LIFE> Fashion
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LIFE> Fashion
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Everything plus the kitchen sink
By Xiao Changyan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-07 18:04
Imagine a kitchen that incorporates a couch, a television, a coffee table and Internet access. A "live-in kitchen" is the new trend for future homes. Large or small, modern or traditional, today's cooking spaces are aimed at becoming communal kitchens the whole family can enjoy. Art and personal artworks are fast finding their way into these spaces, as well as computer workstations and extended seating areas. Kitchen designs now concentrate on this area as the "hub" of the household, incorporating the functional aspects of a kitchen with the ability to relax. "Don't you think it is a warm picture? Parents cooking or checking e-mails, the TV is on, and the kids are doing their homework in the kitchen," says Li Haitao, a Boloni designer in Beijing. Newlyweds Yu Ming and Zhang De have such a home. The 20-sq-m kitchen/dining area feels more spacious than it is. Two wide, south-facing windows along the front wall offer views of the street and a small park. In the open kitchen, the long dining table is also used as desk, where Yu enjoys reading and her husband surfs the Internet.
"The kitchen, which is pleasing but not showy, is the new heart of my small home. In this space we cook, eat and entertain together," Yu says. As kitchens become central to the home, more display areas are added, putting in clear or artistic glass inserts into doors and gallery lighting inside cabinets to show off prized ceramics or hand-blown glass collections. Additionally, fully integrated appliances, as opposed to semi-integrated, are now in fashion. Items such as the fridge, dishwasher and microwave oven are completely concealed within a cupboard providing a seamless finish. Popular items now include drawer refrigerators, which can be installed under the kitchen counter to eliminate clutter and provide convenience. For instance, the GE double-drawer refrigerator has two drawers with adjustable dividers for modifying the storage space. Under-the-counter wine storage is another trendy option, where dozens of bottles are stored and there is a refrigeration system with two individually controlled temperature zones. Wine storage units can be made flush with the cabinets, making the kitchen look clean and organized. (China Daily 01/07/2009 page19) |
