How we perceive our homes has certainly been revolutionised during this pandemic. How have our homes and kitchens changed over the course of the emergency? What was missing from our spaces that would have allowed them to adapt to such a sudden change in the way we use and live in them? These are just some of the questions that architects and interior designers will have to answer in the post-COVID era when they are called upon to redesign not only workspaces, but most likely domestic spaces, too.
However, there are things that we all needed whilst we were forced to spend most of our time in our homes, which were required to become even more fluid and flexible.
A high-performance kitchen
The kitchen was undoubtedly one of the most lived-in spaces in our homes during the lockdown. After all, it has long been the heart of every home, a place where we meet and chat, where we prepare food and eat together.
During the days of the lockdown, social networks were flooded with photos of enticing recipes and old habits. With more time on their hands, people rediscovered a once-forgotten love of cooking together, even creating elaborate dishes that proved not to be as complicated to prepare as previously thought. Some people set about making their own bread, just like in the good old days, whilst others made biscuits or pasta (especially in Italy), dusting off recipes and traditions once lost to the ages.
We realised that in the kitchen, high-quality materials make all the difference.
In this crucial area of the house, porcelain really comes into its own, proving to be an excellent solution thanks to its ability to withstand all kinds of stresses and strains, and a SapienStone countertop can become a trusted ally for aspiring and experienced chefs alike, as it is resistant to acids, corrosive agents and stains. You can slice vegetables straight on it without any fear of scratches or scrapes, and if something acidic - such as a little lemon juice - splashes on it, it’s no problem at all: just wipe with a sponge and it’s good as new. Incredibly easy to clean, it simplifies life in the kitchen, especially when surfaces have to be disinfected frequently.
A home office
Another space we felt an extreme need for was one where we could work undisturbed. The pandemic forced many people to get to grips with remote working, but not everyone was lucky enough to have a dedicated room for it. People came up with all sorts of creative solutions to keep their businesses running in smart working mode, cobbling together an improvised office at home and making their home environments even more fluid. As a result, the kitchen, the lounge, and sometimes even the bedroom became workplaces where people soldiered on with their office work and held video conferences.
Even in situations like this, SapienStone can come to the rescue thanks to its ability to anticipate modern lifestyle trends with an incredibly innovative product. The full-slab SapienStone countertop with integrated TPB tech® induction hob combines a range of different functions, so you can cook, eat and work on the same surface. This kitchen worktop is perfectly suited to contemporary lifestyles and, if placed on an island, makes for an excellent solution for a multipurpose space that really can be used for all sorts of things.
A window onto the world
During the lockdown, people also came to appreciate the importance of having some kind of view of the outside world, no matter how large or small. Gardens and balconies blossomed once again and people used them to sing, play music, work, enjoy lunch al fresco, play sports and relax, creating hybrid spaces - almost new rooms in their own right - to make up for the restrictions on going out, helping them to regain the sense of freedom they so yearned for. Everyone furnished and decorated their window onto the world according to their needs and the surface area available, with plenty of greenery, comfortable sofas, a table to work on, a little vegetable patch, and a hammock to laze around in and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.
In gardens and on balconies, people also gave free rein to their creativity when it came to cooking, firing up the barbecue for a midweek feast. And what could be better than a barbecue station made to withstand all sorts of weather? The flexibility of SapienStone porcelain also makes it ideal for outdoor kitchens or designer barbecues capable of withstanding sudden changes in temperature, UV rays and all weather conditions. Easy to clean and maintain, SapienStone slabs are available in 29 textures to suit a wide range of different tastes and furnishing styles.
A spare room
Despite the fact that today’s ever-changing lifestyle is also reflected in the way our homes are organised, times as unprecedented as these raise a lot of questions around how the homes of tomorrow will be lived in, as well as the need to rethink our spaces to accommodate sudden changes.
A great many people felt the need for a private space where they could work, cultivate their passions, or simply sit in silence and enjoy a moment of solitude.
It is highly likely that anyone looking for a house after the emergency will be sure to choose one with a spare room that they can set up for a range of situations, an intimate space that can become a new world tailor-made for their passions.
