Kitchen Rewind

MODERN KITCHENS ARE TEMPERED WITH NOSTALGIC VIBES – FROM WOOD TO INTRICATE, EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS THAT ARE MAKING A HUGE COMEBACK

- Carol Ferrao

When cooking is no longer seen as a chore, but a passion – even an expression of the self (all thanks to the Masterchef franchise) – the kitchen ambience is bound to reflect it. Consumers, today, are inspired by ideas on Pinterest and can’t wait to recreate the same magic in their urban Indian homes. Indian as well as European kitchen brands in the market are responding to these needs by offering chic modular kitchen solutions in a variety of styles and finishes. Irrespective of budget, there is a kitchen solution provider for everyone.

Kitchen manufacturers and suppliers are noticing how the new crop of consumers are dictating the trends in this segment. “The new-age entrepreneurs are experimental,” points out Alok Duggal, director of Nolte India. “They prefer a kitchen which is technologically amped-up. We saw the rise in the last couple of years, where the consumers were clear about what they wanted and were conscious of the material to be used and preferred a natural finish.” Currently, Duggal mentions, there is a greater demand for eco-friendly materials.

From an open kitchen with built-in appliances to a lounge-style set-up where one can socialise, personalisation is becoming an essential part of the life of millennials, says Vaishali Lahoti Shah, assistant general manager-Design Team, Godrej Interio. Kitchens are no more limited to women, she adds, but are seen as a gender-neutral space where one can socialise and celebrate, and Godrej Interio’s Island, as well as the L-shaped layouts, are addressing this shift in mindset.