Budget for upgrades allocated between two rooms

Kitchen and baths wear the crown in new-home design.

One of the benefits of purchasing a newly built home is being on trend with the most current features in the marketplace. And it's no surprise buyers are spending the bulk of their money on upgrades for the kitchen and bath, the two most-used rooms in the home.

"Our buyers are not as concerned with square footage as they are with how their homes are amenitized," said Scott Ballard, director of homebuilding for Plote Homes, which sells primarily single-family ranch and duplex homes. "They care about the cabinetry, countertops, appliances and a nice custom shower."

They're also less concerned with resale and feel strongly about choosing features they actually use, such as a tub for their small children. People are buying homes that reflect how their families want to live.

Today's look is streamlined with clean lines and personalized, nothing opulent anymore, said Anna Harmon, marketing director for Shodeen Homes. This means kitchens are moving away from ornate styles such as Tuscan and French Country in favor of a more transitional design with simple cabinetry.

The urban look has moved out to the suburbs with white or off-white for a clean and elegant look, Ballard said. Everyone wants a white kitchen. Why? They're light and bright, clean and pure and look great in any style. It's a universally appealing color that's very versatile. Contributing to the light, bright feel, people tend to use fewer window treatments, allowing natural light to flow into the space.

Open-concept designs - "connected living" - is one of the top new home trends. With the kitchen at the heart of one massive living space, the design allows homeowners to entertain with ease and promotes more interaction among family members and guests.

Open plans make the space feel larger when you don't have defined breaks, and it allows for more flexibility with furniture placement.

In keeping with the open concept, many kitchens offer fewer upper wall cabinets to open up the space for a more airy, minimalistic look. Also, open shelving and glass-fronted cabinets are more interesting than a solid wall of wood cabinets and they allow owners to show off pretty dishware as well as their personalities.

Stained cabinetry makes way for painted finishes, which are making a strong statement in kitchens today.

"For most of our remodels, we're taking out oak cabinets and going with a maple painted cabinet with white or gray, today's popular color choices," said Kim Meier, president of KLM Builders. Combining cabinetry colors is still a popular trend.

Quartz countertops step into the spotlight as busier granite slabs wane in popularity. Most quartz has a lifetime no seal warranty; it's harder than granite, more stain resistant, and there are no defects in the slab because it's a manufactured product, Meier said. Wood countertops are also gaining favor.

Islands take center stage in the kitchen area.

"Some of our plans allow for a 9-foot island, and people are getting away from the dining room as they look to the island for eating and congregating," Ballard said.

William Ryan Homes is also on top of the trend offering an island that's enormous, taking place of the dinette, said Jennifer Mencias, director of sales for the builder.

Desks may be on the way out with charging stations moving in so people can work at the kitchen island on their laptops or iPads.

Stainless steel appliances still shine at many new home communities. It has universal appeal and is associated with luxury. And as Meier says: "It's a timeless finish."

A newer hue for appliances is more of a slate color, a little darker with a duller finish than stainless, Mencias said. She has also seen a new refrigerator with a Keurig coffee machine built into it that has been a hit. Also, with a renewed interest in cooking, a lot of people are paying to upgrade their refrigerators and ovens.

Appliances are being built into the cabinetry and concealed behind cabinet doors or made to match the cabinetry so you can barely spot them at first glance in the kitchen. Other appliance trends include microwave and dishwasher drawers. These dishwashers do small loads without wasting energy and water.

Sinks are trending away from basic white or stainless steel, which is a great way to pop some color into a neutral kitchen. And they're also moving away from two sinks into one large sink. Harmon says there's an interest in farmhouse-inspired kitchens with apron-fronted sinks coming into favor.

Buyers also want practical storage, Harmon said. Some builders have drawers designed for specific items such as pots and pans or cookie sheets. For holiday baking, who wouldn't like to have a drawer to store 10 cookie sheets. And with the open concept, homeowners need storage space to keep clutter off the countertops.

When it comes to flooring, it's all about wood. Wood flooring or flooring that looks like wood is hot now with dark, wide plank flooring leading the way. Dark wood floors look beautiful against white cabinetry and add natural warmth to the kitchen. Also, they're easier on your feet and back than tile.

What's on the cutting edge in color? 2017 has been all about green: fresh and zesty, with the lushness of the great outdoors. Look for blue to come into the spotlight next year. Dark blue. Some say navy blue, is the new black.

In today's new homes, master baths also demand a lot of attention. Buyers look to the bath as a place to relax and replenish - to escape from our tech-saturated lives and leave the busy world behind.

People want a spa-inspired bath with lots of luxury and are often opting out of a tub and going for a large custom shower with all the bells and whistles. But not everyone. Even though the design gurus say a tub is not essential for the master suite, some people still want a tub and are not going with the flow, Harmon said. "It's such a personal decision."

Plote Homes sees about 50/50 split with the tub or shower choice. Some buyers say they don't use the tub so they're going for a shower large enough for a party, with a ceramic tile base, Ballard said.

"Buyers also want his-and-hers separate vanities, nice upgraded Carrara marble, oversized mirrors - a lot of nice amenities."