Members of the GHBA’s Remodelers Council share latest trends for updating the home

HOUSTON, Texas – Keeping current with trends in home remodeling is just one of many services members of the Greater Houston Builders Association’s Remodelers Council can provide for homeowners – especially when it comes to the kitchen, the most-loved room of the house.

“A lot of things have stayed on the kitchen hot list for a while, but we’ve found a few new things that are becoming trendy,” Kevin Vick, owner of Vick Construction & Remodeling, said. “Among them is that although kitchens have always been a focal point, homeowners are starting to really hone in on how to integrate their eating and living areas.”

Making the right choices when updating the kitchen will not only make the space more functional and visually appealing, he said, but can also lead to a higher resale value.

A few of today’s most popular improvement options include:

• A concentration on countertops. Clients are moving away from granite and instead opting for man-made materials.

“Many clients request a countertop that’s hard and dense, yet adds beauty,” Vick said. “People either go with dark or light solid colors, or something that mimics natural stone.” He added that he also gets many requests for huge islands with eat-in bar tops.

Stephen McNeil, founder of Creative Property Restoration Inc., said, he also has noticed a movement toward engineered materials. “Customers love the durability and antimicrobial properties of these types of countertops,” he said. “Everyone loves marble, but no one wants to deal with the potential for staining – and with these new products, it’s really hard to tell the difference.” A few of his clients will request two different countertop materials, he added, one for the peripheral and another for the island.

• Keep it bright. Homeowners are sticking to white cabinets, light-colored walls and more lights.

Sherry Pruitt, owner of Whodid It Designs, said that clients want light, bright and airy – and an open space with a lot of flow.

“Adding more lights to the kitchen space is another popular – and affordable – change,” she said. “People are realizing they have so many more options, such as including LED lights, which add so much warmth and brightness to a home. People who haven’t made the switch don’t know what they’re missing.”

McNeil agrees that LED lights are another technological change that has taken off. “It’s amazing what you can do with them,” he said. “You can add them to narrow spots, under cabinets, or showcase a backsplash.”

• Get tech-y. Homeowners want home automation devices that can control everything from TVs to thermostats.

“People are putting switches all around the house that can be operated with an iPhone,” Vick said. “And touchless faucets, which are pretty affordable now, are very popular for the home chefs who want to wash their hands after handling raw meat without having to touch anything.”

• Choose cabinets that eliminate clutter. Customers are always interested in storage solutions.

In addition to trash bins that roll out from behind cabinets and lazy Susans that pull out from corner cabinets, Vick said his clients often request adding cabinets around a refrigerator to make it look like a built-in. “It’s also a good way to save a lot of money,” he said.

McNeil said his clients often opt for cabinets with an “Old World” feel – even if the rest of the space is ultramodern.

• Fine finishes for everything. Most clients request a natural-looking finish.

McNeil said most of his clients want wood floors through the first floor. “Houses are so open these days that there aren’t different floors in different rooms,” he said.

Pruitt agrees that wood floors have become the product of choice for kitchens. “People either want wood, engineered wood or tiles that look so much like wood you can’t tell the difference,” she said.

Vick predicts that copper sinks will be this year’s major kitchen trend. It’s not just about being functional, he said, people are drawn to the warm tone of these artistic centerpieces.

With so many options available for today’s kitchens, guidance from a professional can make a major difference in the remodel process as well as the finished result. Calling the GHBA’s Remodelers Council is a good place to start.