Today's kitchen is brighter, with skylights or better widows and great lighting. A combination of recessed lights, undercabinet lights, and designer light fixtures can make cooking, eating, and hanging out more enjoyable.

Good kitchens must work well—accommodating families and friends as well as the cook.

Wall cabinets are replaced by open shelves, antique hutch-type units, or staggered islands—tables and furniture pieces instead of standard cabinet boxes.
Warming trays, multiple dishwashers, two ovens, and refrigerators with bottom freezers head up the latest trends in appliances. Also, look for the new color, biscuit, to replace almond in major appliances.
Cabinets and countertops are the most expensive part of the majority of kitchen remodels. Stock cabinets typicallly come in standard sizes with three-inch increments (widths of 18", 21" and 24" . . . ). Stock cabinets are less expensive than custom cabinets but offer fewer options in finishes and sizes.

Countertop products include laminate (think Formica) in many exciting colors and edge patterns, solid surface (Corian), stone (marble or granite), and tile.

Laminate countertops are the best value and are very durable. Tile offers a distinctive look but requires more maintenance due to the grout lines.

Stone is pricey but classy. Slabs are more expensive than stone "tiles." Granite is a slice of very hard stone; it is unique and extremely durable and can be the showpiece of a nice kitchen. Consider laminate countertops with granite on the island.

Solid surface countertops include Avonite, Gibralter, Cornerstone, Corian, and others. A choice to upgrade from a laminate to solid surface generally increases countertop costs by 400% but is worth the investment for many homeowners. Go to a showroom to see the undermount kitchen sinks with either stainless or cast/enamel finishes. Sinks come it no lip, easy-wipe, and no seams, and solid surface is repairable if sliced or scratched.