tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48583367606038074992024-03-14T01:01:33.416-04:00K+B DeltaVeeKitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.comBlogger369125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-88699662686195920652008-09-25T09:46:00.002-04:002008-09-25T09:51:13.413-04:00Can't Say This Fills Me With a Lot of Confidence<strong>Don't</strong> try this explanation next time a client asks you to justify your cost estimate for remodeling their kitchen. <a href="http://www.forbes.com/home/2008/09/23/bailout-paulson-congress-biz-beltway-cx_jz_bw_0923bailout.html">From </a><em>Forbes</em>:<br /><blockquote>"In fact, some of the most basic details, including the <strong><strong>$700 billion</strong> </strong>figure Treasury would use to buy up bad debt, are fuzzy.<br />"It's not based on any particular data point," a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday. "<strong>We just wanted to choose a really large number</strong>." "<br /><br /></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote>Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-15326567579143693832008-09-24T10:48:00.002-04:002008-09-24T11:06:13.374-04:00August Existing Home Sales Down 11%<strong>Existing home sales</strong> in <strong>August</strong> dipped <strong>10.7%</strong> from the same month last year to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of <strong>4.91 million units</strong>, according to the most recent figures from the <strong>National Association of Realtors</strong>. <strong>Single family</strong> home sales <strong>dipped 9.6%</strong> to a <strong>4.35 million-unit</strong> pace.<br />Through the <strong>first eight months</strong> of 2008, almost <strong>3.38 million</strong> homes have been sold, <strong>down</strong> <strong>17.1%</strong> from the same period of 2007.<br /><strong>Median sales price</strong> for an existing home in August was <strong>$203,100, down 9.5%</strong> from the same month last year. At current sales rates, there is an existing inventory of <strong>10.4 months'</strong> worth of <strong>unsold</strong> homes, <strong>up 8.3%</strong> from the same period last year.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-84914057266914884202008-09-22T08:51:00.001-04:002008-09-22T08:55:31.084-04:00Choosing Not to ParticipateThe proposed Fed bailout for the mortgage industry will be covered <a href="http://calculatedrisk.blogspot.com/">better elsewhere</a>. But I do want to call the reader's attention to a peculiar paragraph in the <em>Wall Street Journal</em>'s <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122200573768460503.html">coverage</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>"Mr. Paulson is resisting efforts to limit the pay of executives whose<br />firms participate in the program and plans to fight it "hard," according to a<br />person familiar with the matter. He fears that provision would render the<br />program moot, since many firms might choose not to participate."<br /></blockquote><br />Really? I mean, really?Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-51730603066402124512008-09-19T13:34:00.003-04:002008-09-19T13:37:58.195-04:00Home Theatre Market to Hit $3 billion in 2013A <a href="http://www.echannelline.com/usa/brief.cfm?item=15772">report </a>(with an apparently incorrect headline) from echannel finds <strong>7% annual growth</strong> in <strong>home theatre products and services</strong>.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-2294307768664855902008-09-19T09:25:00.002-04:002008-09-19T10:23:54.911-04:00Aaaargh!<a href="http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html">Today </a>be a great day to make your co-workers think you've lost your mind, mateys.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-56117961323766550122008-09-17T10:33:00.003-04:002008-09-17T10:43:45.331-04:00August Single Family Starts Dip 35%<strong>Single family housing starts</strong> hit their <strong>lowest pace since January of 1991</strong>, <strong>down 34.9%</strong> from the same month last year to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of <strong>630,000 units</strong>, according to the <strong>Census Bureau</strong>. Overall <strong>starts dipped 33.1%</strong> from August, 2007, to a <strong>895,000-unit</strong> rate.<br />The declines should help correct the <strong>large inventory of unsold homes</strong>.<br />Through August, some <strong>681,200 homes</strong> have been started, <strong>down 30.5%</strong> from the same period last year.<br /><strong>Building permits dipped 36.4%</strong> to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of <strong>854,000 homes</strong>.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-23109918378658361072008-09-17T09:26:00.000-04:002008-09-17T09:26:00.944-04:00Nearly Half of Dealer Showroom Designs Are now 'Green'Almost <strong>half of the displays</strong> at the average <strong>kitchen and bath dealer</strong> now <strong>feature sustainable products and design principles</strong>. That’s according to a recent survey of dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada conducted by the <strong>NKBA</strong>.<br />Nearly <strong>95% </strong>of those dealers responding <strong>have a showroom</strong>, averaging 8<strong>.5 kitchen and bath displays and vignettes</strong>, of which about <strong>4 feature sustainable design and products</strong>. <strong>More than half</strong> of respondents have <strong>changed their displays or vignettes</strong> to show <strong>sustainable products and principles</strong> in the past 12 months, and <strong>68% plan to change or add</strong> “green” displays in the next 12 months.<br />About <strong>six out of ten dealers</strong> say their <strong>promotional literature mentions sustainable design</strong> principles and products, and <strong>45% advertise or promote it</strong> to their local market.<br /><strong>Seven out of ten dealers</strong> have instituted <strong>sustainable business practices</strong> at their dealerships. <strong>Eighty one percent use recycled paper</strong>, and <strong>80% have cut down on paper use</strong> with e-documents. <strong>Seventy-three percent</strong> have <strong>cut back on energy use</strong> for air conditioning and heating, and <strong>68% </strong>have switched to energy-saving lighting.<br /><strong>Three out of four</strong> dealers<strong> recycle some or all of what they tear out</strong> when installing a new kitchen job, with 29% recycling almost all, and 4% recycling all.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-29857468776623805782008-09-17T08:55:00.004-04:002008-09-17T09:10:51.268-04:00Fed Bails Out AIG; WaMu Next?The <a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/other/20080916a.htm"><strong>Federal Reserve</strong> </a>has <strong>bailed out</strong> <strong>American International Group</strong> (AIG) and now owns nearly 80% of the ailing insurance giant.<br />And the AP <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080917/ap_on_bi_ge/washington_mutual;_ylt=AkgW.w56nDsSDRrKcUcnNE0EtbAF">says </a>the Feds are currently trying to organize a <strong>buyout of Washington Mutual</strong>, which has been among the lenders hardest-hit by the mortgage crisis.<br />The <em>Financial Times</em> <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4e7ddbc-47d0-11dd-93ca-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1">notes </a>that <strong>AIG paid its chief executive about $61 million</strong> when it fired him earlier this year, after he had<strong> lost them more than $30 billion</strong>.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-2831491486518234742008-09-16T10:55:00.002-04:002008-09-16T11:03:24.159-04:00August Kitchen Appliance Shipments Dip 8%Some <strong>3.3 million kitchen appliances</strong> were shipped in <strong>August</strong>, <strong>down 8.0%</strong> from the same month in 2007, according to the most recent figures from the <strong>Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.</strong><br />Through the first<strong> eight months</strong> of this year, nearly <strong>26.5 million kitchen appliances</strong> have been shipped, <strong>down 8.9%</strong> from the same period last year.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-75869984160862657292008-09-16T09:39:00.001-04:002008-09-16T09:40:57.695-04:00Focus on What Matters<a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/09/in-search-of-va.html">Good advice </a>from Seth Godin.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-68970635287221711732008-09-15T11:18:00.002-04:002008-09-15T11:22:49.605-04:0037% of Dealer Kitchen Jobs Are 'Green'About <strong>37% of the kitchen jobs</strong> sold by <strong>kitchen and bath dealers</strong> in the past 12 months have had <strong>ecologically responsible features</strong> in them, according to a recent survey of dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada conducted by the NKBA. More than 150 dealers responded.<br />Some <strong>13% of dealers say all of the jobs</strong> they’ve sold in that span are ecologically responsible, while 9% say none have been. Among <strong>bath jobs, 35%</strong> on the average have been “<strong>green</strong>.” Nearly <strong>13% have done nothing but ecologically responsible bath jobs</strong>, while 14% have done none over the past 12 months.<br /><strong>More than half</strong> of the dealers responding say the <strong>price </strong>of their <strong>sustainable kitchen jobs</strong> is somewhat <strong>higher</strong> in price than non-sustainable ones. About <strong>22% say</strong> there is <strong>no difference</strong>, while one in ten says the price for sustainable bath jobs is much higher. <strong>Fifty-three percent</strong> also say <strong>sustainable bath jobs</strong> are somewhat <strong>higher</strong> priced; <strong>24%</strong> say there is <strong>no price difference</strong>, while 9% say the price is much higher.<br />Nearly <strong>two out of three dealers</strong> say they’ve <strong>encountered sales resistance</strong> among clients due to higher prices for sustainable products, but <strong>only 36%</strong> feel they’ve <strong>lost sales</strong> due to that factor. <strong>Forty-seven percent</strong> feel their ability to offer sustainable kitchen and bath designs and products has<strong> gained them sales</strong>.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-29028924138323041722008-09-08T09:41:00.001-04:002008-09-08T09:43:17.478-04:00Fed Bails Out Mortgage Agencies<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aRHL3uYQjJWM&">From </a>Bloomberg:<br /><blockquote>"The U.S. Treasury's takeover of <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=FNM%3AUS" t_above="true" t_static="true" t_fontcolor="#000000" t_fontface="Verdana,sans-serif" t_bgcolor="#ddedd9" t_width="110" t_delay="50">Fannie Mae</a> and <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=FRE%3AUS" t_above="true" t_static="true" t_fontcolor="#000000" t_fontface="Verdana,sans-serif" t_bgcolor="#ddedd9" t_width="110" t_delay="50">Freddie Mac</a> is aimed at<br />keeping the companies going into 2009, while leaving the next president and<br />Congress to decide their long-term structure.<br />Treasury Secretary <a href="http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Henry+Paulson&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1" t_above="true" t_static="true" t_fontcolor="#000000" t_fontface="Verdana,sans-serif" t_bgcolor="#ddedd9" t_width="110" t_delay="50">Henry Paulson</a> and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director <a href="http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=James+Lockhart&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1" t_above="true" t_static="true" t_fontcolor="#000000" t_fontface="Verdana,sans-serif" t_bgcolor="#ddedd9" t_width="110" t_delay="50">James Lockhart</a> yesterday placed the two firms in a<br />government-operated conservatorship, ousting their chief executives and<br />eliminating their dividends. The Treasury may purchase up to $200 billion of<br />stock in the firms to keep them solvent.<br />``Some of this is a stopgap to try<br />to prevent the mortgage market from falling apart,'' former Federal Reserve Bank<br />of St. Louis President William Poole said on Bloomberg Radio. The federally<br />chartered, shareholder-owned structure, with risks covered by taxpayers, is ``an<br />unacceptable situation,'' he said, projecting the Treasury may need to cover as<br />much as $300 billion of losses. "<br /></blockquote>Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-6521409095831529432008-09-08T09:14:00.000-04:002008-09-08T09:14:01.533-04:0077% of Dealers Asked by Clients About Sustainable Design<strong>Seventy-seven percent</strong> of dealers had <strong>customer requests</strong> or inquiries about <strong>sustainable design of kitchens or baths </strong>in the past 12 months, and <strong>three out of four</strong> brought up the subject of sustainable design <strong>without being asked</strong>.<br />Those are some of the results of a recent survey of kitchen and bath dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association. More than 150 dealers responded.<br />Nearly <strong>12%</strong> of the dealers said clients have a <strong>high level of interest</strong> in sustainable kitchens and baths, while <strong>56%</strong> said that clients had a <strong>moderate level</strong>. Just 28% reported a low level of interest, and under 4% reported a very low level.<br />About <strong>43%</strong> said their client had done <strong>a little research</strong> on sustainability issues when they walk into the showroom, and <strong>41%</strong> said clients had done <strong>some research</strong>. <strong>Five percent</strong> said clients had done <strong>a lot of research</strong> on the issue, while 11% said clients had done no research.<br />The<strong> use of renewable resources</strong> ranked highest among client concerns, said 77% of the dealers. <strong>Sixty-three percent</strong> cited <strong>health issues from volatile organic com</strong>pounds (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">VOCs</span>), <strong>electromagnetic fields</strong> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">EMFs</span>) and other factors; the same number said clients cited potential <strong>energy savings</strong>. Potential <strong>water savings</strong> ranked high for <strong>39%</strong>, <strong>17%</strong> said <strong>carbon impact</strong>, and <strong>8%</strong> cited <strong>other factors</strong> including use of local products and the business practices of the dealer.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-88609157706934000912008-09-05T15:52:00.003-04:002008-09-05T16:05:39.880-04:00July Business Barometer Shows Mixed Results<strong>Kitchen/bath dealers averaged 32 prospects, 12 kitchen sales</strong> and and <strong>15 bath sales</strong> during <strong>July</strong>, according to the NKBA <strong>Dealer Business Barometer</strong>. Average price of a <strong>kitchen</strong> for respondents was <strong>$32,735</strong> and average price of a <strong>bath</strong> was <strong>$10,918</strong>.<br />About <strong>41% </strong>of respondents said that the number of <strong>prospects was the same or higher</strong> than last year at this time. About <strong>half</strong> said the number of <strong>kitchen sales was the same or higher</strong>, and <strong>51%</strong> said the number of <strong>bath sales were the same or higher</strong>.<br /><strong>Forty percent</strong> of respondents forecast <strong>higher dollar sales volume</strong> during the next six months, and <strong>15% expect</strong> sales to remain <strong>level</strong> with the previous six months. Some <strong>52%</strong> say they will be doing <strong>business as usual</strong> during the rest of 2008, and <strong>15%</strong> plan to <strong>expand</strong>.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-27334003988957910642008-09-05T09:18:00.004-04:002008-09-05T09:37:12.427-04:00The Age of Invention<div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VI40GeVEE0A/SMEyPRVHqoI/AAAAAAAAAL0/sgkR6gUvKUM/s1600-h/wake-bacon-open.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242526679167380098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VI40GeVEE0A/SMEyPRVHqoI/AAAAAAAAAL0/sgkR6gUvKUM/s400/wake-bacon-open.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It's the <a href="http://www.mathlete.com/portfolio/wakeNbacon.php">Baconator </a>alarm clock...<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242530451252476658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VI40GeVEE0A/SME1q1cSevI/AAAAAAAAAL8/aO9n_kWCY_Q/s400/Teuco+shower-bath.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p> </p><p>And this is a <a href="http://freshome.com/2008/09/04/reinventing-the-bathroom-bathtub-shower-by-ron-arad/">prototype </a>by Italian bath manufacturer Teuco that rotates on the wall to become either a tub or a shower.</p>Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-34882021678964212552008-09-04T08:06:00.000-04:002008-09-04T08:06:00.576-04:00Maple Tops Cherry for Kitchen Cabinets in Northeast<strong>Maple or Birds' Eye Maple</strong> was <strong>more popular</strong> than Cherry as a <strong>wood for kitchen cabinets</strong> in the <strong>Northeast</strong> during the period from <strong>April to June</strong> of this year, according to the results of the NKBA's recent <strong>Style Barometer Survey</strong>. <strong>Cherry</strong> ranked as <strong>most popular</strong> <strong>elsewhere</strong>.<br /><strong>White or red oak</strong> ranked <strong>third</strong> in <strong>Canada</strong> and the <strong>Northeast</strong>, but was <strong>eclipsed by alder</strong> in other regions.<br /><strong>Birch</strong> scored high in the <strong>South</strong>, the <strong>Northeast</strong> and <strong>Canada</strong>, while <strong>mahogany</strong> was the fourth most popular wood in the <strong>West</strong>.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-22840030097433638402008-09-03T09:53:00.003-04:002008-09-03T10:04:02.015-04:00Contemporary Tops Traditional Kitchen Styles Out WestAlthough <strong>traditional</strong> styles were the most popular <strong>kitchen styles</strong> in the <strong>East, Midwest</strong> and <strong>South</strong>, according to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">NKBA's</span> recent <strong>Style Barometer Survey</strong>, in the <strong>Western states</strong> <strong>contemporary</strong> edged out traditional , and in <strong>Canada, Shaker</strong> styles were more popular than either.<br />Some other regional differences: <strong>Arts & Crafts</strong> was the <strong>third</strong> most popular kitchen style in the <strong>Midwest</strong> and <strong>fourth</strong> most popular in <strong>Canada</strong>; it was fifth in the other regions.<br /><strong>Asian Fusion</strong> was much more popular in <strong>Canada</strong> and the <strong>West</strong> than in other regions, and <strong>Tuscan</strong> style ranked much <strong>higher in the U.S.</strong> than it did in Canada.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-9402651428943480142008-08-27T08:00:00.002-04:002008-08-27T08:00:01.841-04:00Beiges/Bones Are Most Popular Kitchen/Bath Color SchemesThe <strong>three most popular color schemes</strong> for <strong>kitchens</strong> this Spring were <strong>beiges/bones</strong>, cited by <strong>55% </strong>of respondents, <strong>whites/off-whites (50%)</strong>, and <strong>browns (39%)</strong>. That's according to the <strong>NKBA Dealer/Designer Style Barometer</strong>, which polled 200 dealers and designers about their clients’ style and color selections for kitchens and baths during the period <strong>April-June, 2008</strong>.<br /><strong>Bronzes/terracottas</strong> were cited by <strong>34%</strong>, <strong>mints/greens by 19%</strong>, <strong>stainless steel by 18%</strong>, <strong>Sepiatones by 12%</strong>, <strong>reds by 11%</strong>, and <strong>saffrons by 11%</strong>.<br /><strong>Beiges/bones</strong> were the most <strong>popular bath color</strong> scheme <strong>(59%)</strong>, followed by <strong>whites/off-whites (52%)</strong> and <strong>mints/greens (32%)</strong>. Other color schemes mentioned as popular were <strong>browns (31%)</strong>, <strong>blues (25%)</strong>, <strong>bronzes/terracottas (18%)</strong> and <strong>sepiatones (12%)</strong>.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-43225432001793253952008-08-26T15:41:00.002-04:002008-08-26T15:46:52.337-04:00Consumer Confidence Improves in AugustAlthough still well<a href="http://www.conference-board.org/economics/ConsumerConfidence.cfm"> below </a>last year's levels, the <strong>Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index</strong> improved in <strong>August</strong> to <strong>56.9</strong> (1985 = 100). The <strong>Expectations Index increased to 52.8</strong> from 42.7 in July.<br />Said <strong>Lynn Franco</strong>, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center: "Consumer confidence readings suggest that <strong>the economy remains stuck in neutral</strong>, but may be showing <strong>signs of improvement by early next year</strong>. <strong>Declines </strong>in the Present Situation Index, both in terms of <strong>business conditions and the labor market</strong>, appear to be <strong>moderating</strong>. The Expectations Index, which posted a significant gain this month, suggests <strong>better times may be ahead</strong>. However, overall readings are <strong>still quite low</strong> by historical standards and it is still <strong>too early to tell</strong> if the worst is behind us."Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-90472973177864981622008-08-26T09:48:00.003-04:002008-08-26T09:55:08.362-04:00S&P Sees Moderation in Home Price DeclineAlthough the <strong>S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices</strong> <a href="http://www2.standardandpoors.com/spf/pdf/index/CSHomePrice_Release_082653.pdf">showed </a>continued <strong>declines in the prices of existing single family homes </strong>across the United States through the end of June, they also showed some <strong>reason for cautious optimism</strong>.<br />"While there is no national turnaround in residential real estate prices, it is possible that we are seeing <strong>some regions struggling to come back</strong>, which has resulted in some moderation in price declines at the national level" says <strong>David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor’s</strong>. "The<strong> rate of home price decline may be slowing</strong>."<br />At the national level, the housing market peaked around June/July of 2006. As of June 2008, two years later, the <strong>10-City Composite has fallen by 20.3%</strong> and the <strong>20-City Composite is down 18.8%</strong>.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-49610190202628346782008-08-26T09:28:00.001-04:002008-08-26T09:32:25.352-04:00Traditional, Contemporary and Shaker Are Top Kitchen Bath Styles This Spring<strong>Traditional, contemporary and Shaker styles</strong> were the <strong>three leading styles</strong> for cutting edge kitchens and baths during the Spring of 2008. That’s according to the NKBA <strong>Dealer/Designer Style Barometer</strong>, which polled 200 dealers and designers about their clients’ style and color selections for <strong>kitchens and baths</strong> during the period <strong>April-June, 2008</strong>.<br /><strong>Forty-seven percent</strong> of the dealers and designers who responded were <strong>certified</strong>, and 86% designed both kitchens and baths; 12% designed kitchens only and the remaining 3% did baths only. <strong>Average kitchen job</strong> designed by the panel was priced at <strong>$51,710</strong>, and the <strong>average bath job at $30,344</strong>, confirming the elite status of the projects created.<br />Asked to characterize the three most popular styles of kitchens this Spring,<strong> 67% </strong>said <strong>traditional</strong>, <strong>48%</strong> said <strong>contemporary</strong>, and <strong>35%</strong> said <strong>Shaker</strong>. <strong>Arts and Crafts</strong> was mentioned by 25%, <strong>Tuscan</strong> by 21%, and <strong>Cottage</strong> by 16%.<br />Asked to name the <strong>three most popular styles in the baths</strong> they design, <strong>71%</strong> cited <strong>traditional</strong>, <strong>59%</strong> cited <strong>contemporary</strong>, and <strong>23%</strong> said <strong>Shaker</strong>. <strong>Seventeen percent</strong> each said <strong>cottage</strong>, <strong>Arts and Crafts</strong>, or <strong>Asian fusion</strong> were among their three most popular bath styles.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-873052953481655782008-08-25T10:18:00.003-04:002008-08-25T10:36:56.370-04:00July Existing Home Sales Show UptickWhile still well behind (-13.2%) 2007's pace, <strong>existing home sales for July</strong> posted a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of <strong>5 million units, up 3.1%</strong> from June. <strong>Single family</strong> existing home sales were also <strong>up 3.1%</strong> from June to a <strong>4.39 million-unit</strong> pace, according to the <strong>National Association of Realtors</strong>.<br />Through <strong>seven months</strong>, nearly <strong>2.9 million existing homes</strong> have been sold, <strong>down 11.8%</strong> from 2007's same period results.<br /><strong>Average existing home price</strong> during <strong>July</strong> was <strong>$254,000, down 8.0%</strong> from the average for the same month in 2007. At current sales rates, there are <strong>11.2 months' worth of unsold homes</strong> on the market.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-75396297036854804482008-08-20T11:29:00.002-04:002008-08-20T11:34:55.624-04:00July Kitchen Appliance Shipments Basically FlatSome <strong>3.2 million kitchen appliances</strong> were <strong>shipped in July</strong>, just <strong>0.6% below</strong> the shipment level for July, 2007, <a href="http://www.aham.org/">according </a>to AHAM. For the <strong>first seven months</strong> of 2008, some <strong>23.1 million appliances</strong> have been shipped, <strong>down 9.0%</strong> from the same period last year.<br /><strong>Microwave oven</strong> shipments were <strong>up 17.7%</strong> for the month, with nearly <strong>922,000 units</strong> shipped.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-50299730929394962552008-08-19T15:27:00.002-04:002008-08-19T15:37:23.393-04:00Home Depot Sales Down 5% in Second Quarter; Lowe's Up 2%<strong>Home Depot</strong> <a href="http://ir.homedepot.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=328591">reports </a>its <strong>sales were off 5.4%</strong> in the <strong>second quarter</strong>, compared to the same period of 2007, at <strong>$21.0 billion</strong>. <strong>Same store sales dipped 7.9%</strong> for the period. Through the <strong>first six months</strong> of its fiscal year, <strong>sales</strong> for the Atlanta based giant were <strong>down 4.5%</strong> at <strong>$40.7 billion</strong>.<br /><a href="http://www.shareholder.com/lowes/releases.cfm"><strong>Lowe's </strong>sales </a>for the <strong>second quarter</strong> were <strong>up 2.4%</strong> to <strong>$14.5 billion</strong>, with <strong>same store sales down 5.3%</strong>. For the <strong>first half</strong>, Lowe's sales hit <strong>$26.5 billion</strong>, a <strong>0.7% increase</strong> over the first half of 2007.Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4858336760603807499.post-37240530476765346352008-08-19T10:20:00.002-04:002008-08-19T11:06:12.037-04:00July Starts Dip 30%<strong>Housing starts in July</strong> dipped to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of <strong>965,000 units</strong>, <strong>down 29.6%</strong> from the same month in 2007, <a href="http://www.census.gov/const/newresconst.pdf">according </a>to the <strong>Census Bureau</strong>. <strong>Single family starts fell</strong> to a rate of <strong>641,000 units</strong>, <strong>down 39.2%</strong> and the lowest pace since January of 1991.<br /><strong>Permits dipped 32.4%</strong> to an annualized rate of <strong>937,000 units</strong> during July, while <strong>single family permits fell 41.4%</strong> to a rate of <strong>584,000 units</strong> per year.<br /><strong>NAHB/Wells Fargo's Housing Market Index</strong> for August <a href="http://www.nahb.org/news_details.aspx?sectionID=0&newsID=7673">showed </a>builder confidence low but steady and sales expectations up slightly. “While our overall measure of builder confidence remains at a record low at this time, it is a good sign that <strong>two out of three of the HMI’s component indexes rose in August</strong>, and this may be an indication that we are <strong>nearing the bottom of the long downswing</strong> in new-home sales,” said <strong>NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders</strong>. “Our current forecast shows <strong>stabilization of sales during the second half</strong> of this year, followed by <strong>solid recovery in 2009 and beyond</strong>.”Kitchen Magichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522671734758782846noreply@blogger.com0