Kitchen and bath styles worth a closer look

Kitchen looks people are choosing right now

Shaker doors are still the most popular pick. In Houzz's 2026 kitchen study, 58% of renovating homeowners chose Shaker. Another 22% went with flat panel doors, and 12% chose raised panels.¹ For counters, engineered quartz came first at 32%. Granite was next at 15%, then quartzite at 10%.¹

Islands and backsplashes get a lot of love too. In that study, 58% added an island or upgraded the one they had, and 72% used tile for the backsplash.¹ If a photo here catches your eye, save it. A picture is the quickest way to show the remodeler what you mean. Then compare cabinet options and countertop materials.

Bathroom styles, from walk in showers to spa baths

When people upgrade a shower, a low curb is the top choice. Houzz's 2026 bathroom study found 47% picked a low curb model and 41% an alcove. Corner and curbless designs got 24% each, and shower and tub combos fell to 5%.²

Houzz also found that 26% of bathroom projects take out a tub, and 79% of those owners turn the space into a bigger shower.² If you plan to stay in your home as you get older, a low or no curb entry is worth a look. See walk in shower options or what a bathroom remodel involves.

Picking finishes for hard water and hot sun

Southern Utah water is hard, so pick finishes you'll be happy to wipe down. St. George's 2024 water report says most water sources in Southern Utah are hard. It suggests softener settings of 13 to 24 grains per gallon.³ Ivins City suggests 22.⁴ Hard water leaves mineral scale in water heaters and pipes.⁵

Try a quick test at home: put a few drops of tap water on a faucet, tile or glass sample, let it dry, and see how much it shows. If plumbing will move, ask the remodeler about room for a softener.

Light matters as well. St. George averages about 128 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and about 63 of those reach 100°F.⁶ Look at paint, wood and stone samples in your own room. Check them in the morning and again in the late afternoon before you decide.

Style rules in Kayenta and historic neighborhoods

Some neighborhoods add their own rules. Kayenta's 2021 design handbook takes its lighting rules inside the house. It says hanging lights, like pendants over a kitchen island, must be shielded so they can't be seen from outside, and it highly recommends dimmer switches.⁷ Utah law now limits HOA rules about a home's interior,⁸ so if you live there, ask the HOA which rules still apply and ask about shaded or recessed fixtures early.

Older homes have character worth keeping. Cedar City's National Register district holds 172 homes built from the 1880s to the mid 1960s.⁹ Santa Clara's Historic District is mostly 1920s to 1960s bungalows, period cottages and ranch homes. There, any outside change gets Heritage Commission review.¹⁰ Inside, a kitchen or bath can nod to that era with simple painted cabinets or classic tile.