JOIN USThe modern-day kitchen has moved miles away from basic features like granite, marble and wood. Jidesh Haridas discusses some simple tips and tricks from the latest trends that will give your kitchen the new-age look.
Kitchens are no longer seen as just a room under the standard definition of the ‘two/three/four BHK’ concept that is so generic to the Indian real estate parlance. They are increasingly turning out to be more functional and beautiful, so much so that they could be any room of the house.
Designers are integrating a seamless look by extending artwork and eclectic lights in the kitchen area in order to blend in with the furniture and decor of the house. Gone are the days when the kitchen is something you wouldn’t want your guests to see because of lack of order or grease stains. Today, it is about flaunting a well-designed space where modern families cook, entertain and spend most of their waking hours in. Here are some trends that re-define the very purpose of a kitchen.
Kitchens are fast transforming into family rooms. More and more households today are merging the dining and living areas into a unified space to entertain guests. Kitchen counters and islands are increasingly becoming dining areas. And by removing the walls between the dining and living area, builders are able to expand the kitchen, creating an open feel and providing a better layout and traffic flow into the kitchen, thus allowing people to comfortably congregate and get the conversation flowing.
Clever usage of space
Space is a challenge, especially with spiralling real estate costs and smaller apartment spaces. Sometimes, the kitchen takes a back-seat at the design stage when it comes to most apartment floor plans. A completely boxed-up kitchen can make the space look even smaller.
A lot of customers are therefore opting for open shelves, hooks and hangers for cutlery and towels and simple ways to hang the appliances tastefully or have them mounted on walls. This gives the illusion of a larger area and with tasteful and carefully chosen materials, it could create a perfect blend with the rest of the rooms.
Automation beckons
The kitchen of the future is in vogue. From sensor-activated lights that illuminate the kitchen only when it’s in use to meat thermometers that alert the smartphone when dinner is done, kitchen technology is being used to make everyday life easier. A great introductory product is a hands-free faucet, perfect for homes with small children who can’t yet reach the handle or any kitchen where busy cooks often have sticky hands.
Most sought-after designs
Modular kitchens are a big trend in India at present. Factors such as increasing spending power of families, modern aesthetic sensibilities, and a rise in the number of working women has led to the popularity of modular kitchens, which offer a clutter-free, clean, and modern space for people to work in.
Tech-savvy Indian customers are opting for new functionality in kitchens for better organisation and maximising kitchen storage. With many such remarkable changes in design, kitchens are undoubtedly the heart of today’s homes and a modern-day kitchen has moved miles away from basic features like granite, marble, wood, shelves, fixtures, appliances and stained glass.
It is this interesting blend of materials, smart storage, use of technology, use of colours and investment into the planning stage using expert guidance which makes a kitchen turn out the best.
Even if you are not looking for complete re-modelling or renovation, adopting a few easy-to-implement tips and tricks from the latest trends will bring your kitchen into the much sought-after new-age category. The mantra is classy and comfortable. Ultimately, it is about the ‘living’ experience that truly defines a home and lends it a character.
(The author is marketing head, Capricoast.com)