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HISTORY
OF KITCHENS |
In New York City, as in other places, today's kitchen is a completely different room from what it used to be. This is true in both appearance and function. In order to understand how we use the kitchen today, let's examine its evolution:
Evolution of Kitchens
Before the age of electricity, running water and modern appliances, there was no kitchen, per se. There was a hearth for cooking, perhaps a table or cutting board for preparation, and a dining area in a central gathering place. At the beginning of the 20 th century the kitchen came to be defined as a separate room for food preparation. The kitchen continued developing its independent identity into the 1970's and 80's. Technological advancement introduced new appliances, which constantly expanded the square footage needed in an average kitchen. Generally, the kitchen was hidden away due to the fumes and clutter caused by food preparation. There was nothing visually attractive about the kitchen, so home owners used it only for preparation. Dining was done in a separate space.
Today's Kitchen
Today it's all different! New Yorkers have changed their cultural habits, and kitchens have become more attractive than ever. The kitchen is now the center and most important part of a home - the central gathering place. Small or large families alike gather in or around the kitchen for various activities, whether it's grabbing a snack near the island or children sitting at the dining area to do their home work while their parents chop a salad. And, when entertaining a larger party, the island/peninsula area acts as the buffet table for guests to gather around.
Our eating habits have also changed. Families don't dine together everyday anymore, and it's very likely that each member of the family has a completely different diet. Frequent smaller snacks, rather than large meals are often characteristic of most busy New York teenagers and young adults.
In addition to cultural and living changes, the components of the kitchen have developed significantly. There is no reason to hide unattractive kitchen cabinets and appliances anymore. On the contrary - most New Yorkers love to show off the kitchen because it's so beautiful. Cabinets, countertops, flooring and appliances look more like pieces of art than food preparation devices.
Kitchens in Manhattan
Kitchens are serving social as well as practical purposes in contemporary New York City homes Kitchens in Manhattan are on the cutting edge by far. Since many New York City apartments are small on one hand, but expensive on the other - New York is the birthplace of many urban kitchen design trends. The fact that New York is home to people from all over the world also makes NYC kitchens open to worldwide influence.
MyHome Kitchen Designers
When taking that big step to remodel your kitchen, be sure you choose a company that can offer you expertise in a variety of styles, technologies, and design choices. MyHome's Certified Remodeling Consultants are trained in making the difficult decisions on your kitchen design easy for you. We'll help you configure the layout and then choose products and materials that turn your New York kitchen into a culinary centerpiece.
We invite you to contact us to get more details.
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