Homeowner Preferences Lean to Energy Efficiency and Simplicity in Design

Without the rapid appreciation in home values seen between 1995 and 2005, design of kitchens and bathrooms has recently been somewhat more modest.

Functionality is now preferred to more and larger kitchens and bathrooms within U.S. homes.

Households are placing a premium on products and features that promote energy efficiency, and adaptability in the use of space for seniors and those with accessibility concerns.

Residential architects continue to report declining business conditions, indicating that the housing market is not yet entering a full recovery phase.

These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey for the fourth quarter of 2009, which focused specifically on kitchen and bathrooms.

"The general consensus is that homes will continue to be smaller on average than they were in the past decade," said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA.

"But since kitchens remain the nerve center of the home, doing more with less space is a key consideration.

Integrating kitchens with family space remains a design priority, as does including areas devoted to recycling, pantries, computer workstations, and spaces devoted to recharging laptops, cell phones and PDAs."

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