The kitchen island has become a fixed point on the home's architectural map. Not only is the kitchen island a place for food preparation, it also serves as a focal point in the heart of the home.

The island's functional design has even migrated to outdoor kitchens and other parts of the home, such as the master closet, says Alana Busse, National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Central Coast and Valleys Chapter president and a designer at Westside Remodeling Inc., based in Thousand Oaks, California.

"An island, as a home's design element, isn't tethered to a wall and is a free-standing workspace that has access from all sides," she says. "People are naturally attracted to an island because it has an open feel to it and is usually in the center of a room or space."

People just naturally hover and land around an island workspace, no matter where it's located, whether inside or outside the home. "One of the largest design requests we receive is to create a space for a kitchen island, " Busse says. "More homeowners are doing away with a formal dining room to create more space for the kitchen island."

Don't let your kitchen island become uninhabitable by neglecting to plan specific design elements. Busse says an island is usually a counter-height of 36 inches and is -- at a minimum -- 2 feet wide. "The length of an island can span up to 8 feet long, but must fit the space to allow for the traffic flow around it," she says. "An island can bridge the gap in a kitchen that opens up to a great room."

An island requires, minimally, a 3-foot clearance on all sides, with some local building codes requiring as much as 4 feet from the nearest wall. "People need to make sure there aren't conflicting doors between the island and appliances along the wall," Busse says. "It's important to know what you plan to use your island for and whether there will be a cooktop, sink or seating."

When it comes to seating around the island, allow at least 2 linear feet at the countertop for plenty of elbowroom. Electrical must be run to the island for ground fault circuit interrupter outlets, small appliances and cooktops. Plumbing is needed for a sink, disposal and/or dishwasher on a kitchen island dedicated to food preparation.

The kitchen island can be a feast for the eye by incorporating overall home design into this culinary hot spot. "An island can be made to look like a piece of furniture in a traditional home or very spare in a contemporary house," Busse says. "Make good use of the space underneath an island to stow cookware, glassware or other items used on or around the island."

Shed some light on any task performed on an island with either hanging pendants or a showstopping chandelier. If the cooking surface is on a kitchen island, the capture area of the exhaust fan should be larger to compensate for the fact that the fan will be drawing air from an open space. An island cooktop with a large hood vented to the ceiling can visually fight with hanging light fixtures, so an inconspicuous downdraft fan system might be the best solution.

The great outdoors is a whole new frontier for the kitchen island. Any appliances, countertops or cabinetry in an outdoor kitchen island must endure the elements. Be certain that any appliance installed outdoors has the UL (Underwriters Laboratory) seal approving it for outdoor use.

Busse says a dual-height island with a 42-inch-high raised counter, which can serve as a bar, and a lower 36-inch-high work counter, has fallen out of favor. "People want an island which has a large countertop that is one continuous piece of granite, concrete or quartz," she says. "While quartz may be a good option for an indoor countertop, check with the manufacturer to ensure the high-performance polymers, resins and pigments used to mimic natural stone are outdoor-rated."

The island can also be dressed up for use in a master closet. "People who have a master bedroom suite with a large bathroom and closets may have an island that serves as a way to organize jewelry or clothing options," Busse says. "A closet island is a great place to store small accessories and also doubles as a surface on which people can work."

As a design concept, the island isn't eroding: it's only becoming bigger and better, says Busse. "Today's entertaining at home is a more casual experience with family and friends," she says. "With an island, you can be part of the food preparation to catch dinner AND a show at home."

Island Ideas

-- National Kitchen and Bath Association, NKBA.org, click "Prosearch" to find a certified kitchen professional near you. 1-800-843-6522

-- WestsideRemodeling.com or call 805-499-4121.

Bathroom designs are putting the "ahhhhh" into a spa-like experience at home. Designers are coming clean about master bathroom trends in the National Kitchen & Bath Association's (NKBA) 2017 Survey, featuring data compiled from 562 respondents in the home industry.

"We are spending more time wanting to unwind and seek places of comfort in our homes," says Adam Gibson, an NKBA-certified Kitchen and Bath Designer for 22 years and owner of a design firm bearing his name near Indianapolis. "As a result, a home's master bath has become a place where people want to feel pampered."

Gibson says master bathrooms are occupying a larger percentage of a home's total square footage. Often master bathrooms have direct access to bedroom walk-in closets, while linen closets are being built directly into bathrooms for storage.

"Before people face the day, they want to be able to get ready and dressed in a beautiful space that is well-lit," he says. "While the master suite occupies more space, the overall design of a master bath is more sleek and minimalistic."

Counterpoint

"Light, bright and white," remains the monochromatic mantra for bathrooms. The first step to a super-clean master bath design is to make sure it remains squeaky clean. Marble countertops are a popular choice, but Gibson says engineered-stone or quartz surfaces are waterproof and stain-, heat- and scratch-resistant, and can be manufactured to mimic stone. Because a quartz countertop lacks surface holes, it does not require sealing, nor does it support the growth of bacteria.

Ceramic or porcelain tile is the flooring of choice for master baths because of its durability, water resistance and cleanability. If a homeowner wants to take the chill off the bathroom floor, an electric heated floor system under tile is a creature comfort into which more homeowners are investing, says Gibson.

"Heating mats are designed to operate like an electric blanket under the flooring and are constructed of coils of heat resistance wires, which are joined to a supporting material," he says. "Controlled by a thermostat, bathroom floors can achieve a comfortable temperature in less than an hour."

Mainstreaming

Installing water-saving features is hitting the mainstream in bathroom design.

Using a high-efficiency toilet and water-saving fixtures saves dollars and makes sense for conservation. The design of a high-efficiency 1.28 gallon-per-flush (or less) toilet forces water through the front of the bowl and can potentially save a family of five more than 20,000 gallons of water per year, when using a water conservation calculator.

Chrome is cool when it comes to fixtures in the bathroom, Gibson says. Fixtures not only include faucets, but also lighting. "Mirrors with integrated lights on either side are great," he says. "You want to avoid a single fixture on top of the mirror, which creates harsh shadows on the face."

The most illuminating tact, however, is to have a bathroom infused with as much natural light as possible -- either through windows or a skylight.

Sinking Feeling

Form follows function with today's bounty of stylish basin choices for the bathroom, but bigger appears to be better with the trend toward trough sinks.

"Vessel sinks that sit on top of the counter and pedestal sinks that integrate sink and stand into one piece are less popular," Gibson says.

While stand-alone sinks may be waning, stand-alone tubs are gaining steam. Half of NKBA members surveyed said they specified a freestanding tub in 2016, with up to 60 percent of designers expecting to specify one in the master bath in 2017.

Universal Design

Gibson says freestanding tubs are popular in bathrooms in which there is also a shower option, because a no-threshold shower works for people of all ages.

"More designers are thinking about 'universal design' as a concept so people can age in place," he says. "The key is to make master bathroom accommodations accessible without making it look too institutional."

Large, no-threshold showers are being designed to accommodate built-in shower seats with plenty of lighting. Shower doors are built wider and grab bars are cleverly disguised as towel bars, Gibson says.

Venting

After tending to the details in the bathroom, it should smell as good as it looks.

"Having a proper venting system is imperative to rid the bathroom of moisture and odors," Gibson says. "I suggest installing a 6-inch hard pipe vented directly outside, so the exhaust fan works efficiently."

But all of the planning around the venting system is secondary if it is never pressed into service. Gibson says many systems are often tied to a humidistat, which kicks on when the moisture in the air reaches a certain level. Candles placed in the master bathroom are common "scents," which also cast a relaxing, ambient light.

"More than ever, the master bath is an integral part of the homeowner's lifestyle," Gibson says. "This is a watershed movement in bath design."

Keeping It Clean

Visit the National Kitchen & Bath Association at NKBA.org. Click "Prosearch" to find a certified kitchen professional near you, or call 1-800-843-6522.

When it comes to selling or buying a home, the kitchen is where it's cooking.

"The kitchen is truly the heart of a home," says Blue Arnold, a National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) certified kitchen and bath designer, owner of Kitchens by Request, located outside Baltimore, and former NKBA board member. "The kitchen is where life happens. It's not just a place to make meals, it's where the family gathers."

If the kitchen is the heart of a home, it needs to tug on the heartstrings of potential buyers. But Arnold says sellers don't need to undertake a massive remodeling project and spend a lot of dough to upgrade the kitchen. "It's easy to spend $30,000 on a kitchen remodel, but that money may be hard to recoup in the sale of the home," he says. "Sellers need to realize that millennials are minimalists -- and this is the demographic likely buying your home."

Arnold and NKBA's 2017 Trends Survey share culinary cues and delectable designs in the kitchen, which can fuel a hot property.

Hot Spots

Before beginning any kitchen upgrade project, Arnold encourages homeowners to first be inspired.

"Visit local kitchen showrooms. Search online for ideas and take note of kitchens in home and garden television shows," Arnold says. "Everything from the latest door hardware to trending kitchen colors is on display."

Arnold says to be upfront with kitchen sales representatives about your budgetary constraints for the best advice and service when you go into showrooms. Homeowners can get a big bang for their buck by paying attention to small details.

Lean and Clean

Homeowners should view the sale of a home as an opportunity to clear away the clutter in the kitchen. "Before you can begin to spiff up the space, you need to pare it down," Arnold says. "Open up the bottom and top cabinets and that 'junk' drawer in the kitchen and get rid of things you never use."

Donating unexpired and unused items to local food banks and not-for-profits brings a fresh energy into the kitchen, Arnold says. It also leaves less stuff to box up on moving day.

Color and Light

A fresh coat of paint brings color and life into a kitchen, Arnold says, and it's also an easy way to freshen up walls and cabinets that have been grease-spattered or dinged through usage.

"If you are trying to sell your home, the best tactic is to do as many DIY (do-it-yourself) projects as you can," he says. "Painting a space instantly transforms it. If you're painting cabinet faces, you can also change out the hardware to complete the look."

Arnold prefers paint colors that are bisque, almond and shades of grey, which are emulated in NKBA's 2017 Design Trends and dominate kitchen color schemes. Arnold's personal favorite paint shade is "Whisper" by Benjamin Moore Paints.

A bright tip to set the mood in a space is to change outdated light fixtures and remove large, bulky window treatments to let the natural light shine in. Common sense dictates replacing burned-out bulbs and broken fixtures, but sometimes spraying an old brass light fixture with a direct-to-metal paint in lacquer white or copper color breathes new life and light into fixtures.

Counter Revolution

A new Stone Age is dawning in today's kitchens, according to NKBA 2017 trends. Countertops and backsplashes made with engineered, man-made or manufactured stone have a natural look without the maintenance of real stone.

Most commonly called quartz countertops, this engineered stone is a manufactured surface comprised of more than 90 percent quartz. The remaining ingredients include high-performance polymers, resins and pigments that are colorized to mimic natural stone or concrete surfaces.

Engineered stone is nonporous, waterproof and stain-, heat- and scratch-resistant. The surface of e-stone is smooth and can have a shiny or honed appearance. Because it lacks surface holes, engineered stone does not support the growth of bacteria and doesn't require sealing as natural stone does.

Arnold says if quartz countertops and backsplashes are cost-prohibitive, homeowners can often get builders-grade granite for less money and install mesh-backed tile backsplashes using thinset and grouting in a two-day process.

Step on It

If the kitchen underfoot is in a state of disrepair, today's luxury vinyl tile options will floor you. Colors and patterns with water-resistant qualities that simulate natural flooring materials and easy-to-install tiles make this a popular mainstream choice.

If the kitchen has high-quality flooring, make sure tiled floors and grouting are professionally cleaned and wood floors are refinished, if the budget allows.

Everything and the Kitchen Sink

The kitchen sink should be free of dishes and scoured clean. Make sure to fix or replace a leaky or outdated faucet.

If appliances date the kitchen to the harvest gold era, homeowners might consider replacing them with builder's grade or like-new appliances.

Ironically, the goal of updating the kitchen of a home on the market is to make it look as though no one cooks in it. A vase of flowers, bowl of fresh fruit and decorative hand towels are eye candy in an uncluttered kitchen, Arnold says.

"Pay attention to the small details in a kitchen," he says. "If you haven't taken care of the simpler things, a potential buyer may believe the homeowner isn't tending to the house's larger maintenance issues."

Niche in Kitchen

-- Kitchens By Request Inc., KitchensByRequest.com, 1115 Baldwin Mill Road, Jarrettsville, Maryland, 410-557-6957

-- National Kitchen & Bath Association, NKBA.org, click "ProSearch" to find a certified kitchen professional near you. 800-843-6522