Kitchens are going dark, LED lighting is gaining steam, and trash is getting more attention–all are trends in kitchen designs this year, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, which surveyed 100 designers at the end of 2012 to reveal the hottest kitchen trends.

The following is a list of what’s cooking in kitchen trends for 2013, based on NKBA survey results of which kitchen designs are increasing in demand and which are losing favor.

1. Cabinetry

Gaining steam: Maple cabinetry
Losing steam: Cherry cabinetry

2. Kitchen finishes

Gaining steam: Dark natural finishes; light natural and colored painted finishes also remained fairly common, inching up slightly in use.
Losing steam: Medium natural, glazed, and white painted finishes are on the decline and the use of distressed finishes has dropped significantly in the last year.

3. Color

Gaining steam: Grays, beiges, and bones
Losing steam: Brown tones, whites, and off-whites

4. Design styles

Gaining steam: Shaker style, which is characterized by its simplicity, un-ornamented yet functional, finely crafted style. (Shaker overtook contemporary style this year as the No. 2 most popular kitchen design style). Traditional style remains the most popular kitchen design, although it has dropped slightly in popularity compared to last year.
Losing steam: Contemporary style

5. Cabinetry upgrades

Gaining steam: Unchilled wine storage (yet undercounter wine refrigerators are losing favor)
Losing steam: Tall pantries, lazy Susans, appliance garages, and pull-out racks are declining slightly in popularity.

6. Countertops

Gaining steam: Solid surfaces, a low-maintenance countertop surface, has grown in popularity, but granite and quartz continue to hold dominance. Other countertops surfaces increasing in niche use include butcher block and marble.
Losing steam: Laminate

7. Refrigerators

Gaining steam: French door and side-by-side refrigerators
Losing steam: Freezer-top refrigerators and freezer-bottom models

8. Cooktops

Gaining steam: Induction cooktops are closing the gap on gas and electric models; double wall ovens are increasing in use.
Losing steam: Gas cooktops are still popular but their use is falling slightly in favor of induction and electric cooktops. Single wall ovens and warming drawers are also on the decline.

9. Lighting

Gaining steam: LED energy-efficient lighting options
Losing steam: Incandescent lighting and CFLs (compact fluorescent lights)

10. Trash

Gaining steam: More designers are taking into account trash considerations in kitchen designs, with trash or recycling pull-outs, garbage disposals, and trash compactors on the rise.
Losing steam: Not considering where the trash goes in the kitchen

This article was originally posted here.