Popular Kitchen Choices

Dec. 1, 2002
3 min read

While laminate remains the clear choice among kitchen countertop materials, remodeling customers are more open to variety in their choice of kitchen flooring. According to Professional Remodeler's 2002 Home Remodeling Study, customers nationwide who had remodeled or planned to remodel their kitchen have a slight preference for vinyl floors over ceramic tile. But regionally, vinyl is No. 1 only in the South; tile is preferred in the Northeast, North Central and West regions. Also, the West is the only region where laminate countertops aren't dominant. Customers there are more apt than those elsewhere to select trendier or newer countertop materials such as granite and solid surfaces.

All kitchen-remodel respondents
Northeast
North Central
South
West
Countertops
Laminate
36.3%
40.2%
38.0%
38.8%
24.7%
Solid surface
14.3%
4.4%
9.3%
15.1%
19.5%
Granite
12.4%
11.3%
9.3%
10.8%
20.8%
Tile, porcelain & quarry
9.0%
4.1%
13.9%
8.6%
9.1%
Marble/stone
8.3%
10.3%
5.6%
9.4%
7.8%
Butcher block/wood
7.4%
9.3%
5.6%
8.6%
5.2%
Stainless steel
1.7%
2.1%
1.9%
1.4%
1.3%
Flooring
Vinyl
24.2%
25.8%
22.2%
26.6%
20.8%
Ceramic tile
24.0%
28.9%
23.1%
22.3%
22.1%
Laminate
15.9%
12.4%
20.4%
15.8%
14.3%
Hardwood
14.7%
16.5%
18.5%
7.2%
20.8%
Carpet
8.6%
11.3%
5.6%
10.1%
6.5%
Marble/stone
3.6%
4.1%
0.9%
3.6%
6.5%
Storage
Pantry area
29.9%
20.6%
30.6%
30.9%
39.0%
Lazy susan
24.2%
21.6%
31.5%
15.8%
32.5%
Utility closet
17.3%
23.7%
10.2%
16.5%
20.8%
Spice rack
14.7%
12.4%
17.6%
15.1%
3.0%
Closet organizers
13.1%
14.4%
11.1%
11.5%
16.9%
Appliance garage
7.6%
8.2%
4.6%
4.3%
16.9%
Wine rack
5.9%
5.2%
4.6%
5.8%
9.1%
Recycling center
3.8%
5.2%
1.9%
2.2%
7.8%
Other
7.8%
6.2%
7.4%
5.8%
14.3%
Source: Professional Remodeler’s 2002 Home Remodeling Study
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