Simple, practical and efficient - This is the simple slogan of today's kitchen. In this feature, I am giving you ideas to make trendy and smart kitchen with these three factors combined.

Earlier, kitchen is the space just to cook and store food. But in modern times, concept of kitchen has changed very much. Now, it has become space not only for just cooking, but also for many other purposes. It include living area, dining area, children's activity room and above all, the space of all its members to gather around, while house wife is engaged in cooking. Now-a-days, kitchen has changed to a living area where food is prepared and served.
So, while designing a modern kitchen some criteria for building a living room are very often copied. Kitchen is decorated as a living room and things are beautifully arranged to make it appear as an area for living, rather than just a kitchen. Today's superfast working lady wants her kitchen to be simple, easily accessible and practical. In addition to it, she wants it to look beautiful and well arranged which surely influences her mood. It differs in accordance with each one's taste. So, ask your engineer to include all things you need, while he is drawing the house plan. The tastes of the person who uses the kitchen must be given the first preference.
Working ladies prefer a kitchen that is very efficient and things not far from her finger tips and eye contact. She wants to reduce time as much as possible to search things and reach it. She prefers equipments like 3-in-1 mixer and easily reachable bottle shelves and hence a compact kitchen. But those who are interested in cooking may prefer a big kitchen with large shelves and more spacious outlook. If house wife is doing some online work at home, it is good to set a computer table inside the kitchen itself and she may want to get easy access to every room, while inside kitchen itself. So, all these things are to be noted while drawing plan. Also, keep in mind its budget and select kitchen accessories according to it.
Lighted kitchen
One should never have to switch on lights inside the kitchen during day time. It reduces your electricity bill also. The kitchen should get plenty of sun light and fresh air. Build windows below over head cabinet, just above the counter top. You can also build windows near sink, but never place them near stove. If it is a single storey building use glass to make scarlet roof top that brings more sun light inside your kitchen.

Shopping first
Most people finish their kitchen work first before starting to prepare their wish list - things to be used and placed inside the kitchen. At that time, they may find many mistakes that cannot be corrected later or that can invite some extra expenses for restructuring. It is better to purchase all things first before building your kitchen. Purchase things according to one's life style and budget. Then build cup boards and countertops to fit all things right. You can inbuilt spaces for placing oven and mixer, so that they won't be visible from outside.
Kitchen varieties
Open kitchen in the western style is the latest trend. i.e. Arranging kitchen on one side of the dining room and no wall in between them. This type of kitchen is suitable for only those people who always keep kitchen neat. Also not suitable for people who prefers fried items frequently. Second type is known as galley kitchen or corridor kitchen. It resembles an actual corridor that has good length, but short width. Countertops are built on both lengthy sides and in the middle portion is the corridor or the free space to move. This design is best for spaces with restricted area and since storage units are placed very efficiently on both sides, it helps the house wife to work more efficiently with minimum requirement of movements between objects. Another design is 'U' shape in which sink is provided in the middle and Fridge and stove in opposite sides. Kitchen can also be designed in 'L' shapes where refrigerator and sink are placed on one side while stove on the other.
Irrespective of the shape of kitchen, fridge, sink and stove should be placed in a triangle shape and each one should be approximately on each corner of that triangle. If done so, it reduces the number of foot steps needed inside the kitchen to reach anything and thus can make your kitchen more efficient. Scientifically, this arrangement is known as 'work triangle'.
Colourful countertops
Height of the countertop should be in accordance with the height of house wife and it varies from 85-90 cm. Width is normally 2 1/2 feet length. If width is more, it will be difficult to reach things placed near the wall. Also cleaning process will be tedious. Granite is best suited for countertop. According to design and colour, its price varies. Another type available is artificial granite in black, cream, white and red colours. But it is more expensive than granite and its price varies from 600 to 1200 rupees per square feet. Also, if not handled carefully, can cause scratches.
Polished tiles is best suited for kitchen floor and select light colours. Dirt can be easily identified and cleaned. Large tiles are suited for walls. If joint-free tiles are used, dirt will not be accumulated in between the fringes.
Comfortable cabinet
Shelves with two or more partitions have now become old fashion. Instead, it is the age of pull outs. For each item, there is a separate basket. Cutlery tray for spoons, bottle tray for placing bottles, cup and saucer tray, basket pull out for placing large vessels are some among them. Such trays can come out easily and can close automatically with a single pull or push. Trays can be completely pulled out and hence it is very convenient to take things from the extreme end also. Carousel units and 'D' trays can be placed beneath the corners where two sides of countertops meet. Both plastic coated wire baskets and stainless steel baskets are available. But steel baskets are more expensive. Since they fit correct, insects won't get inside. At coastal areas, avoid plastic ones.

Cabinet should be fixed at least 1 inch above the ground level which prevents dust from entering inside. Cabinet doors are available in wide variety. Both good quality wood and ply wood are used for this purpose. If plywood is used, coat it with automotive paint and then do the polish. Advantage of using plywood is that any colour can be selected according to your taste. Often aluminium and PVC are also used as substitutes. In a kitchen with normal size, approximately 50,000 rupees will be needed for PVC keyboards while rupees 75,000, 1,20,000 and 2,20,000 for aluminium coated, marine plywood and teak respectively.
Overhead cabinets can be built above countertops and they should be 1.5 feet apart. Width may be 1.5 feet. Its height may vary from 4.5 feet to 6 feet - the length reachable by a lady of normal height. Containers and vessels for regular use can be placed in the lower cabinet while the upper overhead cabinet can be used for storing items in large scale, not of regular use. When doors are fixed for overhead cabinets, make some of them made of glass. It will make your kitchen look more beautiful if colourful crockery are placed inside those glass cabinets.

Smart sink
Sink is also available in different varieties in different range from 3,000 - 1 lakh rupees or above. A sink available with one bowl only, one bowl and one drain board, one bowl and 2 drain boards are simple ones while sink with 2 bowls and 2 drain boards and sinks with 2 bowls, 2 drain boards and one sliding top are complex ones. Sink with arrangements for cleaning vegetables are also available in the market. Highest demand is for steel sink while matt, glossary and anti-scratch varieties are also available now. Another type is quartz sink that is available in black, cream and red colours. Taps that have more weight can also be fitted and it is free from scratches. Its price varies from 8000-25,000 rupees.
Fix a floor tap in the cabinet door under your sink. It prevents overflow of water. A provision to place a waste basket can also be done here, i.e. under the sink. You can place a plate rack in the overhead cabinet just above the sink that does not have any doors. Water from plates placed inside the rack will easily drop inside the sink. On the right side of the sink, fit a steel rod with hooks on the wall. It can be used to hang spoons and sauce pans. Water will also drain easily.
When you fix sink, its edges should never come under the countertop granite. Otherwise water may spread outside. You can also put a mat under the sink. Fix taps that can be easily opened, even with the back side of hands and should be lengthy ones that can be turned around easily.
Smart stoves and fridge
Stoves and oven collectively known as hob are available in wide range and varieties. Now, hobs with even 5 burners are available that can be placed in a normal kitchen. Place your hob in the middle of the slab instead of a corner. It will help you to use it from both sides. i.e. Two persons should be able to stand before your hob at the same time. Now electronic chimneys are also available instead of smoke pipes, used earlier. To reduce expense, make chimney hood only instead of the whole chimney and place an exhaust fan inside it to give a chimney effect. Microwave oven can be placed inside inbuilt cabinets in the same level with the countertop. Pre-decide which refrigerator is to be placed in your kitchen and built countertop excluding the space needed to place it. Provide some 'landing space' between fridge and hob that can be used for placing things taken from both. This space can also be used for spreading chappathis.
Electronic and Plumbing
Always keep in mind while planning stage itself, what equipments are to be provided inside the kitchen. Then only start wiring and plumbing processes. Wires or pipes should never be seen outside. Arrange water purifier inside a cabinet, but never forget to make wiring and plumbing settings according to it. Switch board for equipments placed inside the cabinet should be made easily accessible. Lights should be provided according to house wife's convenience and can be provided below overhead cabinets. If so, countertop will get sufficient light. You can also fix small bulbs inside the cabinet.
Breakfast corner
Breakfast corner can be made at an end of the countertop. If kitchen is spacious, it can be provided at centre with a table and 2-3 chairs which will be sufficient for a small family. If so, dining hall can be used only for guests. This table can also be made as a study table for kids, while mother is engaged in cooking. It can also be arranged in the corridor between kitchen and dining hall. If so, chairs should be folded back after use.
Accessories mela
Fancy type accessories of different colours and shapes are available in different ranges. One can select according to his need and budget. If a steel rod is fixed on the wall between countertop and cabinet, these accessories can be hanged there. Recipe book holder, space rack, utensil holder, spoon holder etc are some of the examples of accessories.

Thus bringing in several changes, your kitchen can be altered to a wonder land.