ONE FOR ALL

Today a kitchen needs to be everything to everyone all at once... a place to cook, study, work and play

- karen booth

Today's kitchen is multi-functional and multi-generational. It's where homework is done, work emails checked, pre-dinner drinks mixed, and party guests entertained. Of course, it's also where family meals are whipped up and, quite often, eaten.

"Ever since Covid-19 we have seen a big shift in people looking closely at their home and how they can optimise its usability. Homes have become our sanctuary and, increasingly, a place of work. A lot of our clients are renovating key areas, such as the kitchen, to get the most out of those spaces and to tailor them to their needs," says Felicity Page, senior designer at Freedom Kitchens.

Likewise, the housing crunch has led to changes in what we need from our kitchens. "With more people living in shared homes now, and adult children living at home longer or returning to the family home, there is a demand for spaces that can be used in different ways and by people of all ages, and that includes the kitchen," says Tracie Platz, design consultant at Kitchens U Build. "People want kitchens with ample bench space for multiple uses, creative storage, and different functional work areas allocated for use by family members of all ages."

This growing demand for multi-use kitchens has led to some real design innovation over the past several years, adds Karen Kunst, director of KJK Interiors. "Adaptability is key within kitchen design today," she says. "From incorporating a wine cellar, bar, drop zone or study to the inclusion of space-saving integrated appliances and pocket-door appliance cabinets, many more multi-functional elements, in some form or another, are now being implemented into standard kitchen designs. In particular, it's not uncommon for people to use their kitchen as a home office or a homework space for their children.