What  beats the warmth of a wood counter top, especially in a white kitchen?  Read more at www.roomstoraveabout.wordpress.com

Who doesn’t love the look of Nora Walker’s kitchen on the TV show Brothers and Sisters? This is definitely a cook’s kitchen. Read more at www.cookingquarters.com.

More consumers want to spend time outdoors… inspired by some interesting trends:

* affluent consumers are driving the trend to more and better outdoor furnishings. With indoor spaces already comfortably furnished or memories of favorite resort destinations fresh in their memory, priorities are shifting to fixing up and furnishing decks and yards (many spending upwards of $2,500 for a stainless steel grill alone) as a way to live the good life everyday.

* outdoor living ‘appeal’ is being driven by internet and catalog more than brick-and-mortar retail. Images seen in catalogs like Horchow, Frontgate, Smith & Hawkin, and catalog retailers such as Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel are encouraging consumers to imagine an outdoor space that’s an extension of the indoors. “If you’re sitting at home, looking through a catalog and you see a lot of outdoor lifestyle themes, it can really intrigue you,” says Gregg Bond, managing partner at The Helman Group. “For space reasons, it’s hard for brick and mortar retailers to merchandise products in an outdoor lifestyle theme. They can’t tell a story.” (Internet and catalog retailers also don’t have to worry about replacing retail floor space with another category during the off-season)

* outdoor living isn’t confined to warm weather states… “One of the findings we uncovered… which was really kind of surprising, is that in Chicago, which has a pretty long winter season, outdoor living was even more important than in warm weather locations,” says Pam Danzier, President of Unity Marketing (HomeWorld Business, May 11/08). “In warmer areas we found that people are heading indoors when it gets hot and turning on their air conditioners.”

* many consumers are looking for outdoor rooms as comfortable as indoor rooms, including outdoor lighting, fire pits, fans, comfortable seating, umbrellas and canopies, outdoor TV screens and more

* high gas prices are expected to increase demand for outdoor furnishings, with a back yard oasis an inexpensive vacation destiny and a stress reliever for difficult times and hectic lifestyles.

With baby boomers reluctant to give up their active lifestyles or youth, it’s no surprise that aches and pains are going right along with it. According to a study by the National Institute of Aging, baby boomers (born 1942-1959) were unlikely to report “excellent or very good” health as early as their early to mid 50’s… an early result of their efforts to stay active despite their age.  

The result? Boomers are looking for products that help them stay mobile, independent, free of pain and less stressed. These products, termed ‘universally designed’ due to their ability to work equally well among young, old and disabled… aren’t only winning at retail… they’re proving that the right products can reduce pain associated with age or disability without looking geriatric. If you’re not convinced that’s true, consider the growing popularity of recent fashion-forward products that also eliminate stress, bending, stooping and discomfort…

* higher dishwashers and washing machines 
* higher-height dining tables and chairs
* larger hardware, knobs rather than pulls
* drawers rather than doors below kitchen counters
* lift-top coffee tables
* massage chairs
* chairs and recliners with built-in lift mechanisms
* furniture with built-in power for re-charging portable electronics

Products that address memory loss and clutter are also proving important. “Everyone experiences some minor short-term memory loss, and poorer visual color and depth perception as they get older,” says says Dr. Melanie Horn Mallers, Professor of Gerentology at California State University, Long Beach. “Having an organized and compartmentalized home helps with memory loss and lack of clutter helps when, for instance, you have to walk through your living room at night.” Again, consider the growing popularity of fashion-forward products that eliminate stress and discomfort:

* drawer organization systems
* jewelry organizers
* cubby hole shelves and drawers
* smaller drawers to allocated specific items
* wall and furniture hooks
* portable/mobile storage containers that can be moved to point-of-use

Outdoor living and outdoor entertaining is going strong. Based on a 2008 Weber GrillWatch Survey, here’s what American grill owners are up to:

* 37% are grilling more than a year ago as a way to ’eat healthier’

* 57% are grilling throughout the year

* 4.4 hours is the average time spent grilling per week, though 67% grill 5 or more hours

* 71% grill ‘at least once a week’ during warmer months, up from 69% last year / 47% grill  ‘at least a few times per week’, compared to 43% last year

* on a ‘regular basis’, 95% grill dinner, 37% lunch, 2% breakfast

* grill owners entertain on average 10.7 times a year, as compared to non-grill owners at 9.6 times

* grilling was the chosen way to entertain 7 out of the 10.7 times 

Source: Casual Living magazine, May ‘08

Research on consumer ’style preferences’ can be tricky to interpret. Style preferences based on a one-word desription can suggest different things for different people. But the results of a  Qualified Remodeler magazine (Apr ‘08) survey gives us at least a view toward consumer preferences. (Grouping of preferences are mine).

Professional remodelers stated the following kitchen style preferences among their clients:

1. Historic styles (42.2%), including Traditional (24.2%), Classic (17.3%) + Ornate (1%).

2. Contemporary styles (22.9%), including Contemporary (17.3%) + Trendy (3.9%) + Retro (1.7%).

3. Country styles (12.1%), including Country (9.9%) + Old (2.1%).

4. Transitional styles (9.4%).

5. European (7.6%). This preference is difficult to classify based on the word alone - may refer to a historic preference (Traditional or Classic), or to contemporary (modern).

6. Simple (6.6%). This preference is also difficult to classify based on the word alone - probably refers to country styling, but could also be a contemporary preference.

With more attention on natural, textured finishes that ‘look’ green… “brushed” hardware for cabinets and faucets are a popular consumer choice. It’s likely the finish’s popularity is in the blend - a slightly aged-looking texture on metal makes it neither too modern (bright chrome) or too traditional (brass). Stainless steel was the second most popular pick, a reflection of the trend to stainless steel as more than just an appliance color, but also a fashionable accent (think I-pod).

Here are the consumer rankings, according to a survey by Qualified Remodeler magazine (Apr 08):

22.2% “brushed”

20.0% “stainless steel”

7.7% “chrome”

4.4% “polished”

3.8% “antique brass”

1.4% “brass”

1.2% “copper”

Some consumers cast their vote for style, rather than finish - 6.1% choosing “contemporary”, 5.2% choosing “tradtional”.

Outdoor entertaining is on the increase, according to NPD Group, reporting here at the National Kitchen & Bath Show in Chicago.  A few 2007 stats:

 * 8 out of 10 consumers now entertain outdoors

* 76% prefer entertaining outside rather than inside

* 31% say their ‘desire for outdoor entertaining’ increased over last year

* 23% currently own a firepit; 13% more intend to buy one

* the Northeast and the West are paying the most for a grill - on average $163

* sales of plastic dinnerware was up 26% in 2007 over 2006

* 70% of consumers like outdoor rooms because they ‘expand space’; 70% because they’re more ‘laid-back’ 

* most consumers, in particular Gen-X (thirty-somethings) are willing to give up their formal dining room if it means gaining outdoor living / entertaining space

Milder climates and a shift away from formal dining were both cited as key drivers of the trend.

Certified kitchen designers revealed what they’re hearing from consumers in a study by the Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence. Here’s some key findings:

1. Decisions about kitchen remodeling are now regularly made jointly by both men and women.

2. A “zone” approach is replacing the traditional kitchen ”work triangle” approach. Zones group similar items and activities (ex. dish storage, food storage, food prep, plating, cleaning, etc).

3. Appliances are increasingly being completely hidden behind cabinet panels, including ovens and microwaves.

5. Products traditionally found only in the kitchen are beginning to show up in other areas of the home - sinks, coffee stations and refrigerators in master suites, home gyms and other areas.

5. Products that minimize noise, including soft-close cabinets and drawers, are increasing in popularity.

6. Energy-efficient and eco-friendly products are not currently strong drivers in U.S. kitchen remodels, but are expected to increase.

Source: Kitchen & Bath Design News, Feb ‘08

Above, two pages from Veranda magazine (Mar 08) showing the range of vanity designs available, and a few overall directions:

* vanity height is increasing from 31″ to 36″

* styles are reflecting the growing emphasis on “bathroom as sanctuary”

* styles are available for every budget and taste… from old-world, hand-painted charm to minimalist modern.