Reno Reveal: What Australians Want From Their Kitchen Revamps
The latest Houzz kitchen renovation survey unveils in-demand features, materials, colours and styles
Joanna Tovia
27 February 2018
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
Feeling the joy of cooking in a gleaming new kitchen, where function marries style in perfect harmony, is what most homeowners – and homeowners in the making – aspire to. And why wouldn’t that be the case? The kitchen is the hub of the home and the state of it can have a major impact on how people feel in their day-to-day lives. It can be a feel-good space homeowners enjoy spending time in, or a place they resent daily for its lack of bench space, sticking drawers and dated decor.
Read on to discover what Australian renovators covet most in their kitchen makeovers – and how much they’re willing to spend to make it happen.
Read on to discover what Australian renovators covet most in their kitchen makeovers – and how much they’re willing to spend to make it happen.
Benchtops and cabinets
Renovating a kitchen is fraught with decision making, and it’s not all about your personal preferences. Resale value often has to come into play, for example, and longevity of materials is a smart consideration to take into account.
When it comes to benchtops, engineered quartz was the top material of choice for 34 per cent of the 3465 renovators surveyed. Laminate and granite were the next most popular picks, at 16 and 15 per cent respectively. Engineered quartz was particularly popular for homeowners between the ages of 35 and 54.
Custom-designed cabinets were chosen by 59 per cent of respondents, coming out well ahead of those opting for semi-custom cabinets (20 per cent) and ready-to-assemble cabinets (16 per cent).
Renovating a kitchen is fraught with decision making, and it’s not all about your personal preferences. Resale value often has to come into play, for example, and longevity of materials is a smart consideration to take into account.
When it comes to benchtops, engineered quartz was the top material of choice for 34 per cent of the 3465 renovators surveyed. Laminate and granite were the next most popular picks, at 16 and 15 per cent respectively. Engineered quartz was particularly popular for homeowners between the ages of 35 and 54.
Custom-designed cabinets were chosen by 59 per cent of respondents, coming out well ahead of those opting for semi-custom cabinets (20 per cent) and ready-to-assemble cabinets (16 per cent).
Clutter-busting storage
We’ve all been there – reaching into the dark recesses of a cabinet for a seldom-used dish, sifting through a jumbled drawer of utensils for that tool you’re not sure you still have – so it’s little wonder that reducing clutter is one of the top motivations for upgrading cabinets during a kitchen renovation. We want cabinets that make better use of the available space, make things easier to find, and reduce clutter.
Built-in cabinet storage is on the wish list of many a homeowner – most popular are cutlery organisers, deep drawer organisers, and pull-out waste or recycling cabinets.
We’ve all been there – reaching into the dark recesses of a cabinet for a seldom-used dish, sifting through a jumbled drawer of utensils for that tool you’re not sure you still have – so it’s little wonder that reducing clutter is one of the top motivations for upgrading cabinets during a kitchen renovation. We want cabinets that make better use of the available space, make things easier to find, and reduce clutter.
Built-in cabinet storage is on the wish list of many a homeowner – most popular are cutlery organisers, deep drawer organisers, and pull-out waste or recycling cabinets.
Two-thirds of renovating homeowners include pull-out waste or recycling cabinets in their kitchen redesigns.
And, in case you’re wondering how your cooking habits compare, almost 60 per cent of respondents cook at home seven times a week.
30 Kitchens With Wonderful Timber Touches
And, in case you’re wondering how your cooking habits compare, almost 60 per cent of respondents cook at home seven times a week.
30 Kitchens With Wonderful Timber Touches
Bigger and better
Most renovators hope to enlarge and open up their kitchens when they renovate, with more than half opening up kitchens to nearby rooms, and a similar share opening them up to the outdoors.
Almost 60 per cent of renovating homeowners increase the size of their kitchens, and a similar percentage change the layout of their new kitchen as well. L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens are the most popular, followed by galley-style designs.
Most renovators hope to enlarge and open up their kitchens when they renovate, with more than half opening up kitchens to nearby rooms, and a similar share opening them up to the outdoors.
Almost 60 per cent of renovating homeowners increase the size of their kitchens, and a similar percentage change the layout of their new kitchen as well. L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens are the most popular, followed by galley-style designs.
Appliances of choice
Shopping for appliances? Forty-seven per cent of renovators opt for a gas cooktop, followed by induction (31 per cent) and electric (13 per cent). Stainless steel is still the most popular finish for appliances, and is chosen 61 per cent of the time. Black appliances have grown in popularity in recent years, coming second behind stainless steel as the finish/colour of choice and chosen by 15 per cent of kitchen renovators. White is the next most popular, chosen by 9 per cent of respondents.
Browse more kitchen photos
Shopping for appliances? Forty-seven per cent of renovators opt for a gas cooktop, followed by induction (31 per cent) and electric (13 per cent). Stainless steel is still the most popular finish for appliances, and is chosen 61 per cent of the time. Black appliances have grown in popularity in recent years, coming second behind stainless steel as the finish/colour of choice and chosen by 15 per cent of kitchen renovators. White is the next most popular, chosen by 9 per cent of respondents.
Browse more kitchen photos
Lighting and flooring
Lighting can make a good kitchen great, especially if it can be adjusted according to function and mood. Recessed lights are installed by 57 per cent of homeowners; pendant lights by 56 per cent, and under-cabinet lights by 39 per cent.
As for flooring, timber floors remain the go-to material in kitchens for 32 per cent of homeowners, followed by ceramic or porcelain tiles (18 per cent), and engineered wood (14 per cent).
Lighting can make a good kitchen great, especially if it can be adjusted according to function and mood. Recessed lights are installed by 57 per cent of homeowners; pendant lights by 56 per cent, and under-cabinet lights by 39 per cent.
As for flooring, timber floors remain the go-to material in kitchens for 32 per cent of homeowners, followed by ceramic or porcelain tiles (18 per cent), and engineered wood (14 per cent).
Cabinet colour
It’s a classic colour that will never go out of style, so it’s no surprise that 59 per cent of Australian renovators choose white as the colour for their kitchen cabinets. Australians are more partial to white cabinets than any other country surveyed across the Houzz stable (Houzz now operates in 14 countries across the globe).
Russia and Ireland were the least likely to choose white cabinets. Renovators in these countries also spent the least of any of the surveyed countries.
The next most popular cabinet colours in Australia are grey and black.
Read more about how Australian kitchen renovations compare internationally
It’s a classic colour that will never go out of style, so it’s no surprise that 59 per cent of Australian renovators choose white as the colour for their kitchen cabinets. Australians are more partial to white cabinets than any other country surveyed across the Houzz stable (Houzz now operates in 14 countries across the globe).
Russia and Ireland were the least likely to choose white cabinets. Renovators in these countries also spent the least of any of the surveyed countries.
The next most popular cabinet colours in Australia are grey and black.
Read more about how Australian kitchen renovations compare internationally
Kitchen costs
The average spend on a kitchen renovation is $19,300. Large kitchens over 10 square metres cost an average of $22,600 to renovate, while small kitchens less than 10 square metres in size cost an average of $14,600.
Around 20 per cent of renovating homeowners spent over $35,000 on their renovations, with those aged 55 and over being the most willing (or perhaps most able) to splurge.
The average spend on a kitchen renovation is $19,300. Large kitchens over 10 square metres cost an average of $22,600 to renovate, while small kitchens less than 10 square metres in size cost an average of $14,600.
Around 20 per cent of renovating homeowners spent over $35,000 on their renovations, with those aged 55 and over being the most willing (or perhaps most able) to splurge.
Reasons to renovate
The No. 1 reason we renovate is simple – because we can no longer stand the old kitchen! Some other reasons are that homeowners wanted to do it all along and finally have the means to do so, they purchased a home recently and want to make it their own, or that their old kitchen deteriorated, broke down or became unsafe.
Tell us
If you’re planning your own kitchen renovation, now or in the future, tell us all about your priorities in the Comments below. And if you found this story helpful, like it, save it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Browse this and other Houzz surveys
The No. 1 reason we renovate is simple – because we can no longer stand the old kitchen! Some other reasons are that homeowners wanted to do it all along and finally have the means to do so, they purchased a home recently and want to make it their own, or that their old kitchen deteriorated, broke down or became unsafe.
Tell us
If you’re planning your own kitchen renovation, now or in the future, tell us all about your priorities in the Comments below. And if you found this story helpful, like it, save it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Browse this and other Houzz surveys
Related Stories
Most Popular
Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
The right designer can bring your dream kitchen to life – three kitchen designers reveal where to look and what to ask
Full Story
Kitchen Expert Advice
7 Common Kitchen Design Challenges & How Experts Get Around Them
From bad layouts to poor storage, here are seven issues pros come up against (and overcome) in clients' kitchen renos
Full Story
Kitchens
A Good Fit: 10 Questions to Ask a Potential Kitchen Designer
By lwkkitchens
A good designer knows which questions to ask about your kitchen project. But what should you ask them before you sign?
Full Story
Most Popular
8 Dos and Don'ts for a Well-Functioning Butler's Pantry
Having a little help behind the scenes is key to a pristine kitchen – here's how to create a functional butler's pantry
Full Story
Most Popular
Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island
By Anne Ellard
Discover the correctly proportioned kitchen island bench dimensions so your space works as well as it can
Full Story
Kitchen Renovations
10 Times You Should Hire a Kitchen Designer
These specialists can solve layout issues, save costs, update an older space and create custom design details
Full Story
Popular Houzz Series
How Practical Is... Handleless Joinery?
Handleless joinery is popular in modern homes. But how suitable are cupboards that can only be opened with a touch?
Full Story
Renovation Guides
Room by Room: Experts on Ways to Avoid Common Renovation Blunders
From the kitchen to the garden, and all areas in between, experts identify common mistakes and share priceless insights
Full Story
Most Popular
From Planning to Pendants: Kitchen Lighting Essentials
By Joanna Tovia
This valuable guide will give you all you need to know about choosing kitchen lighting for fabulous form and function
Full Story
Kitchen Renovations
A Kitchen That Uses Special Elements to Punch Above Its Weight
This couple wanted a well-designed kitchen that incorporated their pre-bought furniture; this designer delivered
Full Story
Pumpkin Noodles - Matt at Morcraft Kitchens in Bayswater. Not a designer but has installed enough kitchens to know what works and what doesn't. Its a small family business. They have a small showroom at their factory.