KITCHENS
HAFELE LIGHTS UP THE FUTURE FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT PLANS
New research shows that home improvement plans are still high on householders’ agenda. BMJ finds out more.
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lmost half of UK homeowners are planning home improvements within the next two years according to new research from Häfele UK,
manufacturer and distributor of fittings, hardware and ironomgery. The company’s Functional Spaces: Homes for Living research, initial findings of which were released earlier in the Summer, found that one in ten respondents said the cost and difficulty of buying and selling would see them actively put off plans to move in favour of home improvements. In addition, 36% of all respondents have plans to upgrade their home anyway.
“During Covid lockdowns, there was a huge spike in home improvement projects of all scales and sizes, but more recent economic circumstances have put many plans on hold,” says Natalie Davenport, head of marketing at Häfele UK. “In our survey of 2,000 UK homeowners, however, there are indications that half of households plan to spend on their current property in the coming years. “The kitchen is a particular area that homeowners are looking to improve, especially as our research found that one in ten people do not like their current kitchen.” This year’s survey uncovered that 81% of homeowners feel they would have an improved quality of life if the biggest issues in their kitchen were resolved – a stark increase of 16% versus the 2022 report. Insufficient storage was the most common gripe, chosen by 28% of those surveyed, while a quarter of respondents voted for ‘too small’ as their biggest issue. Cluttered worktops (19%), damaged and tired kitchen cabinets (17%) and inaccessible cupboards and shelving (15%) were also cited as frequent problems.
The top four priorities for a kitchen upgrade concerned quality and how long it will last (19%); budget and overall cost (18%); function and usability (14%); and style and how it looks (11%). Almost a quarter of respondents (24%) said they would shop around to get the best functionality for their budget – up 3% versus 2022.
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Davenport adds: “The importance homeowners place on their kitchen remains strong and consumers are increasingly aware of the impact their home and its design and function have on their daily lives. “Our upcoming report sharing even more of
the research findings will outline a multitude of insights that will help those involved in all aspects of home design to create better spaces for the consumer, as well as understand their new priorities and drivers when it comes to purchasing and decision making.” To co-incide with the publication of the
research, and to celebrate its 100th birthday this year, the company has also lanched a range of new products and services. The Flex Lighting System is a silicon-based ribbon which can be bent to almost any angle and radius. It is suitable for multiple applications and pairs up with a new selection of profiles for plinths, handleless cabinets, worktops, and splashbacks. Users simply need to select the Flex Light profile required for the application, and push-fit the Flex Light ribbon to achieve the desired effect. Modu3
is an entirely customisable and modular shelving system that can be both standalone and complementary to Flex Lighting.
Combining chipboard or MDF panels – in five different finishes – with aluminium profiles, various shelving designs can be created using any of the three standard sizes available - 600mm, 900mm and 1200mm. Häfele has alo launched a Bespoke Worktop Service to help customers achieve precise, entirely customisable designs while also saving time during the installation process. Users simply select their choice of worktop from the Maia, Minerva and or Carysil ranges, and the products will be manufactured to specification. It offers complete customisation including different shapes, sizes and finishes, to create pieces that blend perfectly with the desired design. Once cut and packaged, the bespoke worktops are delivered direct to site within 14 days. Tom Fletcher, Häfele UK’s product, innovation & development manager, said:
“Innovation has been at the heart of our business for 100 years, and we’re still thinking of new and inventive ideas to help transform outdated ways of working. We’ve always worked closely with our customers to understand their pain points, and we use those insights to harness the expertise and experience of our team to come up with a new way of doing things. “These latest product and service launches
reflect that. Each has been created because we’ve been told by customers that what’s already available in the market doesn’t make their life any easier. Designs for the home don’t always need to be complex, and we know this latest collection of innovations will see our customers finding greater joy in their jobs as we’ve enabled them to work differently – more efficiently, with more ease, and with more accuracy and quality.”
BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2023
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