You know you shouldn't care, but don't you ever want to know what's going on in other people's homes? At least when it comes to decorations? Last week, his 2024 Houzz Kitchen Trend Survey was released and I thought I'd take a peek. I wanted to know what I was cooking in the kitchen, not just because I like to follow along or because I'm nosy in general, but mainly because my daughter and husband were in the kitchen. Because we are about to undertake a major renovation.
It's like the first time you see your child drive away with a new driver's license. There's nothing you can do but hope it doesn't crash.
When Paige and her husband bought their first home together 18 months ago, they knew they wanted to eventually upgrade their overwhelming kitchen. After living in the house, we had time to think about what we wanted.
“We love to cook and entertain,” Page said. “That's the way we live. Our kitchen doesn't lend itself to either.” Their choice came down to moving or improving. Sound familiar? With a baby on the way (insert cartwheel emoji), they made up their minds and set out.
They asked designers to show them what was possible. The designers created a plan that would actually allow them to get what they wanted. Their new kitchen features a larger island with seating, upgraded creamy tan cabinetry with a smart built-in storage system, better appliances, and white quartz countertops replacing dark speckled granite .
Houzz has an announcement. There was no need to go through the trouble of conducting a survey. This couple pretty much represents what most remodelers look for in a new kitchen.
Houzz, a popular software platform for home improvement stores and industry professionals, has been publishing kitchen trends research for a decade, said Houzz staff economist Marine Sargsyan, who helped compile the research. This year, he responded to more than 3,400 U.S. homeowners, all of whom had recently completed or were in the process of remodeling their kitchens.
“The great thing about this survey is that it doesn't ask wishful questions, like do you want more storage? Or a walk-in pantry? What did you actually do? ” Sargsyan said.
According to this year's report, here's what's hot in the kitchen today:
· The kitchen is open. “We were happy to see a reversal after the pandemic when homeowners were hesitant to open up their kitchens to the rest of the house,” Sargsyan said. “We have returned to open-concept kitchens that allow for more social interaction.” Among respondents, 43% said they had made their kitchens more open to other indoor spaces, and Compared to a year ago he increased by 5%. Of homeowners who made their kitchens more open, almost two-thirds (64%) removed walls.
· Organized storage is a priority. Consumers continue to put functionality first, she said. Features such as cookie sheet organizers (55%), spice racks (44%), cutlery organizers (41%) and flatware organizers (37%) are each three points more popular than last year. These were all must-haves on Page's list.
· The island is growing. The kitchen was identified as a place to cook, eat, entertain and work from the office or from home, with a strong trend towards large islands with seating. Among renovators, 42% added islands of 7 feet or more, up from 38% last year. “There aren’t that many islands that are less than 6 feet,” she said.
· Trade-offs are real. Sargsyan added that what is not included in the report are the trade-offs that are required in most projects. For example, making the kitchen larger may mean sacrificing other areas, such as making the laundry room smaller. For example, Paige loves her walk-in pantry, but is looking to get rid of it in order to create more counter space and more floor space across the island. She is counting on her clever storage solutions to make up for the loss.
· Most seek professional help. More than four out of five homeowners (84%) seek professional help for their kitchen renovation. The most commonly employed professionals are general contractors (55%), followed by cabinetmakers at 35%. One of her three homeowners has hired her designer for her kitchen.
· People still like white. Bright colors are still the norm, especially on counters. “Multi-colored countertops and backsplashes are becoming rarer.” Cream-and-white countertops are the choice of his 43 percent of remodelers. White cabinets also continue to be popular at 46%, followed by wooden cabinets, whether dark, medium or light, at 25%. Interestingly, his quarter of renovators painted the upper cabinets a different color than the lower ones (often white on the top and wood on the bottom). Meanwhile, 46% chose to have their island a different color than their cabinetry. Top pick at 25%.
・Overlap light. LED lighting is recognized for its sustainability and long lifespan and is incorporated into 91% of projects. Recessed lighting was part of the plan in three of the four renovated kitchens. 69% included under-cabinet lighting, and more than half (56%) included pendant lighting. Lighting dimmers are also on the rise, being included in 47% of renovations.
・Cost increases. Like everything else, kitchen remodeling costs are rising. The median cost for a major kitchen remodel (meaning it includes all new cabinets) is $55,000, an increase of 22% from last year. The median cost for minor renovations was $18,000, an increase of 29%.
· What's coming out? Glass doors and open shelving are on the decline as more consumers choose to keep their belongings hidden, which is probably a good idea.
Marni Jameson is the author of seven books, including the newly released book“Size right today to build your best life tomorrow: A motivational guide for those seeking the ideal home later in life.”, and “What to do with everything you own to leave the legacy you want.” She can be reached at the following address:marnijamson.com.
