Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM NOVEMBER 2016 38 D oes where you live have an effect on the size of your kitchen? Would you be surprised to learn a larger house doesn't always translate into a proportionately larger kitchen? In the latest NKBA research, that is exactly what was uncovered. This new report summarizes a study that measured the size of kitchens in new single family houses and took into account all the variables that may have an effect on the kitchen size. The analysis is based on data collected from a random sample of more than 3,000 house plans that were matched to the characteristics of houses built in the U.S. in 2015. Many factors proved to have an impact on kitchen size, including the region the house was built in and the style of the house, ranging from a high of 166 sq. ft. in both the Mid- Atlantic and South Atlantic regions to a low of 155 sq. ft. in the Pacific and West North Central regions, with two-story houses having larger kitchens than ranch-style homes. The study also found that, on average, kitchen sizes range from a low of 103 sq. ft. for houses less than 1,500 sq. ft. to an average of 238 sq. ft. for the biggest homes, those 4,000 sq. ft. or more. Also, kitchens in houses with a great room measure 164 sq. ft. on average, compared to those without such a room at 159 sq. ft. A third finding was the increase in popularity of breakfast nooks, with more and more homes incorporating a separate breakfast area into their kitchen plan. Research continues to be a strong focus for the NKBA. They have recently published multiple research studies including research cataloging the size of the Kitchen and Bath industry, the most comprehensive of its kind in recent years, as well as a study on the spending habits of Millennials when remodeling a kitchen or bath. And there are more studies still to come including one on working with millennials in the kitchen and bath industry. The NKBA regularly provides its members with the most up-to-date facts and figures on the kitchen and bath industry through regular surveys of dealers, designers, and other industry segments and provides market data on topics such as sales, market health and style trends. "We are working to create market intelligence and research studies that not only identify what is happening today, but also what we can expect in the near future," said NKBA CEO Bill Darcy. "We believe research is an important tool to help our members stay on top of current design and business trends in the $134 billion kitchen and bath marketplace." As always, this research is available to the public, but NKBA members can access it at a discounted rate as one of their member benefits. The Executive Summary of the study is available to NKBA members free of charge and the full study is available to members for $99 and to non-members for $499 at www.nkba.org /research. KITCHEN SIZE RESEARCH A S S O C I A T I O N N E W S RO

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