1. Smart Appliances: The new lineup from major appliance companies, both high-end and high-volume manufacturers, includes advanced features like double-door ovens, mini-ovens that can be used for small cooking jobs, combination cooking units that can grill, bake, steam, roast, convection bake, microwave or keep food warm with a flip of a switch or the turn of a dial. There are also new five-door (or more) refrigerators, models that can serve as refrigerators or freezers depending on need, message center and internet-capable fridges, and a “family-hub” model that will retrieve recipes, prepare your shopping list and allow you to view what’s inside from an app on your smart phone.

2. Softer, cooler color schemes: The trend toward subdued schemes may be tied to the popularity of open floor plans, and it makes sense when you view the kitchen as an extension of living space. Color forecasters in all areas — even fashion — signal a return to more natural, neutral tones, with an emphasis on grey, soft cream or whipped butter hues and tinted whites. This is not the dull beige shell of years past, but it is also far from the “anything goes” kitchen color palette popular a year or two ago.

3. Mix It Up: Not only will stylish kitchens display a mix of metals, but they are likely to mix it up with cabinet finishes, counters and backsplash materials as well. Look for a more custom, “unstructured” look in storage cabinets and work surfaces. Islands continue to grow, both in size and in function, with prep sinks, second dishwashers, refrigerator drawers, wine chillers and ice makers, warming drawers and mixing/baking centers. Specialty appliances — built in coffee-makers and espresso machines, built in toasters and pizza ovens, steamers and woks, and indoor grill units — reappear, but they are sometimes hidden away behind doors or installed in working pantry areas. The truly upscale kitchen might even feature a small “walk-in” refrigerator to please a gourmet chef and meet the needs of a backyard gardener.

4. Light It in Style: Kitchen lighting is more functional, and more varied, than ever before. Overall, specific and directed task lighting and ambient lighting all have a place in the trendy kitchen. Hang a chandelier for effect; drop pendants over an island or along the length of a breakfast bar; look for under-cabinet strips to illuminate prep and clean-up areas. Dimmable recessed ceiling lighting can serve for general purposes, but you’ll also find directed spots to highlight a piece of art, lighting that showcases cabinet interiors, and LED strips for efficiency. Even table lamps can find an appropriate place in the kitchen, perhaps at a built-in desk, or to add character to a serving bar.

5. Personality Trumps Slick Efficiency: There’s no denying that trendy kitchens must still be functional, but they will become more livable as well as more personal, reflecting the style and vibes of adjacent spaces and of the home’s inhabitants. It’s all about comfort and living the lifestyle that suits you in a home that meets your needs. We think it’s about time to embrace the change and follow the trends.