The kitchen as an innovative living space
Cooking for yourself is the trend. But the kitchen is more than just a room for roasting and baking. It is a place for meeting, socialising and communicating. While ergonomic appliances and practical fixtures ensure user-friendliness, the worktop, back wall and kitchen front determine the individual look of the kitchen. But that's not all that needs to be considered when planning the kitchen!
Separate or open kitchen?
Beautifully furnished and everything in its place, that would probably be the ideal state of every kitchen. Unfortunately, in many households this is more wishful thinking than reality. What can lead to embarrassment in an open kitchen is no problem in a separated kitchen. Simply close the door! Another advantage of the closed kitchen is that noises and smells do not enter the living room unhindered. And some people like to work undisturbed in the kitchen.
Since modern flats often have flowing transitions between the living, dining and cooking areas, the open-plan kitchen has found its way into many people's homes. One- and two-line kitchens as well as L-, U- and G-shaped kitchens are typical. Free-standing cooking islands are also popular. They create work space and can act as room dividers. A great advantage of the open kitchen is that the person cooking is not left out and can take part in table conversations. A kitchen counter is also a great design element. It also prevents you from constantly having to look at the used dishes or the cluttered work surface from the living room.
Eyes open when planning the kitchen
A new kitchen is an investment for many years. The kitchen should therefore be a perfect fit for you. Don't leave anything to chance when planning. Water and energy connections are difficult to change later. The colour and style must also suit you for a long time. Get detailed advice and at least two or three offers. These aspects are particularly important:
Lighting: It is important that the work areas are well illuminated, for example with ceiling spotlights directed at the kitchen worktop. Under-cabinet luminaires on the wall units are also practical. The main lighting can be supplemented by indirect accent lighting, for example with strip lighting or a backlit strip. LED cabinet lights with motion detectors are suitable for lighting in kitchen cabinets.
Worktop: You can choose between wood, glass, plastic, ceramic, stainless steel, concrete, artificial stone (quartz and mineral materials) or natural stone (granite, slate and marble). In addition to their appearance, worktops differ greatly in terms of feel, hardness and ease of care. Therefore, weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of the different materials carefully.
Kitchen backsplash: Although it is still tiled in many households, there is another way. Splashback panels made of glass, ceramic, plastic, metal or lacquered wood can be an alternative to a tiled backsplash.
Electrical appliances: In open kitchens, look for powerful but quiet electrical appliances. It is annoying when the noise of a dishwasher or extractor bonnet drowns out the TV, music or conversations.
Many people still know the energy labels with the plus classes (such as A++) for electrical appliances like refrigerators or dishwashers. These energy efficiency classes have been revised and now range from A to G. The plus classes will be dropped in future. The plus classes will be discontinued in the future.
Ergonomics: Electrical appliances such as refrigerator, oven, steamer, microwave or dishwasher should be installed at a convenient viewing and access height. A cooker bonnet with a sloping extraction surface gives you sufficient freedom of movement in the head area. Anyone planning a new kitchen should also consider the height of the worktop. It should match the height of the user, i.e. be about 15 cm below the elbow.
Convenience: Look for short distances, because they mean faster work processes. Full-extension pull-outs instead of doors and practical corner pull-outs make it easier to access food and cooking utensils. Fittings with a soft-closing system ensure that drawers and doors close quietly. Wall units with lift doors, possibly with an electric opening system, offer optimal access and avoid bruises on the head. The waste separation system in the sink base unit is now also available with sensor-operated opening support. This allows the pot-and-pan drawer to be opened with the foot via a sensor in the plinth area.
Finding the right kitchen tap
The kitchen mixer depends on the personal needs of the user. With simple single-lever mixers, you can control the amount of water and the water temperature at one lever. The taps are available in L- or C-shape. The spout is fixed or swivelling, depending on the model.
Faucets with a hose spray can be pulled out at the front of the spout. This gives you flexibility and allows you to conveniently pull the water jet towards the pots when washing up. Some models have additional functions at the spout, for example a spray type setting or an on/off switch.
Touchless kitchen taps are in the higher price segment. With sensor taps, the water jet is activated automatically as soon as a hand approaches. This is particularly practical when hands are full or dirty. This keeps the tap clean. However, if the sensor points forward, the water may flow unintentionally (for example, if you get too close to the sensor when cleaning the basin). For this reason, some models have a touch function on the upper body of the tap instead.
In the case of taps with hot water or bubble function, the technology (such as boiler and filter) is mounted under the sink. Water systems are available from a number of renowned manufacturers. However, many people are most familiar with the "Quooker" tap, which can conjure up hot, cold, boiling, bubbling and still water. Advantage: You don't have to buy a kettle and carry crates of drinks. Disadvantage: You have to pay over 1,000 € for this all-rounder.
Growing herbs on the windowsill
Herbs in the kitchen look decorative and give off a pleasant scent. Parsley, basil, chives, rosemary, sage, lemon balm, mint, oregano and thyme are easy to grow on the kitchen counter or in a pot on the windowsill. They refine stews, soups, casseroles and other dishes. Cress is also popular with many people because of its fast growth and distinctive taste, for example on sandwiches or in dips. Make sure your planter has drainage holes at the bottom and never stands in the wet. This encourages mould on the soil and rotting of the roots. About once a month you should water the herbs with an organic fertiliser.
For people who spend a lot of time outdoors in summer, it can be worthwhile to grow a houseleek on the windowsill. Because with its tanning and mucilage substances, it has an itch-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect. Great for insect bites and sunburn! To use it, cut open a fresh leaf and simply place it on the affected area.
More safety in the kitchen
Many flat fires start in the kitchen. Since normal smoke detectors are not suitable for the kitchen, a heat detector is usually installed there. It reacts to a sudden rise in temperature in the room. So-called cooker detectors are even safer. Sensors above the hob monitor the temperature and movements in the room. If the temperature on the hob rises sharply without anyone moving, an alarm is triggered and the hob is switched off. The monitor works with all electric cookers and can also be retrofitted.
Dry food scraps can be stored in enamel or glass jars and sealed airtight with screw tops. Wooden chopping boards are a good alternative to plastic ones. Natural fibre kitchen brushes and bamboo fibre kitchen cups are now also available. Lunch boxes made of stainless steel are suitable for travelling.
Tiles, linoleum, PVC and vinyl are resistant to grease splashes or spilled liquids. The different covering can serve as a visual room divider from the rest of the living area. If you are brave enough, you can use the same flooring in the open-plan kitchen as in the adjacent living and dining area, such as parquet or laminate. However, the wood should be well sealed in this area, because parquet does not like patches. Otherwise scratches and dents will not be long in coming.
With an exhaust bonnet, water vapours, grease and odours are blown directly out through a hole in the wall. An extractor bonnet with recirculation sucks up the particles and cleans them with the help of a filter. The clean air is then directed back into the kitchen. If you have a cooking island, a downdraft extractor can be useful. With this trough extractor, the air is extracted downwards.
Change the working position frequently and provide a seat in the kitchen. A sturdy stool ensures that all utensils are within easy reach if necessary. Store heavy items in the lower cupboards so you don't have to lift them out of the upper cupboards every time. It is best to store frequently used work and food items between eye and knee level.
Fresh lemon balm, chamomile, mint, sage and thyme leaves are good for this. Simply cut off a few leaves from the plant and pour hot water over them. Leave to infuse for a few minutes, then remove the leaves. Add honey or sugar to taste. Alternatively, a squeeze of lemon juice will spice up the tea.
Conclusion
The kitchen has changed from a purely functional kitchen to a meeting place for family and guests. It is not for nothing that it is said that all good parties end in the kitchen. The kitchen should be functional but still homely and fit harmoniously into the overall concept of the home. With good planning and a little technical finesse, you can transform this place from a mere workplace into a dream kitchen for well-being and enjoyment!
