Cabinets are the single biggest cost factor in remodeling a kitchen. They are also what drive appearance and functionality.

The sleek, all-white kitchen isn't dead, but natural woods have made a return appearance, especially coupled with striking colors like navy blue, loden green and burgundy. Popular woods include beech wood, which has pinkish tones; anigre, an orange-type African wood; and rift-cut oak, which is cut cross-grain to give it an almost striped appearance.

Combinations are also popular. For instance most of the cabinets might be in beech wood, but the corner cupboard would be tinted navy blue. The contrast adds a splash of color to a room that would otherwise have long stretches of the same-colored cabinets.

Where once cabinets were hinged on an outside corner, a technique called beaded inset styling sets the hardware into the inside frame of the door. The cabinets may also be hung in a staggered fashion, which gives a small room a bigger feeling and takes advantage of popular vaulted kitchen ceilingsin Mercer Island, Washington.

Cabinets with a retro look can give a house an appropriate period feel, while still building in modern conveniences, such as recycling bins, and hiding modern appliances like dishwashers and commercial-style refrigerators.

In Europe, where cabinets are moved like any other piece of furniture, they are mounted on feet and grouped. This look is catching on in the United States, especially in cities where renters can afford to have a luxury kitchen, but don't want to leave it behind for the next tenant.