom-designed by Divine Design Center

For those searching for a home or apartment, especially in Boston’s high-frequency real estate market, elegance and customization are key elements. That elegance begins in the kitchen, where designers seek to balance modern amenities and old-fashioned comfort. A leader in sophisticated modern kitchen design is Battery Wharf-based Divine Design Center, co-owned by husband and wife Magued and Mariette Barsoum. The pair and their team bring modern design, European style and sleek function to what has become the heart of the home, designing kitchens as cozy havens for families and friends to gather as well as functional workplaces to cook, eat and entertain.

Divine’s aesthetically-striking spaces featuring finishes by notable European designers and leave a lasting impression on all users, particularly owners who interact with the kitchen thousands of times in a life cycle. Divine encourages a thought-provoking view of the procurement, design and implementation of kitchens that improve true quality of living and leaving a lasting impression. We spoke with Mariette about Divine’s design philosophy:

What are buyers looking for in a kitchen?

We focus on all types of needs for families and couples. These groups obviously seek different things, but you would be surprised how similar they are. Right now, people are seeking efficiency with space. Many people seek to open up their kitchen when families grow and the kitchen no longer fits the needs and style required and desired, or simply to make the floor plan look bigger and more spacious.

A big want for buyers right now is lighting in drawers, storage spaces and pantries. Buyers are also seeking increased and more efficient and ergonomic storage space designed in a more modern and elegant fashion. Both families and couples want that same sense of comfort and elegance.

How does a custom kitchen impact closing real estate sales and resale value?

In terms of closing a sale, having a non-generic elegant customized kitchen is great. The kitchen is customized to your needs — it can be big and open if you have a big family, or sophisticated and modern if you are a couple, or a mix of both. Our customized kitchens are top-of-the-line and designed thoughtfully to meet and exceed today’s requirements, attracting homebuyers and raising resale values for customers.

What are the benefits of a large showroom?

Here at Divine Design Center, we have an incredible 8,000 square foot showroom [on Battery Wharf] meant to demonstrate different tastes and styles. Our showroom affords the customer a hands-on look at our offerings. Having a showroom helps customers make a quicker and smarter decision about what kitchen suits them best.