2016 Kitchen Trends

2016 Kitchen Trends

Houzz just dropped their 2016 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study.  It’s a must read for designers, builders, and homeowners who are planning a remodel.  The study uncovers the trends that define today’s kitchen, including the emergence of the “super kitchen.”  This room serves multiple purposes, blurring the lines between the room and other living spaces, and incorporates features, functions and décor typically associated with other rooms.

Other takeaways include:

  • Kitchens are the hub of the home:

A majority of homeowners spend more than three hours per day in their kitchens.  Other than cooking and baking, top activities are eating and dining (69%), entertaining (49%) and socializing (43%).

  • Kitchen walls coming down:

48% of renovating homeowners are making their kitchens more open to other living spaces and 46% of renovated kitchens are completely open to other interior spaces.  18% are more open to the outdoors.

  • New kitchens mean new style:

76% of renovating homeowners change the style of their kitchen during the project.  Top styles are transitional (21%), contemporary (19%), and modern (12%).

  • Borrowed from the Living/Dining Room:

Many homeowners are adding features such a dining tables (25%), chandeliers (23%), TVs (14%) and desks/workspaces (7%) to their updated kitchens.  Customized features that support entertaining are also popular, including wine refrigerators (11%) and built-in stations for coffee/tea (10%).

  • Pro help key:

87% of homeowners are enlisting professional help for their kitchen renovation project.  General contractors top the list (54%), followed by design professionals such as kitchen designers (27%), interior designers (14%) and architects (11%).