Kitchens have come a long way since the 20th century, back then they were typically used for the sole purpose of preparing and cooking food in our home. Today, kitchens have become one of the most social spaces in the house.

Historically, home design in North America and parts of Europe included a dining room separate from the kitchen. Often the kitchen would be the smaller room separated by arches and enclosed by walls. Typically, these old traditional designs allowed for a small table to be placed in the kitchen for less formal dining. Built-in cabinets used to be considered more practical and there wasn’t much desire or need for aesthetics. The archway from the kitchen often led into the dining room where family or other guests waited for a formal dinner. This 20th century custom has been replaced by an open concept design that adds functionality, aesthetic appeal and increases the value of your home.

In recent home remodeling trends, unnecessary partitions are often removed as they are seen as social barriers dividing the kitchen and formal dining areas. We now allow friends and family to cook and chat in the kitchen instead of waiting in a completely different room. Our kitchens have become the focal point of our homes; now they are, in most cases, the largest room in our homes. It shows our class, our social skills, and most important of all, our hospitality.

Kitchens are a wonderful way to represent your home and yourself. Most of us are drawn to modern kitchens these days. After all, it is the first thing we notice when we enter a house. However, as aesthetically pleasing as they are, the practicality of storage and work surfaces has greatly improved since the 20th century.

For example:

  • The walls can be removed to create an open concept living room.
  • Incorporate an island into your design, set with bar seating for entertaining.
  • Drawers getting “stuck” or slamming open on unresponsive slides – this is a thing of the past. We use ball-bearing sliders with shock absorbers that allow a smooth and silent closing.
  • With the evolution of undermount full-extension sliding hardware, drawers can hold more items than ever before and in sight, making access super convenient.
  • The days when cabinet doors slammed shut and dishes rattled are in the rearview mirror. Modern kitchens use soft-closing hinges.
  • With a little creativity, your designer has a plethora of products to choose from to make use of previously unused or hard-to-find corner storage cabinets. The possibilities are endless and the amount of storage that can be achieved, even in a smaller kitchen, will amaze you.

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