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Interiors - Kitchens
Spice it Up!
Indian kitchens are getting too haute to handle with an incredible
range of appliances, accessories, fittings and fixtures on
the market. TALEENA ALIM finds out what's cooking.
I you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, a wag
once said. Times, evidently, have changed - today's red-hot
kitchens aren't driving anyone away! Instead, they are comfort
zones for the family and talking points for guests, a place
to be cherished, even flaunted. Adding to their allure are
the clever details: breakfast counters, pantry organisers,
appliance garages, designer chimney hoods and low-voltage
lighting. The best part: with slashed taxes and import duties,
you can buy an imported or Indian modular kitchen or get a
carpenter to handcraft a kitchen with these high-end functional
accessories.
The modular buzz
A new kitchen in three days? Sounds fanciful but it is possible
if you opt for a 'factory-fitted' kitchen. But all so-called
modular kitchens are not factory-fitted, according to Anant
Maloo, Managing Director, Iki Timbor Pvt Ltd.
"A true modular kitchen is like a TV that is unpacked
and connected," says Balbeer Singh, Zonal Manager (West),
CC Impex Pvt Ltd, which markets Veneta Cucine kitchens in
India. "Each module stands on its own feet. Fitting simply
comprises placement and alignment."
Today, modular kitchen shops, large and small, are seen everywhere.
Most small dealers are essentially cabinet suppliers who source
accessories from various suppliers and often do not include
appliances in their kitchens.
In contrast, says Maloo, "We are kitchen specialists
and organise everything including the 'electro-domestics'
from specific well-tested brands like Kaff." He adds
that as they manufacture locally, they can customise to some
extent unlike imported kitchens where you have to select cabinets
from available modules. For his part, Singh counters, "Supplying
an additional shelf is not customisation. Our modules are
in standard sizes, based on extensive research, and our range
is comprehensive enough. In fact, we go a step further and
provide solutions based on the client's lifestyle, whether
it is working out optimum storage, oven capacity or even installing
a motor away from the chimney if the client wants a noiseless
kitchen."
Designer view
How, then, do interior designers feel about using modular
kitchens?
"Initially, modular kitchens seem less of a hassle, but
several parameters have to be followed in terms of electrical
points, flooring and wall tiling (definitely the worst part!),"
says Bangalore-based interior designer Geeta John. "The
designer has one tiling pattern in mind but has to accommodate
the pattern requirement of the modular kitchen guys. So a
fancy tiling pattern can cause a lot of heartache and there
is absolutely no room for mistakes."
But there may be a solution. As Bindiya Naggar, Franchisee
Manager, Kitchen World, says, to pre-empt such problems, "we
have in-house designers who even have joint designing sessions
if required.
The electrical, plumbing and granite layouts are given only
after the interior designer and client agree."
Another issue is cost. Though imported modular kitchens have
an excellent finish, they come at a price, believes Mumbai-based
interior designer Naresh Shah. "Everyone need not drive
a BMW when Corollas are made in India," he says wryly.
"We have the best carpenters and designing talent. Besides,
our building construction is not standardised, so in a modular
option we cannot maximise the available volume and often have
to add filler units."
Material options
Cutting, cooking, cleaning…it all happens on the countertop,
making ease of maintenance as critical as aesthetics, if not
more. Right now, granite is the most sought-after material.
"Black and some dark varieties of granite are functionally
the best," says Singh. "However, we use a lot of
solid surfaces like Corian because of immense possibilities
of look and design." With over 80-100 colour options
that are impossible to match in natural stone, "solid
surfaces are best for a light-coloured countertop, as natural
stone is usually porous and stains easily," adds John.
The table below gives the pros and cons of commonly used countertop
materials:
What lies beneath?
So what are these man-made solid surfaces?
Composed of either polyester or acrylic, solid surfaces have
no layers and are among the easiest to maintain and repair.
While there are some relatively new international brands,
Corian (a brand name of DuPont) has virtually become generic.
"Corian is so completely non-porous and seamless that
even bacterial eggs cannot get in, making it absolutely hygienic,"
says Suman Shah of Shree Jalaram Timber, distributor of Corian
in western India. "If scratched, you can sand it out
with fine sandpaper. Even if hammered, the damaged section
can be carved out and replaced without the joint showing.
Sizes can also be altered anytime." While accepting that
the surface is not heat-resistant, she argues, "Stainless
steel buffers are provided to place hot objects. You just
need to be a little careful while using it."
"Our use of Corian started with the concept of an all-white
kitchen as it was possible to fuse a counter, wall washer
and sink," says Naresh Shah. Apart from sinks, it can
be used to clad shutters and offers tremendous design possibilities
like inlay, two-toned colours, perforations and grooves. And
although it comes in 12 mm thickness, you can fuse it to form
a block that can then be moulded to nearly any specification.
"Although it's not necessary, buffing once a year can
make it look brand new," he adds.
Solid surfaces don't come cheap - they cost Rs 600 to Rs 1,000
per sq ft with installation, but they're not as expensive
as stainless steel, concrete or engineered stone.
Cabinet affairs
Here's another debate: should cabinetry be in marine ply,
MDF, particle-board or solid wood?
While modular kitchen cabinets mostly come in pre-laminated
particleboard with shutter options in membrane-pressed MDF
and solid wood, interior designers prefer marine ply for handcrafted
kitchens. "I've always used termite and waterproof board
for the basic framework," says John. "Laminated
shutters and drawer fronts, as opposed to polished veneer
or solid wood, are preferable for easy maintenance. But I
use solid wood to make additional units to match an existing
modular kitchen."
Is lightweight particleboard suited to 'wet 'Indian kitchens
roughed up by domestics?
"Judging a material by its weight alone is old thinking,"
responds Singh. Allaying fears of low water resistance, he
says, "The very fact that we give a lifetime warranty
on manufacturing defects should assure you that the edges
are completely sealed."
Although most kitchen manufacturers use water-repellent, borer-proof
and termite-resistant particleboard, it is little features
that add durability. "We have a PVC base in the sink
unit and rubber beading on horizontal panels to protect against
bumping of doors and entry of dust and insects into cabinets,"
explains Naggar.
"Shelf holders come with brass inserts making it easy
to adjust shelf height without damaging the unit."
While most ready kitchens come according to international
specifications, some manufacturers are also offering 'Indianised
'versions! "Though pre lam kitchens work well, we have
a marine ply option with large module sizes, suited for traditional
kitchens that are washed several times a day and require additional
storage," says Sachin Vora, Manager, Akruti Kitchens,
Mumbai, which markets Kitchen Grace modular kitchens. "The
cabinets are raised and placed on an aluminium framework,
eliminating the skirting, thus making cleaning easier. And
cabinet sizes are increased to 900 mm x 400 mm instead of
the standard 600 mm x 300 mm." For those who want the
'country' look, solid wood shutters can be used.
Pullout space
Here's something to think about: pullout shelves don't just
organise storage. As Rajesh Ahuja, Managing Director, Sleek
International, reveals, they also actually increase storage
space by two-and-a-half times!
Medium-priced kitchens come with PVC-coated, stainless steel
pullout wire baskets. "As they have only 30 per cent
of the weight of wooden drawers, the same drawer runner can
take a higher load of contents," advises Ahuja. "The
wire basket also ventilates wet vessels. However, you should
have a combination of wooden drawers and wire baskets for
dry and wet use."
High-end modular kitchens come with the well-known Blum drawer
systems, which are basically side extensions in metal, with
board used for the base and back of the drawers. "What
use is a stainless steel basket if water is drained into a
carcass made of wood?" asks Rajan Durai, Business Head,
Kitchen Division, Hafele India Pvt Ltd. "Not only are
Blum drawer systems designed to take weights better over time,
their three-dimensional adjustment allows alignment even if
the carpenter makes a mistake. Besides, their big advantage
is that you can vary the width of the pullout to your requirement."
Hard facts
Today, the market brims with ideas to make the most of your
storage space. Pantry organisers, half-moon swing outs and
plate rack dowels can create storage from an otherwise empty
space. "With readymade accessories, a kitchen can be
installed quickly as only the carcass and facia need to be
constructed," says Durai. "But the world's best
hardware can become the world's worst if not installed properly."
According to him, it is not possible for the dealer to explain
the concept or installation instructions, or display the entire
range. "Therefore, we have set up design centres in Mumbai,
Delhi and Bangalore where almost 4,000 hardware items are
displayed," he adds. "If required, we also offer
designing services for a fee, which is adjusted on purchase.
Without proper tools, carpenters fit the hardware in a very
crude manner. We conduct workshops where they are trained
on jigs and portable machines, and we also sell woodworking
equipment directly to them."
The electro-domestics
The hob, chimney and sink are basic to any modern kitchen
design. Hobs can be standalone or built-in with flame-retardant
devices like a triple-ring burner. Another integral part of
a modern kitchen is a chimney with multi-speed blowers to
whisk away smoke and odours. Most models come in exhaust and
recirculation options with suction power ranging between 400
cu m and 1,000 cu m. In Durai's opinion, considering that
deep frying occurs regularly in an average Indian kitchen,
suction power of 750 cu m is optimal. He also recommends that
chimney size matches that of the hob. Other aspects to consider
are the filters used and their cleaning process. In a typical
Indian kitchen, a baffle filter is preferred over a mesh filter.
Kitchen sinks come in so many configurations - single-bowl,
double-bowl, and even triple-bowl, with single or multiple
drain boards. "Some of our models catering to Indian
requirements have chopping boards and side stands for utensils
that release space for cooking," says Vibhuti Patki,
Product Manager, Franke India Pvt Ltd. "We have over
1,000 models. As dealers can barely display two or three models,
we have started a Franke mobile van fitted with sinks that
go to the customer's doorstep."
Apart from the conventional rectangular shape, corner sinks
and round sinks are also available. "Finishes could be
glossy, matte, anti-scratch or two-tone," says Patki.
"The focus is on health and hygiene. Our sinks are designed
so that water does not stagnate, allowing bacteria to breed.
We provide a cockroach-proof waste coupler, to prevent cockroaches
entering from the drain. Another hygienic device that is becoming
popular is the waste disposer, which grinds food waste to
be flushed away through the normal waste pipe.
One can select motor capacity depending on the kind of waste
(vegetable peels, meat chops, etc)."
The bottom line
A new kitchen is a big investment - to get the best value
from it, you must carefully select materials, hardware, accessories
and the appliances. "Choose the brands carefully and
decide what kind of fridge, hob, oven and sink you want,"
urges John. "An 8' x 5' hand-crafted kitchen, for instance,
can start at around Rs 2.5 lakh including the granite top,
sink, microwave, etc, while a modular kitchen of this size
can cost around Rs 5 lakh." A handcrafted kitchen is
priced on a sq ft basis and a readymade one is on the basis
of the modules selected, explains Vora. The price of the module
would vary with the shutter finish and accessories.
For his part, Singh says a total quote can be given after
"assessing the actual requirements on site".
Chimney prices range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 75,000 depending
on features and capacity and hobs from Rs 10,000 to Rs 95,000
(the price of a Smeg electric hob that works on the principle
of induction). Sinks range from Rs 5,000 for a conventional
sink to Rs 25,000 for a corner sink. Countertop materials,
exclusive of installation, could vary from Rs 150-Rs 500 (for
granite) to Rs 600-Rs 800 (solid surfaces). Finally, as a
broad benchmark, a kitchen (including electro-domestics) could
start around Rs 2.5 lakh and go up to a high-end of Rs 15
lakh. Now, that's not just hot - it's haute!
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