Janet Cook
In the days before Pinterest and Houzz, to get an idea for Home Remodeling Fairfax VA, one either had to buy magazines or travel around to model homes and take photos. Social media makes gathering ideas and images easy. We can do it right from home! Blog articles that synthesize what professional journals are reporting as trending can be very helpful in keeping a new kitchen or bath current for years to come.
Houzz published their 2018 results from surveying over 1700 U.S. homeowners about their recent or planned kitchen renovations to find out what are the trends in kitchen design. Here are some of their findings:
No Clutter. This is priority. All countertop appliances are being tucked away, and waste and recycling receptacles are in a pull-out cabinet. They plan for abundant, organized storage for utensils, pans and dishes so everything is easy to store and to find. Close to half wanted to increase the size of the kitchen to meet their needs.
Engineered Quartz Countertops is now more popular than granite, which has been in a three-year decline. There has been such advancement in color production that they can easily mimic the look of marble or stone, and multicolored countertops are preferred. They are more durable, less porous than granite. You’ll love it so much you will want to keep your counters clear of clutter! Though, you may still want to get that classic granite installed. If that is the case, make sure you contact a proper Granite Countertop Installer to make sure the job’s done well!
Mix in style. U-shaped kitchens are being replaced by a more open, L-shaped layout with a kitchen island and breakfast bar. Transitional, contemporary and farmhouse styles are favored over traditional. Shaker door style custom or semi-custom cabinets were preferred (43% were getting white, 25% wood). Stainless steel appliances are most popular.
Lighting. This is one of the most important features of any room. There needs to be a balance when it comes to lighting; too bright and the room feels intense, but too dark and the room feels dingy. There is a variety of forms of lighting available, meaning it is easy to get the right balance if you know the right mix of lighting types to get. This is especially important in a kitchen, and in particular those with a kitchen island. The best kitchen islands always have spectacular lighting, so if you are looking for the right lighting for above your island then we recommend you visit somewhere like Claxy to view their range of pendant lights. These are without a doubt the best for above an island.
Flooring. Hardwood or wood-like materials are being used. Engineered wood and wood laminate are on the rise. One of the reasons for this could be that they are easier to clean than carpets, as well as modernizing the desired room. Many people may decide to browse the different types of wood flooring that One Stop Flooring has to find a style of flooring that best fits in with their interior design. Some types of wood flooring may even come with underfloor heating, which could also persuade more people to choose wood flooring over carpet.
Budget. Coastal cities spend the most, e.g., San Francisco spends an average of $70,000 for a major kitchen remodeling project. The national average is $42,000. Eighty-five percent of those surveyed said they would hire a professional to manage the project, and 52% would hire a general contractor. The majority splurged on countertops, “smart” appliances and cabinets (42%, 39% and 31%, respectively) and sought to save on flooring, backsplashes and lighting.
Happy Kitchen Remodeling!
Janet Cook, CAPS, President of Cook Remodeling (celebrating their 39th year), invites you to visit their blog on cookremodeling.com for photos and more informative articles.