‘Heart is where the hearth lies’, thus goes the age old adage. A must have for every household, the good old kitchen has now transformed into a fancy space brimming with smart solutions and trendy designs. No more labeled as a simple smoke-filled space I a fusion of functionality and style and comes packed with fancy fittings and stylish appliances to become a connoisseur’s delight.Going beyond just cooking, the new-age kitchen is smart, trendy and occupies a place where utility supersedes every other aspect of design. In the most urban households, making optimum use of the available space in kitchen is the key challenge. Contemporary kitchen with its good looking features, handy storage space and enough room is a multi-purpose space with something to interest each member of the family. However, certain things need to be kept in mind while deciding the preliminary design of the kitchen:The various functions of kitchen such as housing utility spaces, a breakfast nook, small dining table, and desk space should be decided much in advance to avoid last-minute confusion. The effort should focus on having as much storage space as possible. Enough provision should be made for adequate light, both natural and artificial as lack of it will only make the kitchen look gloomy and drab. Various kitchen appliances as well as their sizes should also be selected in advance so that these can be incorporated while designing the kitchen surfaces and counters.

 

The work triangle

 Being the most important aspect of designing, each kitchen configuration should incorporate the triangle rule to provide easy access within the work space. The three points of the work triangle include the sink, the cooking stove/hob and the refrigerator. Known as high traffic areas in the culinary space, the distance between each of them should not be more than 3 meters so that it easy to move from one station to another. Depending on the layout of the kitchen, the three points may lie on two or three different walls and in case of a small and narrow space these can be placed in a single wall.

With the onset of modular kitchen in the Indian culinary space both accessibility and cooking have entered a new dimension. Based on practicality, modular kitchen is a fully furnished space fitted with built-in sink, chimney, cabinets, hobs, shutters, shelves, pull-out units, refrigerators, dishwasher and ovens. Add fancy lights and fixtures and you have a kitchen that easily becomes a style statement for the proud homeowner.

However carpenter-made kitchen counters and cabinets still remain popular and increasingly becoming functional, comfortable and appealing to suit the taste of modern lifestyle. Nitin aggarwal, managing director, prayag polymers, a manufacturer of kitchen and bath rooms accessories, says, “modern kitchens strike a symphony between functionality, aesthetics and comfort. An array of smart and stylish appliances available in the market coupled with innovation design ideas makes it a complete multifunctional unit. Whether modular, contemporary or transitional in design, modern-day kitchen is the crowning glory of a home and can be customized to the homeowner’s taste with the vast choice of materials and accessories available in the market.” While choosing accessories nitin advises to go for a classic white or stainless steel that matches any décor and remains unchallenged in design and style over the years.

 

Maximizing space

 Gone are the days when a random assortment of appliances and utensils were “scattered” in the kitchen. The new-age kitchens with handy storage space for food and utensils, sufficient space for accessories and appliances complete the modern look. While designing one needs to ensure that there is enough storage space for the house hold  items that can’t be stored anywhere else in the house. Using devices such as roll out shelves, lazy susans, D-trays helps maximize the available space. Overhead storage units extending till the roof, deeper counters and transparent glass shutters not only increase the storage space but also help create an illusion of more space and lends a seamless flow to the kitchen.

Thanks to the development of modern concepts that draw on the best the field has to offer, companies other than design firms are also increasingly innovating solutions to promote clutter-free culinary space. Keeping in mind the tasteful household needs usha shriram enterprise’s latest offering of airtight containers BOPKIPS has been specially designed to provide functionality and optimum stackability in the modern kitchen. “understanding the evolving taste of Indian customers, we have ensured that the products enhance the visual appeal and showcase the best possible presentation on shelves and counters in the kitchen,” says, satnam sandhu, senior vice-president, usha shriram.

 

Kitchens and beyond

 The new age kitchen goes beyond cooking and occupies place where one can indulge in culinary pleasures, entertain guests, serve food and enjoy it all at the same time. A number of new home owners are going in for an open kitchen layout as the absence of any partition walls helps open up the room and provides more useable space.

However, as the system doesn’t succeed much in the Indian set up, one should opt for an adjacent, small enclosed kitchen, which is just used for cooking. This also gives the benefit of being able to air-condition the kitchen area. The kitchen island or a portion of kitchen counter may be designed to double up as a dining space which can become a space for the whole family to spend time together.

Kitchen has always been a favorable staple of our culture and will continue to rule the Indian household, just that it has got a swish makeover!