(ARA) - There used to be a time when people compartmentalized their homes. There were definite boundaries, usually walls, between the living room, dining room, family room and kitchen. In those with more open floor plans, floor coverings, paint colors and furniture designs changed dramatically as you went from room to room.

"Today the trend is to do the exact opposite," says Kelley Taylor of Creating Home Décor.com, a Web site for do-it-yourself decorators and craft enthusiasts. "Homeowners want to decorate not just one room but their entire homes with pieces that tie in to a central theme, and a good place to start is in the central gathering place -- the kitchen."

Among the looks that are hot today, American Country, which is very modern and updated; Traditional Old World, which goes along classic lines; and French or Italian Country, which is very homey with deep colors and earth tones. Taylor says the latter is really coming into its own right now.

"Rich reds, burgundies and Bordeaux, which is almost black, are among the most popular colors around," says Taylor. They are appearing in furniture, wall coverings, fabrics, rugs, and even kitchen cabinets.

"You used to have to wait an entire year or more for trendy colors to make their way to the kitchen industry. Now their appearance is almost instantaneous," says Jeff Ptacek, a certified kitchen designer who works for Fieldstone Cabinetry, a manufacturer of high-end semi-custom cabinets.

Fieldstone already has a Bordeaux finish available. "Black finishes on furniture and cabinetry have been seen throughout design history," says Ptacek. "Bordeaux is a timeless look that will complement everything you have in your house." To embrace the feeling of furniture well loved and well used, Ptacek specified that Fieldstone's Bordeaux finish include worn edges and worn areas. In these rub-through areas, a rich burgundy tone shows through.

Ptacek points out Bordeaux looks great with all wood species (oak, maple, cherry, pine and hickory) and is complemented by earth-toned accessories as baskets, pottery, glass and metal. "Bordeaux really lends itself to tying things together nicely," he adds.

To learn more about Fieldstone Cabinetry, and all the designer finishes you have to choose from, log on to www.fieldstonecabinetry.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content