The Right Recipe

The recipe for successful kitchen design may have evolved over time but the key ingredients remain the same. Essentially, what a kitchen needs is good storage, ample work surface areas and appliances that suit the homeowner. identity presents the latest trends and products to suit a variety of kitchen layouts…

- Penny McCormick

The family home has evolved over the last century. While once rooms were segregated and had single functions, now we seek multi-purpose areas. Gone are the days when the cook was confined to the kitchen, with eating only taking place at a laid dining table. Open-plan living allows for all aspects of domestic life to intersect seamlessly. At Poliform, the Shape kitchen is the result of research into these evolving concepts. It shows that the kitchen is no longer intended to be hidden away but is a status symbol, to be shown off as much as lived in. However, the fine balance between sleek, sophisticated design and practical architectural solutions is not always easy to achieve.

When planning a kitchen, consider the space available and think how it will be used. If there are three walls available, a U-shaped kitchen is a good option – there will be plenty of space for storage and wall cabinets. If you would prefer your kitchen to be truly multi-functional, consider keeping the work area as an L-shape, thus freeing up the rest of the space.

Thinking of the kitchen in terms of zones can also be a good starting point, though the ‘working triangle’ of fridge, sink and cooker is not so relevant to how we cook today. Instead, a breakfast zone, a food preparation area and a cooking area allows more than one person to be in a kitchen at any one time without getting in the way. Completely free of configuration is Boffi’s Combine kitchen by Piero Lissoni – with blocks, worktops and tables of different sizes that are designed to be mixed and matched to create separate units for cooking, washing and preparation.