Kitchen is the heart of every home …. It’s where we prepare food, enjoy meals with friends or family, have hearty conversations, and share ideas over dinner. So to keep the heart of your home beating, it has to be well-equipped and highly maintained.
The term kitchen comes from the Latin word coquere which means “to cook”. Previously, kitchens were just a place to cook or prepare meals but with time have gradually evolved into an all-purpose room where families spend most of their time. As a result, kitchens have experienced a shift in design, structure, and appliances to improve their functionality.
Kitchen Tools
Kitchen tools is a collective term used for appliances such as ovens, stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, and utensils like knives, cutting boards, whisks, and measuring spoons. Both are equally essential to creating a kitchen that is easy to use and fun to cook in.
A kitchen is only as good as its tools, so upgrading your kitchen with appropriate and quality appliances is essential to enhance its utility.
Appliances
Kitchen appliances normally require a source of energy such as electricity or gas to work. These are often stand-alone or built-in. However, most modern kitchens now come with appliances built into the countertop.
The size and specifications of kitchen appliances highly depend on the budget, design, layout, and use of a kitchen.
Utensils
Kitchen utensils are the background dancers used to improve the performance of the lead performer i.e. the chef. Therefore, they’re necessary for any chef who wants their artistic process uninterrupted. They might not seem very important at first but they quickly turn into a necessity once you start using them.
History of Kitchen
From medieval times to the present day, kitchens have taken on a whole different meaning as well as how we utilize them. Initially, kitchens were made of mud and sticks, with roofs thatched with straw or animal hides. They usually served a utilitarian purpose which was to prepare the food but over time kitchens have evolved to a communal space.
Middle Age Kitchens
Medieval kitchens were slightly different than the ones we are used to in the modern day. They were tiny dark rooms located either at the end of the house or hidden in the basement. They had a fireplace in the center and all of the cooking was done over an open flame. Instead of using refrigerators, they used iceboxes or salt to store and preserve food. Cooking utensils were either hung from the ceiling or stored on shelves. Simple, practical, and concealed!
Colonial American Kitchens
Colonial American Kitchens of the 17th and 18th centuries were also small and cramped, usually located separately from the home. By this time, kitchens were usually indoor which lead to the invention of chimneys for ventilation. A fireplace or open-hearth were commonly used to cook food and ice boxes for food storage. Up until the start of the 20th century, most houses had a dry kitchen for cooking and scullery or wet kitchen for washing dishes.
Modern Kitchens
However, the social progression also led to the evolution of kitchen design. For example, kitchens moved to the front of the house and open floor plans were introduced as people started preparing their food and cooking turned into a family activity. The advancement in technology also introduced electrical appliances such as smart refrigerators, induction tops, and coffee makers. The focus shifted towards enhancing their beauty, character, and practicality using colored cabinetry and countertops.
Kitchens in America
Kitchens in America are the most important part of every home. They are a place to cook, eat, work, play, and socialize. An average American kitchen now comes with a refrigerator, sink with running hot and cold water, countertops, open cabinetry, an oven range, a dishwasher, and a microwave.
Kitchens are now designed based on a variety of aesthetics, from contemporary to minimalist, Scandinavian, and cottage house. Basically, a kitchen’s outlook is now considered a reflection of the homeowner’s personality.
Popular Kitchen Materials
Today, kitchen designs have incorporated a wide array of materials for countertops, cabinets, and flooring. Many of these materials are new, such as quartz and butcher block, while others, like marble and granite, have been around for centuries.
While choosing the material for your kitchen either countertops or the cabinet, it is important to consider the following factors:
- Budget
- Maintainence
- Utility of the kitchen
- Durability
- Heat resistance
- Color Palette