Laundry rooms and dining rooms are considered essentials, but the new laundry room is no longer relegated to a spot in the garage or down in the basement. A consumer preference survey shows 95 percent of respondents indicating they either desire or must have a separate laundry room in their new home. Builders are listening and have begun to add separate deluxe laundry rooms as standard features in new homes.

To help streamline a sometimes tedious chore, homeowners want enough space to manage the tasks of washing, drying and folding. High-end appliances and adequate storage and counter space is essential. Drying racks and pull-down ironing boards are other highly desired amenities.

Homeowners also want laundry rooms located adjacent to kitchens, bedrooms or bathrooms. Some homeowners want the laundry room to blend in with the rest of the décor with built-in cabinets, crown molding, granite counter tops and tile or hardwood floors.

"Today's laundry room has moved upstairs into the living quarters and it is spacious, practically rivaling the kitchen, in finishes and gadgets. People want comfortable workspaces no matter what activity they are doing and they don't want to lug laundry up and down stairs," said Douglas Sutton Sr., 2004 Remodelors Council chairman.

Since most people spend seven to nine hours doing laundry each week, the goal is to make doing the laundry an easier task by adding convenience in nicer surroundings. Laundry rooms are also being used as multipurpose work areas for crafts, surfing the net or for other household jobs.

While the latest trend this year may be laundry rooms, Realtor John Leslie of Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Gatos says buyers' preferences change over time when it comes to homes and amenities.

"The expectations of today's homebuyers are really different from the buyers of the '90s. In those years everything had to be white in color. Ceramic or marble counter tops were used throughout the home. Hardwood floors with area rugs were also the popular look. Today's buyers want a lot of flash," Leslie said.

Buyers not only want crown molding in the dining room, but in practically every other room as well. Counter tops must be granite and one slab is preferable over granite tile.

"No more white themes, now designer colors are in demand. Ralph Lauren's style is very popular and mimicked by other designers. Hardwood floors are still in vogue, though bamboo is getting trendy. Cherrywood kitchen cabinets and stained cabinets are back," Leslie said.

Vinyl floors in bathrooms have been replaced by ceramic tile or marble tiles in earth tones, but no longer in gleaming white. Bidets are definitely out of style and toilets are now enclosed in a closet out of view from the rest of the bathroom, according to Leslie.

"Outside, slate walkways and slate patios are covering up the old concrete. Interlocking pavers are replacing the old concrete driveways. The six panel plantation interior doors have been replaced by the more traditional colonial style doors. The old stained wooden door and sturdy steel front doors have given way to the more expensive wooden doors with glass sidelights," Leslie said.

Mary Prochnow of Mary Prochnow Realtors in Los Altos also finds that desired amenities are constantly changing in the real estate industry.

"Laundry rooms, offices, granite kitchens. It seems to never end with each new amenity, layering upon the last must have," Prochnow said. "Wine coolers seem to be the new requirement in high-end kitchens."

Realtor Dulcy Freeman of Coldwell Banker agrees there are certain amenities, including the wine cellar, that fall in the "must have" category for buyers.

"Men really tend to be impressed if there is a wine cellar or a devoted wine refrigerator. Laundry rooms near the bedrooms, even upstairs if it is a two story, are a big plus. Everyone wants the kitchen and family room incorporated into a 'great room' style that preferably opens to the back yard. Buyers are also very attracted to high ceilings and they love recessed lighting these days," Freeman said.

Technology is another amenity buyers consider important when looking at a home. "Even though wireless is the latest in the high tech sector, buyers still really appreciate a home that is smart wired throughout," Freeman said.

Whether it's a new, improved laundry room, a wine cellar or certain colors that are in demand, buyers help set new trends as their desires for convenience and luxury drive the building industry. As styles and preferences change, buyers begin to look for the trendiest amenities in older homes on the market as well. Keeping tabs on what's in and what's out will pay off when it's time to sell or when considering a remodel.