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Wood Framing Continues to Dominate Single-Family Construction – Eye On Housing

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Wood framing continues to dominate the U.S. single-family home construction market, according to NAHB analysis of 2025 Census Bureau data. In 2025, wood framing accounted for 94% of all completed single-family homes, maintaining its position as the leading construction method. Concrete-framed homes represented 5% of completions, while steel-framed homes remained relatively rare, comprising half a percent of the market.

On a count basis, approximately 947,000 wood-framed homes were completed in 2025. This was a 1% decrease compared to the 2024 total. Despite the decline in the number of wood-framed homes, the wood-framed market share remained unchanged at 94% in 2025. Steel-framed homes, while still uncommon, continued to increase. About 5,000 steel-framed homes were completed in 2025, representing a 25% increase from the previous year.

Meanwhile, concrete-framed homes also experienced a decline. The concrete market share remained at 5% in 2025, while the number of concrete-framed homes completed fell to approximately 53,000, a 4% decrease compared to the prior year. Non-wood-based framing methods are primarily concentrated in the South due to residential resiliency requirements. In 2025, concrete-framed homes made up 9% of all single-family home completions in the South. Additionally, about 60% of all steel-framed homes completed in 2025 were built in the South, highlighting the region’s distinct building trends.



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Blue, White and Wood Kitchen Brings Character to a 1904 Home

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This California empty-nest couple envisioned their 1904 Dutch Colonial in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood as their forever home. To make that possible, they needed to modernize it for hosting their parents during extended stays and entertaining friends while preserving its historic character.

The kitchen, last updated in the 1980s, became a top priority. Seeking a more functional space that honored the home’s history, the couple hired architect Miriam Larson and builder Blue Sound Construction. As part of a whole-home renovation and addition, Larson expanded the kitchen by 63 square feet and reconfigured the layout to create a brighter, more open hub centered on a spacious island. Custom wood and white cabinetry, a navy blue island with a butcher block top and a custom peacock-tile backsplash blend Dutch Colonial character with modern function.

“After” photos by Miranda Estes

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Seattle
Size: Before and 240 square feet After
Architect: Miriam Larson of Story
Builder: Blue Sound Construction

Before: The 177-square-foot kitchen, last updated in the 1980s, had awkward angles that made it difficult to work in. An overbearing soffit, dated black granite countertops and honey oak cabinets that blended into the wood flooring added to the problem. “The kitchen had an outdated plan that was counterintuitive,” Larson says. Out of view, a staircase and powder room further disrupted the layout (see below).

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Blue Sound Construction, Inc.Save Photo
After: Larson demolished the former kitchen, removed the sink wall and built new walls, and added 63 square feet to the footprint. She relocated the dining room to the addition and turned the former dining room into a guest suite. The doorway in the back corner connects to the new dining area and front entry in the addition (see below). “Knowing the clients were going to have the relatives in the house staying with them, it was clear the kitchen had to be at the heart of the house with easy access from the guest suite,” she says.

The warm, inviting kitchen is anchored by a nearly 7-by-3-foot cherry island, painted Symphony Blue by Benjamin Moore, with a butcher block top rubbed with mineral oil. “They cut on it and make a lot of food on it,” Larson says. The perimeter countertops are off-white quartz.

Cabinet maker: Scott Freeman of Major/Minor Built

Blue Sound Construction, Inc.Save Photo
White upper cabinets and those surrounding the wall ovens brighten the kitchen, as well as a white range hood and walls. “We talked about how a mix of wood, white and blue would make the kitchen feel rich and not dated or cramped,” Larson says. Brushed brass faucets at the main sink beneath the cherry-framed windows and the island prep sink, along with matching cabinet hardware and other brass accents, add warmth.

Above the range, custom blue and white ceramic peacock tiles reference the home’s Dutch Colonial style. “These alternate with delicate flower tiles and create a pattern that is historical and modern at the same time,” Larson says. “The backsplash also coordinates with the cobalt blue range and island.”

Two pendant lights with clear glass globes encircled by slender brass rings illuminate the island. The kitchen also has LED ceiling lights, removed from these photos by the photographer to highlight other design details.

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Before: These stairs interrupted the kitchen layout, with a powder room to the right and a stainless steel refrigerator flanked by tall glass-front cabinets to the left.

Blue Sound Construction, Inc.Save Photo
After: Larson redirected the staircase and added a new wall to support the range and wall ovens. She transformed the former powder room into a walk-in pantry, while a new bathroom sits off the kitchen out of view.

An engineered pecan hardwood floor grounds the kitchen in warmth.

Range: Majestic II Series, Ilve

15 Ideas to Kick Your Kitchen Island Up a Notch

Blue Sound Construction, Inc.Save Photo

The kitchen opens to the new dining room in the addition, with the transition marked by cherry trim and built-in shelves topped with quartz that provide buffet space. “The glass cabinets above can be opened from the kitchen,” Larson says. “They allow light into both spaces.”

Blue Sound Construction, Inc.Save Photo
Here is the other side of the dining room, showing the home’s new front entry and added mudroom. Three large stained-glass panels depict a tree-filled landscape. “At night the house just glows,” Larson says.

The 10 Most Popular New Kitchens Right Now

Before: This floor plan shows the former kitchen’s awkward angles, with the staircase and powder room (top right) disrupting traffic flow. The sink sat in the angled cabinet corner at lower right. The door across from the powder room was the former front entry.

After: Rerouting the staircase (top), adding an addition (bottom) and building new walls streamlined the layout and created space for a central island. The former powder room became a walk-in pantry to the right of the new range area. “I think I was able to meld a functional reworking of the spaces of the house with a kind of jewel box approach to the kitchen,” Larson says.

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10 Beautiful Bathroom Vanities in Warm Wood

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Cheerful Kitchen in Blue, White and Wood With an Open Layout

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Before Photo

Tara Lenney DesignSave Photo

“After” photos by Steven Lenney

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two kids — one in college and one still at home — and a labradoodle
Location: Richardson, Texas
Size: 430 square feet (40 square meters)
Designer: Tara Lenney Design

Before: The dreary, chopped-up, 310-square-foot kitchen had dark oak-stained cabinetry, granite countertops in brown, tan and black, and a beige ceramic tile floor. It also had what Lenney describes as “the world’s weirdest shape.” A black electric cooktop sat on an angled wall to the right, while a stainless steel double-bowl sink was positioned beneath two windows. (Take note of the window near the sink to help orient the view in the following “after” photo.)

A large stainless steel refrigerator protruded past surrounding cabinetry along a wall backed by a centrally located laundry room (see the before-and-after floor plans below) and was squeezed next to a pair of wall ovens. The laundry room further divided the kitchen from the closed-off dining room and sunken living room.

In the background, a short peninsula cut the kitchen off from the breakfast area and a den. “It was very uninviting,” Lenney says. “Everything was spread out in weird locations. It was also like a hallway. You’re trying to get your cooking done and there are literally people walking through your cooking area. If you were in the kitchen, you couldn’t be where anyone else was because of the layout.”

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Reimagined Kitchen in White, Wood and Blue Opens Up the Home

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Before Photo

William Adams DesignSave Photo

“After” photos by Tatiana Sokolova of Capture Studio

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple
Location: Alameda, California
Size: 285 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: William Adams Design

Before: The former 165-square-foot kitchen felt dated and inefficient with aging gray cabinets, mismatched white and black appliances, wood-look vinyl flooring and no island. A corner sink beneath two front-yard-facing windows anchored the layout. “I just felt like that corner sink was dated,” Adams says. “It also took up so much space by the way it was positioned.”

Without an island, storage and prep space were limited and the center of the room felt like wasted territory. An eating area with a large fireplace sat just off the kitchen. “Having that giant fireplace inside the kitchen made no sense at all,” Adams says.

White ceramic tile with dark grout wrapped the countertops and backsplash, creating a dingy look and maintenance the couple didn’t want. Lighting was also a problem: A single ceiling fixture plus a couple of fluorescent task lights left the space poorly illuminated. “The lack of light was not conducive for working in the kitchen or doing everyday tasks,” Adams says. “They enjoy cooking and entertaining and there wasn’t enough space in that footprint to contain what they needed. The cleanliness with those countertops was also an issue.”



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Wood, White and Green Bathroom With a Bold Surprise

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This Portland, Oregon, couple knew their primary bathroom was on borrowed time. A poorly executed renovation years earlier had left the space in rough shape, and when the wall-mounted vanity began pulling away from the wall, it became clear a full remodel was needed. Beyond fixing the problems, the homeowners also wanted a bathroom that reflected their personal style.

They hired contractor Arent Wortel and designer Joel Fraley for the project. Wortel focused on making the room structurally sound, while Fraley worked closely with the homeowners to create a bold, memorable look. “These clients are very outgoing and love bold style,” Fraley says.



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Kitchen of the Week: Wood and Black Elegance in a 1920s Colonial

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Bluestem RemodelingSave Photo
Photos by Andrea Rugg Photography

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: South Minneapolis, Minnesota
Size: 225 square feet (21 square meters)
Design-build firm: Bluestem Remodeling

The kitchen features custom Shaker-style cabinets in a mix of black and wood units. Polished gold-tone knobs and pulls add refined accents. “The clients were really interested in not having a monolithic look with their cabinetry,” says Mark Ferraro-Hauck, director of design at Bluestem Remodeling. “I love the repeated black throughout the room, but it’s not a black kitchen.”

Wide-plank white oak flooring has a special sealer that preserves its natural, unfinished appearance. “It integrates really well with the rest of the house, giving it a consistent flow,” Ferraro-Hauck says. “We didn’t want the kitchen to feel completely separate from the rest of the house.”

A large sliding glass door opens the kitchen to the patio and backyard. “Their backyard is their summer living room,” Ferraro-Hauck says. A double-hung window on the same wall adds another source of daylight and fresh air.

Custom cabinetry: Sean’s Cabinetry

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Before and After: 4 Warm Green, White and Wood Kitchens

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Kindred Designs LLCSave Photo
Photo by Joyelle West Photography

After: Reesey removed the fridge wall and flipped the locations of the kitchen and dining area, adding a 5-foot bump-out along the way. (For orientation, check out the white door in both photos; it leads to an outdoor walkway and stayed in the same place.) These moves more than doubled the size of the kitchen, to 313 square feet, and allowed for expansive storage, better flow and a pleasing openness.

Three kinds of wood bring warmth without feeling one-note: milled pine on the ceiling beams, maple on the island base and oak for the flooring. The dining furniture and a band on the range hood complement the other wood elements, while green cabinets (painted in Dried Thyme by Sherwin-Williams) and white walls, countertops and backsplash tile balance the color palette. Texture and movement come from the wood graining and the backsplash tiles’ scallop shapes.

Paint colors: Dried Thyme, Sherwin-Williams (cabinets); Wind’s Breath, Benjamin Moore (walls); Super White, Benjamin Moore (trim)

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Kitchen of the Week: Wood Cabinets Add Warmth and Smart Storage

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Marianne Ashley DesignsSave Photo
Photos by Cody Simmons

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Duanesburg, New York
Size: 275 square feet (26 square meters)
Design-build pro: Marianne A. Clifford of Marianne Ashley Designs

Clifford removed the old appliances, cabinets, counters and floor, along with the two-level island, making way for a more than 12-foot-wide, one-level island with seating and storage. “It offers a lot more options on how the island can be used,” she says. The new layout improves sightlines and makes the kitchen feel open and inviting.

The island base and perimeter cabinets are semicustom cherry flat-panels with a natural finish and matte black ledge pulls. “A lot of the woodwork in their home was already cherry, so we wanted to create a unified look,” Clifford says.

The upgraded stainless steel refrigerator stayed in place, while an added open upper cabinet and tall pantry on the side expand storage. “There are hooks inside that pantry cabinet for hanging a step stool and broom,” Clifford says.

Modern counter stools with cognac leather upholstery and curved low backs sit at the island, while contemporary pendant lights with etched opal glass shades and matte black frames hang overhead. The ceiling has new LED recessed lights on dimmers. “This gives them full control,” Clifford says.

Pendant lights: Somerset, Hinkley Lighting; stools: Zion, Ballard Designs

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Before and After: 4 Kitchens Updated in White, Wood and Gray

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