Homeowner Focus on Kitchens and Baths Not Deterred by Housing Slowdown

Happy Easter To All

Another perfect weekend on Cape Cod. A beautiful start to a beautiful season on the Cape.

Cape Cod Real Estate Updates:

Kitchens attracting additional activities

Almost a third of residential architects see separate kitchen facilities, or secondary food preparation or food storage areas, as generally increasing in homes, while more than half see them as stable. Almost 40 percent report that the size of kitchens is growing, although fewer than 10 percent see kitchens getting smaller. These results are very similar to those of the fourth quarter of 2005, the last time that kitchen and bath trends were surveyed.


A Closer Look

Kitchens remain popular because they house more activities. Upper-end appliances are becoming more popular, even for homes that are not at the upper-end of the price range. Pantry space is increasing, as are wine storage areas and recycling centers. The integration of kitchens with informal living space (great rooms) also remains a popular design. Island work areas, duplicate appliances, computer work areas, and warming drawers are also seen as growing in popularity, but by a smaller share of respondents.

Baths retain focus

Radiant heated floors top the list of bath features that are growing in popularity. Bathrooms designed for accessibility, containing features such as no-threshold showers, also continue to make significant inroads. Increased storage space and make-up areas in bathrooms also are reported to be seeing more interest.

A Closer Look

Many of the bath products that are generating the most interest by consumers are upscale shower features, or features that make showers more accessible. Multihead showers are seen to be growing in popularity by a majority of residential architects, while separate showers are seen to be increasingly present in homes by a smaller number of respondents. Doorless showers and handheld shower heads are popular features that can make a bath easier to use. Multiple vanity sinks, towel warming drawers or bars, and to a lesser extent steam showers and double-sink vanities are bath products that have generated interest by consumers.

— The American Institute of Architects

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