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Counter tops have grow to be extra essential than ever as each an aesthetic and purposeful part in immediately’s kitchens, with shoppers more and more prepared to put money into bigger, multi-functional tops in an ever-widening array of supplies, colours and configurations.
That’s the key discovering of a nationwide survey carried out by Kitchen & Bathtub Design Information amongst 400+ kitchen and tub design professionals, who report that counter tops – impacted by COVID-driven altering existence, regional preferences, budgets and preferences – have more and more grow to be an integral a part of modern-day kitchens, serving not solely of their conventional roles of meals prep, eating, cleanup and entertaining, however as an area for varsity work, hobbies and crafts, work-from-home initiatives, cellular machine/smart-phone charging and different actions (see associated sidebar).
KBDN’s on-line ballot, carried out in March, discovered that 52% of the sellers and designers surveyed imagine that counter tops have gotten extra essential to general kitchen design, whereas a whopping 74% report that counter tops have gotten bigger in dimension than in years previous (see Figures 1 & 2).
Practically three-quarters (72%) of the design execs surveyed additionally advised KBDN that kitchen counter tops are usually turning into extra multifunctional than in years previous. In distinction, 24% stated that countertop performance is about the identical as up to now, whereas solely 3% of these polled stated that counter tops should not extra multifunctional than up to now.
“Counter tops have gotten way more vital now than up to now,” stated Wealthy Metivier, of Kitchen Direct Inc., in Westfield, MA. “Our shoppers are prepared to spend extra for the of entirety of their kitchen. In addition they desire a maintenance-free product, primarily as a result of life basically has been turned the wrong way up.”
“Counter tops are essential to an general kitchen design – maybe as a lot a key now as cabinetry,” one other designer noticed. “In my opinion, they’re just like the flowers on a cake.”
“Our shoppers are on the lookout for distinctive patterns and colours,” a 3rd survey respondent commented. “They need their countertop to be drop-dead attractive, and be the ‘star of the present’.”
Stated one other: “Clients are on the lookout for the ‘wow’ issue of their kitchen counter tops.”
In step with these sentiments, roughly 73% of the design execs surveyed by KBDN report that immediately’s prospects are more and more prepared to take a position cash – and even stretch their finances – with a purpose to get hold of the fabric, performance and aesthetic qualities they need. In sharp distinction, solely about 4% are spending much less on their counter tops than up to now, survey respondents stated (see Determine 3).
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But regardless of the dizzying array of colours, supplies, options and different selections obtainable, kitchen shoppers are apparently very particular on the subject of the attributes they most search when choosing their counter tops, the KBDN survey discovered.
In response to the survey’s findings, key elements in countertop choice – other than value and materials choice – embody sturdiness, ease of upkeep and ease of cleanliness. Different elements, corresponding to sustainability and antimicrobial qualities, are additionally vital concerns – as is, in some circumstances, the place a product is made (see Determine 4).
Kitchen shoppers additionally proceed to lean decidedly towards engineered quartz because the countertop materials of alternative immediately.
Particularly, the KBDN survey discovered that engineered quartz counter tops are seen by roughly 30% of these surveyed because the countertop they see rising quickest in demand.
By comparability, quartzite – pure sandstone fused beneath warmth and stress with sparkly quartz crystals – is seen because the fastest-growing kitchen countertop materials by roughly 21% of survey respondents, whereas porcelain and wooden are every seen as fastest-growing amongst 10% of the design professionals polled. Different well-liked countertop selections embody granite, marble, sintered stone, metallic, recycled content material and concrete (see Determine 5).
The significance of choosing counter tops with distinct sanitary/well being advantages has apparently grow to be more and more vital to shoppers, likely on account of elevated consciousness relating to the advantages of anti-microbial safety as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, different design execs report. ▪
Multi-Useful Islands Seen as Key Kitchen Pattern
Picture: Josh Fast; J Fast Studios
SEATTLE — Immediately’s “superb” kitchen features a spacious, multi-functional island that “can seamlessly flex from breakfast bar to homework headquarters to dinner prep station,” in keeping with knowledge from Zillow, the Seattle-based real-estate market firm.
Zillow just lately unveiled what the corporate recognized as the highest 5 residential design tendencies to observe in 2023, noting that multifunctional kitchen islands drew a 19% enhance in mentions in itemizing descriptions on Zillow up to now yr.
“As we redefine the areas in our properties, kitchen islands are being designed to accommodate eating and entertaining actions within the kitchen fairly than the formal eating room,” stated Kerrie Kelly, artistic director at Kerrie Kelly Design Studio. “In 2023, we’ll see a surge of bigger, and even double kitchen islands, utilizing distinctive colours and supplies.”
“Totally different countertop supplies, mixture wooden and stone worktops, and combined metallic fixtures and {hardware} will grow to be extra widespread, as will householders more and more repurposing distinctive furnishings items or classic tables as islands,” Zillow noticed.
The youngest householders will lead a brand new wave of the pandemic-era renovation growth, in keeping with Zillow, whose survey discovered that 48% of householders youthful than 40 have tapped the fairness of their house up to now two years, mostly to pay for house enchancment initiatives.
“Nevertheless, 90% of these householders beneath age 40 who took out a home-equity line of credit score or a second mortgage, or opted for a cash-out refinance, have but to spend all the cash they borrowed, suggesting 2023 stands out as the yr they full all of the renovation initiatives on their to-do listing,” Zillow stated, including that the youthful technology of renovators is more likely to give attention to initiatives that make their properties extra sustainable, low-maintenance and high-tech.
Broad Vary of Preferences Reported for Counter tops
CHICAGO — In relation to kitchen counter tops, shopper preferences are as various because the obtainable choices, and primarily based on such elements as house owner demographics, budgets, existence, regionality, designer suggestions, preferences and purposeful concerns, in keeping with a survey by Kitchen & Bathtub Design Information.
KBDN’s ballot of kitchen design execs discovered {that a} dizzying array of colours, options and supplies as various as quartz, porcelain, quartzite, granite, sintered stone and wooden are discovering a house in immediately’s kitchens.
“Regardless of competitors over bodily properties, the primary shopper concern is tied to aesthetics,” one designer advised KBDN. “Many individuals simply need what their mates or household have, though high-end prospects usually need the newest ‘cool factor’ that makes their kitchen particular. What influences buy selections most is the creativeness of the designer, and the way she or he makes use of totally different supplies to finest have an effect on a artistic design.”
Stated one other design professional: “Utilizing totally different supplies for counter tops is one thing that’s undoubtedly trending – and has been for some time. I believe that’s going to proceed.”
“We take care of the A&D neighborhood, primarily serving a luxurious clientele,” one other designer stated. “Overwhelmingly, fake marble appears are out. Tender neutrals with minimal veining or sample are the go-to. Porcelain is turning into a buzzword, however it has but to provide massive gross sales numbers.”
One other main think about specification, designers word, are the purposeful concerns distinctive to every kitchen.
“It’s an thrilling time for kitchen counter tops,” one designer stated. “That stated, what’s usually ignored is how totally different supplies put on over time, and the way substrates should be constructed accordingly. What I’m seeing is plenty of lovely kitchens, and new pretty trying merchandise, however not sufficient data, or care taken, to make sure that individuals perceive what may occur over time with their counter tops.”
“Strong floor counter tops are gaining in reputation as a result of some prospects don’t just like the seam between stone/quartz counter tops and the undermount sink,” one other designer commented. “As well as, some prospects want strong floor as a result of they go for a coved/connected backsplash that’s maintenance-free and creates a water-resistant seal on the again wall, which free/set-on stone splashes can’t provide. A 1″-high coved strong floor splash creates a really perfect waterproof transition from the countertop to the backsplash tile.”
Different feedback culled from KBDN’s survey included the next:
- “I’m getting requests for wooden/quartz combos that enable for performance, in addition to aesthetics. The nice and cozy tones of the wooden floor soften the laborious fringe of the all-white theme and lend for a softer ‘really feel’ to the general area.”
- “Counter tops are an integral a part of the kitchen design – and might be versatile when it comes to edgings, thicknesses, shelving, backlighting, dramatic or delicate design, and mixing totally different designs in a single kitchen.”
- “Concrete continues to be one of the best materials for a customized design resolution. The probabilities with concrete are infinite and never constrained by trade norms.”
- “Our shoppers are rather more conscious of quartz than they have been a couple of years in the past. Nevertheless, we should be cautious to current the properties of quartz rigorously, since most producers have backed off from their ‘bullet-proof’ claims of previous years.”
- “We’re seeing an enormous curiosity in butcher block counter tops, particularly for islands or secondary prep areas. Once you see these merchandise in inventory at The Dwelling Depot, you understand they’re right here to remain some time.”
- “In our market, householders need a high-quality, but low upkeep materials for his or her counter tops. This usually leads them to quartz, though the traits and pure magnificence in a pure stone corresponding to quartzite usually wins them over.”
- “We’re seeing an enormous push in the direction of pure stone. Clients really feel snug with pure stone, with out having to fret about the place an engineered materials was made, what’s in it or points like that. Folks additionally actually reply to the sweetness that Mom Nature created.”
- “The flexibility to sanitize a countertop is the number-one query I’m listening to from householders. After COVID, the cleansing means of counter tops is at the start for kitchen designs.”
- “Kitchen counter tops of combined media are gaining popularity. Picket surfaces add heat with conventional areas to dine and attain work/homework duties; whereas a tough, pure, stone floor creates magnificence, drama and a strong work floor for years to return.”
- “As at all times, we do plenty of very costly quartz counters, uncommon marbles, attractive wooden counters – every kind of issues, together with concrete with fascinating components inside.”