Page 1 We surveyed designers across the country to give us their take on the most important trends in kitchen design this year, and discovered that the most-renovated room in the house has undergone an important evolution. No longer a back room for household work, the modern kitchen has become more tailored to our individual lifestyles, and more personal than ever before. Here's a selection of the designers' observations."In a larger kitchen, having a desk area with enough space for a computer is great for people who like to work and cook at the same time. It might include a counter, a couple of file drawers – a lot of people are asking for that now – and a phone." Jennifer Lambiris, Susan Troup Design, Halifax"The stove is where things have changed the most. You might have columns on either side, or build-in the range hood. There's much more emphasis on the cooking area, in keeping with kitchens being more open to the rest of the house." Tia Moras, CKD, CBD, Lonetree Kitchens, Vancouver"Counter height and material is important from an ergonomic standpoint, not only to customize it to the height of the owners, but also for food preparation. For example, you could have a low marble inset – great for rolling out pastry – and a raised butcher-block section that's comfortable for chopping." Pat Swalander, CKD, CBD, Heartwood Kitchens, Calgary"We're doing a lot of on-site hand-painted cabinet finishes – it gives them a warmer texture. Also, it's practical: it hides a lot!" Scott Yetman, Scott Yetman Designer, Montreal"I like soapstone counters because they aren't uniform in colour and they don't stain like marble; the matte, honed finish is beautiful, and you can oil it to give it a sheen." Julie Turgeon, Madeco Construction, Laval, Que. "People love the notion of wood floors, but now we're inlaying a stone ‘carpet' in the wet areas, like in front of a sink. It adds to the look, of course, but it's also completely practical." Dee Dee Taylor Hannah, Taylor Hannah Architect, Toronto Page 2 "We're seeing a lot of blue right now, maybe because it's clean and pure, like the ocean. KitchenAid offers cobalt blue appliances, and with something like that, the appliances become the focal point." Jennifer Lambiris, Susan Troup Design, Halifax"Right now, people are going back to simple elegance. They've done the [ornate] wood, the sleek look, and now they want simple Shaker-style cabinets, and a fresh, crisp look. That's very important." Dee Dee Taylor Hannah, Taylor Hannah Architect, Toronto"Countertops have changed a lot: Granite and solid-surfacing are still tops, but now there's a new product that's ground quartz. It won't stain or scratch and because it can be ground very fine, it has a very sleek look compared to the more rustic look of granite." Tia Moras, CKD, CBD, Lonetree Kitchens, Vancouver"Tumbled marble is popular for backsplashes; we might do a diamond pattern, which is a little more interesting than just squares. In more contemporary kitchens, we've started doing tempered-glass backsplashes and even counters – it's a unique, very beautiful look." David Courtney, CKD, Kitchen Court, Pickering, Ont."High-contrast two-tone kitchens – such as ivory or vanilla cabinets with the island done in cherry – are in fashion now, as well as painted woods, especially in historic, muted tones." Jacqueline Glass, Jacqueline Glass & Associates, Mississauga, Ont."A lot of people want to include a cosy place to sit in the kitchen – not just a counter with stools, but an actual sofa and armchairs – where they can relax and just read cookbooks or have a glass of wine while they're cooking." Scott Yetman, Scott Yetman Designer, Montreal