5 Ways With Kitchens

Are you planning to update your kitchen this year? New research by the home renovation and design platform Houzz has found that homeowners in Britain and Ireland renovate this room every 13 years. Houzz has just released its latest UK and Ireland Kitchen Trends Report which surveyed over 2,800 homeowners.

The report shows that the majority of homeowners planning to update their kitchens in 2015 are going big with their projects: 49 per cent are investing in substantial upgrades and over a fifth (22 per cent) are adding an extension.

When it comes to costs, 48 per cent of people due to renovate are budgeting between £5,000 and £20,000 for the job.

And what do we want our kitchens to look like? Well for 63 per cent of those surveyed, having a kitchen that is stylish and beautiful is key. Furthermore, 43 per cent state that having a space that is easy for the entire family to work, play and be in is one of the most important functional aspects.

For today’s 5 Ways With, we are picking out the other key design trends leading kitchen renovations this year:

1. Open-plan living abounds: Open-plan kitchen-diners are the favourite by far according to those surveyed by Houzz (54 per cent, followed distantly by U-shaped (20 per cent) and L-shaped (19 per cent) layouts. At HIBS100, we love this K7 adjustable height kitchen island from Wharfside perfect for open-plan living.
2. Contemporary style reigns: Contemporary style kitchens are the most popular style choice (42 per cent), although the traditional look is also popular (16 per cent). Homeowners aged 25-34 are significantly more likely to choose industrial-style kitchens than their older counterparts. This industrial bar table from Vincent and Barn would be a standout item in any kitchen. 
3. Integrated technology: Gadgets that help to make our lives easier are making their way into our kitchens, such as boiling water taps, wine fridges , warming drawers,  and waste disposal sinks. We think the invention of the iKettle from Red5 is long overdue. With built-in wifi, you can start boiling your kettle from anywhere in the house. The app has a wake-up function too, so you can have that hot cuppa ready for you as soon as your alarm goes off. Bliss. 
4. Industrial drives details: Despite overall contemporary and traditionally-styled kitchens, many homeowners are choosing industrial features like pendant lighting, metro tiles and exposed brickwork. Tiles are a great choice for splashbacks, and that’s how these metallic tiles from Original Style are used in this kitchen.
5.  The future’s grey: White is still the top wall colour choice in the UK and Ireland (32 per cent), but grey makes its way into nearly a fifth of new kitchens (19 per cent). We love this high gloss white kitchen from Cooke and Lewis. 

Are you planning a kitchen makeover this year? Let us know what trends are driving your new project in the comments below.