Kitchen culture

May 2006

Thanks to the rise in popularity of kitchen culture, the room which was once more often than not associated with slaving over a hot stove, is now at the heart of the home.

The rise of kitchen design over recent years has seen an influx of products which we can furnish them with. Cookers and fridges are no longer simply appliances, they are another way of expressing not only your own but also your homes personality. And whether that's a fridge with a built in TV and ice dispenser or one inspired by 50's America, the choice is huge.

Cooking is now an aspirational lifestyle choice. Where once, because of hectic working lives, we would choose to pop to the local supermarket to pick up pre-chopped, pre-prepared and pre-cooked meals we now find solace in cooking. We are constantly bombarded with TV chefs showing us how easy it is, we are now prepared to go home and prove we are just as good in the kitchen as our mums once were... only with a dash more balsamic vinegar!

Whether you're preparing a family meal or dinner party for friends you'll never find yourself alone - it's no exaggeration to say the kitchen is a hub of activity and life. So you'll want it to look your best won't you?

A neutral colour palette is usually best for kitchens, letting light into any home working area is a must. And spot lighting is also fantastic for this area as you can angle it to suit your cooking plans. You can't really prepare a culinary delight in a dull room.

And it's not just the food that counts, it's what you prepare those culinary delights with. Every chef knows the key to preparation is a good set of knives that will cut through the toughest vegetables with ease. The Analon knife blockset should cover all your needs for slicing and dicing. And for the cutting you should invest in several chopping boards for different food types.

For the cooking process a quality set of pans should never let you down and the variety of styles that are around means that you don't have to hide them away at the back of cupboards. A good way to display your pans is by hanging them from a wooden clothes airer and the cool, Circulon2 range will look perfect in any setting.

And any smart kitchen deserves a smart bin in which to throwaway all of your preparation debris. They are now as designer led as appliances are, and a touch top Brabantia design will make you wonder how you managed with your swing lid plastic bin for so long!

For the meal itself you'll need a good range of china on which to display your wares. But again, like so many kitchen products, they shouldn't be stored away when not in use. Many kitchen cupboards now have either glass or chicken wire mesh built into the doors so you can show off your crockery. Also, many open plan kitchens don't give you an option to hide things away so you really need to make sure your china is as fine as the meals you serve up on them.

Bon appetite!

Date published: May 2006. Please ask in store for the latest prices and details.

Back to top