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Kitchens and baths remain a strong segment of the remodeling
market, because like other remodeling markets in the current
construction economy, homeowners are choosing to stay in and renovate
their existing homes rather than purchase or build new homes.
These two areas of the home have traditionally been the beneficiary of
the bulk of most homeowners’ careful planning and renovation dollars,
and that should continue to hold true. While the economic slowdown has
certainly affected the overall scope and expenditure on kitchen and
baths, people simply aren’t willing to skimp too much on the rooms they
use most. They want a certain flair and style while incorporating as
many creature comforts and features that make their daily use as
enjoyable as possible.
“Traditional is still the predominant design style, but it is constantly
evolving and incorporating contemporary elements,” says Peter Ross
Salerno, CMKBD, owner of Peter Salerno, Inc. in Wyckoff, N.J. “I’m
seeing a lot of sleek, European styling and contemporary elements like
glass, stainless steel and concrete being combined with traditional
American ‘warm’ elements like cherry cabinets.”
This fusion of contemporary and traditional is not really a new trend,
but rather a continuation and evolution of what’s been going on in
kitchen and bath design over the last decade or so. Consumers love the
clean, straight lines of European-inspired faucets and appliances, but
they still crave the rich warmth and comfort of traditional American
elements such as cherry cabinetry and farmhouse sinks.
“People nowadays are going for what I call the ‘soft contemporary’
style,” says Alan Hilsabeck, Jr., CMKBD, RID, president of Hilsabeck
Design Associates in Flower Mound, Texas. “I’m seeing fewer intricate
carvings and moldings and more proportionate lines and simple elements.
Most people are trying to achieve a simple elegance for a calm, relaxing
and tranquil design aesthetic.”
The results from the National Kitchen and Bath Association 2010 Kitchen
and bath style survey reinforce this notion and shows that the soft
contemporary trend is nationwide. More than 75 percent of NKBA members
surveyed said that traditional styling was the style of choice for their
customers, but more than half of survey respondents stated that they
also incorporated many contemporary elements into their customer’s
designs as well.
The economic effect
Activity in the kitchen and bath segment of the remodeling market has
remained strong, but many are seeing customers scale back on their
overall scope and budget. “Before the bubble it was all about the ‘bling
factor.’ But the downturn has caused people to demand added value – not
just gadgets that look cool,” says Ji Kim, industrial design manager
for Moen. “They’re willing to spend a little more money, but only if the
product looks good, makes use easier and is durable.”
Hilsabeck, whose firm specializes in medium-high to high-end projects,
says many of his clients are scaling back a bit in the scope of their
projects. He says consumers in general are more educated on realistic
cost as opposed to simply focusing on price, which means they aren’t
remodeling on the cheap, but they are eschewing “dream items.”
“People are scaling back on jetted tubs, for example. They still want a
good quality jetted tub, but they aren’t going for the chromatherapy,
fancy leather cushions and other bells and whistles,” says Hilsabeck.
“When my customers want a new kitchen or bath on a budget, they no
longer want to tear out entire walls and move plumbing or electrical
components. They stay within the existing footprint and are being very
careful with their material choices.”
Salerno specializes in very high-end kitchens and baths only, and says
his clients are sometimes scaling back, but those who are concerned
about budgets are putting remodeling projects off for a time until the
economy bounces back. “I’ve seen some scaling back on flooring and
countertop choices, but most of my clients are simply postponing because
they don’t want to compromise on any features,” he says. “Above all,
people still view their kitchens and baths as showpiece rooms that they
and their guests can admire, but more importantly they also realize they
will be spending a lot of time in these rooms and they want to enjoy
the entire time.”
In the lower to middle segments of kitchen and bath remodels, the NKBA
survey found there is a definite trend toward cost-efficiency, which
emphasizes value over lowest price. These customers will still spend an
average of 15 to 25 percent of their home’s value in a kitchen remodel
(10 to 20 percent for baths), but in the current economic climate that
often leads to frugal decisions. That can mean anything from going with
counter-depth slide-in appliances to achieve the look of built-ins
without the price tag, to re-using old granite from a kitchen remodel to
spruce up a bathroom vanity.
Individual trends
So, what effects have the recent glut of style-savvy but cost-conscious
consumers had on what’s been installed in recent kitchen and bath
remodels? Generally speaking, luxury kitchens and baths are still
sporting all the fancy features and components that high-end customers
crave, and those remodels in the lower price points are gleaning some of
those features deemed conducive to a better experience, while forgoing
those that are too frivolous for a tighter budget.
Faucets – Pull-downs remain the faucet of choice for
kitchens, with many customers choosing those that require only a
one-hole cutout for a streamlined look and easier cleaning. Hilsabeck
says his clients are looking for functional pieces of art in the kitchen
and still choosing multiple showerheads and body sprays in the
bathroom. Brushed nickel is still the hot finish, but Venetian and
oil-rubbed bronze are becoming more prevalent. Polished chrome in both
the kitchen and bath and all white faucets in the bathroom are gaining
in popularity as well.
Sinks – Hammered copper and custom fabricated stone and
concrete sinks are still popular in high end kitchens, while stainless
steel still rules in the other price points. For bathrooms, Hilsabeck
says he sees a nationwide movement away from vessel bowls – mostly due
to care, cleaning and maintenance issues. “Undermount is dominant now,
and partially recessed bowls are gaining in popularity because you can
get the look of a vessel bowl, but cleaning is easier and you can still
have a deck-mounted faucet as opposed to the added expense of
wall-mounting,” says Hilsabeck.
Countertops – Granite still dominates the landscape,
but engineered stone surfaces are making great gains in all price
points. Salerno says his clients will choose just about any surface from
natural wood to concrete to stainless steel if it helps them achieve
the look they crave – no matter what the maintenance issues.
Cost-conscious customers will often mix and match surfaces, using
expensive granite on a center island for visual effect while installing
solid surface or high quality laminate in other areas. Many people are
splurging on natural stone, ceramic and glass tile for backsplashes or
accent areas to add a little “pop” for very little added expense.
Cabinets – Cherry, maple and alder (in that order) are
the most popular cabinet materials, and white/neutral furniture-grade
paints and finishes are becoming more common. Clean, straight lines and
simpler molding and trim are in demand, as evidenced by the rise in
popularity of Shaker style cabinetry. Task-oriented cabinetry and work
stations are on the rise, such as baking stations with tray drawers and
other cabinet spaces to house specialty appliances.
Flooring – Hardwood flooring dominates the kitchen
landscape, while porcelain and ceramic tile are the materials of choice
in bathrooms. “I’ve seen a lot of scaling back on travertine and other
natural stone tiles,” says Hilsabeck. “Porcelains and ceramics now have a
huge presence because of their high quality and much lower price.”
Lighting – The main trend in this category is energy
efficiency, as LED fixtures continue to become more popular. More and
bigger windows are in vogue for natural light and views. Designers are
constantly looking for new and different ways to incorporate lighting
into kitchen designs, from clever under cabinet and task lighting
installations to those that are less utilitarian but nonetheless have
great impact. “I installed fiber-optic lighting into the concrete
countertop of an oceanside home, and timed it to dim and brighten in
unison with the sound of the waves outside,” says Salerno. “The
homeowners were blown away.”
Green aspects – The universal acceptance of high
efficiency faucets and fixtures and energy star appliances has been good
news for green advocates, and on-demand tankless hot water heaters and
hot water recirculating pumps are strong sellers, but other eco-friendly
measures are still considered not worth the added expense and hassle to
many consumers. “My clients aren’t necessarily going out of their way
to seek green items, but some are more popular because they provide the
look consumers want -- such as bamboo flooring,” says Salerno.
“Reclaimed items are popular, but more for their design interest as
opposed to the green aspects. I’ve had large range hoods fashioned from
reclaimed tin ceilings and people love the look and function, but the
recycled aspect is just a bonus for my clients – not a necessity.”
Looking forward
The future for kitchen and bath trends looks bright, as designers,
manufacturers and homeowners alike will continue to push design and
performance advancements. “One area that I feel will move forward in the
near future is greywater re-use,” says Paul Patton, senior product
development manager for Delta.
“Manufacturers are working right now with
the medical community to get standards written, and once they are
adopted and accepted by the public, that will be a huge new product
segment for kitchens and baths.”
The combination of electronics and faucet design will also continue to
evolve. Touchless faucet technology has gained strong acceptance and
manufacturers are constantly fine-tuning the technology and its
implementation. And other electronic features are making inroads as
well. “Digital showers where the user can pre-set temperature and
pressure settings, start their morning shower by remote control and
program multiple showerheads are very promising,” says Ji Kim from Moen.
“Those types of things are still a luxury trend right now, but those
always seem to trickle down to the lower price points and the frivolous
features are culled out and the technology gains more widespread
demand.”
As far as designs and motifs go, most in the industry agree that it will
be a continuation of the last decade or so – soft contemporary with a
mix-and match mentality. Consumers will continue to combine certain
elements from sleek European designs into their familiar and comfortable
traditional motifs.
“It seems like our industry has been pushing contemporary for a few
years,” says Salerno. “But it’s really not contemporary versus
traditional. It’s a fusion of both styles and this is where I think
we’ll be going for at least the next ten years or so.”
