Time to go modular

A kitchen is the most important part of a home for it is here that all meals are prepared, where often family members enjoy their meals and gather for a conversation. No wonder then that a lot of time and thought is devoted in planning a kitchen layout and choosing its design. In fact, there are designers especially devoted to designing kitchen spaces. The importance of a good kitchen design cannot be ignored.

The range and variety that a modular kitchen offers cannot be found in traditional, conventional kitchens.

Modular kitchens are classy, provide a lot of storage space and are easy to clean and maintain. Though expensive at the time of installation, in the long run, it is more value for money as the maintenance cost is less if the workmanship and quality is better. Modular kitchens from reputed brands last very long, without too many niggles. They are easy to clean, scratch proof and wear-resistant. In traditional kitchens, lot of storage space is wasted, a luxury we can ill-afford in today’s time when most of us have to work on very limited space.

A modular kitchen is made of various modules which are easy to use and ship. And in case of any damage to any part, only the damaged unit has to be repaired or replaced. Usually kitchen cabinets are made of high density fibre board and stainless steel racks.

They are easy to install and dismantling is uncomplicated too.

For those moving from house to house, modular kitchen adds convenience as the entire kitchen cabinet can be shifted with ease and re-installed. Additions can also be made at a later stage to modular kitchens.

Extra stainless steel racks for holding plates, cleaners, or a rod with hooks can all be added at a later stage. It is also easy to carry out minor alterations to the fittings to suit your needs.

In India, modular kitchens are available in a ready-to-install pre-fabricated format to fit easily.

It does not matter if your kitchen is small or large, modular kitchen interiors can be applied to every size matching your style and requirement. One can select from a variety of kitchen appliances and fittings depending on the budget. Common modules included in the modular kitchen are chimney, shutters, sink, pullout units and baskets. Electric appliances like mixer grinders, toasters, grills, etc have specific space and can be beautifully hidden from view if one so wants. There is an appliance for everything and modular kitchen has all these accessories. 

Colours & layout options

There is a plethora of colours and patterns available in the market today. Colour combinations in a modular kitchen are available in white, red, and blue, yellow to metallic hues of gold, silver and pearl. You name it and they have it! The varied colour combinations and various patterns of a modular kitchen make it extremely stylish and appealing. Furniture including tables and chairs can also be added if your kitchen is spacious enough to hold it.

It also gives many layout options to choose from, depending on personal requirement and space available. They include L-shaped, U-shaped, parallel kitchens and single-walled kitchens. There are innumerable choices available for shelves and countertops, from marble, granite, laminate, acrylic, veneer and stainless steel to aluminium. If you do not want to spend too much on an interior decorator and reputed brands which can be expensive, you can choose a design or feature and work with a local carpenter to do your kitchen. The cost here will be less but it means hands-on supervision which consumes a lot of time and effort.

The finish may not be perfect, thus the end result may not be what one sets out to achieve.

This process may take days to install whereas a readymade modular concept takes only few hours to install.

Seema Sharma, from Visage India based in Delhi says, “There is a huge range of finishes and designs available for floors, doors, wall units, etc. Placement of these elements is very important, depending on the family’s habits and requirements.  Each brand has a variety of features for customers. Some unique features of modular kitchens available with Visage are up and down tables which can be flushed with a countertop for cutting and chopping or can be used as an island table next to kitchen stools for eating, just at the push of a button.

Warming tops and cooling tops can also be integrated on counter surfaces. Use of tall units and carousals that rotate 360 degrees give optimum storage space. Adds Sharma, “Modular kitchens can be customised to suit each customer’s taste and requirement.

Depending on various factors like budget, space, availability, choice of finishes, choice of appliances etc, our design team works with each client to build a kitchen that meets the family’s requirement.

A lot of thought goes into making the best out of the space available. One can further personalise a kitchen by adding accessories like roll holders, jar holders, kitchen book stands, knife holders, utility item inserts, even a black board and miniature greenhouse. A kitchen as a work place can be aesthetically appealing and creatively satisfying too.”

Price factor

The cost of modular kitchen depends entirely on size, choice of components and finishes. There are many players in the market for modular kitchens now such as Godrej, TTK prestige, Visage India etc. The starting cost of such a kitchen could be Rs 75,000 and can go up to Rs 50 lakh. It all depends on what one wants.

Modular kitchens are now indispensable in our homes.

They are a great boon, especially when there is a dearth of space. They offer a range of innovative storage options utilising the limited space available in the kitchen to its fullest.

Modular kitchens add class, convenience and style to the cooking space.

RECIPE FOR A GOOD KITCHEN        

* Modular kitchens are classy, provide a lot of storage space and are easy to clean and maintain.

* For those often on the move, modular kitchen adds convenience as the entire kitchen cabinet can be shifted with ease and re-installed.

* Additions can also be made at a later stage to modular kitchens.

* Extra stainless steel racks for holding plates, cleaners, or a rod with hooks can all be added at a later stage. It is also easy to carry out minor alterations to the fittings to suit your needs.

* One can select from a variety of kitchen appliances and fittings depending on the budget. Common modules included in a modular kitchen are chimney, shutters, sink, pullout units and baskets.

* Electric appliances like mixer grinders, toasters, grills, etc have specific space and can be beautifully hidden from view if one so wants.

* There are many colours and patterns available in the market today. Colour combinations in a modular kitchen are available in white, red, and blue, yellow to metallic hues of gold, silver and pearl.

* It also gives many layout options to choose from, depending on personal requirement and space available. They include L-shaped, U-shaped, parallel kitchens and single-walled kitchens.

* The cost of modular kitchen depends entirely on size, choice of components and finishes.

* There are many players in the market for modular kitchens such as Godrej, TTK prestige, Visage India, etc. The starting cost could be Rs 75,000. and can go up to
Rs 50 lakh.