JOIN USIf there is one place in a home where you would spend the most time working, it has to be your kitchen. But have you given a thought to how your kitchens can be as fashionable as the other parts of your home? Well, chances are you haven’t. Here is something to redeem yourself and your kitchen. Fashion in modular kitchens comes from the fact that our lifestyle has changed in terms of cooking as well as the living experience. In recent times, kitchens are being considered as the heart of a home and a gathering place for family and friends. So, just like any other room in the house, the space should reflect one’s personal style.
Vishal Raman, head — sales (kitchen systems), Franke Faber India Private
Limited, says, “Kitchen interiors have evolved over the decades internationally. These trends are catching up in developing countries like India. Unlike a functional part of house in the past, kitchens are now becoming a style statement led by innovative materials.”
“Kitchens are evolving into the hub of every home, into a treasured space, where the whole family enjoys and also uses the space for dishing out meals. Today, fashionable kitchens are the utmost requirement for a well laid-out home,” says Kunal Rishi, vice-president, corporate and projects, Paras Buildtech.
A fashionable kitchen is also one that utilises high-quality raw materials to
deliver a lifetime assurance of ease of use and versatility. “Smart and simple use of space can make any modern kitchen look fashionable and rate high on performance. Use of innovative solutions such as ergo boxes with customised features, corner solutions, multi-use baskets, swing trays, swanky and agile soft pro-lift-up solutions, anti-slip fixtures etc add tremendous value to the performance of a modular kitchen and make it more efficient,” avers Shyam Motwani, executive vice-president and business head of Godrej Locking Solutions and Systems.
Modular musings
One of the popular choices today is a modular kitchen. They suit the needs of today’s working men and women and function well even in small spaces. Seema Khosla, modular kitchen expert and owner of Ideas Kitchen n Interiors, says, “Fashionable kitchens can easily integrate into a compact home. Also, it is necessary to opt for compact and well-organised spaces. Design kitchens in an easy to work manner with modular furniture, cabinets, drawers, pull-out trays, storage system and the like.”
“We have seen that kitchens nowadays can be completely concealed to become a living or dining space, specially in homes where space is a constraint. Finishes have changed from traditional laminate, granite and wood to glass, stone veneer, rock and stainless steel,” says Gayatri Ruia, director, The Phoenix Mills Ltd.
When talking about kitchen trends, efficiency is all the rage today. Kitchen islands are becoming more than just a serving station; they are acting as a dining space, a decor furnishing element and a gathering area for families. “This type of kitchen reflects the social side of your personality. A kitchen can be transformed from a culinary base to a display case with the addition of a unique kitchen island. You can consider incorporating glass or mirror doors on island storage units, or refurbish an old boring table into an island by adding shelving units for storage. Smart islands not only create a space-saving
solution, but also helps in sharing ambience with the living area,” says SumitDutta, business head (Nesta), Century Plyboards Ltd.
More than just a space for cooking and eating, the kitchen is the centre point where all the action takes place. Whether you are renovating, redecorating, or simply updating the kitchen space, you should always consider your lifestyle before making any changes. Seamlessness should be given high importance. “To ensure that the kitchens integrate with the rest of the home, opt for built-in kitchen appliances. The seamless design
of the appliances would give a uniform look to the kitchen. Also, with built-in
appliances being fitted into cabinets, the panels can be matched with the ones used in other rooms,” explains Gunjan Srivatsva, MD & CEO, BSH Household Appliances Manufacturing Pvt Ltd.
The finer aspects
“A kitchen needs to be warm and inviting, and although grey kitchens are in
fashion, it’s important to use other warm colours such as yellow, red or orange to
accomplish that warm feeling. These colours can help a kitchen stand out, especially when using warm colours for tables, chairs and kitchen accessories. Even the mixer grinders have evolved to become a part of our day-to-day lives. The right colour combination can change the look entirely,” adds V Ramachandran, director, marketing & strategy, V-Guard
Industries Ltd.
Furniture-style cabinetry and open shelving system are also very much in trend. Opt for kitchen-themed decor with accessories that feel more natural. “Beautiful dishes, serving pieces, baskets, or even a nice cookbook can all make for beautiful displays in a kitchen. If there is a window, give it a simple treatment for that finished look. No need to go for something expensive as even a simple potted plant is a great way to bring in some texture and colour,” opines a spokesperson from Carysil.
A well-equipped kitchen is definitely the right way to make a kitchen fashionable. “Design plays the most important role in kitchen fashion. It has to be unique, top of the line, in sync with the home’s interiors, spacious and space-optimised. Besides these, your kitchen can also get fashionable with the latest gadgets. Right use of technological features can make the kitchen look really fashionable,” says Khanindra Burman, CEO, Wurfel.
Jogy Abraham, deputy general mana-ger, Godrej Interio, Godrej & Boyce, agrees, “Warm metal kitchen fixtures such as brass or copper dish washing taps can be fixed above a white sink to give out a welcoming vibe. Smart technology in the kitchen such as smartphones, tablet holders and brackets for laptops transform the look of a boring kitchen to a modern and stylish one, besides bringing about a drastic improvement in a person’s lifestyle.”
Technology has been on the rise and Internet of Things (iOT) is going to impact our kitchens in a big way, predicts Ravi Saxena, MD, Wonderchef. “In the next three to five years, from mobile-controlled hobs and induction stoves to web-based systems, feedback-giving fry pans and woks, everything is going to make the kitchen a super smart place to work in,” he says. Is your kitchen ready for the future?