Design trends in the kitchen
One of the biggest trends driving kitchen design in today's homes is the increasing popularity of open-plan living, which has transformed the kitchen into the hub of the home.
"Kitchens no longer just need to blend in, they are the statement centrepiece of the home," says Lincoln Trager, managing director of kitchen design company The Maker.
"Clients are moving away from safe and taking to new materials."
This means more people want kitchens that are stylish as well as functional.
A kitchen from IKEA.
As well as the increased emphasis on aesthetics, Mr Trager says kitchens are becoming as much a living space as a work space, with more designs incorporating a clear place for people to sit and interact while meals are being cooked.
Susan Jansen, owner of The Kitchen Factory, says more people want designated working areas similar to those seen in professional kitchens.
Related: Cool kitchens are hot
This includes sculleries as a way to keep the kitchen clear, preparation areas, coffee and tea-making zones and a "drop off dirty dishes" area.
Island benches are still popular and particularly useful when more than one person is cooking.
"It creates more storage and preparation space," says Alicia Pearson, from Exclusiv Kitchens.
And when it comes to size, according to the Housing Industry Association's 2009/10 Kitchens and Bathrooms Report, there has been a move to bigger kitchens.
"One of the strongest growth categories within the kitchen and bathroom sector in recent years has been the use of high-end hardware and storage solutions," says HIA chief economist Harley Dale.
