Island Living Australia

Image from Kate Hume

A particular large Swedish flavored furniture company has just started a new advertising campaign in Australia. The campaign is centered around the notion that since Australian’s were introduced to the concept of the Island-Bench, that it revolutionised the way we use our kitchens. The reality is that in Australia we are indeed mad for a good island bench. As the ad points out our kitchens are no longer just the room we cook in, but our dining room, office space, entertaining area, family room and more. Maybe it’s due to the increase in small space living, but regardless - it seems they’re right. So, does your house keep to defined formal zones or has it evolved into a central multi-purpose space?

Image from Colin Streater

In our house the kitchen is the center of our home. It’s where we meet up after a long day at work with a gin and tonic, where we plan our renovation projects, where we’re currently sewing our first quilt, where we sit around laughing with our friends and family over a meal, where we work late into the night - and of course, where we prepare meals together.

But enough about us - does your kitchen moon-light, or is another room the life-blood of your home?

Other Kitchen Posts:

How To: Make a Kitchen Cupboard Message Center

Organizing The Kitchen: The Work Triangle

A Modern Kitchen with a Retro Color Palette

Comments (6)

I dislike having to do this, but I feel it's my duty to spread the proper usage of apostrophies, even to foreign lands. Australian’s were not introduced to the concept of the Island-Bench, Australians were. Without the apostrophie the word is plural; with it, the word is possessive.

As to your question: I don't cook, so rarely enter my kitchen. Oddly enough, most of my living is done in my living room.

Our living and dining rooms are open to each other, but the kitchen is a separate room.

I love the feel of kitchens that are open to "the action", but I also like being able to close the kitchen door and be in my own zone when I cook. It's also good for private little chats with friends.

I can see the benefits of both types of kitchens. Perhaps a sliding wall between kitchen and living area would solve the problem?

And the proper spelling of apostrophe must not be neglected either.

Oh... You got me Luna! I have to laugh at myself sometimes. Thanks.

But the important thing Ms. Pea is that we must be vigilant and show no grace despite our own fallibility. Keep up the good work.

I personally like the idea of a family kitchen with a breakfast area but have a formal dining area for larger gatherings that can be adjacent to the living area.

The kitchen I'd like to be open to the family area but can be closed off for the more "formal" areas (dining/living room) so when entertaining, things can be put in the kitchen, scraped, stacked ( or put in the dishwasher to begin washing) and then can close the kitchen off and continue to entertain, now if viewing someting in the family kitchen area on a more informal gathering, then the mess of the kitchen is OK.

As it is now, I live in a 600Sq Ft 1 bedroom apt and the kitchen is a seperate galley just off the dining area of a large dining/living main room but no door to close off the kitchen however.