What better source for spotting homeowner trends than a company that has remodeled about 30,000 homes? Neil Kelly, a Portland, Oregon, company says that on certain topics, public consciousness has begun to shift toward sustainability. A few holdouts remain, such as the desire for imported marble, but in other ways, the news is good for the environment:
Healthy Living. The report calls this “the number one trend “ for 2013. They’re referring to indoor air quality—client awareness of toxins and off-gassing, combustion safety and radon.
Countertops. Quartz composite has replaced granite as the countertop of choice. This is good news ecologically. Imported granite's transportation footprint makes it a non-starter. Some local granites and stone tops, it should be noted, do not suffer from the same drawback.
Floors. Pre-finished and engineered wood flooring have replaced site-finished flooring as the gold standard.
Cabinets. Refinishing old kitchen cabinets has become a more accepted way to remodel. Sleek and simple designs are in.
Backsplashes. Composite tiles made of glass, stone and tile are replacing traditional glass tiles. These tend to fit better with quartz countertops.
Aging-in-Place Design. Clients are asking for “permanent” homes, not short –term investments, a trend that’s likely to reduce resource consumption over the long term.
Full report available at: www.neilkelly.com
Pictured at top: Composite countertops made with quartz and resin, such as this Silestone product from Cosentino, have replaced granite as the top choice for remodeling jobs.