NOT JUST A SPACE FOR COOKING
The focal point of the home, kitchens are evolving into social gathering points
If the different areas in our homes were ascribed personalities, surely the kitchen would be the most popular of them all. Often described by interior designers as the “hub” of the home, the kitchen often reflects what’s happening in modern culture, be it the way we’ve embraced smart technology or what we’re loving in terms of colour and design.
For a quick look at what’s happening in kitchen design, The Sun caught up with kitchen specialists from Wayfair.ca, Home Depot, and Montreal chef and television personality Chuck Hughes, who recently teamed up with LG Canada on a campaign to reduce food waste.
“I think the statistics show that Canadians are one of the nations that waste the most food,” Hughes says. “And in restaurants, the way we operate, I own two restaurants (and) you try and get as much mileage as you can out of your food, and food waste is really not an option.”
Hughes says good kitchen design, coupled with some basic tools like a good knife and a chopping board “that doesn’t move around”, are a good place to start. Then it’s about the appliances.
“Obviously, appliances make a huge difference,” Hughes says. “It’s fun to be comfortable and work with the appliances you like.”
Shopping with a plan and using everything in your fridge is key to reducing waste, Hughes says, noting that appliances like LG’s InstaView fridge — it has a seethrough front panel so people can see what they have in their fridges and avoid “hiding stuff behind stuff ” — can help cooks spot things before they go bad.
Kitchens used to be designed strictly for the function of cooking meals, says Brad MacDonald, Canadian kitchen show room designer for Home Depot, but have evolved into spaces for gathering and entertainment.
“What this means is that kitchens are being designed with zones of activity in mind,” he says. “Instead of the traditional role of one person cooking for everyone, these roles have become more collaborative, which influences the overall design.
“You will see more and more that homeowners (are) opting to integrate their appliances into kitchen islands and peninsulas to create these secondary work zones. This approach keeps the family physically all in the heart of the home, but gives the freedom of space to work in.”
Two of the biggest trends we’re seeing in kitchen appliances, says Cameron Skilling, senior merchant for appliances for Home Depot, is increased connectivity and new finishes.
“Our customers are engaging with smart-home and voice-activated technology more and more in all aspects of their homes, and that is propelling capabilities within our appliance assortments as well,” he says. “When it comes to finishes — where stainless steel dominated the appliance space for 25, 30 years, customers are now looking for more variety than ever before.”
Erin Davis Judkins, an interior designer at Wayfair.ca, says there has definitely been a move away from commercial-grade oven ranges toward more “classic residential-style ranges, with people embracing the concept of “more is more.”
“Homeowners are wanting bonus appliances in their homes such as extra ovens, espresso machines and wine fridges; however, they also want them hidden for a streamlined look,” she says.
“We’re seeing more panelled appliances, and appliances in varying colours to blend with the rest of the space. Even white appliances are coming back into style because they blend well with the never-out-of-style white cabinets.”
More people are also opting for colour and retro appliances, Davis says, making them the focal point of the room, adding people often overlook drawers in kitchen design.
“Drawers are so important in the kitchen,” she says. “Drawers aren’t just for utensils and kitchen towels; larger drawers are perfect for dishes and small kitchen appliances. They make better use of deep cabinets, where items would otherwise be inaccessible.”
The other key ingredient in kitchen design is lighting, Davis says.
“Lighting is so important in a kitchen,” she says. “The kitchen is one of the most popular rooms in a home, so you want your lighting to be pleasant for gatherings with friends and family, but also bright so that you can complete kitchen tasks. Layer the lighting and include dimmer switches where you can. Soft white light is a great solution.”