Hot Trends for Today's Kitchens

Free Style Because we're spending more and more time in our kitchens, there is a move away from the all-or-nothing "fitted" look of continuous counters. Look for more freestanding pieces of furniture or features with furniturelike qualities, such as a cabriole leg holding up a kitchen counter. These details won't be fussy but will further the notion that the kitchen isn't just for utilitarian cooking, but is for living.

Artistic Upgrades In the ongoing effort to customize our kitchens, almost anything goes. Now range hoods are works of art, literally. Already beautiful as well as functional, hoods can now be customized with panels you choose. Cupboard doors can be replaced with accent doors. Want a new backsplash? It's as simple as applying DIY stainless tiles or installing a ready-to-hang piece of tile art. You can go from dull to dramatic, tired to trendy, in just a few minutes.

Going Green Eco-friendly products aren't going to go out of style anytime soon. And now there are more ways that you can go green in the kitchen too, from energy-efficient dishwashers (that use less water than when you wash by hand), to environmentally sound flooring options made of reclaimed wood and tiles. Ann Sacks even makes a rugged tile from rescued river rocks.

Oh-So-Organic Forget straight lines and right angles, organic shapes are in. Not only are rounded shapes visually pleasing, they also encourage a more natural circular traffic flow. Imagine never bumping into a sharp corner again.

By Anne Krueger

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