The Transitional History of the Kitchen
Groovy 70s
Prior to and during the beginning of the 70s, kitchens were purely for function. They were small, kept away and reserved for creating masterpieces such as colourful vol-au-vents and elegant prawn cocktails, all away from the prying eyes of guests. Have you seen the retro serving hatch? The perfect tool for the grand reveal!
Coming into the 70s however, began the infancy of the modern kitchen we know today. Kitchens saw a slight increase in size, bolder colours and disco decor was beginning to be introduced into the theme, and new appliances such as the brand new two-slice toaster made for a great conversational piece to invite some friends over!
Decadent 80s
The 80s saw the beginnings of the revolt against small kitchens! People no longer wanted to be confined to the kitchen while the rest of the party took place in the dining room, so this decade saw the transition of cooking from necessity to social activity. Naturally, the desire to be more social gave birth to the open-plan trend!
An integral part of 80s kitchens were breakfast bars and dining tables that were statement pieces of the décor du jour. Family and friends would perch on bar stools complete with a Singapore sling or blue lagoon, and slowly but surely, the kitchen began to develop into the social hub of the home.
The 90s，Noughties and Beyong
Diving into the 90s and the noughties, people fully embraced the developing role of the kitchen. This one room soon began to wear many hats becoming the place for gossiping with friends, a place to teach and entertain our children, to work, pay the bills and of course, a place to create new family dishes and enjoy good food with friends.
These most recent decades have seen a complete facelift of the kitchen. Now a large open space full of neutral colours, modern cupboards and worktops, and an abundance of storage space, the kitchen has become the most desirable room in the home. In fact, a modern kitchen is a key selling point of new homes today and can often be the deciding factor of a purchase. With potential buyers imagining themselves spending hours in this one room, socialising and making memories, it’s no wonder why kitchens have become such a prime part of the house.
So Why the Change？
Another major factor in the development of the kitchen is modern life. Life is busy and chaotic and the time pressures of the day make an easy house flow a big desire. By combining the two most time-consuming parts of our day together, it’s no wonder why the kitchen became such a multi-purpose room for all of us to spend most of our time in.
