Kitchens then and now

Kitchens then and now

As the heart of the home, the kitchen has long been known to have a strong influence on the interior. It seems that nothing much has changed over the years, the kitchen is and remains a kitchen, but it’s not. Kitchen furniture design has seen countless innovations even in the last few years. Whereas until recently, glossy acrylic or laminates were used predominantly, now innovative nanotechnology materials such as FENIX, etc.

Many changes have taken place over the years. Today, we have solutions that really make cooking in the kitchen easier. Everything is at your fingertips, with kitchens designed for both function and design, including solutions such as Vauth-Sagel basket systems, open shelving and integrated solutions from Blum such as utensil organisers.

Historically, the standard kitchen took up an entire room and meals were cooked over an open fire, which meant that this room was separated from the other rooms, as everything was soaked and oiled. The devices were simple but effective. Kitchens were made mainly of brick and wood and included extensive work surfaces.

At the beginning of the 20th century, kitchens were designed to maximise space efficiency, not to look nice, but to function. Slowly, kitchens continued to evolve and became more aesthetically pleasing with more luxury and more appliances, such as toasters. The black and white pattern of the tartan became popular, used in both flooring and wall panelling.

In the mid-20th century, the kitchen began to evolve from a functional space into a place where the whole family, friends and family could stay, so naturally the design of kitchen furniture took on a particularly important role. Pastel colours were very popular and kitchen appliances were a necessity for every self-respecting householder, with everything from microwave ovens to electric mixers in the kitchens.

By the end of the 20th century, cooking had become not only a daily necessity, but also a creative expression. Browns and yellows were popular and ubiquitous, and there was a noticeable focus on the use of kitchens and how ergonomic they were. Occasionally, a brighter colour would pop into the design to make the kitchen stand out.

Today, the kitchen is still the heart of the home, but technology makes it easier and faster to get things done. A modern kitchen is a space the whole family can enjoy. It’s a wide mix of styles and colours, tailored to make the kitchen a pleasant place for the whole family to stay, cook and enjoy meals in one place.

In the future, new nanotechnologies are expected to come in to make either cooking or cleaning easier. FENIX facades are just the beginning. We think we’ll see more and more of the light Scandinavian style, influenced by minimalist trends and combining the most up-to-date functional solutions, but things can still change.

Did you like our article – Kitchens then and now? If you’re looking to give your kitchen a more contemporary look but don’t know where to start, feel free to contact our designers here!