Industry Insider: The Kitchen Master

Like most other aspects of home improvement these days, kitchens are becoming less flashy and more practical thanks to homeowners reordering their priorities, said Ted Kawczynski, owner of The Kitchen Master in Naperville.

But these more down-to-earth kitchens are no less beautiful. For instance, stainless steel appliances still rule, but the brand names chosen are now are more likely to be General Electric, Whirlpool and Samsung instead of Viking, Wolf and Sub Zero. In addition, the nice-to-have appliances like warming drawers and second dishwashers are being sacrificed.

The exception to that, however, are wine coolers and ice makers. Homeowners who enjoy wine are still digging deep to include those in their kitchen remodels, Kawczynski said.

When it comes to countertops, granite is still No. 1 in popularity but quartz is making deep inroads because quartz crystals are very plentiful and thus more “green” than granite. Also, quartz never has to be sealed because it is more durable, very hard and virtually stain-proof. Hence, quartz countertops are another practical, long-lasting choice for homeowners.

“Those interested in sheer beauty go for granite. Those who want beauty combined with practicality often choose quartz. As for Corian, it is now almost exclusively used for vanity tops and commercial applications,” Kawczynski said.

White painted wood cabinets are making a strong comeback as people gravitate toward the farmhouse kitchen look. One cabinet company recently reported that 37 percent of the wood cabinets it now makes are painted white.

Those wanting a more contemporary look choose the simple and elegant dark-stained maple and cherry transitional cabinets. These are particularly popular with people who like contemporary styling but who live in traditional, colonial homes, Kawczynski said.

Homeowners in both camps are choosing earth tone porcelain tile floors made to look like limestone or travertine and backsplashes made of subway or large format glass tile, often arranged vertically.

Hardwood floors have also muscled into many kitchens, making the connection between the different rooms on the main floor seamless. Satin-look hickory, white oak and American cherry floors are quite popular and today's individual boards are wider than in the past.

Under-mount stainless steel kitchen sinks are still wildly popular, Kawczynski said, but homeowners are looking for more practical depths and shapes than they were a few years ago. Those who dislike stainless steel, however, are choosing synthetic granite sinks because they come in solid colors that can complement a kitchen's granite countertops.

Seventy percent of kitchen faucets sold are still made of brushed nickel or polished nickel, especially in the more modern transitional kitchens, he added. But lighter bronze tones and copper are mounting a strong challenge, especially with homeowners who like the farmhouse kitchen look.

No matter what metal is ultimately chosen, most homeowners will be consistent, matching their faucets to their cabinet hardware and light fixtures, Kawczynski said.

LED lights are becoming more popular in the kitchen for accent and under-the-cabinet lighting as people continue to avoid fluorescent lighting and try to get away from the incandescent light bulbs that can add so much heat to a kitchen.

When it comes to kitchen structure, more homeowners are choosing to work within the footprint of their existing kitchen rather than expanding and totally rearranging. Islands are becoming more elaborate with differing heights and better, less traditional shapes. But recently, some homeowners have also chosen to forego islands all together and revert to the old peninsula kitchen layout, Kawczynski said.

He has also noticed that fewer homeowners are now asking for “green” options since they perceive them to be more expensive.

“They are being more conservative with their money today, so being green doesn't seem as important to them as it was a few years ago,” he said. “Fortunately, the manufacturers are bringing out more and more green options that do not bring added cost, like the quartz countertops and even cabinetry made of wheat board instead of wood.”

The Kitchen Master is located at 600 Industrial Drive, Naperville. For information, call (630) 369-0500 or visit www.thekitchenmaster.com.