Top Kitchen Remodeling Trends

The list below includes seven trends from a Houzz survey followed by three form the kitchen designers and homeowner’s who have recently wrapped by a kitchen renovation.

Here’s what HOT:

• Chef’s stoves: A professional-grade range – a stove with options such as a flat griddle or a cooktop to accommodate a searing pan or a wok – topped kitchen wished for lists in the Houzz survey; 32 percent of respondents selected them as their dream appliance.

“What a consumer looks at, even if they don’t cook, is it looks cool,” Houzz said.

Double ovens garnered 18 percent. Other high-end features such as induction cooktops, wine refrigerators and convection ovens seemed to matter less. Only 4 percent considered warming drawers a priority.

• Eco-friendly features: Nearly half of those surveyed – 49 percent – said using eco-friendly appliances and materials in the kitchen is important.

While a variety of Energy Star- recommended appliances and green-certified building materials are on the market, eco-friendly changes also can be as simple as using cloth rather than paper towels, replacing plastic containers with glass, or using non-toxic cleaners, Houzz contributors note.

• Granite  and quartz countertops: Most respondents – 94 percent – said they’re changing their countertops. Granite still rocks, topping the list at 50 percent, but quartz is a rising star, coming in at 36 percent. Marble only drew 10 percent. Tile got a paltry 2 percent.

Quartz countertops are resistant to stains and scratches and are easy to take care of kitchen designers say. “They’re pretty bulletproof,” Mike Close, president of Spinnaker Development in Newport Beach, which designs, builds and remodels custom homes.

David and Apryl Imboden went with Caesarstone, a quartz product, for the countertops as part of an extensive kitchen remodel on an Orange, California, house they bought last June. “With granite you’ve got to seal it and take care of it and can’t put certain things on the countertops.” David Imboden said. “I just wanted a countertop that you don’t have to think about.”

Kristie Christy, however, chose marble for her island top when she remodeled her kitchen last summer. “I like the veining in the marble,” she said. “I just love the clean look. It’s a little care. I had a couple of people say, ‘Don’t do it!’ But I did and I love it.”

• Tile backsplash. Tile, however, was the top choice for backsplash accents. Half of the respondents preferred it, with marble, stone slab and other material trailing far behind. “A lot of people are using the backsplash as sort of jewelry of the kitchen.” said Sheila Schmitz, Houzz.com editor. “That’s where they’ll put that splash of color, because it won’t be overwhelming.”

David Imboden, said he found the backsplash the toughest decision of all. “There’s just so many choices,” he said. “The backsplash probably dates you kitchen more than anything.”

• Stainless steel. A majority of respondents – 65 percent – favor stainless steel appliances. Some homeowners are combining appliance finishes or integrating stainless steel into cabinetry, and 12 percent are choosing white or colored appliances.
• Floors. Hardwood floors led list for choices, but here’s another area where tiles made a strong showing, coming in second. Remember good old linoleum? It garnered only 3 percent. Concrete did worse – 2 percent.
• Islands. They’re popular but not a must. While 61 percent said they’re coming incorporating an island, for some others, it would be the wrong choice, either because the room is too small or the configuration wouldn’t work.

“A kitchen has to large enough for an island,” Nassetta said. “If you squeeze one in and it’s not the right width or too tight, the client won’t be happy in the end. If your constantly walking around an island just to have one…it won’t be right.”

David Imboden did much of the remodeling himself on his 300-square foot kitchen, complete with breakfast nook. He consulted  designer, but in the end Imboden realized that an island wasn’t the way to go. “It really didn’t fit right,” he said. “It would of blocked the nook.”

•  Transitional style. This look – blend of traditional and contemporary – has grown popularity, up from 59 percent to 69 percent, according to the Kitchen and Bath Association.
• White Cabinets. Whites and off whites are the top choice for color schemes, at 73 percent, increase of 6 percent over the previous year. The popularity of white cabinets jumped from 59 percent in 2012 to 67 percent this year.

“They – the clients- say, ‘I want my kitchen to be light and bright.” Close said

• Grey color scheme. Grays are coming on strong, according to the survey and local designers. “In kitchens, shades of gray have noticeably jumped in use over the past three years,” the association said in its summary, noting an increase from 9 percent in 2010 to “a remarkable” 55 percent in the last three months of 2012.

“If you put in a classic white kitchen, very few people don’t like that. Grey is also really hot. It has been for the past couple of years and it’s still trending that way.” Houzz said.

The takeaway from all this?

People really want easy, clean, unfussy kitchens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized by Tracy Fox.