WASHINGTON, DC— Kitchens and bathrooms, traditionally key design areas within the American home, continue to increase in popularity, although homeowners are making certain concessions in design choices and product selection based on prevailing market conditions, a major new survey concludes.

According to the latest in a quarterly series of “Home Design Trends Survey” conducted by the American Institute of Architects, homeowners are adjusting their kitchen and bath purchase patterns in light of continued weakness in the housing sector, coupled with growing concerns over affordability (see related story in Barometers).

Specifically, there is a growing interest in accessibility and adaptability features in both the kitchen and bath “to make the home better meet the needs of an aging or less mobile population,” the AIA reported. In addition, the trade association reported, there is growing interest in environmentally friendly, sustainable products, such as renewable material countertops and flooring in kitchens, and water-saving toilets and LED lighting in bathrooms.

AIA Home Design Trend Surveys are conducted quarterly among a panel of 500 architecture firms that concentrate their practices in the residential sector. The association’s latest survey focuses on the fourth quarter of 2007.

Kitchens Remain a Focus

“Kitchens continue to be a key element in overall home design,” comments Kermit Baker, chief economist for the Washington, DC-based AIA, noting that almost one-third of the residential architects surveyed by the AIA reported that the number of separate kitchen facilities or secondary food storage or food preparation areas is increasing in homes.

“Very few report that these facilities are decreasing in the home,” Baker observes, adding that the size of kitchen areas is also increasing, according to a third of residential architects, only a small minority of whom report kitchen sizes to be declining.
As kitchen areas grow in importance, they are increasing their functions and features, according to the AIA. For example, a majority of residential architects report that a computer work area or a recharging area for cell phones or personal digital assistants is becoming more popular in kitchen design. Other popular features for kitchens include more pantry space, a wine refrigeration or storage area, and a recycling center.