Hot New Trends in Kitchen Design
The modern kitchen has evolved from a cooking-and-eating room into a bona fide living space. Find out about the latest kitchen design concepts. Step aside, family room! The kitchen is emerging as the most important room in the house. Next to the front entranceway, it receives the highest volume of foot traffic and is quickly becoming the place where families spend the most time together.

If your kitchen is destined for a remodel this year, here are some of the new and emerging trends you’ll want to keep an eye on.

DESIGN

Multi function. Today’s kitchens are increasingly designed to serve as multi-function areas with dedicated space incorporated for TVs, computers and workstations.

Island paradise. Islands maximize kitchen workspace while simultaneously offering more storage room. Cooking is increasingly becoming a family activity, and an island (especially one with an integrated sink), makes it easier to share that space.

Green space. Increasing consumer demand for environmental responsibility and energy conservation has produced a wealth of energy-conscious appliance options. Natural gas-burning stoves, low-flow dishwashers and improved waste disposal devices are becoming increasingly popular and add to your home’s resale value.

Custom finishes. Many of today’s countertops, cabinetry, flooring and appliances are available in a galaxy of colors and finishes to enable kitchen components to complement one another. If your contractor says what you want can’t be done, scout around. Chances are you can get it your way.

CABINETRY

Easy access. With more people choosing to eat healthy and cook their own meals, ease of movement within the kitchen is at a premium. Counter-level cupboards that reduce bending and stretching are on the rise, as are space-saving cabinets with adjustable dividers and sliding trays.

Furniture design. One of today’s hottest trends in kitchen design is to give cabinetry the look and feel of furniture. Decorative molding and textured hardware are big, as are painted or glazed finishes and combinations of organic textures like wood, glass, metal and stone.

Bright and white. White or light-colored cabinets are a good choice for a small or under-lit kitchen as they give the illusion of more space. Darker shades can be used as accent colors for area rugs and kitchen accessories. The latest cabinet hardware is satin-finish nickel.

Open shelving. Replacing some solid cabinet doors with translucent ones is a great way to help break up the monotony of a long bank of cupboards. Some doors may be removed altogether to showcase attractive chinaware.

The great outdoors. Natural, outdoorsy colors that create a warm, homey feel are big these days, with the palette dominated by shades of taupe, camel and sage.

Continental flavor. Styles that borrow elements from other cultures are also on the rise, with Asian- and Italian-inspired ideas taking the lead. Their streamlined, uncluttered looks create a clean, modern design with links to the past. Paneled, dark-stained cabinets with crown or dentil molding and oil-rubbed bronze fixtures are popular with those looking for a more traditional western European look.

LIGHTING

Brighten up. The current trend in kitchen lighting is more lights in more places -- especially over workstations, islands and the kitchen table.

Be discrete. Halogen puck or pin lights, built into the ceiling, are popular in that they’re powerful enough to illuminate the entire room without obtrusive light fixtures.

COUNTERTOPS

Mix it up. Countertops arranged at varying heights at different workstations can reduce back strain. Also, offsetting one surface material with another -- such as a stainless-steel counter and a granite-topped island -- is a popular way of breaking up the color and design.

Rock stardom. Stone countertops continue to dominate due to their durability (they’re usually heat- and acid-resistant), uniqueness and wide array of color and pattern options. Granite is the most popular stone, with grey-swirl Carrara marble, slate and soapstone also scoring high.

A touch of glass. Stainless steel countertops remain popular. If your kitchen already has a significant amount of stainless steel, consider tempering it with a softer (yet still modern-looking) glass countertop. Engineered stones like Silestone, Zodiac and Corian are also popular because they look and feel like real stone but come in a wider variety of colors.

APPLIANCES

Power to the people. America’s changing eating habits have prompted a shift in refrigerator design. Increased user control of temperature and moisture is a leading trend these days as consumers seek to maximize the life span of their organic and natural foods.

Home on the range. The greatest shift in kitchen appliances is in stoves and ovens. Gas ovens are starting to overtake convection ovens due in part to their more efficient use of energy and faster cooking speeds. Wood-burning ovens are also coming into demand as the current trend towards professional-grade kitchen appliances continues. Even the utilitarian stove hood is getting a makeover with many new sculptured designs.

Now you see it, now you don’t. The size and visibility of appliances seems to be going down two separate paths. For some, the trend is toward inconspicuous appliances that integrate seamlessly with the cabinetry or can be hidden altogether. For others, large, stand-alone stainless steel appliances continue to be popular.

FLOORING

Walk on wood. Enviro-friendly surfaces are very in. Bamboo and hardwood (especially wide planks salvaged from old buildings) are leading the charge, with cork and Marmoleum (made from wood flour, linseed oil, jute and limestone) projected to be big performers.

Fit to be tiled. Oversized ceramic, slate and limestone tiles are also popular, as is linoleum, both for its eco-friendliness and retro vibe.

With so many new kitchen design options, there’s something to fit every budget. Just put your imagination to work and you can create the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of owning.

Kitchen organization tips: cooking without clutter
Try these great ideas to get your kitchen organized for good. It’s easy for clutter and mess to take over the kitchen. However, with a little kitchen organization, you can regain and maintain control over the clutter.

1. Assess the situation
Walk into your kitchen with an open eye and a notebook and pen. What is the layout? You can make a very basic sketch of your kitchen to help in the new kitchen organization. First, take a critical look at your counter tops. What needs to be there? What doesn’t? Make a list with two columns, one for what stays on the counters and one for what goes. Also, look at how your cabinets are organized. Are things located close to where they are used?

2. Organize to fit your needs
Now that you have an inventory of what you have, the next step in your kitchen organization project is to know where to put everything. Using your map and the list from above can help make this step easier. The following are also some great tips to help:

• Have cooking utensils near the stove.

• Put drinking glasses near the refrigerator.

• Create a little coffee station that has all of your coffee supplies right above the coffee pot.

• In the pantry, buy step shelves so that you can see your cans of food. Buy a plastic milk crate and put any extra cans in the crate at the bottom of the pantry. You can use that to re-stock.

• Create a lunch-making section with all the supplies that you need to pack lunches.

• Instead of saving all of your cooking magazines, cut out the recipes you use (or want to use) and create a notebook binder of recipes. Placing the recipes in plastic sleeves can keep them clean while you cook.

• Create another binder for takeout menus.

3. Maintain
Now that you have completed your kitchen organization, the key is to maintain it. Spend ten to fifteen minutes a day de-cluttering your kitchen. Make a new rule -- nothing stays on the countertops unless you use it everyday. Do you really need that mixer and blender cluttering your countertop? Put them where you can get them when you need them. Also, if the car keys and mail stubbornly return to the same spot on the counter, go ahead and give in. But first, buy some sort of cubby that can attractively hold these items.

With a little hard work and continual maintenance, you can have the kitchen organization that you have always wanted.

Kitchen appliances: What to consider when buying a home
Inspect and test the fridge, stove and dishwasher to make sure they work properly before you buy. A kitchen can sell a home. But don’t base your decision on appearances alone -- kitchen appliances that look great may function poorly. Since they are expensive to replace, you should test and inspect them thoroughly, and ask your REALTOR® to find out when they were purchased and whether they are still under warranty. You can also ask your home inspector to have a look at them.

Ideally, the seller will give you receipts for the purchase of the appliances and any repairs that have been done, allowing you to confirm their age and reliability. Past energy bills can also indicate the age of the appliances, as older units typically use more energy.

Here are signs of aging and damage you should look out for when inspecting used kitchen appliances, along with prices for buying new ones:

Dishwasher
Pull out the racks and see if the vinyl is wearing off. Vinyl begins to rub off after about seven years and becomes quite worn by 12 to 15 years, which is about the time the dishwasher will probably need to be replaced. Also note any rust on the racks; it can wash into the pump and cause problems. Turn the dishwasher on to make sure it goes through all the cycles; look for signs of leaks.

Refrigerator
Check to make sure the door closes completely and there are no cracks in the gasket. Replacing the gaskets could cost you $100 or more and is not a simple job. Bring an appliance thermometer with you and check the temperature in the fridge and freezer. The fridge should be between 38 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer should register zero.

The average refrigerator has a life span of 18 to 20 years, but even if there are still years of good service left, you might consider replacing it as soon as you can afford to do so. A new fridge uses less than half the energy of older models, and can save you as much as $180 a year on your electric bills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Microwave
In the typical 10-year life span of a microwave, the most common problem is a gradual loss of power. This is not a major concern, as most people tend to adjust the time they heat food accordingly. A more serious problem of older microwaves, however, is radiation leakage. Look around the microwave, especially around the door, for pitted or worn gaskets, which could cause the microwave to leak radiation.

Stove
Turn the oven on to see how long it takes to heat. Make sure the oven gasket isn’t worn or cracked and the door seals shut. Check that all the burners turn on and heat evenly. Use an oven thermometer to check that the oven heats to the right temperature. Older electric ovens will also usually cook hotter than the set temperature while cooking in an older gas oven will take longer.

If it’s an electric range, look at the wiring for signs of damage or overheating. Any of these can indicate a potential fire hazard. If your oven and cook-top are gas, look for signs of carbon monoxide leaks, including a flame that’s yellow instead of blue, soot buildup or unfamiliar smells or sounds. A typical range or oven will last about 18 to 20 years.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that an older latch-type fridge or freezer can pose a danger to small children: kids can climb in and get stuck inside. The insulation and seals cut off oxygen and also muffle the child’s cries for help.

If you have an appliance that is more than 40 years old, or does not have appropriate safety features, consult the CPSC guidelines for child-proofing appliances that are in use, as well as those you are discarding.

A home inspector can estimate the age of the appliances in the house and assess their operation. Don’t rely solely on his or her assessments, however. Take it upon yourself to be thorough and know what you’re getting.

Kitchen designs that work
Make sure the kitchen in the home you're considering buying stacks up. Here's what to look for. Remember the old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” Same goes for kitchens. Don’t judge them on looks alone. Built-in appliances, granite countertops and other upscale finishes may be high on your wish list, but they count for little if the kitchen design is laid out poorly. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in that space. Make sure it’s going to work for you. Here are some key ingredients in kitchens that work:

An efficient work triangle
Draw imaginary lines connecting the three most used work zones of any kitchen: the sink, the oven/cooktop and the refrigerator. They should form a triangle, and designers say the distance between any two zones should be between three and seven feet. To avoid cramped quarters when you have a few “cooks” in the kitchen, the sides should add up to at least 12 feet.

Dishwasher distance
To make dinner cleanup a snap, the dishwasher should be located within three feet of the sink. Also, when swung open, the dishwasher door should have sufficient clearance to allow for around 21 inches of standing space in front of it for loading and unloading

Free traffic flow
To avoid traffic jams in your kitchen, make sure the main flow of traffic does not cross your work triangle. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, walkway widths should be at least three feet between cabinets, while aisles between food-prep areas should ideally be at least four feet to enable two people to pass through at once.

Ample storage
Look inside cabinet doors and drawers. Check to see if the shelves are adjustable to accommodate different heights and deep enough to fit everything you need to store. Measure the shelves to be sure. You don’t want to discover later that you can’t close the doors to your kitchen cabinets because your dinner dishes stick out! And don’t forget to include space for pantry items. Use the following industry benchmarks to be sure:

• Small kitchens (under 150 square feet) should have 1,400 inches of storage

• Mid-size kitchens (151 to 350 square feet) require 1,700 inches

• Large kitchens (350+ square feet) require at least 2,000 inches

Bright light
If the kitchen windows face east or south, you’re going to get morning and afternoon sun. But what if you’re facing north? After you’ve assessed the natural lighting, turn on all the kitchen lights (ideally on a dull day or at night) to see if the kitchen is bright enough. Be sure to also check any counter or other task lighting.

Keep yourself organized
Look for any cabinetry extras, such as flatware-drawer organizers and fixed slots for trays and cookie sheets. These may seem like unnecessary luxuries but they provide the practical benefit of keeping a kitchen well organized.

Obviously, you may not want to pass up an otherwise great house because of a few kitchen design flaws. It may be worth renovating the kitchen to meet your needs. But when choosing between several different homes, it just makes sense to give the kitchens a careful once over.