Builders are stocking kitchens with convenience, beauty

In today's homes, kitchens reign.

Homeowners spend more time in the kitchen than in any other room in their home. It's the gathering hub of the house - a center of cooking, eating and socializing.

Open kitchen designs often combine with the breakfast nook and family room, creating one large space for family togetherness or entertaining guests.

The island - which may sport a different finish and countertop to make it stand out - may house a prep sink and microwave drawer. Utilitarian extras such as recycling organizers and specialized storage options are also in demand.

Builders use different ways to provide buyers with the amenities they want in their kitchens. Some include features they know their customers want, while others offer a standard package with many upgrade options. Custom homes with million dollar plus price tags often feature state-of-the-art appliances, stonework and materials with more exotic finishes.

Harris Builders, a custom builder of innovative homes priced from $2.5 to $5 million, welcomes visitors to its showcase model home in Inverness where unique kitchen features are on display.

"Today's kitchens are utilitarian, but expected to be as elegant as our living rooms or dining rooms, said Evan Harris, president of Harris Builders.

Some exclusive features of Harris' million dollar homes include a 48-inch Wolf convection range with eight burners, cook top and griddle; large refrigerators such as a side-by-side refrigerator and freezer measuring 54 inches; dual dishwashers and warming drawers.

The builder offers staggered-height, antique white wood cabinets and islands with sinks and contrasting cabinets. A butler pantry can display cabinets for fine crystal, serving ware and other items used for special occasions.

Today butler pantries are differentiated from the rest of the kitchen cabinetry and are shown in painted antique white, distressed black, forest green or rich burgundy. A built-in espresso maker or wine fridge is the latest fad.

Old World chandeliers are in vogue with strands of delicate colored crystals or hanging medallions in amber or red tones often hung over the island or breakfast table.

Other amenities buyers want include some audiovisual automation and high-end plumbing products, said Dean Snow, Harris general manager.

Also there's a lot of decorative, accent lighting above and under cabinetry as well as some kind of decorative chandelier over the island, giving it that real elegant finish, Snow said.

"We use timeless yet elegant décor at this price level."

Although kitchens take center stage in the home, not everyone is opting for the gourmet kitchen upgrade.

Town and Country Homes offers a basic kitchen package with a gourmet kitchen option. "A few people do the basic kitchen, but we're seeing more of the a la carte where people choose their own features instead of going with the gourmet package," said Brian Murphy, vice president of marketing.

"Buyers may be cutting back in some areas of the home, but not in the kitchen. They will forgo other things to include the kitchen features they want.

"A lot of our customers want that warm, inviting Midwestern gathering spot, so we see more wood floors rather than ceramic, and we're getting away from the oaks with more requests for maples and hickories," Murphy said.

"Stainless steel is still popular, and we have a lot of requests for stainless steel appliances and a deep sink with higher arc faucets with a pull out sprayer. Granite tops are in demand because they're durable and beautiful, and give the kitchen that rich, warm feeling.

"People like the rollout trays, and a lot of cabinets offer that feature along with the garbage bins to tuck it away and out of sight," Murphy said. "A wine chiller cabinet is popular with upper glass cabinets for a more classic touch.

"In many of our plans, the kitchen is open to the breakfast and family room because people want that open feel where they can watch the kids, have the TV on, have the family hang out, entertain, have a drink, have a meal, whatever the case may be," Murphy said.

Pulte Homes, with its Signature Standards, includes what customers expect in their kitchens rather than offering a lot of options.

"We're the professionals," said Chris Naatz, vice president of sales and marketing for Pulte. "We understand what our customers want, and we include it. We're able to offer them a high level of inclusions because we have some leverage in buying from our trade partners."

Naatz puts it this way: "We know you want Corian, so we include Corian. We know you don't want the flat panel oak cabinet, so we're including maple cabinets with rollout shelves. We are including GE appliances with a choice of white, black or stainless steel.

"We have a choice of wood or ceramic flooring in the kitchen at the same cost. We have recessed lighting in the ceiling. You don't want a shallow sink where you can barely fit a pan, so we include an oversized kitchen sink with integral bowl. Sometimes we include a planning desk, which often becomes an Internet station, and an island. These are the things people want."

Similarly, Airhart Construction offers a nice kitchen package as standard, which includes a cook top, double oven, space-saver microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator.

Most people aren't looking for fancy stuff, and they stay with the standard or upgrade to just a little better. They might opt for a nicer cook top or double oven, said Bill Whelan, Airhart marketing manager.

"Oak floors and granite are standard, but people can get credit if they don't want granite. Right now we have a young couple stretching to get into a new home, so they're not including the double oven, cook top or granite."

Because Airhart builds homes in a wider price range than most builders, residents' desires may differ from one community to another.

"At Fisher Farm in Winfield, where residents are a mix of downsizers and busy young couples, we still do nice kitchens, but not the real exotic kitchens," Whelan said. "At McKenzie Place townhouses where prices range from $499,000 to $700,000s, many owners are downsizers who go out to eat a lot. They still have the double oven for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but they don't have the big gourmet stuff. Everyone here is upgrading to the GE Profile package, not with the fancy hoods, but the nicer cook top and double oven and fridge with cabinet panels.

"We show painted wood cabinets, which are really in right now, at Courthouse Square. The community is a little more upscale, so we offer the Profile appliances as standard, which are what many people in our other communities are choosing as upgrades.

"At Woodland Oaks in Wheaton, where homes are more than a million, kitchens get real custom, and they're doing the real gourmet with the Viking range and that kind of stuff."

Today's kitchen is much more than a place to prepare and cook meals - it's a beautiful, well-planned environment. With innovative designs, beautiful cabinetry, gourmet appliances, and a stunning selection of countertops, lighting and other amenities, buyers have more ways than ever to make their kitchen the kitchen of their dreams.