The Open Kitchen: A Comedic Exploration

For some doubters, there’s no open and shut case.

Ah, the kitchen—a beloved corner of every home where culinary magic and occasional chaos collide. Yet, the debate over whether to embrace the open kitchen concept has become a source of light-hearted bickering. 

A friend I met recently was quite cut up about her difficulties in deciding which one to choose. The kitchen with a door that could be bolted or one which bared the mess she made post-cooking into the living room? She remarked that though the open kitchen has taken the world by storm for as long as we remember, it’s still much like the rise of avocado toast.

 Designers and developers champion this trend as if it’s the holy grail of home design. With shiny granite countertops and enough gadgets to launch a rocket, these kitchens scream, “Look at me! I have arrived!” Guests peer in, wide-eyed, marvelling at how effortlessly you sauté and serve—when, in reality, you’re just trying to find the lid to that pan.

Designers look at the kitchen as their masterpiece signature in a designed home but my friend, who had herself pleaded for it with her designer was having second thoughts.

So let’s be real: separating the kitchen from the dining area has its perks. Cooking can turn your pristine space into a scene from a cooking show gone wrong. Without a small army of sous-chefs to help, it’s nearly impossible to whip up a gourmet meal without leaving a trail of flour, spilled sauces, and the occasional smoke alarm going off. How do people manage to chat and stir the pot at the same time? It’s like trying to pat your head and rub your belly while reciting Shakespeare!

Open kitchen fans will scoff at any notion of reverting to closed-off spaces. “Why hide the culinary masterpieces?” they say, while accidentally knocking over a bottle of olive oil. These culinary wizards may have watched one too many cooking competitions, thinking they could replicate those flawless dishes while maintaining their cool. Spoiler alert: it usually ends with a frantic search for the fire extinguisher.

And what about the young parents who insist that an open kitchen lets them keep an eye on their little ones? Sure, they can see the kids, but can they smell the curry? That spicy aroma wafts through the house long after dinner, turning your elegant open layout into a fragrant reminder of what’s just been served. Who needs air fresheners when you have ‘Chili con Chaos’ lingering in the air?

It’s a well-kept secret that many open kitchens have a hidden sanctuary—a separate space where the real cooking magic happens, far from prying eyes and judgmental relatives. This design allows homeowners to maintain that Instagram-worthy aesthetic while saving their sanity.

For those who are not on board with the open kitchen trend, don’t fret! There are ways to cope. Just consider tweaking your menu when entertaining. How about serving dishes that don’t involve frying or simmering? Maybe a nice cheese platter instead? It’s much harder to create a culinary disaster when all you need is a knife and some crackers.

In the end, whether you’re in team open kitchen or a staunch supporter of closed-off cooking spaces, we can all agree on one thing: the kitchen is the heart of the home. And no matter what layout you choose, it will always be the place where culinary dreams—and occasional disasters—come to life.

My unsure, dithering friend has at least agreed on this!