Do you entertain in your kitchen? Use it as a home office? Or watch TV while cooking? Our 2016 U.S. Kitchen Trends Study revealed the rise of the “super kitchen,” a multi-functional space that is used as much for living as other traditional living spaces of the home. To create a custom kitchen that works with their lifestyle, more homeowners on Houzz are turning to professional help for their kitchen projects. Out of the 2,400 U.S. survey respondents who are either planning, in the midst of, or recently completed a kitchen project, nine out of ten enlisted the help of a professional – 87%, up from 80% in 2014. Kitchen renovators are turning to general contractors in particular (54%), followed by kitchen designers (27%) and interior designers/decorators (14%).
Given the sizeable scope of many kitchen upgrades, it makes sense that a larger share of homeowners is looking for pros to help turn their vision into reality. For instance, nearly half of Houzzers are changing the layout of their kitchen during the project (48%), and 37% are increasing the size of the room. Most Houzzers choose a U-shape for their new layout (35%), followed by an L-shape (28%).
Major new built-ins and specialty features abound in updated kitchens, also likely contributing to the increased need for professional help. New built-in features include everything from cabinet pantries (43%) and islands (37%) to coffee/tea (10%), beverage (8%) and baking stations (7%). When it comes to major features, 93% of Houzzers are upgrading their countertops, 89% are tackling their plumbing fixtures and sinks, and 88% are updating their backsplash.
For more insights from the 2016 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, check out the full report here.