Home building and design trends are ever-changing, especially in kitchens, where flooring, hardware, cabinetry, countertops, and other details can quickly add to the cost of a home. In addition to aesthetics, builders must also consider upfront cost, availability, durability, and the ability to replicate a look across hundreds of homes while keeping to their budget.

Looking at data from Home Innovation Research Labs, we can see where those ideas bleed into the evolving material and building selections popular in the home building industry today.

Nickel, for example, remains the most popular choice for kitchen faucet finishes, although its share has declined over the years, from more than 30% in 2022 to approximately 25% in 2025, according to data from Home Innovation Research Labs. Brass and gold finishes, meanwhile, remain a relatively small share of the market at just over 5%, despite seeing some growth over the years.

The same idea can be seen across cabinetry and countertop trends. Most new single-family homes continue to feature painted cabinetry rather than wood finishes, a choice that offers builders a way to deliver a current, marketable look at scale.

When it comes to countertops, granite remains the most common choice among new single-family production homes, but quartz moves up in popularity in the semi-custom and custom markets. Even so, when looking at all new single-family homes, granite remains the top choice.

The most successful product selections, however, are often those that balance consumer expectations with affordability, durability, and predictable installation. Whether working in high-end residential or production housing, we’ve collected a handful recent product releases that fit a range of price points and fit the current trends we’re seeing.