When it comes to kitchens, the 21st century homeowner is deciding to simplify. Yet, while functionality and comfort when it comes to everyday interaction in this very busy room of the average home, they still want to get the balance right between function and style. How do they do it?
Here's guest writer Nisha Sharma to take us through some of the basics of the minimalist kitchen.
Contemporary Kitchen design by San Francisco Architect Feldman Architecture, Inc.
A kitchen is no longer a showroom, it's a work room. It is a spot for packing lunches, churning out dinner, and using a high-tech tablet to solve the night's Algebra homework. So it should come as no surprise that many modern kitchen designers have embraced the minimalist design made popular during the post-war era up. The extraordinary busyness of the average person living in the 21st century makes this era the prime time for minimalist design to catapult to the forefront. Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, it is also the nucleus of this revolution towards minimalism as a standard of interior design.
Wide open spaces
Form over function many have been the standard for kitchens in recent decades. But today's kitchen craves clean lines, open spaces, and a total lack of clutter. Ease of flow and usability trumps formalities and pomp when it comes to today's kitchens.
Modern Kitchen design by Other Metro Architect Studio VyhodecDesign
The kitchen as an oasis
All day long, our modern minds are bombarded with images calling for our attention. Millions of websites, photos, and over-the-top videos shared from friends, family members, and colleagues. Is it any wonder that once the average person gets home from a long day of blustering through the loudness of modern life that they would love to slink into an oasis of calm? The call for minimalist style in a kitchen is a call towards the zen aspect of life.
Modern Kitchen design by San Francisco Architect Schwartz and Architecture
Black and white thinking
With so much visual chaos and clutter in the world today, it's no wonder that the clean color pallet of minimalist kitchen design is so appealing to the masses. Minimalist kitchens often lean towards all-white surfaces, or alternating patterns of white and black, with some relaxing shades like cream or eggshell thrown into the mix to create a subtle touch of texture. This lack of color creates an aura of a wide, empty space. It leaves room to clear the mind and give the senses a rest. The concept of minimalism is to provide peace, relaxation, and contemplation that can all be had while cooking a pot of pasta.
Modern Kitchen design by San Francisco Interior Designer Nicole Hollis
Technology influences design
As the world at large moves towards sleek technology that puts once unfathomable controls in the palm of your hand, kitchen appliances have been put in the pen to compete with the trend. Customers certainly won't be satisfied with a clunky kitchen device after spending their day being wooed by a slender, whisper-thin device. Now kitchen appliances like the fridge, oven, and dishwasher, have been forced to be pared down and refined to mimic the slightness of our hand-held companions (despite the fact that an iPhone never made anyone ice for their drink).
Contemporary Kitchen design by Calgary Design-build Fifth Element Homes Minimize the fuss
As our society becomes more and more hard pressed for time amidst hectic schedules, time has never been more of the essence to the average person, or the average family. In the economy of time, with spare moments being so precious, the last thing anyone wants to waste time on is cleaning. Dusting and vacuuming are a chore to be reckoned with this day and age. This is perhaps why so many interior design favor a minimalist look. Open spaces and clear, clean lines make for a simple time of cleaning. Surfaces such as stainless steel and glass are popular for use in modern kitchens because they provide splatter-friendly surfaces that are easy to clean without a lot fuss or worrying about polishing with specialty cleaners.
As society grows more and more complex, home designers and homeowners will increasingly lean on a minimalist design approach for kitchens.
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Thanks, Nisha!
Nisha Sharma represents a site called LoftCentre.co.uk. She enjoys writing about home design. Feel free to visit her site for more information on spiral staircases.
Cheers,
Rob.
