CHICAGO — Evolving new lifestyles, household activities, and homeowner demographics continue to influence kitchen design preferences, functionality considerations, and product choices, according to a national survey by U.S. Research Institute. It became clear. Kitchen & Bath Design News I found it.
The online survey, conducted in February among nearly 300 kitchen design professionals, found that more than ever, homeowners view the kitchen as the multifunctional heart of a healthy home that reflects their position. It depicts a portrait of its owner's vast and diverse world. -Lifestyles and family structures during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as a wider range of activities than ever before.
When describing today's kitchen remodeling clients, design professionals surveyed said first and foremost homeowners who want their newly designed kitchen to look good to others. Design experts also point out that consumers who renovate their kitchens lead active lifestyles and have a lot of fun. Renovation clients typically want open concept kitchens, living spaces, and even larger kitchens (and are often willing to spend more money than they budgeted to get what they want). I'm thinking about it, but there are many kitchens that are beyond my budget). A healthy home environment is also a hallmark of today's typical kitchen consumer. (See Figure 1).
Homeowners are expanding their activities in their renovated kitchens. KBDN Research found. Among the activities they are reportedly doing more now than they were a few years ago: entertaining family and friends, working from home, and working from home (as opposed to simply reheating pre-cooked meals). This includes preparing a complete meal.
Specifically, 62.9% of design professionals completed the survey. KBDN Many of our kitchen remodeling clients report working from home. 32% said their clients' children were doing more schoolwork in the kitchen, 25% reported an increase in TV and video viewing, and 24.6% reported an increase in pet care. , 12.5% reported an increase in clients crafting in the kitchen. (See Figure 2).
Large multifunctional islands top the long list of “must-have” products and features for today's kitchen remodeling clients. Other kitchen essentials include storage and organization features, custom and semi-custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, and LED lighting. (See Figure 3).
Kitchen designers report seeing a diverse range of customers, from families of all ages with and without children, to empty nesters to young couples buying their first home. (See Figure 4).
The client cohort was defined as follows:
- young family with children: Homeowners in their 20s or 30s who are buying or recently purchased their first home and have younger children as part of their household.
- elderly family with children: Homeowners in their late 40s to 50s who have increased income and have school-age children in their household, and are planning to purchase a new home.
- young family, no children: Homeowners in their 20s and 30s who are buying their first home or have just purchased one.
- Elderly family, no children: Homeowners in their 40s or 50s who have increased their income and are purchasing a step-up home.
- Senior family, no children: Homeowners in their 60s and older who are planning their next steps in life.
Price ranges for complete kitchen remodels vary widely, but the median price for projects completed in the past two years by design professionals surveyed was $71,874. Approximately 27% of the projects completed by surveyed design professionals cost more than $100,000, and more than 10% cost more than $150,000. (See Figure 5).
Of the design professionals surveyed, more report that the kitchens they design are based on their clients' cultural influences, such as specific ways of preparing and storing different foods and spices. , relatively few. 25.4% said their kitchen was “not at all” influenced by cultural considerations. 42.5% answered “slightly”. Few expect these trends to change appreciably next year. ▪
Home sizes are shrinking, NAHB study finds
WASHINGTON, DC — The size of new homes briefly increased in 2021, but the average size of new homes continues to inch smaller as home builders reduce square footage to suit buyer preferences, says National Housing. Reported by the Construction Contractors Association.
According to NAHB's latest What Homebuyers Really Want survey, homebuyers are looking for homes around 2,070 square feet, up from 2,260 square feet 20 years ago.
According to NAHB, the average residential area in 2023 will decrease from 2,479 square feet in 2022 to 2,411 square feet in 2023, the lowest average size in 13 years.
“Homebuyers aren't just changing their size preferences; they're also changing their overall design preferences, putting more emphasis on personalization and authenticity,” says the Washington, D.C.-based company. industry groups pointed out.
Home amenities that remain at the top of buyers' wish lists include a laundry room, full bath on the main level, walk-in pantry, table space in the kitchen, and more. NAHB says technology features are becoming increasingly popular, most notably security cameras, wired home security systems, programmable thermostats, video doorbells, multi-zone HVAC systems and energy management systems.
Other home features that have significantly increased in popularity over the past decade include quartz or terracotta used in kitchen countertops, lighting control systems, outdoor kitchens, and built-in kitchen seating.
Various issues explained in detail by kitchen design professionals
CHICAGO — Today's kitchen designers are faced with unprecedented challenges such as diverse household structures, the emergence of new lifestyles, a growing focus on functionality, and widespread differences in product and design preferences among homeowners. We face a variety of challenges in our unique markets.
On the other hand, a significant proportion of design professionals (54%) Kitchen & Bath Design News While some groups of consumers say it's dramatically harder to work with than others, designers say the range of household structures is expanding, including traditional families, couples without children, and multiple people. Accordingly, it is reported that the role of the kitchen in the post-corona home will continue to expand. – generational households, single adult households, etc. – can pose unique challenges in today's market. Designers report that among these challenges are the large number of household decision-makers, frequent homeowner indecision, unrealistic design and product selection, and unrealistic budgets. This includes a series of market headwinds.
“More and more of my clients are requesting multiple kitchens. They want their kitchen and their adult children's, or their parents', kitchens in an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) environment, or in the basement or attic. '' said one designer. KBDN. “They all want these spaces to be their own, and their tastes vary widely. Often times, each person has conflicting opinions and has more opinions, needs, and things to consider. It exists.”
“Multi-generational kitchens are difficult because you want to give everyone what they want, (but) their needs are different and everyone has a different opinion,” commented another design expert. “It helps to know that everyone has a seat at the decision-making table and that everyone's needs are considered.”
“When designing for a family, the kitchen needs to evolve and grow with the family's needs,” said the designers surveyed. “Ensuring sufficient seating and food preparation space is a balance that many clients seek from designers. Provide space not just for eating, but for doing daily tasks such as doing homework. , the overall challenge is to create a kitchen that serves as a gathering space.”
“The most difficult situation for me is when grandparents and parents have a say in their grown children's kitchen remodeling decisions,” said another. “This creates a dynamic where choices are negatively commented on, and parents try to convince their children to go with the parent's preference.
“Younger children need items with a specific design, while grandparents generally want age-appropriate features. We're trying to serve both ends of the spectrum.”
Among other observations reported: KBDN:
- “Many of my clients want everything in a small space, including an open kitchen, wall oven, stove, and a place for the family to eat in the kitchen, or for the kids to do schoolwork or projects. I’m here.” Many people live in modestly sized homes rather than the large designer-sized kitchens that are always featured in consumer protection organizations' magazines. Most of these clients either want to install more cabinets than the size of their space or have a hard time understanding that they need to move their kitchen into a larger room to create a larger island. Masu. ”
- “Homes with children make things more difficult, especially during the design stage. It's difficult to get parents' attention when children run around at their feet, walk away with samples, or interrupt conversations. The main problem with children in a house under construction is not to let them enter the construction area and not to leave with tools. A second parent or adult should be in charge of the children. It helps if you have parents, but these things are more difficult when you only have one parent.”
- “In the case of single parents and children, parents have little time to spend on meetings and commitments, or have clear ideas about effective kitchen design. Especially when children are given a say in the design process. Children can disrupt the decision-making process if you have children. I try to design my kitchen with long-term value in mind, but I also know that my children will grow up and today's needs will quickly outgrow them. Some parents don't realize that.”
- “Although these clients are not that common, single parents with children are the hardest to work with because their families are so busy that they don't have enough time to meet for screening.”
- “Single parents without children seem to be targeted by our designs from time to time, but even after considering numerous design concepts, it seems difficult to achieve complete satisfaction.
- “Our challenge is to provide more technology to younger users compared to older users who want everything to be easy and simple without the need for extra technology.”
