In the not-too-distant past, kitchens in India were just functional rooms with no character of their own. It was just a room where a hired ‘khansama’ conjured up meals which were cooked in grubby ‘dekchis’ and battered pans. The cook slaved for hours over even more ugly looking electric or gas stoves and the cupboards in which the utensils and groceries were kept, were just boring and uninteresting, with maybe a hint of flowery decolam, to break the monotony of the look. ‘Dekchis’ were blackened with excessive cooking and the walls of the kitchen were covered with grease. There was no concept of having hoods to filter away the grease and steam during the cooking process.

Today, one can define a space, which is central to a modern-day home and the kitchen comes up trumps.There is a range of modular kitchens on display in sales in various showrooms across the city, with a versatility to match, even for the tiniest of flats and bedsits. Also, today the kitchen has become a great place for the family to bond in. In fact, in a lot of homes, an open plan kitchen is designed by the architect, to take into consideration the fast pace of life that families live by. Like in the West, the open plan kitchen faces the living room area. So, you can chat with your guests as you whip up your favourite recipe in front of them, rather than being left out of the conversation. 

Planning a new kitchen

Planning a new kitchen is an intricate process and one that must be carefully considered. It is not just a question of placing units around walls. I know, we just redid ours at home, and placing cabinets in an old space, needs thinking and planning to have a good finished product. The functionality and flow needed in this particular room, and the pleasure that can be derived from a new kitchen that meets your needs and expectations, is all important. So whether it is placing appliances in strategic locations, or using extensive worktops, sink and tap choices — attention to detail is key. At best, keep the table tops clutter free, with plug points in fixed areas, to use your microwave or electric kettle with. Fixed designated plug points ensure the appliance is not moved around and can add to the shelf life of the appliance.

Ensure that seating and eating areas, and latest storage solutions are incorporated into your design to make your kitchen as efficient as possible. There are delightful seating options available today to seat the kids, while they eat breakfast under your eagle eye and you can organise their lunch boxes! Storage options are great with swing out shelves which can hold anything from your spices, to your cutlery. Garbage bins too are effectively hidden away from the eye on swing out hinges, behind cupboard doors.

Heart of the home

The modern-day kitchen is much more than just a place to store food and cook meals. Instead, it has evolved to become an important living space in its own right. The kitchens’ of today are meeting places for friends and family, and this is the room, above all others, that brings people together. It is a room for conversation, for laughter, for eating and entertaining. It’s where secrets are told, problems discussed and the wrongs of the world righted. 

Put simply, the kitchen is the heart of the home.