It has served as the heart of the home in communities around the world for centuries. And because the kitchen is the most-used area of the house, designing it requires special attention.

Doing so allows the kitchen to keep its luster and that feeling of newness that the homeowner loves about it on day one.

Time to explore what’s new in new-kitchen design that can amplify and extend the newness factor for as many years as possible.

Smart kitchens

Although some have been offered for more than a decade, smart kitchen features are more in demand now than ever, especially as younger millennials and Gen Z become more active as buyers.

Smart kitchen features might include the installation of appliances that can be controlled by apps on a mobile phone. Voice activation allows the chef to change appliance settings without having to wash hands or surfaces between tasks.

Other nice-to-have items are refrigerators with storage guides to keep the owner aware of inventory for shopping lists and expiration dates. And some refrigerators have a camera that can give the owner a glimpse of the contents while out shopping.

Naturally, people who’ve enjoyed kitchens without smart features over the decades may ask, “Do we really need a smart kitchen?” That’s a good question for the builder and the design center. And stay tuned for an upcoming article here covering that topic.

Islands and seating

Comfortable spaces with plenty of easy-to-access seating make all the difference in new kitchen design. When given the option for a center island, inquire with the builder about extending the countertop to include counter space with seating capacity. Another option is the peninsula seating bar.

If the kitchen has a dining nook near a window, some buyers may request a banquette under the window that provides both storage and seating space. Before installing permanent built-in furniture grade pieces, assess the kitchen’s longer-term needs. Should a larger table be necessary five years down the road, a buyer will regret creating a quaint breakfast nook with a bench.

If you enjoy cooking while entertaining, ask the builder’s design center about a two-tiered kitchen island that features ample prep space, including a furniture-height prep area that keeps your food prep separate from guests’ appetizers and drinking glasses.

Examine pantry options

A walk-in pantry can be the most convenient place to store small appliances, bulk items and nonperishables. But it’s not for every home or family.

What is necessary is flexible pantry space — including pullout shelving and drawers — that provides easy access to cooking ingredients and appliances. A thoughtfully planned and designed pantry cabinet, for instance, can serve nearly every purpose as a walk-in pantry.

If adding a walk-in pantry would cut into space better used for a main-level bathroom or mudroom, look at other places in the house to add a second pantry cabinet for surplus storage.

When looking at the home’s plans, a builder’s design center staff will know which spaces are flexible enough to add options or new features.

Ceiling-height cabinets

Speaking of storage, ceiling-high cabinets have gained popularity over open-soffit style cabinetry. Higher cabinetry takes advantage of the vertical space a kitchen offers and removes the need to decorate and dust the spaces above cabinets.

Ceiling-height cabinets also work a trick of the eye, creating an illusion that the space is larger or taller than it is.

Before choosing ceiling-height cabinets for every open wall in the kitchen, plan out how they will be used and anticipate how they add value to the spaces they occupy.

Unless a new-home buyer is 7 feet tall, it’s wise to remember that cabinets reaching as high as 8 to 10 feet can wind up as black holes for out-of-sight, out-of-mind items. The same goes for open shelving at heights that are hard to reach for dusting.

But there are solutions: Ask the design center about pullout drawers built into lower cabinets where you can store sturdy, stylish step stools made of the same solid material as the cabinets.

And remember that large center island or peninsula that is all the rage. Can it include a 12-inch-wide cabinet for storing an attractive step stool that can be pulled out easily for use anywhere?

Remember, the kitchen is the best place to invest in perfection; it’s worth splurging on design options here.