Growth In Kitchen & Bath Remodels
With a slower housing market, many homeowners today are deciding to stay in their current home and remodel their kitchen, bathroom, bar room, etc. In both good times and bad times, homeowners tend to remodel the two rooms they use most often—the kitchen and bathroom. As economic times change, more people are deciding to stay in and entertain guests, versus going out to restaurants, bars, etc., which may be one reason that kitchen remodels have stayed steady. Bathroom remodels are also popluar because people tend to enjoy having a room that not only allows them to get ready, but also gives them a feeling of comfort and relaxation.
According to “Kitchen/Bath Trends ‘08,” an article found in the April 2008 issue of Qualified Remodeler magazine, there are several trends taking place with todays home remodels including…installing granite countertops. Some other trends emerging include vast color ranges, plenty of storage space, open rooms, and functionality/ease of use for applicances cabinets, etc.
Following are some highlights from the article:
- Color: Dark, rich tones are popular, as well as lighter tones. Many people are also experimenting with new colors. Victoria Strother of PS Construction Inc., in Sacramento, CA stated in the article, “We have some really dark kitchens, and some really light kitchens, and in part, this is established by the color of granite that they choose.”
- Storage: Many people like islands and are looking for more areas to gather with more countertop and storage space.
- Connection to the outdoors: Cramped areas with poor lighting, are being remodeled to include wide open spaces, and large windows. Long surfaces such as peninsulas and islands are popular because they provide the optical illusion of more space.
- Practical function-based choices: Many consumers are trying to utilize existing space better. (e.g. Some consumers are picking showers with luxurious features over tubs.)
- Granite Countertops: According to the 2008 survey conducted by Qualified Remodeler magazine, “Granite remains the overwhelming choice with homeowners, garnering the top place for countertops among 32% of the respondents.”
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite, Industry News on May 8th, 2008 by Barb | |
