With lightning speed, the worst pandemic in over a hundred years changed everything. Work, education, sports, entertainment, social engagement, family activities and almost every aspect of normal, daily living changed to accommodate a “new normal.”
Like people around the world, the residents of the master-planned community of MorningStar, located north of Austin near Georgetown, have adapted to the need for social distancing. Some neighbors, who, over the years, have become friends have kept their spirits up with digital meetings and unique neighborhood events such as a properly spaced wedding photoshoot that made everyone smile at just the right time!
Many of these MorningStar residents have seen their time at home increase and this has led to dramatic changes in the function of the family home. No space has seen more adaptation than the most popular room in the home: the kitchen.
Six Ways COVID Has Changed Kitchen Design
#1 There is Much More Cooking at Home
Even as restaurants have tried to adapt to offering more “take out” service, the overwhelming number of families are now preparing food and dining at home. According to this article, “New kitchens will be designed for healthy meals, food prep stations, and storing leftovers. You might also find yourself using those fun small appliances like your juicer, slow cooker, ice cream maker, or food processor.”
#2 Refrigerators and Freezers Are Getting Larger
In the middle of a pandemic, the last place anyone wants to go is to the grocery store. Unfortunately, that is where the food is. This encourages families to “stock up” on food with every trip. This means that larger refrigerators and freezers are becoming more popular than smaller units.
#3 Pantries, Cabinets and Storage Space Rule the Room
COVID has taught interior designers who specialize in kitchens a valuable lesson. It is that keeping an organized pantry is key for easier home-cooked meals. Home economists have always known that dry foods such as rice, beans, grains, and oats are a low-cost way to feed a family and spices and herbs add some zest to every meal. This is part of the reason kitchen storage is a new priority.
#4 Keeping it Clean is Critical
Almost everyone has learned the importance of washing hands multiple times a day. This emphasis on hygiene is also being found in the trend toward easy-to-clean, low maintenance appliances, cabinets, faucets, tile and fixtures. This means that stainless steel appliances will become even more popular, and non-porous, scratch-resistant and antimicrobial countertops made of materials such quartz will be showing up in more kitchens.
#5 Smart Kitchens Save Money
For several years, “smart” technology has been a part of many kitchens. COVID has supercharged that trend. According to this article, “Today, you can have a kitchen with technology integrated into every function and appliance. Easy add-ons are motion sense-equipped kitchen faucets that can sense the presence of hands underneath and will come on automatically or try a one-touch feature. Refrigerators that can alert you when your groceries items are running low or a coffee maker programmed to have your coffee ready when you wake up. There is also a gadget that monitors your eggs, telling you which ones are almost going bad. Do not forget to update your lighting system–allowing you to control all the lights from your smartphone or tablet.”
#6 Take it Outside
Another interesting trend that has been expanded by the need to social distance is cooking and entertaining in an outside kitchen. Grilling has never been this popular! Adding an outside entertainment/food preparation area to an existing patio or pool area is a great way to enjoy conversations and meals with friends and family in the “great outdoors.”
We’ll Be Here on the Other Side of COVID
Long after these current challenges are nothing but bad memories, the residents of tight-knit communities such as MorningStar will continue to enjoy the many advantages of this peaceful enclave in the Texas Hill Country. If you’re ready for an upgrade in your kitchen and all of the other rooms in your home, click here and let us show the state-of-the-art design of homes in MorningStar.