The interior design of kitchen space in many Chinese homes is evolving towards the contemporary, parallel with the overall trend in contemporary living. Now we can see a modern style of Chinese kitchen, projecting the fact that nowadays living itself in China is becoming a busy and ultramodern affair. Even though the kitchen is typically a small space in Chinese houses, and traditionally of lower priority than other rooms in terms of design, being functional and generally hidden from the view of guests, it is at last receiving design attention and beginning to show diversity and innovation. Here, the influences are distinctly Western, where kitchens have already transitioned from a backroom utility mentality to the focus of attention and, inevitably, expenditure. People now simply spend more time in kitchens, and in the case of open-plan designs in small apartments and small houses kitchens are open to inspection and approval from guests. We can also see influences being drawn, in particular, from sleek Scandinavian and German styles, with modern surfaces and finishes and a general sense of tidiness. Appliances and kitchen gadgets tend now to be showcased rather than hidden.
This striking kitchen is decorated in a bold design taken from Op Art, the red and white walls contrasting with the blue recessed workspaces.
A freestanding sink and food preparation unit, clad in granite slabs, is the centerpiece of an open-plan conversion of a small studio apartment in a Shanghai block.
In a lane house conversion, the ground floor open-plan kitchen area is built around a central staircase and cupboard unit, extending to a dining area beyond.
This kitchen in a French Concession house has suspended dark paneled cupboards, with concealed lighting underneath.
An unusually spacious kitchen for a Shanghai longtang house combines Western storage and preparation convenience with facilities for wok cooking.