5 New Kitchen Design Trends

We're always on the lookout for fresh, smart kitchen design ideas, and love figuring out what's next. Like gray cabinets. They're the new neutral and are popping up in kitchens all over. Another trend: using a mix of materials for kitchen counters.

We recently partnered with Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines and designer Wendy Johnson to build an inspiration kitchen as part of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and International Builders' Show (IBS) trade shows. The collaborative design reflects some of these trends and focuses on environmentally friendly materials and multitasking spaces. Here are some of the ideas worth stealing.

• Eco-Friendly Ideas for Home Design

Save Energy and Resources

Induction is incredibly energy efficient, it heats quickly and evenly and wastes very little heat, so we chose an induction cooktop for our space. We used countertops made with recycled glass from Dex Industries in one section of the kitchen and added a built-in compost bin near the sink. dexindustries.com.

Create a Beverage Center

True makes undercounter refrigerators that are just 15 inches wide, so it's easy to find a spot for them in almost any kitchen. We combined a refrigerator with a wine fridge to create a complete drinks station. They both have precise temperature controls and LED lights with three color options. true-residential.com.

Make It Multitask

The Galley Sink doubles as a work zone through a series of integrated cutting surfaces, colanders, bowls and racks. We added two sleek STo pull-down faucets from Moen.

• F&W's Kitchen Design Guide

Mix It Up

We selected a combination of materials for the countertops, including wood, quartz and glass. The wood surface is the perfect spot for eating, while quartz is better for wet areas, like near the sink.

Brew Like a Barista

Breville's Oracle espresso maker automates the steps where precision counts—grinding, dosing, tamping and milk texturing—and combines that automation with a manual machine to produce the best flavors. brevilleusa.com.