Americans are obsessed with their kitchens.

"The room’s function is evolving along with our lifestyles," says Ed Pell, Research Manager for the National Kitchen and Bath Association, and we’re changing our spaces to suit the more integrated approach. According to the NKBA, 76 million residential kitchen renovations were undertaken in the U.S. in 2007, with over 96 billion dollars spent on re-dos. It’s a good investment; kitchen remodeling consistently provides a 65-90 percent return on cost in added home value.

But you can’t put a dollar value on quality of life, and that’s where good design has the most significant impact. "People are thinking more about how kitchens really function," says Diane Benbow, owner of Benbow & Associates in Asheville. "It’s not a separate room anymore, where you’re off cooking by yourself. It’s more of a family area, so you’re seeing a lot of multi-purpose spaces."

"Most of the new construction plans we’re seeing right now don’t have a separate living room, dining room and kitchen," says Mark Whitney, owner of Cooper House Fine Cabinetry in Asheville. "It’s one continuous space, and the kitchen actually flows right into the rest of the house."

"In renovations," Benbow continues, "a lot of people are taking walls down to open things up — not just to the living space, but to the outdoors, to the backyard. They’re using big windows to create a bigger feeling, even if it’s not actually a larger footprint."

"We’re using our kitchens to entertain," says Scott Deane of Snaidero Kitchens + Design in Asheville. "You want to design your kitchen so it becomes a statement, not just a bunch of cabinets on the wall." High visibility means a whole new focus on cabinetry and surfaces. "We integrate refrigeration and other appliances with paneling, so that they blend in," Deane notes. "Everything is hidden away so when you look at the kitchen you don’t see appliances, you see furniture."

"With more open spaces," says Benbow, "there’s also a change in venting. We’re going with downdraft vents that telescope up from the countertop, especially when the cooktop is installed in an island. You don’t want that huge contraption hanging over your head.

"People are also becoming really conscious about lighting," she continues. "Task lighting, under-cabinet lighting, recessed can and ambient lighting all make the space more functional and flexible."

"Ergonomics are the most important consideration when designing a kitchen," Deane observes. "You have to be able to access everything efficiently and maximize usable space. In America, we’re used to having a lot of cabinets with doors, but the European designs use a lot of deep drawers in the base units so that you have easy access to everything. You don’t have to reach back into cabinets. It’s much more organized and user friendly — and it’s a better use of space."

And those drawers aren’t just for storage. Many appliances are being adapted for reach-in convenience, including warming drawers, refrigeraters and dishwashers. "With open floor plans, you don’t want so many cabinets above, so putting everything underneath keeps it clean looking," says Audrey Loder of Salon Blue Ridge, a resource for luxury kitchen and bath components in Hendersonville.

One major appliance that is being raised up, however, is the oven. Many designers are choosing to install separate cooktops, with independent built-in ovens at chest height. "It’s nice to have the oven on the wall instead of having to bend over," says Loder. "Much easier on your back." But it isn’t always an either-or situation. "Many people like having two ovens, especially if they entertain," she points out.

Among the innovations are high-speed ovens. "They use convection and microwave technologies," Loder explains, "so you can use them as a convection oven, a microwave oven or as the high-speed combination of the two."

While gas burners are still the lingua franca, cooking surfaces are also receiving the high-tech treatment. "Induction cooktops, which interact with specialized cookware, are becoming more popular," Loder says. "They only heat the cookware, so the surface is very safe around children. It’s also incredibly fast. You can boil a pot of water in about a minute — very energy efficient. With a gas cooktop, you’re losing about 80 percent of your heat. Here, it’s very focused."

Another amenity to consider: a built-in cappuccino and espresso machine. "It will grind the beans by the cup," says Loder, "prepare double shots, single shots and froth your milk, so you can get that Starbucks experience right in your home."

Housing all these nifty gadgets are an exciting array of new cabinet and work surfaces. Countertops are moving beyond Corian and granite. "A lot of people still go for the stone," says Deane, "but there are many other materials that you can use."

Loder agrees. "We’re used to seeing polished granite, the really shiny stuff, but here in the mountains, folks are choosing honed granite and brushed or leathered granite. Honed has a smooth feel, with a matte finish. Brushed or leathered has an undulated surface, so it’s not so overwhelming. It’s also easier to keep clean — when the sun shines on it you don’t see streaks or fingerprints."

"More and more people are starting to ask about other surfaces," says Whitney, "such as concrete, glass, compressed paper — there are products out there made of wheat, bamboo and paper that are crushed and compressed to create a very solid surface."

"Concrete is one of the most versatile surfaces out there right now," he continues. "We’ve seen it used as a countertop and backsplash, with embedded fiber optics that shine up through. You can do anything with concrete — embed seashells, tiles, memorabilia. It’s very green as well — there’s no carbon footprint. You don’t have to go out, quarry it and ship it halfway around the world. It’s a great alternative."

"You can do different finishes," Loder adds. "It isn’t just the dull gray that you immediately think of. One countertop that we completed recently has a coppery wash, with copper inlays and a nice, textured surface. It’s really a work of art."

"There’s also a new product called Pyrolave that’s really durable and comes in a lot of great colors," Loder says. "It’s enameled lava that’s been high-fired, so it’s practically indestructible. You can actually put a hot pot down on the counter without any damage."

That old standby, tile, has advanced from those drab, ceramic squares — especially for the backsplash. "There are a lot of new shapes, textures and materials in tile," says Loder. "Round, oblong or stick shapes made of interesting materials: wood, leather, glass, marble. The leather tiles are magnetized, so you mount a metal backplane and just attach them. There are also translucent, opalescent Sicis iridium glass tiles that can be mounted on plexi-glass, so you can see through them. Size is important as well — either very small or really large."

Even stainless steel has a new twist. "Snaidero just introduced a totally stainless steel kitchen with a smudge-proof finish," says Deane. "It’s 100 percent stainless, floor to ceiling — paneling, countertops…everything."

For those who prefer a more traditional appeal in cabinetry, wood and veneers are still the materials of choice. "Trends in this area are moving towards more rustic woods," notes Benbow. "Not so much distressed as textured — rustic maple, knotty alder, quarter-sawn white oak. Bamboo is a nice middle ground — warm, yet contemporary — and it’s a renewable resource."

"One of the hottest woods we have is Lyptus, a derivative of eucalyptus," says Whitney. "It’s a plantation wood that’s grown in South America that has a mahogany look to it. It’s very renewable — you can actually cut off the root structure up to six times."

"Right now," Whitney continues, "it’s all about going green. And eco-friendly products are becoming more readily available, although the industry hasn’t been really quick to address the cost factor. Still, many people are willing to pay the up-charge." "A lot of our clients are asking for formaldehyde-free, renewable-sourced plywood for the boxes," says Melissa DeLong, cabinetry designer at Salon Blue Ridge. "Fortunately, many upper-end manufacturers are using those products now."

With so many options — whatever your aesthetic and functional needs — the possibilities are endless. And whether embarking on a new construction or undertaking a renovation, part of the pleasure is in doing the research, then mixing the elements to create your ideal. So don’t worry if you get a bit preoccupied with the details — after all, it’s a national obsession.