2. Sculptural stove hoods: Once boxy and bland, stove hoods are taking center stage with new curvy or sculptural shapes. The latest designs combine stainless steel with new materials, such as treated glass. Some also incorporate features such as an overhead spice rack.

3. 21st-century cabinetry: The most recent trend in kitchen design is to transform the kitchen into a stylish interior. To that end, cabinets have gone minimal and modern with floating units, systems concealed behind sliding doors, touch-latch cabinet fronts that eliminate hardware, and innovative new surfaces, such as aluminum, bamboo, high-gloss lacquer, or semitranslucent glass.

4. Dual-fuel ranges: Culinarians used to debate the relative merits of electric versus gas. Major manufacturers offer professional-quality ranges that combine the power of a gas cooktop with the even performance of an electric one. Styles can range from sleek stainless steel to old-fashioned cast iron.

5. Pop-colored appliances: Retro kitchen accoutrements in colors such as red, yellow, and cobalt blue inject today's kitchens with a shot of color therapy.

6. Italian cooking gadgets: Many of the most coveted kitchen accessories du jour carry an Italian theme, such as state-of-the-art cappuccino makers, stainless steel truffle shavers, and industrial-quality gelato makers. The latest must-have: a panini grill for cooking Italian-style hot pressed sandwiches.

7. Computerized appliances: The appliances of the next generation will be cyber-smart, interactive, computer-regulated, and even multi-functional. One of the first prototypes out of the gate is a revamped refrigerator with Internet capabilities, e-mail, messaging, and TV/ DVD features.

8. Designer dishwashers: High-end dishwasher manufacturers now offer attractive versions, concealed by cabinet fronts, that both wash and store dishes without the need for transfer. Another brand holds up to 20 place set-tings within a compact unit, making the cleanup of large dinner parties virtually effortless.

9. Custom countertops: Counters are going from common to couture with custom touches such as wooden butcher blocks and marble pastry slab inserts. Homeowners are mixing materials, such as using concrete embedded with bits of glass and metal. Although stone, such as soapstone and marble, remains a popular countertop material, stainless steel; sealed concrete; engineered quartz (which has many of the advantages of granite without the maintenance requirements); and woods, such as mahogany, are gaining ground for low-use areas.

10. State-of-the-art wine refrigeration: The latest offerings in wine refrigerators include freestanding models that hold up to 147 bottles, as well as smaller attached units complete with built-in refrigerator drawers. Models equipped with microprocessors provide benefits such as touchpad control and a digital cooling system that maintains ideal temperature and humidity levels in two separate zones, allowing for the proper storage of both red and white wines.