ESSENTIALLY designed to be a cooking space, kitchens are increasingly transforming into the new hub of our homes. Blame it on our increasingly informal lifestyles for making kitchens a part of our larger living space that also doubles up as a dining area. Modern kitchens have fundamentally become high tech-laboratories, endowed with state of the art architectural framework and well-placed appliances, designed to optimize space and functionality. And kitchen manufacturers and interior designers are responding to the increasing demands for avant-garde kitchens. “Modular kitchens or modern kitchens are much sought-after these days. The biggest advantage of having a modular kitchen is, when you decide to shift your residence you can uninstall your kitchen and reinstall at your new home. Secondly, a modular kitchen comes with all technical specifications like termite resistance, water resistance, fire resistance, etc.,” said Tariq Ali Khan, senior marketing manager of an Italian kitchen manufacturing company. He said contemporary kitchens with a glossy finish are in. “A modular kitchen presents you with an option of having all electrical appliances built in, making cooking very easy. As all these are in built, you have ample space for all family members to spend time in the kitchen. It also gives a grand and elegant look to the kitchen,” Khan said. Khan said that these days more people are opting to have an open kitchen facing towards the dining area, a breakfast counter or island unit within the kitchen, so that the family members spend more time with each other. Rania Kaddoura Chaaban, an interior designer, described what she called ‘an ideal kitchen.' “Fresh and bright colors adorning the kitchen walls, tiles, cabinets, napkins, table cloth, and a big window is vital from where I can see the sun, the trees and feel nice. It relaxes me every time I enter the kitchen and I always love to work and cook in the kitchen,” she said. Rania said a large, clean and organized kitchen plays a very important role in the overall well-being of the family and encourages interaction between family members. Lighting plays an important role in modern kitchens since you need it for cooking, chopping and other handiwork. “During the daytime, the sunlight sets the perfect ambience for cooking and you can go without lights. You can have two lights in the kitchen – yellow and white. In the evenings, the white light gives a similar effect to that of the sunlight, so I like to switch that one on once the sun sets in,” Rania said. The number of lights can be increased to illuminate the area while working and dimmed while socializing over dinner. “I also love to have candles in my kitchen; it sets the mood and saves me from the not-so-desirable smell of onions while I chop them,” Rania quipped. Kitchen appliances like cutlery, cooking pots and other utensils have also undergone a shift from traditional to modern, and there are varieties to suit all pockets. “Traditional silver utensils are no more appealing, with Teflon pots being more affordable and durable,” Rania said. She said stores like IKEA, Home Center, SACO, Danube, etc. have contemporary collections of well-designed kitchens and kitchenware. IKEA has extensive built-in kitchens, interior fittings and door styles to choose from, the prices of which vary from SR4000 to SR12000. Al-Aqsa kitchens in Jeddah retails Italian-made kitchens. “Kitchen sets consist of kitchen cabinets, a counter, washbasin, shelves, etc., and are made of aluminium on the inside, and wood on the outside. They are priced at approx. SR1200 per meter, and SR900 for those made of only aluminium,” said Ahmed, salesman at the Sari Street branch of Al-Aqsa kitchens. Home Centre serves up a variety of tableware and kitchenware that not only whets the appetite, but also the imagination. “We have a huge collection of items made of bone china, glass, metal and wood comprising dinner sets, breakfast sets, cookware sets and cutlery sets. We also sell individual items like plates, bowls, teapots, kitchen containers, mugs, spoons, ladles, turners, mashers and the list is endless,” said a marketing official at the store. All items at the Home Center are imported from Italy, UK, Thailand, China, India, Cyprus and Belgium. Dinner and breakfast sets are available in a price range starting at SR199 up to SR1259. Their cutlery sets are priced between SR99 to SR359. The ‘table linen' section stocks table covers, placemats, hand gloves, kitchen towels, aprons and table runners, which can be bought individually or as a whole collection and cost between SR5 to SR299. But a modern kitchen is not just about the latest appliances and most elegant accompaniments. It is more about how they are brought together and incorporated in the cosmetic styling of the kitchen. Efficient and functional use of space should also reflect the changing uses of a kitchen. “Appliances like the oven, microwave, coffee maker, etc. can be arranged in columns or tall units, and at a height so that it is easier to operate them. Dishwashers should be placed next to the sink unit, which should have a PVC base. The mixer, grinder, toaster, and the sandwich maker should be placed in a unit which has a rolling shutter. Utensils should be placed in pullouts / baskets for maximum functionality,” suggested Khan. Rania added that various kitchen items should be kept near the places you use them the most. “For instance, having pots, pans and spices near the stove, keeping glasses and plates above or next to the sink and dishwasher, and storing groceries close to bench space, really helps. Pan and pots are best kept in cabinets while drawers are more suited for spoons and forks,” she said. “A perfect kitchen,” Khan said, was one with “in-built appliances, a breakfast counter, space for cutting and chopping, practical design with accessories, and cutting-edge technical specifications.” But a very important question is do better designed and equipped kitchens result in better food? “No way! I get to eat delicious and healthy food as my wife is a great cook. The kind of food she cooks is not because we have a state of the art kitchen. She can probably cook the same kind of food even in a less favorable place,” said Khan.
