WHAT'S COOKING? FUNCTIONAL KITCHENS QUICKLY BECOMING THE MOST POPULAR ROOM IN THE HOUSE.

Byline: Suzanne Sproul Staff Writer

Kitchens are becoming the heart of homes. Entertainment focus has shifted in the past few years, with many homeowners confessing there isn't much ``living'' going on in the living room. Instead, attention has shifted to kitchens, in many cases kitchen/den combinations.

So what's cooking in today's galleys? A lot, and it's not just meatloaf.

Homeowners are spending time, effort and money decorating kitchens in order to make them family-friendly, efficient places as well as ideal entertainment centers. If you've walked through any new homes lately, you probably have noticed that kitchens now take up more space. The same is true when a house is being remodeled, according to Bill Schankel, public relations manager for the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

According to recent research by the organization, kitchens are bigger and the amount of money people are willing to spend to remodel them is significant.

``We conduct surveys every two years or so, and the last one said that ... homeowners are spending an average of $27,000 on their kitchens. And it's not unusual to see some individuals spend $100,000,'' Schankel said. ``There is no one reason why people are spending so much time and money on their kitchens. Of course, the strong economy helped, but also people want all the latest and neatest high-tech gadgets.

``And it's true, you will get the most return on the money you spent remodeling your kitchen and bathrooms.''

People are entertaining more at home, he said. Kitchens are the centerpieces of many homes, so homeowners want them to look good.

Melissa Watkins, spokeswoman for Home Depot's upscale Expo Design Center, agreed.

``People consider kitchens as the hearts or hearths of homes. People are still cocooning. They want to come home and relax or entertain. That's why the No. 1 remodeling project in the country involves kitchens and depending upon your circumstances, you can recoup 125 percent of the cost of remodeling your kitchen,'' she said.

The Food Channel and Home and Garden Television (HGTV) are popular with consumers. The networks keep people informed about the latest kitchen gadgets, gizmos and equipment. ``People are cooking. They're doing their homework and they're spending money to equip their kitchens in the ways they want,'' Watkins said.

And kitchens aren't only places to prepare food.

``More and more have work spaces devoted to computer stations and fax machines. They have areas where children can do their homework and Mom and Dad can pay the bills,'' Schankel said. ``Families want the ease and convenience of having all those amenities in one room. And in the future, there will be even more changes in the kitchen.

``Many also are putting in secondary kitchens in their family rooms. It's all about personalizing and with kitchens, there aren't as many restrictions anymore.''

When it comes to remodeling, there are specific areas where each dollar goes. Schankel said that 50 percent of a family's kitchen remodeling budget is spent on cabinetry, 13 percent on countertops, 8 percent on appliances, 3 percent on fixtures and 2 percent on flooring. The remaining money is used for building code and design fees.

A large amount of the budget is spent on cabinetry, he said, frankly because that occupies the most useful space in kitchens.

``Customers are craving sophisticated styling for their kitchens,'' said Armin Deutsch, kitchen merchant for Expo Design Center, which has a location in Monrovia. ``The trend has moved toward creating a kitchen suited for a gourmet chef and commercial-grade appliances. Even if the homeowner does not do much cooking, the kitchen needs to look the part.''

They are looking for a style that is contemporary yet simple. Old World-style finishes that represent a worn look are popular. The latest look comes from Europe, where cabinetry has a cottage look featuring distressed wood, or stained maple and frameless shelving.

Other trends are granite countertops, aluminum or stainless steel anything, tile backsplashes with painted designs, brushed nickel or stainless steel hardware, trim finishes - usually wood - that hide appliances, and special features such as oven drawers with warming trays and refrigerated wine rack units.

Much of the latest equipment can come with hefty price tags. Granite countertops can cost from $55 to $75 a square foot, depending upon the color and type you choose. And those side-by-side stainless steel refrigerators cost at least $1,600.

Do you plan on going with a traditional or eclectic look for your kitchen? You might want to consider a list of what's hot and what's not. This one comes from the online Web site Kitchenquest.com. Anything and everything to do with decorating or remodeling also involves personal preference.

Here is the list:

HOT

Refrigerator drawers, ice makers, wine coolers

Built-in refrigerators

Convection ovens

Sealed ribbon burners, sealed gas burners

Professional ranges (with up to six burners)

Speed cooking

Almost-silent dishwashers

Garbage/recycle cabinet unit

Lazy Susan pullout shelves

Well-organized, full extension drawers

Taller cabinets with nice molding

Faucets with pull-out sprays

Fully lighted kitchens

Complex neutrals and splashes of color 

Individualized kitchen floor plans

NOT

Refrigerators that need defrosting

Refrigerators that extend into the room

Continuous-clean, or no-clean, ovens

Solid-disc, cast iron burners

High-low ranges

Microwaves

Noisy dishwashers

Plastic trash cans in the middle of the kitchen

Dark, deep useless corners

Overstuffed drawers

Bulkheads over wall cabinets

Faucets with side sprays

Unlighted spaces

Avocado green and harvest gold

Cookie-cutter floor plans

CAPTION(S):

6 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) The new living room

Trends in kitchen remodeling emphasizes multipurpose efficiency, easy in entertaining

(2) Pullout kitchen faucets, such as this Moen model, are a hot item.

(3 -- 5) Homeowners can bring the wine out of the cellar with a kitchen wine cooler, such as this Sub-Zero unit, above. Professional ranges, such as this one by Thermador, are great for serious cooks. And glass-paneled cabinets and stainless-steel-accented appliances, far right, are among the current trends in kitchen design.

(6) Home Depot's EXPO Design Center offers plenty of suggestions for kitchen, including this one, with multicolor tiles and slate flooring.

Box: What's HOT and what's NOT (see text)