Kitchen and Bath Remodels on the Rebound

We all have those quirks in our home that unfortunately can't be fixed with a fresh coat of paint. But many of us learn to love it, quirks and all, or list it eventually. The in-between making changes to an existing home can feel like the hardest (and most expensive) place to be.

According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) quarterly survey of more than 500 residential firms, however, home renovations are outpacing new construction projects this year. With the housing recovery, homeowners are revisiting kitchen and bathroom projects that were previously put on hold.

AIA Chief Economist Kermit F. Baker says kitchen and bath remodels are often the last to be downsized when a recession strikes, and the first to rebound after a lull. The survey found the size of kitchens and bathrooms is increasing in U.S. homes, after staying relatively flat in recent years.

This may not come as a surprise, with many viewing the kitchen as the heart of the home. It's one of the places that gets the most foot traffic and activity. It's also increasingly seen as the command center for the home's technology and green features.

According to the AIA, bathrooms are among the first spaces to be upgraded in newly owned homes. Homeowners looking to sell are thinking about what will attract a buyer. Homeowners looking to stay in their homes for retirement are also paying more attention to the accessibility of their bathrooms.

Heres a look at some of the most popular kitchen and bathroom upgrades this year:

Source: Zillow

Universal design is a big movement in bathrooms, with 54 percent of architects getting requests for wheelchair-accessible features. But, making an existing shower flush with the floor can be a costly upgrade.

"A traditional shower is built up off the floor so it slopes to drain," explained Gerald L. Morosco, an architect who participated in the survey. "So when you want an accessible shower flush with the floor, it's fairly involved. There is not a big price jump in a new construction, but in a remodel, it gets into a structural issue. You have to support the shower with less depth."

Source: Zillow

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Kitchen and Bath Remodels on the Rebound