Among the trends and products we've spotted at this year's International Builders Show, a couple were real eye-openers:

Some manufacturers have supersized the control panels on their microwaves, refrigerator ice/water dispensers, and other kitchen appliances by up to 30 percent. Their goal? Make the controls easier to read and operate for the aging baby-boomer population.

In a big city famous for its bright lights, it's apt that LED lighting is widely on display at the Las Vegas Convention Center. We've spotted LEDs in the control panels and displays of a variety of appliances and inside dryers and refrigerators. For instance, energy-efficient, long-lasting LEDs illuminate the control panel of the GE Profile PSHSGPGZ's ice dispenser. And inside this side-by-side, the LEDs have been placed toward the front rather than at the usual rear position, creating a bright, clean look for the manufacturer's first all-LED refrigerator. The PSHSGPGZ ($1,899 to $1,949, shown), due out in May, has a claimed capacity of 25.5 cubic feet and is available in stainless steel.