Homeowners in the Upper Valley continue to dream and look for inspiration to make their homes the envy of the neighborhood. With many homeowners in the Upper Valley continuing to work partially from home, the role of the kitchen has been transformed into serving as a multifunctional space. New kitchen designs account for these new roles that include office, study, library, café, dining room, classroom, and other purposes. As a result, these new demands have encouraged homeowners nationwide to invest more in the most important room in their home, according to the just-released 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study.
According to the Houzz Kitchens Trends Study, there is a subtle shift in cabinet preferences. Homeowners nationally and in the Upper Valley are gravitating from Shaker-style cabinets to flat panel alternatives. While Shaker remains the number one choice among homeowners in the Upper Valley and nationally, its popularity declined by 3 percentage points to 61% of all kitchens. Flat panel cabinets increased by 20%.
Custom cabinets remain the most popular choice among homeowners nationwide and that makes sense. Custom cabinets enable homeowners in the Upper Valley to get the exact look and functionality that they want, where they want it, and how they want it. It enables homeowners to make a personal and distinct style and design statement and thoroughly enjoy using their kitchen for many years.
The ability to obtain the custom look that most homeowners in the Upper Valley crave requires replacing all of the existing cabinets during the remodel. That is the trend nationwide as well according to Houzz. Almost two in three kitchens remodels involved replacing existing cabinetry.
Homeowners increasingly are opting for wood-toned cabinets, representing about a quarter of all cabinet colors selected. White continues to be the most popular color choice selected in 40% of kitchen remodels nationwide. Another popular trend we see locally and nationwide is to select an island base color that differs from upper cabinets. This is the choice nearly half of all homeowners selected for their kitchen remodel.
Kitchens are also getting smarter thanks to technological innovations in faucets (voice activated, touchless, and smudge proof) and appliances (Wi-Fi connectivity, app controls), hidden docking and charging stations, wireless speakers, and stereo systems, voice and app activated lighting and smart temperature controls.
Homeowners increasingly are gravitating toward more sustainable options for their dream kitchens. More than 90% of kitchen remodels in 2022 featured sustainable products and systems. The most popular are LED lighting, energy-efficient appliances, and water-efficient fixtures. The two compelling reasons homeowners in the Upper Valley are specifying sustainable products and solutions are to save money and to benefit the environment.
If you want to receive additional inspiration to create the kitchen of your dreams, call our showroom at 603-448-9700 or make an appointment to visit us at 105 Hanover Street, Lebanon, NH.
