High Style

A great kitchen has many important elements, including cool appliances, hardworking countertops, and an attractive yet durable floor to withstand abuse. But don't kid yourself: All of these things come second to the element that really anchors the kitchen—the cabinets.

It's the thing consumers care most about, says Jim Potthast, marketing services manager for Adrian, Mich.–based cabinet manufacturer Merillat Industries. “When observed in a research study conducted by Merillat, ‘Model Behavior: How People Act, Think and Shop a Model Home (2004),' cabinetry was the No. 1 feature that defines a quality kitchen,” he says.

Few people would argue with that. No matter what kind of high-end appliances and countertops you put in a kitchen, if the cabinets aren't right the space will look incomplete. “The kitchen and master bath are generally the No. 1 purchasing decision,” says Angela O'Neill, director of marketing for Wellborn Cabinets in Ashland, Ala. “Cabinets are the blueprint of the kitchen and even [the] home. They can set the style of the entire home.”

Given the importance of cabinets, it is important that you select products that are likely to catch your buyers' attention. This is relatively hard to do because people have different tastes. But several emerging trends have been particularly strong with buyers.

“Clean and simple lines are the new look,” says Connie Edwards, a certified kitchen designer and director of design for Timberlake Cabinetry in Winchester, Va. “Contemporary looks in hardware, light fixtures, and cabinet layouts are hot in remodeling and are now piquing the interest of more builders.”

O'Neill agrees that “clean doors” and “warm, contemporary” looks are in, but she says there is more to the look. “Stacked wall cabinets rather than staggered heights are seen as part of this movement to a cleaner, simpler aesthetic,” she explains.

Oak, with its noticeable grain pattern, was once the dominant species in cabinets, but it has been replaced by maple's more uniform look. “While maple remains the preferred wood species, there is also a growing interest in cherry wood, as well,” Edwards says. Mixing materials in the kitchen is a popular trend, so it's not unusual to see wall cabinets in one style and island cabinets in another. “This creates an eclectic look and can be more memorable for the buyer touring a variety of model homes,” Edwards believes.

For Merillat's part, medium-tone cabinetry was the most popular choice among the consumers in its 2004 research. “However, darker tones are continuing to increase in popularity,” says Paul Radoy, the company's design services manager.

But a great kitchen is not only about the style of the cabinets or the species of wood they are made from; it is also about functionality. The kitchen is now the hub of activities such as paying bills or doing homework, so consumers will need cabinetry tailored to those activities. And as they collect more stuff, buyers will need an efficient way to conceal them. “Interior storage features are also important—especially for the active adult segment,” O'Neill explains. “The 55-plus age bracket places value on the convenience these storage features add to the home and homeowners' lifestyles.”

But in a weak housing market, how do you get buyers attention? How do you provide value and bling without breaking the bank?

Wellborn believes in more options, especially in the luxury production market where a wider variety of products are needed. “One of the best ways to add value is through upgrades and features in interior accessories, moldings, corbels, or even upgrading to glazes without the standard up charges,” O'Neill says.

Don Repshas, marketing vice president at Timberlake, says his company is focused on helping builders create standard kitchens that are styled to look custom-designed. “Timberlake offers builders many furniture-like features as standard on its cabinetry, as well as custom upgrade options—with the style, quality, and features of expensive cabinetry—at a stock price,” he says.

Ideally, builders should show the upgraded products in a model home or showroom, Merillat's Jim Potthast says, because then consumers will want them. This also accomplishes another goal: getting consumers to touch the merchandise. Shoppers are more likely to buy from a builder if they can touch more items in the kitchen, Potthast says.

CLEAN SWEEP: The Capistrano cabinet door collection has clean, simple lines and is ideal for interiors with a modern style. It has full overlay doors with a 3-inch frame, multilevel door profile, and a decorative three-piece drawer front. Top and bottom door rails surround a recessed, veneer flat panel. The doors come in a wide array of finishes including the maple spice shown here. Timberlake Cabinetry. 800-967-9674. www.timberlake.com.

CLASSICAL STYLE: Durham's simple design proves that cabinets don't have to be ultra modern to blend into contemporary interiors. The manufacturer says the door's classic styling is a way to create a relaxed, traditional setting. The full overlay door has a recessed laminated center panel and five-piece square mitered style. It is available in Toasted Antique glaze. Aristokraft Cabinetry. 812-482-2527. www.aristokraft.com.

WARM UP: The manufacturer's Milan line comes in cherry, maple, and, now, oak. Ideal for warm contemporary interiors, the simple overlay slab cabinet door features wood-edge banding on the perimeter to create a soft eased edge. The line comes in six standard and nine specialty finishes. Wellborn Cabinets. 800-336-8040. www.wellborn.com.

COLD FUSION: The newest introduction to the manufacturer's Classic line, Fusion allows builders to offer a contemporary option to buyers. Fusion has a full overlay, one-piece slab design and comes in maple and cherry. It can be transformed from a starkly modern look into a soft contemporary look with the addition of moldings and accents. Merillat Industries. 517-263-0771. www.merillat.com.

MODERN MAKEOVER: Designed to capture the market's demand for sleek contemporary surfaces, the company introduced three new slab-style doors: Moderno in maple, Europa in cherry, and Calibra in plantation hardwood. The cabinet doors feature a smooth style, eased edges, six-way adjustable hinges, and a 17-step finish process. Armstrong Cabinets. 717-397-0611. www.armstrong.com.

Energy Star Gazing

Is the lighting in your homes as energy efficient as it should be?

With electricity prices rising as much as they have been for the last five years, it is important that you outfit your homes with as many energy-saving features as possible. One way to do this is with Energy Star–qualified lighting packages.

According to the EPA, Energy Star lighting offers bright illumination but uses at least two-thirds less energy than standard lighting, generates 70 percent less heat, and lasts up to 10 times longer. Home buyers can simply change their standard light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs to achieve some savings, but builders can do their part as well.

“To save the most energy and money, replace your highest-use fixtures or the light bulbs in them with energy-efficient models,” EPA advises on its Energy Star Web site. “The five highest-use fixtures in a home are typically the kitchen ceiling light, the living room table and floor lamps, bathroom vanity, and outdoor porch or post lamp.”

Sea Gull Lighting in Riverside, N.J., says there are many reasons you should be putting this type of lighting in your homes. The company says that “many local, state, and federal government agencies have begun to develop and implement mandatory regulations designed to greatly reduce energy consumption and foster higher levels of conservation.” And because customer demand for these types of fixtures is increasing, it makes sense (and cents).

“The need to conserve energy is a reality, whether you live in [state]-mandated energy-efficient areas or are just concerned with growing gas and electric bills,” says Jeff Dross, product manager for Kichler Lighting in Cleveland. Energy costs, he says, are changing the way people shop for lighting. Which means it should change the way you provide it.

CLEAN AND SHARP: The clean-lined Metropolis fixture can be installed flush-mounted to the ceiling or as a pendant light over a foyer or a hallway. Measuring 14 inches high and 8 ½ inches in diameter, the light is finished in brushed nickel and comes with a frosted-white glass shade. Sea Gull Lighting. 856-764-0500. www.seagulllighting.com.

www.thomaslighting.com.

MINI LIGHT: Mini pendants are the latest introduction to the manufacturer's Energy Star kitchen line. This product features a swirl alabaster–style glass shade with a brushed nickel holder. Measuring 9 ½ inches wide and 6 inches high, it uses a 13-watt, four-pin spiral compact fluorescent lamp. Thomas Lighting. 502-420-9600.

DIMMER DOWN: The manufacturer says the Energy Star–qualified P83-26ICATDM is the industry's first dimmable compact fluorescent recessed fixture. The unit uses a standard 26-watt compact fluorescent triple-tube and works with a standard incandescent dimmer. Progress Lighting. 864-678-1000. www.progresslighting.com.

WATER SPOT: These Energy Star–compliant 10641 OZ bath lights last six to 10 times longer than conventional fixtures, the manufacturer says. The fixtures measure 5 ½ inches wide and 9 ½ inches high and have marble glass shades. Shown here in an Olde Bronze finish, they are UL-listed for damp locations. Kichler Lighting. 866-558-5706. www.kichler.com.