CORNUCOPIA
Making a kitchen conform to Thai tastes requires an understanding of what tasks are at hand
The kitchen is the most important room in the home — especially in Thai houses — so make sure they are designed and equipped for the purpose.
The most important areas in any household are the kitchen and dining area. This is why they should be designed by the people using them as they know exactly what they need. Modern-day Bangkok grows vertically, meaning many residents live in high-rise buildings. Some of the tallest ones can be found along the skytrain routes. These residences tend to have lots of units available, but you will pay big prices for relatively small rooms.
In one unit, you’ll get a bedroom, a bathroom, a living room that can squeeze in a sofa, and a balcony. But not many people have time to pause and cherish the view from their balcony. Moreover, little space is available for cooking. You have a narrow countertop and a power socket to plug in two appliances. Then you have a kitchen sink and perhaps a small cupboard, a refrigerator and a dining table for two people.
Condominium kitchens are suited mainly for heating store-bought food in your microwave, and making coffee or instant noodles. Gas stoves are strictly forbidden, alongside built-in electric stoves as they require large amounts of power.
The way most condos are designed don’t encourage cooking — they only seek to minimise fire accidents.
In the suburbs, you can find more types of residential buildings — hong taew (row houses), townhouses and individual houses with varying prices and sizes. Kitchens in these buildings usually come with a drainage system and power sockets. Residents only have to decide where to put the fridge, sink, cupboard and so on.
Individual houses are expensive and usually come with a kitchen. They likely include two countertops — one for doing prep work and another for a gas stove and sink.
A good kitchen needs an exhaust hood, a good electrical and lighting system, and some space for a large fridge.
Some modern kitchens, called krua farang, or western-style kitchens, are good for basic cooking, but not always the specific tasks required for preparing Thai and Chinese cuisine.
Kitchens are built differently based on setting and cuisine, with Thai kitchens being no exception. Kitchens in most of Thailand reflect the broad range of tasks undertaken in Thai cooking, such as stir-frying, deep-frying, boiling and simmering. The smell and smoke can get very intense.
Let’s say you’re making a stir-fried dish with strong-smelling ingredients like curry paste or shrimp paste. Without the right kitchen layout, the smell can easily seep into your bedroom. Oil stains can get everywhere. That’s why many have found it more convenient to place Thai kitchens outside the house.
Designing a kitchen that suits your tastes is no easy task. You have to decide how large the kitchen will be and what type of tasks you intend to complete.
The best way to go about it would be to consult an architect or craftsman who can show you how to custom-design your kitchen according to your needs.
To start with, air circulation and lighting are two key points to keep in mind. Air flows helps get rid of lingering odours, while lighting offers safety and an overall tidy look to the space.
Thai kitchens are best when they are built facing the West as they can receive the fullest exposure to sunlight. The positioning is also good for air circulation as the wind blows from the south to the north during the summer, and from north to south in the winter.
For smaller households, such as townhouse buildings, constructing anything new must be done with consideration of the effects it will have on neighbours. If your new kitchen is angled in such a way that it issues smoke and smells towards nearby houses, or if it rainwater from the roof drains into your neighbours’ property, you can be fined.
After determining the location and layout of your new Thai kitchen, it’s time to think about interior design. It’s nice to have a kitchen attic, with a wooden structure that makes it look sheltered and safe. You also need to think about when the cooking gas home delivery man comes, or when you want to take the garbage out — that should be doable without having to step foot in the rest of the house.
The countertop should be for preparation and the gas stove, as well as washing and drying the dishes. It should also be noted that cement countertops are best.
Keep in mind that the counter must be strong enough to handle activities like pounding ingredients in a mortar or chopping. It should also be easy to clean.
The storage area should also be spacious, with easy-to-reach shelves for go-to ingredients like soy sauce, fish sauce, shrimp paste, sugar and vegetable oil.
You’ll also need a cupboard for storing less-used items.
It would be wise to have a rack to hang pots, pans and cutting board as a way to keep things organised and clean.
In some Thai kitchens, you can find space for storing cleaning tools and a washing machine. The floor should be made of antislip material in case it gets wet.
These are main guidelines of designing a Thai kitchen. The kitchen is an essential room for any household. That’s why it’s best to design it yourself.