It may have been 3 years since IKEA teamed up with creative agency IDEO to produce Concept Kitchen 2025, giving us a glimpse into how technologically-advanced our kitchens could become, but that hasn’t stopped other companies jumping on the bandwagon since. From hi-tech tables and 3D printed food to integration of advanced devices, we’ve certainly got a lot to look forward to, according to leading industry experts. With The Silestone Institute recently releasing its ground-breaking ‘Global Kitchen’ report concerning the kitchen of the future, we decided to take a look at how this will change the home’s most valuable room as we know it.

The Heart Of The Home

For many families, kitchens are generally considered the core of the home – the place where days are discussed, plans are made and delicious meals are created. In recent times however, caused by technology developments and changes in lifestyle, the kitchen has taken a more functional role, used mostly for cooking and little else. This is all set to change, as the kitchen of the future will be a hyper-connected, multi-functional space where members of the family will gather for work and leisure. Take IKEA’s ‘living table’ for example, which uses casual technology to offer recipe guidance, charge your phone and augment play, by bringing pictures to life.

‘’There can be no doubt that the kitchen of the future will be human-centred and brimming with love.’’ Juli Capella, Architect and Designer.

Source: Business Insider

Open And Integrated Kitchens

Rather than being an independent and closed-off room, the current trend of open and integrated kitchens will be maintained. Becoming more accessible from other areas of the home, they’ll create an open, inviting place for both family and guests.

The ‘Global Kitchen’ report asked industry professionals about their views concerning how kitchens will be laid out in 20 years’ time:

‘’In terms of kitchen layout, practically 100% of respondents opt for a space integrated with the rest of the home: 81.5% consider that it will open onto the dining room and living room, and 18% believe that it will be combined with the dining room, with a separate living area.’’

Efficient And Sustainable Kitchens

Kitchens of the future will be designed for greater efficiency. Work surfaces will feature induction coils meaning food can be kept warm without the need for gas or reheating.

They’ll be energy-saving and water-saving appliances throughout, such as sinks that send recycled water for use in the washing machine.

Technology Hub

Many exciting developments here. The kitchen will become a technology hub, with appliances connected to the internet and manageable from mobile and wearable devices. For example, your fridge will be able to send you a reminder at work that you’re low on milk, with your blender planning ways of making delicious and nutritious smoothies based on the fruit and veg you have available.

You’ll also be able to make calls, broadcast TV and surf the web right from your worktops, which will also store recipe databases of all your favourite meals.

Source: The Spoon

Intuitive Countertops

Besides being made from advanced materials that emphasize durability, safety and hygiene, countertops of the future will:

• Detect food stains and self-clean.
• Weigh ingredients and provide nutritional analysis.
• Absorb liquids.
• Play videos.
• Cook food using specialist pans.

‘’Given the prevailing opinion that the kitchen is undergoing a progressive transformation of its uses and design, more than three out of four professionals in kitchen and bathroom stores (78%) believe that the sector is prepared to deal with these changes.’’

With so much to look forward to, we can’t wait to see what the future has in store.