Moen(R) Daily Insights

NORTH OLMSTED, OH--(Marketwire - Nov 14, 2011) - For years, we've heard that if you want to sell your home, remodel your kitchen. Why? Because it has the highest return on investment. But as more homeowners are staying put longer, rather than selling, how does that impact kitchen improvement? Researchers at Moen, the number one faucet brand in North America, decided it was time to examine today's American kitchen -- especially for families with children.

What was discovered? Homeowners are choosing to personalize home improvements to fit their needs, rather than update a room for resale value. "In the kitchen, this might include everything from electronic device management... to creating 'kid level' storage areas... to adding safety features," said Jack Suvak senior director of research and insights, Moen.

Kitchen Influences: Children
The kitchen has evolved to take on an increasingly significant role in the home. It is one of the most open, doted-upon rooms in the house, overtaking the dining room. How are families creating live-in value in this hub of activity and the heart of the home?

Moen's research found that families with children in the home are more engaged in their kitchens than those without kids; and more likely to view the kitchen as an activity or social center. With regard to kitchen remodeling, respondents with children are significantly more likely than those without children to have:

• Remodeled or made improvements to their kitchen in the past year
• Used a kitchen designer or architect
• Spent more on kitchen improvements
• Said they would spend more money on their kitchen remodel if they had it to do over

Based on research from the Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence, designers noted that creating live-in value for families with children varied greatly depending on the age of the children. As children grow older, the kitchen evolves from a potentially dangerous place to a space for sharing food preparation and cooking experiences. Designers stated the number one concern when remodeling kitchens for families with children in each of three age groups are:

• Younger than five years old: Safety
• Age five to 12 years old: Places for kids to play or work
• Age 13 or older: Ability to have two or more cooks in the kitchen at one time

Utilizing this research, some sample ideas to "remodel-lite," (simple updates rather than full remodel) in the kitchen for families with children include:

• Creating a "kid zone" (away from the stove) to enable room for child-friendly cooking.
• Putting in a desk-like environment for computer work or homework, especially since family members don't want to be isolated in the home office or the den. This also requires the need for laptop and mobile device recharging.
• Adding an island with a faucet and sink, to allow for two prep areas. Second sinks are becoming more prevalent on center islands to allow interaction with family while prepping or cleaning.

"We all know that children change our lives... but they also change our home improvement needs -- especially in the kitchen," said Suvak.

For the more information about kitchen trends from Moen, visit moen.com.

About Moen
As the #1 faucet brand in North America, Moen offers a diverse selection of thoughtfully designed kitchen and bath faucets, showerheads, accessories, bath safety products and kitchen sinks for residential and commercial applications -- each delivering the best possible combination of meaningful innovation, useful features and lasting value.

Moen has worked diligently to support, promote and advance sustainability within the organization and the plumbing industry. The company has been recognized with the 2011 EPA WaterSense^® Excellence Award, as well as the 2010 EPA WaterSense Manufacturer Partner of the Year Award, for its work to protect the future of our nation's water supply through the introduction and ongoing support of water-efficient products, programs and practices, while keeping consumers' needs top-of-mind.

Moen is part of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), which creates products and services that help fulfill the dreams of homeowners and help people feel more secure. The company is a leader in the home and security industries and features well-known and trusted brands like Moen^® faucets, Master Lock^®, MasterBrand Cabinets^™, Therma-Tru^® entryway systems and Simonton Windows^®. For more information, please visit www.fbhs.com.

Source: Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence

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