CLEAN LINES

Fancy is fading. Kitchens are moving away from ornate Tuscan and French country looks to more transitional design. The clean-lined look is driven, in part, by homeowners hoping to sell their homes once the economy improves. They want their kitchens to appeal to a broad range of buyers. Contemporary design is gaining interest, too. In the past couple of years, more of us have become more comfortable with the spare, sleek look we've seen in shelter magazines, TV shows and upscale hotels.

BUILT-IN DINING

Eat-in kitchens are still in demand, but where we do that eating has changed. The bar-style counter, while still popular, is giving way to an extension of the counter that looks more like a table. Sometimes the extension is counter height, sometime it's higher or lower. What sets it apart from bar seating is that it's designed so the diners sit around the edge and face one another, rather than sitting in a line. The setup has advantages: It saves space, the extension can do double duty as an extra buffet surface, and the deep base that holds the countertop provides plenty of storage.

GOING SUSTAINABLE

Homeowners are paying more attention to the materials that go into their kitchens. Cabinet finishes with low levels of volatile organic compounds, which contribute to indoor air pollution, and cabinets that are joined with dowels instead of glues containing formaldehyde are becoming more mainstream. And people are leaning toward energy-saving features, such as LED lights, as well as natural products, such as wood floors and stone countertops.

SIGNATURE LIGHTING

Kitchen lighting isn't just about function anymore. Now, it's a way to express personality. You can infuse your kitchen with your signature style by installing hand-blown glass shades on pendant lights, contemporary drum shades or elegant chandeliers. Layers of light continue to be common in kitchen design. For example, a ceiling fixture might be combined with under-counter task lighting and ambient lights behind a glass-front door. And there's a big movement toward getting natural light into the kitchen via windows, skylights or even reflective light tubes.

KITCHEN BARS

Bars are coming out of the great room and into the kitchen. People who entertain at home want a kitchen/bar area where they can store the booze and the barware in one convenient spot. Some homeowners are sacrificing kitchen desks to free up space for a bar. Instead of having a nightclub look, bar cabinets are being designed to echo pantries, and they're often outfitted with a wine or beverage refrigerator, storage space for glassware, knives and a cutting board and sometimes a separate sink.

PUMPED-UP COLOR

When it comes to more permanent materials -- cupboards, countertops and flooring -- most homeowners tend toward safe neutrals. But kitchens are getting a lot more colorful. Some walls are sporting bold hues such as persimmon or pomegranate. And accessories and even appliances are being used to bring in splashes of color. You'll also be seeing a colorful painted cabinet -- or two -- in among white or natural wood cabinets.