Already picking out granite countertops and espresso floors for your next kitchen remodel?

Think again.

For 2014, here's the way kitchens are shaping up...

Saying goodbye to granite.

It’s hard to imagine good old granite going out of style, but stone is simply expensive and unpredictable. Control is a huge problem with natural materials.

Caesarstone countertops are replacing granite. Granite is also easy to chip and damage, making it a less popular choice among homeowners with kids.

Each comes in probably 20 colors and varying thicknesses. The best part is that you aren’t paying for waste, and there’s no chipping. The sustainability and grain quality are hard to beat.

As a result, homeowners are gravitating toward synthetic materials that are both beautifully executed and durable. Solid-surface countertops such as CaesarStone and Zodiaq are popular choices.

Shelves replace cabinets in this kitchen.

Closed cabinets are on their way out because they are less conducive to the open entertaining space today’s homeowners want.

People are hanging out in their kitchens. They want to put a piece of art in there.

Upper cabinets are less popular because they stop your line of sight. Homeowners now want the sightline and above to be more decorative and homelike than typical kitchens with upper boxes around the room.

In place of upper cabinets, homeowners are implementing glass-front cabinets and open shelves. Homeowners are taking the backsplash all the way up to the ceiling and adding really unique shelving.

Anything exposed obviously needs more organization, Homeowners are relying more on pantries for food storage. This frees them to stack their dishes and china on shelves without a cluttered look.

The traditional work triangle is less important to most homeowners today.

Kitchen designers are moving away from the traditional setup, in which the fridge, sink, and stove form an imaginary triangle.

“In the 1950s, when the work triangle was developed, people didn’t have efficient refrigerators or microwaves. But now kitchen appliances come in a range of sizes and layouts, allowing designers to tailor the kitchen layout to a family’s lifestyle. Twenty-nine percent of Homeowners are looking to modernize their homes for comfort and functionality.

Kitchen are command central for all the family’s activities. Try to create different zones — one for kids, one for cooking, and one for the whole family to gather. Consider beverage centers or refrigerator drawers, so kids can grab a drink without getting in the way of the main cooking area. Put in another dishwasher near a secondary prep sink.”

Wood-stained cabinetry is easier to care for than lacquer.

Another dying trend in kitchen cabinetry is lacquer finishes. It’s not the most durable choice.

A wood-stain finish, by contrast, is much more forgiving, and it’s still protected by a top coat of polyurethane.

Homeowners are educating themselves about emerging design trends, they want depth and richness in their kitchen. Salvaged wood is very of the moment. It brings that character and romance that you don’t get with other materials

Blond flooring lightens up this kitchen.

Throughout the late ’90s, dark espresso floors were all the rage. Homeowners fell in love with dark wood furniture and really dark floors.

But Homeowners are realizing it can show more scratches and dust than a pale wood.

Homeowners with children can scratch up their floor more easily, but a paler wood can help disguise a lot of that.

White oak, not to be confused with red oak, is popular because it is a blank canvas that can take any color.. A pale, untreated color or a light tan hue accepts finishes well.

Special Thanks to Zillow Digs

OUT - dark floors and dark cabinets with granite countertops

IN- light to medium toned floors, light cabinets, countertops made from materials other than granite and dramatic pendant lighting