What Does Your Kitchen Say About You and Your Family

What Does Your Kitchen Say About You and Your Family

The kitchen is the hub of today’s home; the beating heart. It’s hard to believe it was once a room of pure function and necessity. In modern life it is an action station and where the day properly starts. The kids sit here to do their homework and as they grow older, it’s where you have a rare moment of communication as they raid the fridge. When friends come round, they readily gather in the kitchen and think nothing of asking where your glasses are. Life circulates round this room.

Rebecca Paxton, marketing director at Halcyon Interiors, says, “The kitchen is where so much of our lives happen and it can subconsciously say so much about us. It is where we make our food, often where we sit to eat and catch up and it is the go-to place when family members arrive home from a long day. Your kitchen is a reflection of your personality and your life.”

We spend a large amount of time in the kitchen, so it needs to fit our style. The flow, feel and look need to be just right for you and your family dynamic. So, which of these different kitchen styles is appropriate for you?

• The classic kitchen

It’s been around forever. But do not confuse classic with old-fashioned. This is a timeless space that is simple and elegant. It will always have an air of the traditional about it, but it can also have a contemporary or retro vibe running alongside. There’s an inviting atmosphere and it often incorporates materials like stone and marble. It may feature strong colours and perhaps a gloss finish. There’s a good sense of order in this kitchen and it houses many baking tools. It’s an organised, cook-from-scratch space where new meals are effortlessly rustled up from yesterday’s leftovers.

• Modern

The modern kitchen is very much about form and function. It has strong lines and a sleek feel throughout. Modern materials like concrete and chrome are likely to feature. There are plenty of open, uncluttered spaces, and all the essential items are tucked away in their designated places. The colours are neutral and balanced. There is a feeling of yin and yang. It often emphasises any natural features in its materials, especially if they involve horizontal lines. The cabinets are likely to be frameless. It welcomes smart home additions; the design is intelligent, and the lighting is distinctive. It may also include industrial elements but will surely be a trial ground for the latest food trends.

• Country farmhouse

This kitchen is part of a characterful house and has a homely and cosy ambiance. There’s a hearty table somewhere poignant and it’s probably wooden. In fact, wood definitely features in this kitchen, but there may be a range of textures and colours. The kitchen units can be a wide range of colours, but all earthly, from whites and creams, to greens and blues. The equipment is good quality and well used. It’s clean but not always tidy and cookbooks and knick-knacks are on show. The smell of fresh bread is not unfamiliar and its home to a generous host with a well-stocked larder. There are snacks available for everyone who pops by unannounced.

• Minimalist / Scandinavian

Naturally this kitchen is a very crisp clean space in white or grey. It’s not just free from clutter but decidedly bare. ‘Stuff’ just isn’t the thing. Anything that is a permanent feature is very deliberately placed. There is some symmetry at work in the elements and glass, steel and chrome are popular choices. There are slightly different tactics available, the starker minimalist approach for the purist or the more friendly Scandinavian approach which is still highly practical but less linear and softer around the edges. The meals are probably planned for the week and the right ingredients are in stock. This is a precision space.

Of course, these are just guides for the main types, and it might be that you favour a more eclectic kitchen, which is a whole style in itself. The point is that it is such an important room and one where the layout and features are so crucial to the way you use it. When you choose a new kitchen, it needs careful consideration and it needs to suit and reflect you and your whole family as the background setting to the daily flow of your lives.

Guest Article.