The Evolution of Kitchens - Past, Present, and Future - Part II

In our earlier blog, we took you through the journey of the kitchen from the middle ages to the late 1950s. And now, here are more stories from the 1960s to the present as well as what the future of kitchens looks like.

1960 - 1980

As the swinging sixties arrived, pop artists had their influence over interior design and kitchens took up the tune of minimalism and funky colours. In the 60’s and 70’s other societal changes were taking place that impacted the style of the kitchen. It was an era of liberation for women. More women were joining the workforce, and therefore looking for more time-saving and convenient cooking and cleaning appliances was ideal during the time. Dishwashers, garbage disposals, and refrigerators with freezers were gaining popularity, as well as the brand new ultimate time-saver, the microwave, which quickly became a staple in every home. For the first time, the sale of microwaves exceeded that of gas ranges. The kitchens of the 1970s got as groovy as the decade. Appliances and cabinetry were appearing in a wide range of colours. Kitchens were being designed with curved features, bevelled edges and circular countertops. Wood is becoming a popular option for cabinetry. The roots of contemporary kitchen design - like the work triangle, islands, raised bars - were born of this era, which has continued to be a staple in modern day kitchens everywhere. It was the age of the breakfast bar, the wall mounted oven and the island bench. Lime green, red, mustard, and orange colours were found in nearly every aspect of kitchens, from the countertops to the wallpaper. Many of the colour trends from 1960s carried over into the 1970s, though green hints gave way to harvest gold- that muted, earthy yellow that has become very reminiscent of the era.

(Image courtsey: Ross Wardle/Tudor Art Studios)

1980 - 2000

People have yet to start taking a personal interest in the design of their kitchen so layouts aren't the greatest either. Architects begin to devote a lot of study to the best layouts and homeowners really take an interest in decorating by starting to match the appliances with countertops and flooring. Appliances are generally black, white or ivory. Tasteful matching in terms of cabinets, flooring, and countertops became trendy, with warmer colours, oak cabinets, and wooden furniture making their way into the kitchen. As Martha Stewart makes her mark on the food world, kitchens include more shelving to display cookbooks along with wine and pot racks, and pegboards allowing people to show off their accessories when not using them. Designers would build the occasional burst of colour to break up the pattern. Rather than hiding dishes and pans in cabinets and drawers, many kitchens featured open space to display specialised cookware. In 1990s kitchens become a space for entertaining, they grow even larger and open floor plans or open concept spaces become popular. Appliances make a move towards durable stainless steel. In the 90s, people began to gravitate toward a more minimalist feel, using a lot of natural oak and other light-coloured woods. If homeowners painted, they often used bright colours and whites. Large kitchen islands doubled as bars, or even second dining tables, and were accompanied by tall chairs or stools.

(Image courtsey: Ross Wardle/Tudor Art Studios)

2000 - present

The kitchen hasn’t stopped evolving, in fact, it has become even more efficient. There’s a drastic change socially and we see that women are no longer confined to the kitchen and men began to assume more of a care-taking role in the home. The stigma of cooking as a domestic chore for women faded, and food preparation was reinvented as both “fine art” and a sign of affluence.

With the internet, mobile, smart, and now the wireless technology. There is also a parallel trend towards connectivity, integrated appliances and using wireless technology throughout the home. More gadgets are serving multiple purposes, as are materials used within the kitchen design. Refrigerators can tell our phones that we’re out of milk and our tablets can monitor our recipes and food intake. More gadgets are serving multiple purposes as are materials used within the kitchen design. Countertops aren't just all about marble and granite, homeowners are branching out into many contemporary finishes available, including stainless steel, concrete and slate. Instant internet access allows us to get inspiration from anywhere and has led to new kitchen designs all the time.

During the last 20 years, kitchens have evolved to become the heart of the home. The kitchen has located to the front of the house and blends with the living space. That’s where Nolte’s ‘The Social Kitchen’ comes into the picture. Nolte kitchens go with the trends and are designed around the people and their lifestyle. The kitchen is no longer designed for the efficiency of one person instead it’s a place where family and friends come together and all of them actively participate in the preparation of the meal along with entertainment and fun. Kitchens are now woven into the social aspect of our lives – it’s the space where the kids are doing their homework while Mom or Dad prepare a meal, where guests, friends and family gather. Where thoughts are shared and memories made. It's the multi-faceted heart of the beautiful home. Nolte kitchens are designed to keep style, functionality and usage on par. Gone are the days when the kitchen was designed only to prepare the meals of the day. Kitchens today double up as spaces where you catch up with your family and entertain friends. Keeping this in mind, Nolte kitchen designs can be customized and adapted for large and small families as well as individuals who enjoy good design.

Apart from the kitchen becoming a part of the social ethos, there’s also the technological side to it. Voice control technology in the kitchen began with Alexa and Google Assistant integration. We’re currently asking Alexa to find recipes, create grocery lists, order products online. Appliance brands are integrating Alexa and other services into their products to manage appliance functions and to engineer appliances within the same brand to talk to each other. Besides, Microwave voice control is on the horizon. Maybe in the near future you can ask Alexa or Google Assistant when the dishwasher will be finished. Use of voice technology to preheat the oven or to change the oven’s temperature. Set an oven timer. How much time is remaining for the oven timer? Is the ice maker, full?  Tell the dishwasher what program to run next. We are not far from “Alexa, cook me dinner".

Click here to read: The Evolution of Kitchens - Past, Present, and Future - Part I

Types of Kitchens and their Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons of an Island Kitchen

Island Kitchen Layouts: Kitchen islands have become pretty much the norm rather than the exception in kitchen design. One of every two new homes built have one. As many advantages as there are to an island, there are also some disadvantages. Let's take a look at some of both and from there you can make your own decision.

Top view of an Island Kitchen

Pros:

• Added counter spaces, added storage space, and sometimes even an additional work space or cook top are just some of the positives. 
• The added counter space and storage space are the main reasons people install them, but islands are manufactured or can be designed to fit almost any purpose. 
• Also, they have the advantage of being able to be renovated, allowing for more flexibility in room arrangement.
• Looks great, especially in a spacious kitchen.
• Invites socializing and discussion, since guests can crowd around the island countertop or it permits the cook and his assistants to take an active part in the socializing.
• For snacks and quick meals, you can come together at your island if it has seating.
• Island kitchens provide the ultimate connection between your kitchen and open-plan living spaces.
• When preparing food, the counter space can be easily gobbled up by toaster ovens, microwaves, coffee makers, and various other countertop appliances. 
• An island can be used solely for cooking and preparation, and some homeowners have incorporated cutting boards and a prep sink into the design of the island.
• Islands also can be customised according to a homeowner’s needs. Instead of cabinetry, you can have a wine cooler or even a bookshelf for keeping cookbooks within reach.
• Enlarges Preparation and Cooking Space
• Have multi-purposes. It can provide a place to eat (with stools), to prepare food (with a sink) and to store beverages (with a wine cooler).
• The island can turn a one-wall kitchen into a galley style, and an L-shaped layout into a horseshoe.

Island Kitchen by Nolte

Cons: 

• Not suitable for small kitchens 
• Unless you have a large kitchen, it takes up more kitchen floor space and reduces the Available Space in the Kitchen
• Has a tip-over risk. It would be better to child-proof your island to prevent injury.
• Can make the kitchen feel cramped if the island is too big for the space so it’s best in a medium to large size kitchen.
• Again you may have a bigger investment as an island means additional cabinets and countertops.
• There’s nowhere to hide. Your kitchen is on display and the pressure to keep it clean is greater. 
• The open connection between kitchen and living area means there is little separation when it comes to noise and activity.
• In smaller kitchens, an island may be impractical because of the space limitation. 
• Islands may interfere with walking space or cause clearance issues when the refrigerator door or cabinet doors are open. 
• For homeowners who find space is at a premium in the kitchen, an island may not be the best idea. 

Click here for Pros and Cons of a Straight Kitchen.

Pros and Cons of an L-shaped Kitchen

L-Shaped Modular Kitchen: This kitchen layout runs along two walls of the kitchen giving an L shaped look. The counter-tops adjoin around the two walls. This layout is one of the most popular and versatile kitchen layouts.

Top view of an L shaped kitchen

Pros:

• Convenient, compact and accommodates the work triangle perfectly. 
• A smart design and great layout for medium sized or even small kitchen spaces with open plan designs.
• Easy entrance with no through traffic adjustable worktops in corner space. 
• It’s great for corner space as it eliminates the corner space optimization issue that most kitchens face.
• The unique point of this layout is that it eliminates traffic completely and in case of bigger space it is flexible enough to have islands, a dining space or other work zones added on
• Can adjust to any length
• Can easily divide the kitchen into multiple work sites in close proximity to each other making it an efficient work area.
• It eliminates traffic that disrupts the work zones
• Dining space (i.e. table & chairs) can easily be added to this layout
• It’s non-confining. With lots of floor space to wander around in, L-shaped kitchen designs can seem even more spacious than they really are.
• An L-shaped kitchen floor plan offers more flexibility and easy working with three separate zones (cook, sink and refrigeration) that help to avoid collisions between household members.
• It’s adaptable, functional, stylish and social. 
• Excellent use of space. Everything can be seen at a glance in this kitchen design layout.
• Simplifies process of cooking and cleaning up. There are virtually no obstacles for your workflow. 
• It’s easier to renovate. Can be easily transformed by adding an island.
• Very flexible design allowing appliances to be placed in a variety of locations
• Ideal for large families or entertaining as it can open to a table or nearby room, making it easy for the cook to interact with guests.
• All elements of the kitchen are easy to access.

L-shaped kitchen by Nolte

Cons:

• Not efficient for large kitchens
• Not good for multiple cooks
• Avoid this layout if your kitchen is large and can support other configurations, such as adding an island.
• Spacing can be problematic
• L-shaped kitchens can be very spread out, with appliances lining the counter top spaces extending along two walls. This is inefficient for the kitchen user.
• The layout of the corner cabinet can be difficult to maneuver
• The corner cabinet of any L-Shaped kitchen will naturally be the largest and the deepest, but getting pots and pans out of the corner can be difficult.
• Sometimes this configuration is all about fitting everything in and the flow when cooking may not be ideal.
• Not suitable for larger kitchens because appliances can become too spread out, making cooking a bit of a hassle. You could reduce the size of your work triangle with an island, though.
• The largest counter space is in the middle of the “L,” meaning you may have to scrunch all smaller appliances together. 
• Not an efficient use of space in a larger kitchen.
• Like the Single-line and Galley layouts, it might be tough to have extra cooks in the kitchen.

L-Shaped Modular Kitchen with Island

Offering flexibility for both small and large homes, the L-Shaped Modular Kitchens with a central Island is great for multi-purpose homes of today. Each of these kitchen layout plans has their own features, pros and cons.

Top view of an L shaped kitchen with an island

Pros:

• Reduced size of your work triangle with an island
• They are versatile, minimise kitchen traffic and allow ease of preparation.
• They can be optimised based on the design of the home, its functionality, and overall look, and tailored to suit the homeowner’s requirement.
• The open floor plan usually features plenty of space for an island. In fact, islands work especially well in L-shaped kitchens because they help control the flow of traffic, giving the cook space to work and the family a separate place to lounge and talk.

L shaped kitchen with an island by Nolte

Click here for Pros and Cons of an Island Kitchen.

Pros and Cons of a G-shaped Kitchen

G shaped modular kitchen: This layout is basically a U-shape with a long peninsula affixed to one side. The peninsula is generally used as a work space or for dining. The partial fourth wall includes additional cabinets and counter top space.  This kitchen is also called peninsula kitchen. The kitchen units and appliances are fitted in an oval shape, often with a horizontal bar or food preparation area at the mouth of the “G.” 

Top view of a G shaped Kitchen

Pros: 

• The Peninsula or G-shaped kitchen layout is a useful and versatile layout for a small, medium or large kitchen in an open concept floor plan.
• Great for rectangular space
• Efficient for a small kitchen space
• Can adjust to any length
• Offers visual impact.
• Can easily divide the kitchen into multiple work sites
• It includes an extra unit that can be utilised as a kitchen bar, breakfast bar or additional cabinet space. 
• Provides plenty of storage capacity, with long, contiguous counter tops.  
• This layout can often accommodate multiple cooks in the kitchen.
• Best suited to those who want to pack every square inch of kitchen possible into their space but don't have room for the clearance required around an island.
• Make sure the peninsula is not so long that getting in and out of the kitchen becomes difficult.
• Optimises the utilization of space, leaving expansive counter tops clutter-free while being stylish and understated.
• The most social, efficient, expansive and flexible kitchen layout. 
• Suitable for families and good for socialising without interruption.
• A peninsula layout is a practical solution for smaller kitchens that need additional work space, storage or seating.
• Seating is a priority. It turns this functional space into the heart of the home. Any time of the day, the cook can have a natural connection with family and friends. 
• Minimal space, maximum function. As this G-shaped kitchen is such a tight fit, plenty of storage was introduced to make items easy to find with minimal mess. `
• G-shaped kitchen provides a free walk-through zone without hindered movement from cabinets, doors and a busy corridor. 
• With an extra bench space attached there’s more room for prepping and chopping in this kitchen.

Cons: 

• This layout creates a kitchen with unusable open space.
• Enclosed from the rest of the house.
• There is less counter top space for cooking. You may just end up adding in a movable island or cart to add an additional working surface.
• Everything’s compact and close.
• Lot of traffic can cause congestion.
• Not efficient for large kitchens.
• Not good for multiple cooks if size is small.

G-Shaped Modular Kitchen with Island

Although relatively uncommon, G-Shaped Kitchen with a central Island is perfect for large homes. The large availability of space and reduced kitchen traffic make its use very convenient.

Top view of a G shaped Kitchen with Island

Click here for Pros and Cons of an L-shaped kitchen

Pros and Cons of a U Shaped Kitchen

U shaped kitchen: Synonymous to its name, this kitchen is also called horseshoe shaped kitchen. This kitchen layout runs along three walls with counter-tops, cabinets and appliances on either side. In other words, it consists of a work space on three adjoining walls, two parallel walls perpendicular to a third. There are no traffic lanes flowing through the work area.

Top view of a U shaped Kitchen

Pros:

• The U-shaped kitchen layout is a useful and versatile layout for a small, medium or large kitchen space.
• Offers a spacious work area, adequate storage and can be customised to suit most existing home designs.
• The recommended work triangle is easy to incorporate, and might minimise the distances you have to travel between sink, stove and fridge.
• This design works the best for larger homes with wide kitchens and large families. 
• Intimate and yet spacious. This kitchen design creates a naturally enclosed space for food prep, yet leaves plenty of room for many people to cook and interact with guests and family while preparing and cooking. 
• Flexible floor plan. U-shaped kitchens may feature an open floor plan, can work in both long, narrow galley-style spaces, as well as large square spaces with a central island workstation for additional work space and cabinetry.
• U-shaped kitchens are ideal for large families or multiple cooks who work simultaneously in the space. 
• Where space permits, a central dining table set within the U provides a casual dining or work space.
• U-shaped kitchens can be placed adjacent to the living area, fostering a connection but allowing a degree of privacy from the open-plan living or dining zone.
• Flexible according to the size of room, very efficient with good working triangle. 
• Work stations can be spaced throughout to provide convenience and efficiency.  
• It provides an abundance of counter-top storage space, a dead-end design does not interrupt work spaces, and the layout is ideal for people who use their kitchens frequently.  
• Basically a wide galley kitchen with one end closed off (U-shape), keeps onlookers out of the main work area while remaining open to other rooms of the home and allowing traffic to pass.
• Efficient for a medium or large kitchen space. This three-sided layout gives your family plenty of access to work in a separate area.
• Can easily divide the kitchen and organise into multiple work sites.
• It permits free flowing traffic without disrupting the work zones. It allows your guests and family to walk through without getting into your way as well as easy interaction.
• With an open design it uses three walls with counter space and can easily create a dining area if open to the rest of the home.
• This layout works best for kitchens that are more than 10 to 18-feet wide.
• The open wall at the front of the galley shaped floor plan keeps you from having to use an island to create more work space to use. With cabinets on three separate walls, you should have plenty of space available to work freely.
• But, if you really have wide space and choose to have an island then the industry guidelines recommend at least 3½ feet between the island and surrounding cabinets and appliances so that doors can open properly and people can maneuver safely.
• Wide "U" can support a kitchen island.

U shaped kitchen by Nolte for a small space

Cons:

• Not efficient for kitchens under 10-feet wide. As this will favour a one-cook scenario and not being ideal for entertaining or accommodating multiple cooks. This will be an example of a cramped, poorly-designed U-shaped kitchen.
• Problems arise when it’s of a small size. For one, it doesn't offer room for a kitchen table and chairs. Secondly, depending on where the sink is situated, it may be impossible to fit the dishwasher right next to it.
• If you do not have large amounts of floor space available, it can quickly become cramped. (Even worse if you’re thinking of adding an island.)
• It can space out your work triangle, depending only on the amount of space between the counter-tops.
• If your kitchen is very large, you’ll have to use an island to keep work areas conveniently close without which it can make the layout non efficient.
• Kitchens under 10-feet wide are non-efficient. You need enough space for work aisles. At least 42 inches in front of each counter. 
• This layout can be used effectively only in medium-sized or large kitchens. A small space will feel cramped.
• Requires a heavier investment in counter-tops and appliances as you have more room to fill up.
• Bottom corner cabinets are difficult to access. You’ll have plenty of dark cabinet spaces where it can be easy to lose pots and pans.
• Some people find U-shaped kitchens to be confining, and cut off from the rest of the house. 
• U-shaped kitchens are a cook's dream - but you have to watch the space between work zones. If they are too wide it can be frustrating. The area within the U can be any size, but if too wide it becomes inconvenient putting too much distance between work zones.
• A U-shaped kitchen’s large mass of cabinets can feel bulky if the detailing isn’t closely considered. This kitchen layout is also better suited to a period rather than modern home.
• Reduced floor space means cabinets can become hard to access if too small. 
• If you do not have large amounts of open floor space or kitchen plan, adding a kitchen island will cause clutter. Even if you try to use a small kitchen island, you’ll run into problems where you only have enough space for one person to move around in between the island and your counter-tops.  
• Not efficient for large kitchens without an island.

Click here for Pros and Cons of a G-shaped kitchen.

Pros and Cons of a Galley Kitchen

Galley Kitchen: It is a kitchen layout with parallel counter-tops and a space to walk in between. Hence it’s also called a corridor or a walk-through kitchen. It has appliances and cabinets fixed on two walls opposite to each other.

Top View of a Galley Kitchen

Pros:

• This layout is ideal for small to medium-sized kitchens
• Works well even in narrow, rectangular floorplans
• Allows for plentiful storage space
• Whether it's ingredients or kitchen items, everything is within easy reach
• The work triangle* is efficient with more scope for easy accessibility and convenience 
• Highly functional when it comes to storage and adjusting to any length
• To and fro movement is easy 
• Easy to clean counter top and floor

Galley Kitchen by Nolte

Cons:

• Can get crammed with more than two people
• Natural light may get cut out with tall cabinets
• Cannot accommodate an island in the middle if the kitchen is small or is in short of floor space 
• No room for dining. This limits interaction with family and guests. 
• Not suitable for large kitchens 

*Work triangle: A term used by kitchen designers to determine the planning of the kitchen layouts. The triangle is formed by drawing an imaginary straight line from the centre of the sink, to the centre of the cook top, to the centre of the refrigerator, and finally back to the sink.

Click here for Pros and Cons of a U-shaped Kitchen

Pros and Cons of a Straight Kitchen Layout

Deciding a kitchen layout for your home depends on filtering several factors like style, room size, how you cook, eat and socialise. Of course, what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. Knowing the different layouts and understanding the pros and cons of each kitchen layout will help you conclude the kind of kitchen that suits your space and matches your needs. To guide and help you get the right kitchen for your set up, we have the types of kitchen layouts in a series.

Straight Kitchen: It’s also called one line or one wall kitchen. As the name suggests, these kitchens have appliances, counter-top, sink, cabinets fixed aligning a straight wall keeping everything within your reach. This kitchen is suitable for those who like stylish look than traditional. Best for small homes with a small kitchen room but it works very well for large open area plan homes as well.

Top view of a Straight Kitchen

Pros:

• It is spacious and the work triangle* runs through a straight line
• It is the ultimate space optimising kitchen layout while being compact and convenient
• Ideal for studio apartments and compact kitchens, although it can also be useful as a secondary kitchen in a larger home or studio
• It is cost efficient, with clever storage, takes up less space and easy to install
• The design is sleek and chic and fits long narrow spaces where only one person can cook
• It is highly practical and functional. This layout keeps the work triangle* running smoothly. This is because all the work zones are positioned close to each other like stove, sink and refrigerator 
• An option for dining is available with dining table positioned directly adjacent to the kitchen
• It minimises visual clutter. It keeps all kitchen appliances, cutlery and ingredients within easy reach
• It requires a smaller investment in appliances and counter-tops

Straight Layout Kitchen by Nolte

Cons:

• Surrounding rooms may be disturbed by the bustle in the kitchen
• Space for just one person to cook. Multiple people may result in chaos or running into each other
• It is the least efficient in terms of requiring the cook to walk from one end of the counter to the other
• Unless appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators are fully integrated, this kitchen design can be visually cluttered. An induction cook top will also help streamline this kitchen layout
• This layout is ideal for square-shaped kitchen floor plan 
• It is recommended to go for sliding door options for the cabinets if space is a constraint. Hinge doors may take up more space when opening making movement difficult

*Work triangle: A term used by kitchen designers to determine the planning of the kitchen layouts. The triangle is formed by drawing an imaginary straight line from the centre of the sink, to the centre of the cook top, to the centre of the refrigerator, and finally back to the sink.

Click here for Pros and Cons of a Galley Kitchen