• Kitchen islands are popular elements in New Zealand kitchens.kitchen image by yong hong from Fotolia.com
  
  New Zealand's National Kitchen and Bath Association is an authority when it comes to identifying kitchen design ideas and trends. Every year the NKBA holds a design competition. In January 2010, it revealed the winners from its 2009 contest representing the most popular kitchen styles. In addition to NKBA's choices, islands are another fashionable component in New Zealand kitchens.
  
  

Traditional Design

• A kitchen incorporating a white color scheme and shaker cupboards.kitchen image by Rich Johnson from Fotolia.com
  
  The National Kitchen and Bath Association has identified traditional style to be the most popular design trend in New Zealand. Use of white, off-white, brown and beige colors reflects this approach. Included is shaker design, which emphasizes minimalism and functionality. Shaker cupboards and doors have simple rectangular panels and lack frilly patterns or arcs.
  
  

Materials

• The NKBA says that in 2010, hardwood floors will be even more popular than ceramic, porcelain or stone-tiled floors. Granite, followed by quartz, is the most trendy material to use for countertops. As for the wood used in creating drawers, doors and cabinets, the NKBA says cherry trees are the number one source used.
  
  

Compact Appliances

• The National Kitchen and Bath Association says that under counter refrigerators are rising in popularity. Kitchen renovators install them in your lower cabinets and you can open them by pulling out a drawer or unlatching a standard fridge door. They provide extra space in the kitchen and cooks can do their prep on the counter above the appliance, making produce easily accessible. Compact dishwashers built into cupboards are also on the rise. You can run small loads in each pullout drawer of the cleaning unit.
  
  

Cooking

• Combination stove tops with wall ovens are starting to become more popular, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Additionally, more homeowners are trying to be environmentally responsible and switching from gas to induction stove top cooking methods. Induction burners send electromagnetic energy to iron or steel pots and pans to create heat.
  
  

Islands

• A kitchen island creates more counter space.the kitchen. image by guiney from Fotolia.com
  
  Kitchen islands are increasingly popular in New Zealand and a number of designers, including Ong & Ong, Cronin Kitchens and RH Cabinet Makers, have incorporated them. As the name suggests, they are units of counter space separated from the rest of the kitchen's countertops. You can use islands as extra preparation space when preparing large feasts or Ong & Ong suggests pulling up some bar stools to eat an informal meal.