First off, where are you located? Some areas of the country are quicker to adopt new trends than others. If you want to play it as safe as possible, probably go for things that are pleasing to the eye without being big Wow factors. Granite - something with subtle movement, but not a large bold pattern and not too speckled, either. Backsplash - a background player, subtle shading variations that work well with the cabs and counters. Appliances - pro grade, but consider white finishes if it can work with the rest of your colors. Many companies have white as an option, it often costs more, though. Cabinets - drawers are here to stay, I think. They are so much more user friendly. As for wood finish and hardware colors - I have a bold prediction (based on ZERO credibility) that black hardware will be on trend in 5 years. Not ORB, but black - like cast iron colored. And a medium toned wood will be in style ... But I don't know which one. So far we've seen so many woods fall into favor (and eventually back out of favor) that I can't imagine what wood is LEFT. The only reason I think black hardware will be in style in 5 years is that it is traditional and presently a PITA to find, except in a few lines (Emtek makes it). Brass went thru a similar thing where it was impossible to find, and now a French brass or slightly antiqued brass is coming into style. I figure black will be close behind it ... And if I keep thinking/ saying that, maybe it will come true and my life will be easier (I love black hardware on doors, cabinets, furniture ...).

love this discussion and comments not much to add except: -glass backsplash. Make sure it's a good quality glass. Arabesque tiles(or lantern..not sure what exact shape you're talking about) are lovely..I have lantern tiles myself(flooring)..have star and cross mosaic too. But. The house is Spanish ranch..the pattern will always look right because used in the right context. It's also handmade-adds a lot to a cost but adds a lot to a feel too. The beauty of more elaborate tiles and shapes lies partially in the fact that somebody made them, worked on them with his own hands..we attribute to these traditional shapes, mentally, all the centuries long old craftsmanship involved. If you just take the shape, and machine cuts it-to me, three quarters of charm is gone. With simple tile, I don't always expect it to be handmade(even though it will be better for it too)-for traditional shape, it will have a staying power where it's made accordingly and goes with the overall style of the house. I've no idea which tile you're using and what's your house style, you might have taken it into account hundred times already, and it will turn out great and will have said staying power. I just wanted to point out that if you're looking for staying power-it's never just a color X. Every color can be warmer, colder, your more preferred color, your less preferred color, used beautifully, used badly..it's a combination of colors, textures, and even ideas behind these if I can say so, that determines the main feel. And it's the main feel you're after. It should be yours, and it should be your house's too, because every house has its own character and stands in a certain location and is unlike others. Take your house into account. Take your own loves into account. Don't take strangers from HGTV into account-they might live in Toronto, and you, in Hawaii. Whatever they see as timeless won't be timeless to you. Listen to your heart and to your house and the place it stands. (btw I do have as many of you know greige cabinets)) and I have off whites and greiges and tans and purples and greens and taupes only on my walls..and I don't care for trends unless they show me another great combo to love-I never stop loving a color, I can only start loving one color more..)) As long as one keeps to some similarity (I do tend to go for warmer shades of every color out there, unless it's very small touches)-one can love as many colors as he wishes. As long as one minds texture of the things and understands balance-one can love as few colors as one wishes. It all can be beautiful. If thought out well-it will be) Dark floors are hard to keep clean. Yep. Having said that-my own floors are medium leaning dark and I just love the grain and color too much(it's reddish walnut) and I know it's soft, and it gets dusty, and it's a PITA-well ok..I didn't find the flooring that I'd like better, at least not for this specific house of ours. Also all my childhood we had this gorgeous parquet (probably oak) and it was as white oak is, and still had to slave over it each day. Some people get very irritated with dirty flooring. I guess I'm one of these people. Lol. I tried not to be, but I am. If I didn't wipe the floor it's because I'm running a fever or something. And would be the same if was lighter. Had lighter speckled tiles for many years too..same thing. I have this cleaning thing, but with some weird selectivity. Some drive me crazy, can't rest. Some, I'm fine with. Floors, counters-drive me crazy. Need all my will power in public restrooms btw..and even there, I sometimes kinda try to clean LOL Anyway. That's interesting how I went from just enjoying reading everybody's comments to writing this long redundant post..)) Sorry.. Whatever you decide I wish you huge luck And. If you want really helpful suggestions..plan matters, space matters..post a plan of your kitchen, pictures if you can..some spaces can handle two toned cabinets, some, not really..some backsplashes will take elaborate shapes better than others..etcetera etcetera. Right now, it's very theoretical discussion.

Several years ago we were moving back into our house and we had some stuff in storage one of which was one of those giant tv entertainment centers. The movers were moving it back in and I stopped them and said that it's not coming back into the house and so leave it outside and we'll get rid of it. One of the movers asked if he could have it and how much was it. I told him it was free and yes, he could have it. He was so excited. I did not ask him what he was going to do with it. He was young and perhaps just looking for some storage.

My kitchen cabinets were finally (one year later) delivered on Monday but are not yet installed. The SW shiitake color is PERFECT! My inspiration was also Devol mushroom but needed to go with a SW paint color. The Shiitake is similar but is slightly less gray and actually has the teeniest green/beige undertone but can only be described as a greige. The SW shiitake color as shown on its website is SO off. Someone said it looked like pantyhose and on the website it truly does. The actual color is greige, greige, greige. Hope that helps.