The kitchen of the 21st century is a place where you not only cook meals, but also entertain and eat quick meals with your family. Now, more than ever, the kitchen is the heart of the home, the hive of the home’s activity. So today’s kitchen must be efficient and it must be aesthetically pleasing. 

The top kitchen design trends of 2013 reflect this sensibility. We’ve come up with a list of 10, based on an informal survey of websites and blogs. 

1. Neutrals  – Predominant colors for walls, cabinets and floors are white, beige and gray – lots of gray, in fact, ranging from dark charcoal to a light dove gray. 

2. Mixing it Up – While neutrals may be popular, so is mixing cabinets. One wall may have floor to ceiling cabinets, another glass cabinet doors and another may be made of a different color wood. 

3. Efficient Cabinets – Cabinets and drawers have separators and compartments to store and organize things like silverware and paper bags. Every space is utilized, even the narrow space by the stove. 

4. Quartz Counters – Homeowners are discovering that quartz is as hard and resilient as granite, but not as expensive as marble. 

5. Statement Making Lighting –  With the neutral palette, lighting is taking center stage, and not just lighting, but big, bold shapes and colored pendants. 

6. Splashes of Color – Again with the neutral palette for walls, cabinets and counters in kitchens, there is also a trend for splashy color, such as colored glass backsplashes or glass cabinets with a colored background to show off dishes or collectibles. 

7. Brass Fixtures – It might have a traditional or antique look or it might be very modern, but one thing is for sure, brass is the material of choice for kitchen designs.  

8. Furniture or Architectural Elements –  From corbels to pillars to turned legs, furniture elements are turning up in kitchens everywhere. Some kitchen designs are even using tables as kitchen islands for extra counter space and seating. 

9. LED Lighting – Kitchens are being built or remodeled with LED lighting, which is more energy efficient and produces less heat than halogen or xenon lighting. 

10. Electronic Faucets – Homeowners are appreciating the efficiency of electronic faucets, modern versions of those usually found in public restrooms. The water comes on and stays on while you fill the pot, preventing handles from getting messy.