In recent years there has been increasing evidence that British families are no longer eating in the kitchen together. It is estimated that around five million families prefer to eat while sat on the sofa or up in their bedrooms while watching TV. In days gone by families would eat together on a regular basis but this would appear to be a dying trend.

Kitchens are an ideal place to talk as a family or invite friends round for meals and are often a scene of great laughter. They should be more than just a gathering area for the traditional Sunday lunch. Perhaps the installation of a sparkling new kitchen may encourage you and the kids to eat together more frequently as a family. The modern kitchen is instead increasingly used as a place for using the internet and other tasks, why not get back to cooking in it.

With so many kitchen designs now available it would seem to be a pity not to use it to its full potential. An open plan kitchen does not mean it has to take up a huge amount of space, even the smallest of rooms can contain separate dining and seating areas. You could even turn the seating area into a breakfast bar, as the kitchen is not just a place for hot meals.

The shaker kitchen was inspired by original designs of the 19th century Shaker communities. It is a kitchen design which brings a rustic look, but it still appeals people who prefer a more contemporary design as it has clean lines. The cabinets included in a shaker kitchen are usually made from sturdy hardwoods and the countertops tend to have a muted look rather than a shiny surface.

The kitchen should be classed as being as important as the living room, bedroom or bathroom, neglecting it would be extremely foolish.

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