Discover the biggest trends in remodeling & kitchen designs.

Kitchens are the New Family Rooms: More and more, kitchens are incorporating dining rooms and sitting rooms into a unified space. Consequently, kitchen cabinets are looking more like fine furniture, and counters and islands are becoming dining tables. Banquette seating can offer comfortable seating for people who congregate in the kitchen for more than food.

White Cabinetry: Beautiful and timeless, white cabinets are a versatile choice for any kitchen. One attraction ofwhite cabinetry is that it works with multiple architectural styles -- from traditional to country chic to contemporary. White cabinetry opens a room to a number of decor choices and color palettes that have no boundaries and turns the kitchen into a backdrop that can be embellished as much or as little as you'd like.

Stainless-Steel Appliances: Stainless-steel appliances bring a sophisticated and rich feel to the kitchen and work with a variety of styles. The sleek silver lines bring a polished look to refrigerators, stoves, and even trash compactors and waste bins. And no more worrying about fingerprints smudging the surface of stainless. Manufacturers offer fingerprint-resistant steel that eliminates this issue.

Work Zones: Specialty workstations are cropping up in kitchens across the country and range from elaborate to utilitarian. Popular examples and kitchen ideas for your thoughts include baking centers, coffee bars, wine-tasting nooks, and pizza-making stations.

Walk-In Pantries: A walk-in pantry is the perfect solution for families who require must-have kitchen items in quantity. All necessities -- snacks, canned goods, baking supplies, and even surplus goods such as paper towels and aluminum foil -- are hidden behind closed doors. Space for items used on a daily basis, such as silverware, dishes, glassware, and cooking gadgets, is reserved for kitchen drawers and cupboards.

Technology in the Kitchen: As people become increasingly tech-savvy, kitchens and bathrooms are being accessorized with electronics rather than traditional decor. Popular electronic items, such as wall-mount televisions, sound systems, and computers, are showing up in all rooms of the home. Another hot trend is making the home "wireless."

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