A kitchen-diner is the new family must-have – the room where everyone can be together but still do their own thing.
Family first
Estate agents tell us that the top priority for today’s buyers is a big family kitchen: the hub of the home.
Lifestyles have changed hugely in the last 30 years.
The majority of mums now go out to work and no longer have the time, or even the inclination, to serve regular meals in a separate, shut-away dining room. Indeed, more often than not, different members of the family will eat different things at different times. Happily, though, this doesn’t mean the family doesn’t want to be together. Quite the reverse. You all want to congregate in a room that’s a combination of diner, cooking place, playroom and chill-out den. And that takes some organising.
Well equipped
First on your list must be a very large, sturdy table. Wood or a wipeable composite surface will probably suit you best. Remember that there may well be a lot going on at this particular table. At one end Mum might be preparing food, while at the other, a teenager could be doing homework. And in the middle, younger children – and doubtless a few of their friends – will be busy with colouring books and felt pens. The floor also needs to be easy-clean.
There are going to be spillages and, if you have under-fives, that’s where they’ll be playing. Seek out a kitchen with lots of worktop space or an island – handsome and useful.
Storage is going to be important, too. With so many different activities taking place around you, you are going to have to be tidy – and you can’t achieve that unless you have somewhere to put everything neatly away.
A large fridge-freezer is another must – and, if you can afford it, go for a vast American-style one with built-in cold-water tap and ice maker. Or opt for retro – the walk-in larder of the 1920s is actually immensely practical, keeping store-cupboard items cool and dry… and out of the way.
Finally, you’ll need an area where you can all just sprawl on the sofa (there’ll be less screaming from you if it is spongeable) and relax. That’s the logical spot for the TV – preferably the wall-mounted, swivelling variety. And last, but by no means least, that vital family organiser: a chalk-on and rub-off message board, perfect for keeping up with the family’s busy schedule.
The above feature was
published in at home
with Sarah Beeny
in December 2011
Click here for more
Sarah Beeny.
Picture: Getty Images
