2017 Upscale Consumers & Their Kitchens: The Thinking of Affluent Homeowners and High-End Designers

Based on data from two online studies: survey among 1,095 U.S. homeowners from which 200 have HHI $150K+, and survey among 125 professional kitchen designers who have completed $50K+ kitchen projects in the past two years. This report examines how affluent consumers might differ from their contemporaries when it comes to attitudes and design preference as well as how designers of mostly high-end kitchens approach their work, the products they specify, and the styles, materials and finishes they see trending up. Specific topics in this 59-page 2017 report include:

Feedback from Affluent Homeowners:

• Leisure Activities Related to Cooking & Kitchen


• Attended Cooking Classes


• Items they Most Want to Add or Change about their Kitchens


• Vision of Dream Kitchen


• Kitchen Remodeling Activity - Amount Spent


• Resources Used for Kitchen Product Decisions


• Most Annoying Thing about Current Kitchen


• Use & Influence of Design Professionals


• Products Planning to Purchase in Next 12 Months

High-End Designer Feedback:

• How Cooking Styles of Upscale Clients Differ


• Changes to Kitchen Layout


• Products or Features in Greatest Demand


• Appliance Brands Specified


• Trending Appliance Finishes


• Materials, Products or Brands Used in Past Year for the First Time


• Cabinetry/Hardware Finishes Trending Up


• What Upscale Consumers Want in Cabinetry


• % of Projects Using Frameless Cabinetry


• Trends in Faucets Finishes


• Trends in Countertop Materials Used


• Kitchen Styles and Looks Trending Up


• Elements of Kitchen Design that Will Move from High-End to Mainstream


• Expectations for Upscale Projects in the Coming Year

6-Point Recap: For Upscale Consumer, For High-End Kitchen Designers