Kitchen design is seeing some interesting trends in 2012 as kitchens blend more into the rest of home interiors. Current trends include the increasing popularity of non-matching kitchen cabinets, with cabinet colours and materials being mixed. A favourite is darker colours for the base units with lighter colours for upper cabinets. The result can be surprisingly effective. Also popular this year are downsized kitchen islands. Home owners are finding that, if they can make do with a smaller kitchen island, they are left with more useful kitchen space. Covert kitchen appliances, that is appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators and ovens being hidden behind cabinetry, are popular this year. Appliances can also be made to match kitchen units so that it is hard to spot them at first glance. Smaller taps are also trending this year. The big, gooseneck type of tap, or faucet, was all the rage until recently but consumers are now opting more often for lower profile taps to make more of a subtle statement. Says Home Design Find blog As kitchens have opened up and become more integrated into our homes, they have begun to feel less kitchen-like. The trend toward mixed cabinetry and integrated appliances, door pulls and sinks suggests we are looking for a space that flows seamlessly into the rest of our spaces.