The scene is a plush living area, flanked by a breakfast table and a line of exquisite cabinets capturing the eye in their astounding symmetry and finish. It is dinner time and the activity moves from the living area to this breakfast table island and then to the arresting line of cabinets. A couple of hand flicks and the hitherto seemingly cabinets transform into a stunning hi-tech kitchen with all the gadgets in place.
Welcome to the new-age kitchens which appear literally invisible when not in use, concealed craftily behind captivating shutters that serve as charming decorative elements in a seamless living space.
Kitchens are no more cramped, tucked-away spaces filled with grime and overflowing dishes. They are now the pride of a home, featuring as they do, as part of a seamless living and dining space.
With the attitude towards cooking taking a radical shift where the woman of the household is not the sole person involved, the activity now covering the entire family, be it in the actual process of cooking or serving as the vibrant space where all family interactions take place, the new-age kitchen is one that is diametrically opposite of what prevailed earlier.
Addressing the needs Not surprisingly, the kitchens flooding the market address this issue, sensitive as they are to emerging trends and requirements.
Thus, the kitchen now is luxurious in style, finish as well as concept, with efforts made to keep most utilities concealed when not in use, revealing merely finely crafted cabinets.
Kitchens now not only have aesthetically-tucked-away shelves, they also feature pull-out drawers that house everything from cutlery and china to heavy items weighing to the tune of 80 kg.
Even the oven, blender, and refrigerator are all cleverly tucked inside.
Hideout
Even the sink and hob have concealed options, the taps emerging from their hideout, just as chimneys from the sunken slots. For instance, taps and drain boards can feature in the space where a shutter can swiftly slide to conceal them when not in use.
Alternatively, a board can also slide into place over the kitchen hob or over the sink when the respective elements are not in use. The board is also positioned at the right level for cutting.
The shutters of the cabinets come in various finishes, from lacquer, laminate, veneer, to glass, the final outcome smooth and lavish, offering a wipe-clean, low-maintenance kitchen. The pull-out drawers, shelves as well as the shutters are smooth to operate, moving into place with a light touch.
The kitchens come with an astounding range of accessories, each customised to suit individual needs. Cooking, in short, is no more an effort, a slaving over a hot stove in trying circumstances sans aesthetics.
It has now transformed into a pleasure, welcoming entire family participation, bringing the job literally on to the midst of the living area.
No doubt, these lavish kitchens come at a price, ranging from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh depending upon individual requirements and the luxury sought as well as the size of the kitchen.
