By Linda Kast
The key to creating a kitchen or bath that wows clients and sells product is to design around the way people really use their space. Show them a lifestyle where they can picture themselves cooking, baking, entertaining or relaxing, and they're hooked. "It's about how they live," says Sarah Fishburne, manager of innovation and design at The Home Depot. That theme permeated Fishburne's four-hour seminar at the 2007 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference, held May 7–10 in Las Vegas.
The idea of lifestyle design, says Fishburne, is propelled by aging baby boomers, the oldest of whom are now in their early 60s. This group is more open to growing older and discovering the beautiful and functional design options available. They will spend the money building or retrofitting if it gives them the ability to live in their homes longer.
Younger generations also respond well to the lifestyle concept. They're looking for specific products and ideas that offer solutions to their everyday activities. They view the one-size-fits-all approach as impractical, especially when they know family makeup varies from house to house.
The Kitchen
At the heart of the house, the kitchen can make or break a home sale. Give the room a focus, and the client immediately sees herself going about her daily routine. Whether it's brewing coffee and listening to the morning news or baking cookies for the after-school crowd, a design built around the family's lifestyle improves a client's connection with her surroundings.
Here's how Fishburne sees lifestyle design playing out in the most-used room of the house:
- Consider the differing needs of a baker versus a gourmet chef. For one thing, each desires a different type of stove. The baker wouldn't care so much about the range, but would want an upgraded oven. The baker also would need a pop-up mixing stand for the heavy-duty mixer. On the other hand, the chef might want a wok, a griddle or a slow-simmer burner for cooking specialty dishes.
- Choosing the right appliances also gives the kitchen a custom look. As people move toward healthier lifestyles, steamers are becoming more popular. New ideas include convection ovens and induction cooktops, and they're coming down in price, which makes them accessible to a wider market.
- Refrigeration has gone vertical, a trend coming from Europe where space is at a premium. The new 24-inch refrigerators and freezers allow much more design flexibility. You can place the units where you need them, plus they're moderate on energy usage.
- What if you entertain a lot? Then you have multiple serving platters and dinner plates that are larger than the standard 12 inches. Older cabinets just don't have the width to accommodate this need. In most well-designed kitchens, storage is key. Customizing spaces for a homeowner's needs means spending time to find out what, how many and what size items they have to store.
- You can go light, in terms of add-ons, or you can go to the extreme. Raising and lowering countertop heights can provide optimal access for kids and for adults who require different levels for maximum comfort.
- For those limited to small changes: Keep the cabinets and change out the countertops. Use different finishes on the island and the perimeter. Going back to how things are going to be used. For a baker, try marble in one area and quartz surfacing everywhere else.
The Bath
Just as travel has influenced kitchen design, the spa industry drives upgrades in the bath. While the kitchen is the space where everyone gathers, in the bath it's all about you! "And for a long time we neglected the bath," Fishburne says. "There were lots of useless fixtures, including whirlpool tubs that never got filled." The new look, especially in master baths, has moved toward sanctuary or a personal haven.
In today's baths, Fishburne sees these trends making waves:
- At the extreme end of luxury, you see couples carving out space for each other. His-and-her bath suites include dual vanities. His might appear in a darker wood tone, while hers is lighter and more feminine.
- Many new and remodeled master baths include fully tiled walls and floors, often outfitted with in-floor radiant heat. This additional amenity can be programmed to turn on and off at certain times of the day, thus minimizing the amount of energy required.
- Some homeowners prefer showers, and the new power assemblies feature multiple showerheads. These can be grouped in a tower or arranged on the walls and ceiling. Some require upgraded plumbing.
- Soaking tubs, some with water-overflow features, create the ultimate indulgence. Today's soakers are better-designed and have more features including air jets, aromatherapy and chromatherapy. And in most cases, people are really using them.
- Little changes can make a big difference. Use more ambient lighting, or add towel warmers. Both create a spa-like atmosphere and add a pampering touch.
Linda Kast is a freelance writer who specializes in home design and construction. She is the former editor-in-chief for Meredith Publishing's special interest publications related to remodeling.
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