My mother did eventually renovate our non-kitchen kitchen, getting rid of the loyal pan and steamer, replacing it with a brilliant Rangemaster oven. And what we’re seeing is design decisions are no longer just personal preference, but also accommodating to make welcoming others into the home easier. They’ve evolved from being a utilitarian room, which many wanted to spend the least amount of time in, to a space which is multi-functional - to host, cook and wine and dine guests. Kitchens are truly re-establishing themselves as the heart (as well as stomach) of the home. Searches for ‘dinner party ideas’ have remained smoothly high across the platform in the past year, with ‘graze boards’ also booming for those looking to share snacks for more than one.* The hope to host is clear in the rise of DIY cocktails, which were popularised when we couldn’t cheer with others, but has only become more popular as we’re seeing people again.

What helped shape our space was my ex-partner’s mother, who due to her Caribbean heritage showed fountains of love through her cooking and the kitchen in which she hosted everyone.Ĭooking and kitchens are intrinsic to one another, each of them influencing the other, and lastly this desire to be social can be seen in the dishes and drinks that people are concocting in the kitchen. My partner at the time and I embarked on the terrifying experience of ripping out a kitchen and the exhilarating experience of putting in a new one.

Pinterest search trends