The American kitchen has evolved from a closed-off satellite to the most open, doted-upon room in the house. How are home owners creating live-in value in this hub of activity? The answer may depend on where you are in life, according to research from Moen, maker of kitchen and bathroom fixtures. These insights will even help you plan your next kitchen renovation.

Families with children

Moen’s research found that families with children living in the home are more likely to view the kitchen as a place where activities or conversations frequently happen, said Jack Suvak, senior director of research and insights.

Home owners with children are significantly more likely than those without children to have remodeled or made improvements to their kitchen in the past year, used a kitchen designer or architect, or spent more on kitchen improvements. And families with children living in the home are far more likely to say they would spend more money on their kitchen remodel if they had it to do over.

When Moen queried designers about the challenges of creating live-in value for families with children, there are clear differences for families with kids of different ages. As children grow older, the kitchen evolves from a potentially dangerous place to a space for sharing food preparation and cooking experiences.

Designers stated the number one concern when remodeling kitchens for families with children in each of three age groups are:

  • Younger than five years old: Safety
  • Age five to 12 years old: Places for kids to play or work
  • Age 13 or older: Ability to have two or more cooks in the kitchen at one time

Utilizing this research, sample ideas to perform “room lifts” for families with children include:

  • Creating a “kid zone” (away from the stove) to enable room for child-friendly cooking
  • Putting in a desk-like environment for computer work or homework, or adding an island with a faucet and sink to allow for two prep areas.

Generational differences

While families with children have very specific desires in terms of creating a kitchen with live-in value, so do the different generations.

By far, Millenials (age 18-34) have the highest demands in what they would want in a dream kitchen. The majority of their “wish list” items include those with technological advances, such as:

  • A microwave that allows for swiping a package bar code, enabling the microwave to cook to exact directions
  • A TV screen built into a kitchen wall or appliance
  • Technology that would allow putting a dish in the oven, programming it to refrigerate, and then turning the heat on from a phone or computer

Boomers (age 45-64) also had specific “wish list” items, mostly around entertaining large groups. Examples include:

  • A cooktop with special-purpose features (built-in grill or wok, rotisserie attachment)
  • Commercial or professional-grade appliances
  • Built-in coffee pot connected directly to plumbing
  • An oven that dramatically reduces cooking times without microwaves

Green in certain categories

Contrary to what many might believe, designers say their clients are more concerned about project costs than being green. The costs of environmentally friendly products and materials are still seen as higher than non-green products and these higher costs discourage consumers who are already reluctant to spend more on their kitchen remodels.

That being said, there are certain categories that home owners who are creating live-in value want to be sustainable, more than others:

  • Energy-efficient appliances are almost standard in product selection
  • Cabinetry, countertops, and flooring that use sustainable or natural materials such as bamboo, cork, and stone are being requested more frequently
  • More consumers are asking about energy-efficient lighting, as well as water-saving faucets and showering, for their homes
  • More consumers are showing concern about air quality by requesting non-toxic, low-VOC finishes

Move over, dining room

Since 2004, Moen has observed that home owners were not using their dining rooms as often, and the kitchen/family room was taking on a more significant role in the home habitat. That observation has not changed over the last decade, and even this simple thought has an impact on how remodeling projects create live-in value:

  • Laptops are now a kitchen utility because home owners don’t want to be isolated in the home office or den—meaning designers must now allocate an area for laptop and mobile device recharging
  • Second sinks are becoming more prevalent on center islands, so the cook can interact with the family while prepping or cleaning up from a meal
  • The lack of good space and industrial design leads to using the sink, and area around the sink, as storage

Source: Moen