Kitchen Design (part I)

Kitchens have undergone a radical change in India, from the time they were tucked away at the back of the house, to the days when they became sacred havens right until the present day when open kitchens are becoming a popular trend. This paradigm shift is primarily due to the social and economic changes in Indian society. Kitchens are now being looked at with pride and are an equally important part of a house where the family can socialise and entertain. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]Contemporary kitchen designs are a combination of functionality, style and colour. With an increase in household members as opposed to just domestic staff engaging this area during parties and entertainment, an open plan kitchen seems to be increasingly attractive as it allows for uninterrupted communication. Hardware suppliers who used to provide channels, trays and trolleys for kitchens have started providing entire kitchen solutions including finishes and design options. Modular kitchens have become a popular choice as they provide sleek alternatives with a wide variety of designs and material options, all in a very short time. Moreover, modular kitchens provide a wide range of hardware options to choose from and kitchens can be installed at home with minimum disruption and mess. A trendy alternative to granite being used for counter tops is quartz, as it comes in a large variety of colours with almost the same properties as granite. The use of back-painted glass for dado gives your kitchen a seamless and clean look. Kitchen cabinet finishes are also plenty – from laminates, to back-painted glass and acrylic – you can have them in any colour or finish that you want. The latest addition to this is the use of natural veneer, which gives your kitchen the same sophistication as the rest of your house. Kitchen sinks are now available in a variety of finishes instead of the traditional stainless steel basins. You can have transparent fibre sinks or powder-coated sinks in rich colours with co-ordinated tap/faucet fittings. As for storage, a large number of people are opting for built-in appliances which are visually integrated to give your kitchen a clean and uncluttered look.

Indian companies have been improvising on kitchen designs and manufacturing for over a decade now. Kitchens can be tailored to suit individual requirements of size, functionality, design and budget. Indian companies are now used to working within specifications given to them and a few have taken a step towards developing new products and designs too. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]