Cooking in total luxury

A kitchen is the favourite space of those who enjoy cooking and it is true that one just has to take a single look at how a kitchen looks like in order to have a general impression about the owner of that kitchen, and the family it serves.

These days, kitchens are no longer the place where food is cooked and eaten without taking into consideration the time, money and value of material that go into it.
The modern-day kitchen has become trendier, with many people, especially those belonging to the celebrity class, investing a fortune just to make their kitchens out of this world.

Some could be surprised to hear of the huge amounts of money that go just in decorating or redecorating a kitchen to give it that de-luxe look that can leave one “drooling” or “mouthwatering” so to speak, before tasting the food that is prepared in them.

Although a drive past the light industrial sites will show a number of firms employing skilled craftsmen are making a good living turning dreams into reality. And those houses for sale ads, with “fitted kitchen including hob and oven” tend to suggest that fitting up a kitchen does no harm to the resale value of the house.

A survey conducted by Saturday Lifestyle revealed that for one to upgrade the kitchen, one needs at least US$3 000 to give it a celebrity poshy trendy look.
“Gone are the days when kitchens were just a practical place which people took for granted.

“Now state-of-the-art accessories like granite, marble and teak fittings which are very expensive not only to acquire but also to install, are the in-thing. Refitting one’s kitchen can cost one the money that they would use to purchase their household furniture which will last them for a life-time,” said Edwin Madakudya, who specialises in kitchen decoration and fittings.

He is also the spokesperson for Cee Grants a company which deals with kitchen and wardrobe fittings.
The kitchen fitter said they have worked with renowned local and international celebrities, where they upgraded their kitchens.

He said fittings can be attached to the walls to give them a shiny and solid appearance.
“The built-in kitchen units are durable as compared to the movable ones. Faucets and sinks are also another area which can transform a kitchen into a small heaven if they are given the classical touch of golden, silver or translucent colours that are eye-catching and these can be moulded in the form of anything that evokes palatable feelings and memories often associated with certain foods.

“For example, the knob of a faucet can be crafted in the form of fruits like oranges or lemons, and this calls a high level of artistry which doesn’t come for a song,” he explained.

Madakudya added that they buy their material in South Africa and Dubai.
“We have worked with prominent business personalities locally and abroad but unfortunately I can’t disclose their names,” he said.

Well other kitchens can be oval, with mirrors on the walls which reflect the images of whatever is inside from all sides, while others can have an airy ambience.
While these are not so common, one can opt to have an outdoor kitchen where food is cooked uncovered and this has to crafted in a way that the outdoor nature hence the need for an experienced designer who knows how to blend nature with the look of the kitchen and also design it in a way that can capture the eye of whoever sees it.

Another trend is the renaissance of the kitchens of the 1950s and 1960s whose look is blended with more techno-novelties.
Imagine a mahogany and teak furnishings blended with stainless steel, glass and mixed media accessories and you can visualise the marriage of epochs.

Kitchen accessories, tools and property like utensils, spoons, graters, mixers, jugs, heaters, ovens, stoves, kettles, you name them, have also become more tech-savvy that it takes the press of a simple button or some simple electrical programming and the whole job is done, and this also costs a fortune.

For Judith Maworere of Harare, a kitchen is the best place that has been created for a woman in the house, hence it is prudent to invest into it.
Everything in the kitchen has to make a statement, just like the rest of the house. That is why in some countries like South Africa they are investing their fortunes in making the kitchen more than just a simple room for preparing food.

“If you have watched some programmes on television channels like DStv, then you know what I am talking about. If you can invest in a car and spend money on maintaining it, why can’t you do the same to your kitchen, because by so doing, you will be raising the value of your house in the event that you want to sell it,” she highlighted.

With the increasing risk of fire occurring in the kitchen, some have had some fire-fighting installations which are triggered at the very first sense of fire in the kitchen.
Here at home the likes of business mogul, Phillip Chiyangwa and artiste Dominic Benhura, might have some of the best looking kitchens in Zimbabwe.

Some of the international celebrities who are known for putting their money in giving their kitchens a good look in a similar way that they do to their looks, fashion and other properties are the likes Jennifer Lopez, Kimora Lee Simons and Oprah Winfrey among others.
Here at home the likes of business mogul, Phillip Chiyangwa and artiste Dominic Benhura, might also have some of the best looking kitchens in Zimbabwe.
Alarms also go off to alert whoever within the vicinity, and what this means is that sometimes you don’t have call the fire-fighters to come to your rescue that is if the fire-alerting and extinguishing installations in the kitchen are well-functioning and 100 percent foolproof.
Some of the international celebrities who are known for putting their money in giving their kitchens a good look in a similar way that they do to their looks, fashion and other properties are the likes Jennifer Lopez, Kimora Lee Simons and Oprah Winfrey among others.
Here at home the likes of business mogul, Phillip Chiyangwa and artiste Dominic Benhura, might also have some of the best looking kitchens in Zimbabwe.