Think less about current trends, and more about what you like and what's timeless.

Builders always want to do what easiest for them and their subs.

Actually think in terms of what would work best with the style of your house

Thanks for the reply. I typically have a good idea on what i like, but with the ceilings Im at a loss, and also wondering for resale.

Smooth has been popular for a long time.

All texture is a pain to work with if any changes are needed to lighting or other wires. Smooth is far and away the best, but your contractor needs to be decent.

"What is popular right now for ceiling finishing."

Popcorn was popular for a while. Swirl was popular for a while.

Smooth is timeless and innocuous.

After going through the mess of stripping off an entire house of popcorn ceilings (even the panel in the closet that seals the hole to the attic), I can only say SMOOTH. Smooth has never gone out of style. While other finishes might be trendy, smooth outlived all the ones that are no longer trendy. Smooth has been the go-to ceiling surface for centuries.

Our builder wants to do knock down.

...and...

Builders always want to do what easiest for them and their subs.

These two comments generated the thought, "Do what your builder is most comfortable doing, because if you want something outside of his norm/ability, you may not like the results."

You could always ask your builder, in a very casual, be-level-with-me kind of way, "Hey, do you know any subs that can do *smooth* really well? If not, what about light orange peel? Any other good options for me?" And see what he says. :-)

My builder's plaster subcontractor tried to talk me out of smooth ceilings! I have a large open plan, but the main living areas have ceiling beams, so I looked at him and asked if he wasn't capable of doing a smooth finish in the relatively short spans between the beams. He grinned and agreed that I wasn't asking for much! I knew he could do it, because my builder wouldn't have agreed to it otherwise. They did a great job. A family business where his 2 sisters are the masters at any patching/repairs that needed to be done.