HOMES EXTRA
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DELICIOUS
he evolution of the kitchen is a juicy story. From cooking over the open fire in the Middle Ages and huddling in for warmth, food, light and safety to the trend for the kitchen being separated and shunned as a space to entertain (which lasted right up until the 1950s/1960s), to today’s kitchen which is now the hardest working room in the home and is often pride of place for entertaining. Today’s kitchen is a multifunctional space that includes a kitchen, dining room, comfortable living area and increasingly, a workspace too. As we are spending more time at home than ever before, we expect our kitchens to perform to our every need. On the dream kitchen wish list you will likely find an island, a breakfast bar (perhaps to be integrated into your island), modern pantry, nifty concealed appliances and storage solutions, a dining area, a cosy, soft furnished area and maybe even a
Thinking of remodelling the kitchen this summer? Read on for some tasty on-trend design and style tips from Sara Whatley wood burner or workspace other than the dining table. And of course, it must look absolutely stunning too! Probably the most desirable design for this room of the house is openplan living and for those with gardens, an extension of the space out into the garden for
that glorious Mediterranean vibe. Or if you desire a little more seclusion from your cooking and dining areas you could opt for the brokenplan design, where you use a well-placed shelf unit or raised breakfast bar to create separation instead of a fullon wall.
When thinking about the design of your kitchen there are numerous styles available from sleek, modern and minimal to rustic country farmhouse and everything in between. It’s always a good idea to think about the general feel and style of the rest of your home and to keep the kitchen in step with that. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t make a bold statement with your kitchen to ensure it’s the true humming heart of your home. I believe functionality should be the buzzword of any kitchen, for even if it looks amazing, if it doesn’t function sufficiently it’s just not worth it. Luckily this is not a problem with all the nifty storage solutions and ergonomic designs available today. Contemporary kitchens are keeping up with all the latest tech and gadgetry trends to make them function at an all time high, but that doesn’t mean we want to look at them all the time, and now we don’t have to. Concealed appliances are de rigueur August 2021 | SUSSEX LIVING 41
