Jeb Breithaupt, B.Arch, MBA

A good way to make the kitchen of your dreams more affordable is to make it a little bit smaller.

In a new kitchen remodeling survey by the popular remodeling Web site Houzz, homeowners who are planning to remodel their kitchens said size isn’t necessarily as important as the quality of the design, finishes and appliances.

Here are some other trends the survey uncovered:

Open design. More than three-quarters of the 8,000 homeowners in the survey said their new kitchens will be open to other rooms of the house. This is a popular choice in the Shreveport area as well. Tearing out a wall between the kitchen and family room or opening up the kitchen, the breakfast nook and a formal dining room can create one large room for cooking, eating and entertaining.

Quality materials. Homeowners in the Houzz survey may be settling for slightly smaller kitchens, but what they sacrifice in space they make up for in quality. They’re choosing granite and quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and even a few show-off items like a chef’s stove, an induction cooktop, a wine refrigerator or a dishwasher drawer.

Extreme makeover. Almost half of the consumers are opting to completely gut their kitchens and start from scratch so they can have the kitchen of their dreams. Slightly fewer are redesigning and updating the existing kitchen.

Islands. More than 60 percent of the homeowners who answered the survey are incorporating an island in the kitchen, which is a great idea if you need extra counter space or if your household has two chefs. Granite and quartz are the two most-popular choices for the island countertop. A tip: Change the finish on your existing countertops when you install an island so the counters around your sink, stove and in your breakfast nook all complement each other.

Backsplashes. The backsplash behind your sink, stove and countertops doesn’t have to be the same material or color as the countertop. In the survey and around Shreveport, homeowners are pairing porcelain tile and glass tile backsplashes with granite and quartz countertops. Stone is another popular option.

Stainless steel. The popularity of shiny, stainless steel appliances has lasted and lasted. Two-thirds of homeowners in the Houzz story are sticking with stainless steel, which is also a favorite among Shreveport homeowners. Way down the list but trending a bit are white or colored appliances. About 7 percent of the people in the poll are experimenting with mixing and matching appliance finishes.

Eco-friendly. Nearly half of the consumers in the poll said using eco-friendly appliances and materials in their kitchen is important to them. A tip: Even if you stick with traditional finishes, consider investing in energy-efficient appliances. Compare their annual energy use by reviewing their EnergyGuide labels, and settle for a refrigerator and dishwasher that is Energy Star-approved.

Jeb Breithaupt, B. Arch., MBA, is the president of Re-Bath in Shreveport. You can contact him at 318-216-4525 or by visiting www.rebath.com/location/shreveport.