Houzz study: Kitchens are getting bigger and more modern Homeowners say an updated kitchen leads to healthier lifestyle

Exposed brick with dainty finishes dress up this room. Exposed brick with dainty finishes dress up this room. Photo: Allie Beth Allman & Assoc. Photo: Allie Beth Allman & Assoc. Image 1 of / 63 Caption Close Houzz study: Kitchens are getting bigger and more modern 1 / 63 Back to Gallery

Houzz, the online home design site, has just released results of its fourth annual Kitchen Trends Report. The site surveyed more than 2,700 homeowners and covers everything from design style, finishing choices, purchase motivation, generational differences and a kitchen's impact on health.

Here are the highlights:

Health: One-third of respondents said they have adopted a healthier lifestyle after a kitchen renovation. It prompted them to make more meals at home and eat more fruits and vegetables.

Motivation: Those renovating their kitchens did so to encourage more family time (49 percent), more home cooking (41 percent) and more entertaining (40 percent).

Triggers: What makes them finally remodel? Some 43 percent said they simply can no longer stand their old kitchen. 40 percent said they finally can afford it and another 28 percent are simply adding their own style to a newly purchased home.

Design: Contemporary is the most popular design style for remodeled kitchens, but millennials want modern or farmhouse styles. Baby Boomers are more likely to opt for traditional kitchens.

Countertops and floors: Look and durability are the top two factors for choosing counters and floors. Cost comes in third place. Top picks: marble counters and wood floors for look, granite/quartz and porcelain tile for durability.

Size matters: More than half (51 percent) of new kitchens open to other rooms. Some 36 percent of kitchens are getting bigger.

Most common upgrades: Counters (95 percent), backsplash (90 percent) and sinks (89 percent).

Flooring choices: We're torn between hardwood floors and ceramic/porcelain tile, split 31 percent and 30 percent, respectively. Another 12 percent of kitchen remodels used engineered wood.

On the walls: Some 72 percent still want painted walls; another 34 percent chose ceramic or porcelain tile and 5 percent used marble.

Colors: More homeowners are choosing gray as their top color (26 percent, up 4 percent over last year) while cabinets are overwhelmingly white (42 percent) and counters are multicolored (33 percent).

After the update: After their remodels, respondents said they indeed are spending more time together (49 percent), booking (41 percent) and baking (30 percent), and eating more fruits and vegetables (26 percent.)