It’s late April in 2020, it’s a very strange time for everyone. The coronavirus lockdown means that Covid-19 has had dramatic effects on the way we live – for many of us, more so than ever before in living memory. Amongst all the worry though, there are some positive things to come out of the crisis. For example, British retailer Tesco recently commissioned a study of 2000 adults, which revealed some fascinating changes in the way we’re all using our kitchens.
Cooking can sometimes be very intensive in terms of both time and labour, and many of us can find ourselves short of the necessary time or energy during the week. But with the national lockdown measures in place, more and more of us are turning to our kitchens to occupy our time. As extra motivation, we get to enjoy some wonderful meals at the end of it. According to the survey, more than a fifth of us are now cooking every meal from scratch, compared to just one in 8 of us previously. Two fifths of us now enjoy cooking even more than we did before the lockdown, with an encouraging 89% of us planning to continue making food from scratch once the restrictions are lifted.
Temporary food shortages and limits on the number of shop visits have resulted in many of us becoming more creative with our recipes, whether we’re following other people’s or making our own! You’ve probably already heard of people making their own bread (or tried it yourself), but there are some intriguing twists on other classic foods too, such as healthy banana pancakes, or ‘Nice’ cream which is virtually fat free and has no refined sugars. Handy to keep children occupied!
Perhaps not surprisingly, the limits and curfews imposed by the crisis are making us more thankful for what we have. In the kitchen, that translates to a keener focus on reducing waste, with 35% of us saying we’re now better at using leftovers to avoid waste. Just a quick scan across social media sites like Pinterest will reveal plenty of novel techniques and solutions that people are using to try and cut down on waste – for example, by using empty plastic egg cartons to preserve single servings of sauce that might otherwise be thrown away.
On a related note, our increased rate of cooking and time in the kitchen is teaching us how to cook with fewer ingredients. We’re also getting more familiar with substitutes for certain ingredients during cooking, like using alternatives to pasta or flour (both of which, at one stage, were quite difficult to find!). We’re making better use of our freezers too, and saving more food for later in the week.
Here at Kitchen Design Centre, we think this is one of the most positive things to come out of otherwise distressing circumstances. 33% respondents to the survey said that mealtimes have become more of an occasion at home, with children eating at the dinner table more often before. The experimental cooking forays we mentioned above are increasingly being done together too, with 46% of respondents reporting their children getting more involved with cooking.
Interestingly, breakfast appears to be the meal undergoing the most dramatic transformation. For many families, normally it’s a case of a quick bowl of cereal, and then out the door for the school run or work commute. Now though, with a lot more time to spare, it’s turned into more of an occasion to rival that of dinner, with family members gathering around the table to kick off their day. Rather than cereal, people are indulging themselves a little more – the classic British fry up is on the rise!
The age of modern technology has allowed us to develop some novel ways of enjoying our food with other people too, especially for those of us living alone. More than 10% of the respondents to the survey reported enjoying a ‘virtual meal’ by co-ordinating their cooking with someone else on a video call. Lots of times this is with family and friends, but there are also people trying to keep the dating scene alive…
As of the time of writing, we’re still some weeks away from the lifting of any restrictions. While this is not ideal news for most people in the short term, the flipside is that it may ultimately result in some of these encouraging kitchen trends being here to stay. Only time will tell! In the meantime, we’re still here to make all your dreams for your designer kitchens a reality – to find out more, head on over to our Designed from Home Service!
Introducing Beth Ainsworth to our Blackburn showroom. Beth brings fresh ideas and plenty of enthusiasm to kitchen design. Off the clock, I’m most likely in the gym.
We’re passionate about tailoring our designs to fit your lifestyle, so whether you want a space to entertain or a family-centric kitchen to spend quality time together, our designers know exactly how to make your dream kitchen a reality.
When you book an appointment, you’ll be introduced to your personal kitchen designer, who will sit down with you in our dedicated meeting space to discuss what you want for your dream kitchen. Then, when you’re happy with the final design, they’ll become your dedicated project manager as they oversee every aspect of the installation, guaranteeing exceptional customer service as we deliver the kitchen of your dreams.
Our Summer Sale is officially ON! ✨
If you’ve been dreaming about a new kitchen, there’s never been a better time to make it happen. From timeless designs to modern family spaces, now is the perfect opportunity to save on the kitchen you’ve always wanted.
Visit our showroom or link in bio to get in touch to find out more.
AS SEEN ON GEORGE CLARKE’S BEAUTIFUL BUILDS: FROM DATED LAYOUT TO DREAM ENTERTAINING SPACE
When Katherine and Andrew purchased their property, they always knew a full renovation would follow.
With both the outdated kitchen and untouched garden requiring significant transformation, the project soon became part of Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Beautiful Builds – it was an opportunity they felt perfectly aligned with their vision for the property.
While searching for a local kitchen specialist, Kitchen Design Centre immediately stood out thanks to its long-standing reputation, glowing customer reviews and welcoming showroom experience.
The brief focused on creating a sleek, contemporary kitchen that would feel open, social and highly functional, while complementing the wider architectural renovation of the home.
The finished design delivers a beautifully balanced space that combines clean lines with luxurious detailing.
One of the standout features is the striking worktop design. The waterfall edge peninsula creates a bold focal point within the room, while the continuation of the material across the side panels introduces a seamless, premium aesthetic.
Functionality was equally important throughout the design process, with carefully considered storage solutions and high-quality appliances helping to simplify everyday living. Among Katherine and Andrew’s favourite additions is the Neff oven, praised for both its versatility and pyrolytic self-cleaning function.
The completed result is a sophisticated contemporary space that completely transforms how the home looks, feels, and functions, perfectly reflecting Katherine and Andrew’s original vision from the moment they moved in.
More details in our bio
SUMMER JUST GOT EVEN BETTER FOR YOUR DREAM KITCHEN!
You don’t have to keep waiting for your dream kitchen. With flexible finance options on kitchens over £20,000, it’s ready when you are. Spread the cost of your kitchen plans and move forward in a way that works for you this summer.
With our exclusive Quooker offer, when you purchase any Quooker Tap and Tank system with a kitchen over £20,000, you’ll receive a FREE Quooker CUBE worth £1,250, plus free installation worth up to £384, and 4 free CO₂ cylinders worth £70. It’s everything you need to enjoy chilled, filtered, sparkling and boiling water straight from your tap.
And when you step into our showrooms, there are even more opportunities waiting for you, including exclusive savings on selected ex-display kitchens and up to 50% off selected stock appliances. Don’t miss this rare chance to secure something special, with design and value combined.
That said, like all great things, these summer offers are only available for a limited time — once they’re gone, they’re gone!
The kitchen isn’t just a place to cook — it’s the heart of the home.
At our Kitchen Design Centre, we believe your kitchen should be the centrepiece of your house, where style meets functionality and every moment matters. From morning coffees to family dinners and everything in between, your kitchen is where life happens.
That’s why we design spaces that bring people together — beautiful, practical, and tailored to you. Whether you’re dreaming of a sleek modern look or a warm, classic feel, we’re here to help you create a kitchen that truly feels like home.
Visit us today and start designing the heart of your home.
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