Homeowners increasingly want smaller, cost-effective kitchens that incorporate a range of functions, a group of experts has said.Business magazine Builder reported the views of a panel of design gurus at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas last week. It noted that as credit conditions have tightened, consumers have become more cost aware and the number of single households has risen, meaning that homeowners are now searching for kitchen designs that make the most out of limited spaces and resources.According to the magazine, functional, space-saving solutions include hideaway laundry appliances, built-in workspaces and kitchen-side desks that could be used for sorting out the post, paying bills and looking up recipes.However, it was also suggested that regardless of its multiple uses, the space allocated for kitchen worktops should be evenly balanced with other requirements. Design expert MaryJo Camp told the magazine that kitchen owners should have at least one 36 inch countertop for prep work in the kitchen sink area. Earlier this month, interior designers Jasmine Madson and Heidi Coatsworth told the Argus Leader that removing clutter is also an inexpensive but effective way of remodelling a home.