The shower gets more use than the bathtub in many households. That’s why some homeowners are ripping out their tubs completely, creating bigger showers instead.
Extra shower space allows for multiple shower heads, a built-in seat and designs without shower doors, said John Petrie, president of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, in an email interview about current kitchen and bath trends. They can be designed without a threshold — which look more contemporary and are easier for people to use as they get older.
“People really like the bigger showers. They like that there’s elbow room,” said Susie Johnson, a real-estate agent with Coldwell Banker Gundaker in St. Louis. Meanwhile, comments she hears from prospective buyers about whirlpool tubs when walking through a property are often along the lines of: “That’s a nice tub but I don’t take baths,” she said.
Now, keep in mind that a home should still have at least one bathtub, Johnson added. Having a tub will be important at resale for some buyers, particularly those with small children. For high-end homes, buyers expect a shower and a separate bathtub, especially in the master bath, she said.
One other possible consideration before ripping out a bathtub is how it will be viewed by multiple-listing services when you’re selling the home. Realtor.com, for example, defines a “full bathroom” as having a toilet, a sink and a bathtub. A room with a toilet, sink and shower is a “three-quarter bathroom.” A room with only a toilet and sink is defined as a “half bathroom” or “powder room.”
But those definitions aren’t universal, and often a full bathroom is considered as any room in which a person can bathe (be it by bath or shower), Johnson said. Besides, descriptions of what the bathrooms contain are often included in the listing, which clears up any confusion, she added.
Five other kitchen and bath trends for the year ahead include:
Microwave drawers
Over-the-range microwaves are giving way to microwave drawers under the countertops, Petrie said. It’s a change that accommodates shorter cooks and young children, since reaching over the range to get to the microwave can be a safety hazard.
There are aesthetic reasons people are opting for microwave drawers, too.
“People don’t like the look of having it so visible. If it’s under the counter, it disappears,” said Cheryl Ryan, owner of Kitchens By Design, in Elm Grove, Wis. That’s leaving the area above the oven and range available to become a focal point of the kitchen, perhaps through the use of a distinctive hood, said Rebecca Flynn, a designer with Borrelli Design + Cabinetry in San Diego, Calif. In fact, some homeowners are giving up on microwaves entirely, opting for convection or steam ovens instead.
Refrigerator drawers are also becoming somewhat popular as well, a way for guests to access drinks and snacks without opening the entire refrigerator. It’s also easier for kids to reach.
LED lighting
More often, LED lighting is being used in recessed, under-cabinet and in-cabinet lighting, Petrie said. The benefit: LED bulbs last for more hours than traditional ones, and they use less electricity.
“It’s a little more expensive to install, but in the long run, you’re saving on energy,” Flynn said, adding that new generation LED lighting offers more desirable color tones than in the past.
High ceilings are another area where LED lighting makes sense; its longer life means fewer times that owners have to take out the ladder or hire someone to replace the lights, Johnson said.
Clean lines, less clutter
Kitchen designs are trending toward contemporary or transitional (between traditional and contemporary), with clean lines and good storage that keeps clutter to a minimum, Petrie said. There’s less ornamentation in kitchens, Ryan said, and they have more of a mid-century look.
“Today’s lifestyle is extremely hectic, busy, with virtually every minute filled,” Petrie said. Clean and simple lines in a kitchen, along with less clutter, are calming, he said.
Quartz countertops
Granite countertops, once the go-to material for kitchen and bath surfaces, is losing some ground to quartz countertops, Petrie said. Quartz requires little to no maintenance, and the non-porous nature of the material appeals to families with young kids or those who like to entertain, he said.
It also works well in contemporary kitchens, since quartz surfaces don’t have as many color variations as granite surfaces do, Johnson said. “Quartz is more simple,” she said.
You will likely pay more for it, though. While prices vary, in general, a quartz countertop will run a bit more than a mid-level granite countertop, Ryan said.
Touch-less faucets
Touch-less faucets have been used in residential spaces since about 2011, Petrie said. “I see the use of this type of faucet gaining popularity in our kitchens in 2014,” he added.
It’s easy to see the benefit of the technology. With a touch-less faucet, you don’t have to touch a handle after handling raw meat, for instance, while prepping dinner. Another benefit: Automatic shutoffs mean these faucets help save water, too.
Source: Marketwatch.com
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