The times, they are a changing -- or the kitchens are, anyway! It wasn't that long ago that stainless appliances and granite countertops were THE hot kitchen features. Today, they've practically become standard and buyers expect nothing less in a remodeled or newer home.

So, what trends are next for kitchens? The National Kitchen and Bath Association www.nkba.org (NKBA) recently conducted a survey with more than 200 kitchen designers and here's what topped the list: custom-paneled appliances, quartzite countertops and maple and cherry cabinets (followed by paints and exotic woods).

What's remained the same is the trend toward bigger, more open kitchens -- great for cooking and entertaining.  Multi-functional zones -- for cooking, dining, entertaining and working -- are replacing the traditional "work triangle" (the path between the sink, the refrigerator and the cook-top).

What else is hot? The NKBA held a design competition last spring with 678 entries. The design elements that stood out created the list below. If you're remodeling your kitchen, the heat's on with these exciting new trends. Good luck and have fun designing your space!

Top 10 Kitchen and Bath Design Trends for 2009

1. Steel counters

2. Black and white kitchens

3. Mirrors OFF the wall (popping up instead as freestanding furniture pieces)

4. Resin panels (including fabric, mesh and bamboo encased in plastic)

5. Tin ceilings

6. Floating cabinets

7. Stone hearths

8. Shoji screens (to separate the kitchen from other living spaces)

9. Chrome (it's back!)

10. Glass elements ( turning up in countertops and backsplashes)

- Ricklie Stone, Seattle Real Estate