After years of cutting back on home renovations during the recession, many US householders have started to invest in their kitchens again. Fred Miller, managing director of the Home Improvement Research Institute, based in Florida, says During the recession, a lot of what got cut were bigger-ticket discretionary items. If your water heater went out, you werent going to take cold showers but, because some kitchen remodeling can be pretty pricey, many owners decided they could live with their existing kitchens for a year or two. However, he adds that attitudes are now changing with the renovation industry overall seeing double the growth in 2012 than it did two years ago, according to research from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Work is starting to ramp back up again, says Miller. The biggest reason is pent-up demand. Latest trends include cleaner, modern lines, open plan kitchens, varied kitchen cabinets and modern sinks and taps.