Don’t grimace, it could be coming sooner than you think. The pressure is on. Cooking in your kitchen is the new ‘right-on activity’, the new black in fashion terms. Wholesome, socially and morally correct behaviour, it makes a virtue out of the downturn, a return to behaviour inspired by instinct and pure of motive, both creative and productive. Short of growing the food yourself (although you can also shop to match the ethos), it’s the ultimate way of nurturing your family and friends, rewarding your appetite and being economic. Sleeping might be the longest activity we undertake in our home habitat and where we are the most vulnerable, but cooking is the ultimate expression of our nesting instinct. It’s the core activity bringing rhythm to our day, satisfying our hard wired needs for sociable activity—a key component for our happiness, well being and survival.

Where we do this affects our enjoyment and efficacy of cooking and its related activities. So kitchen design is more important than ever. Is the kitchen attractive to other family members than just the cook? Do they want to linger? Does it establish eye contact to encourage chat and provide a comfortable place to perch? Is the lighting designed for high octane use and for diners to relax? Can the fumes get out and can the children play within an easy distance or be visible in the garden from the cook’s action spot? Cooking maybe back in fashion, whether it’s the new black or simply because of back to basic necessity, but things are heating up for kitchen designers (please forgive the pun).