KITCHEN SPECIAL..DREAM KITCHEN

KITCHEN SPECIAL..DREAM KITCHEN

A perfect place to ‘cook-up’ dreams

Wish you could cook like a masterchef like they show it on the TV? All you need is some innvovative streak to cook beautiful looking food, and a kitchen where your dreams can come true

    Remember the time when having a gas connection in the kitchen spelt luxury and an elevated social status? Just the fact that you’ve got a gas stove to cook on meant a lot. And, on a special occasion, the guests would be served in the best cutlery stacked up in the cupboard for special days. Till the late eighties, most kitchens had cooking stoves and gas cylinders. Signs of new found prosperity would be a refrigerator and at the most an oven and a juicer-blender. Compare that with today, where the list of appliances starts from these and now also incorporates the likes of smoke chimneys, dishwashers, wine chillers, the ubiquitous microwave, juicer-blenders, eggbeaters and the like. Add the fact that the Indian woman has emerged in her right to become a serious purchaser. Experts say compared to the US or European markets, the Indian kitchen space is still evolving. For many years, there were only one or two national players and they had limited products. However, with a booming economy, more and more people are travelling. Hence awareness levels and propensity to spend has gone up.
MODULAR KITCHENS
The latest entrant in the space is modular kitchens. These are premade parts and units that can be fitted into your house, instead of having to have carpenters working around the clock in your private domain. They are available in a readyto-install pre-fabricated format to fit easily in the existing structures. They are available in a wide plethora of colours and patterns. Once you are sure of the colour and the size, all one has to do is place an order and the modular kitchen is ready to be installed.
    The demand of these is clear from the fact that most new constructions now want nothing but a modular kitchen. Even real estate developers highlight this fact when they advertise about their residential projects. From the moment one places an order for such a kitchen, a period of two months, it is ready and installed. Most people get kitchens remodeled or made when they are building new houses or renovating the entire house. In such a case, many people prefer to go for quality which they know will stand the stead of time. However, such culinary masterpieces come with a steep price tag attached. Most of these kitchen solutions start at 1.25 lakh and can go up to 9-11 lakh. Modular kitchens fit into the Indian household setting very easily and comfortably. Oil or turmeric stains can be wiped easily as the material used for making modular kitchens is easy to clean. Secondly, the material is durable so there is absolutely no worry of it being damaged. The only caveat tends to be the woodwork. Given the Indian propensity to use large quantities of water in our food and also the prevalence of cockroaches and the like, makes it very necessary for the wooden framework and doors to be waterproof and termite proof.
HARDWARE
The hardware fittings must be chosen with care because not only do they maintain the longevity of the kitchen but also play a vital role in determining its 'look'. Installing good hardware like a sleeker looking handle, make a kitchen users' life that much more beautiful and comfortable. So it becomes very important for a customer to invest the time in evaluating products across cross sections of the market before settling in on a buy that provides him excellent value for his money.
INBUILT APPLIANCES
There are dozens of appliances in the kitchen each with a separate plugpoint. A user can go crazy plugging in and plugging out the different devices. A way out of this technological web is inbuilt appliances. Ovens, microwaves, hobs and chimneys today can all be put into pre-decided places as permanent fixtures. Also, they can be structured in such a manner as to allow for vertical stacking which saves space. This allows a householder the advantage of having appliances within handy distance, while making way for her to easily work around the floor.
DISHWASHERS
Infact another trend which is quickly catching the Indian fancy is the dishwasher. These are fast replacing maids in nuclear families. Many families with both partners working prefer to install these washing machines for cutlery and dishes, instead of relying on the vagaries of hired help. Infact, young and newly married Prachi Mittal finds it the best time saver ever. "My husband and I live alone. We quickly stack up the dishwasher every night. And in the morning, there are fresh utensils to be had straight from the machine. There is no hassle of employing the maids," she says.
CHIM-CHIMNEY
Modern chimneys are a must in modern Indian kitchens where deep frying and cooking on the gas emits a great deal of smoke. Chimneys may accord temporary relief to the smoke filled Indian kitchens but accumulate oil and grease very fast. Maintenance is the key to longevity of any product and chimneys are no exception to the rule. However, most companies offer a five-year warranty and regular after sales service to help customers acclimatise to this new age product.
MORE APPLIANCES
A new entrant in the market is the Barbecue which is being more and more used by the health conscious customer. Coffee makers are a blessing of the coffee industry and their sales have picked up in recent times. Blenders, juicers and egg-beaters have been around forever, and are again a hot favourite among the young and the old alike.

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