Ellen Thomas searched high and low for new kitchen cabinets to replace her whitewashed oak ones. But there were a couple of requirements.

"My husband said, 'I don't care what you get, as long as it doesn't fall apart,'" says Thomas, a stay-at-home mother from Fresno, Calif. As for her, "I wanted the cabinets to look like beautiful furniture."

So when she started her kitchen remodeling project a year ago, she hunted for cabinets that were both elegant and functional. What they looked like was important since they would set the tone of the room, she says.

After searching throughout Fresno, she finally found cabinets she liked. They were solid cherry with an amber finish. The cabinet style was modern, with a simple, clean look. But the look wasn't as stark or cold as contemporary can be. Instead, the look is soft, with warm colors and slight detailing.

Thomas' tastes fit right in with the trend several local experts say they're noticing in kitchen cabinets. As spring begins, several interior designers and cabinet business owners highlight what they expect to see more of in the coming months.