Valued at around Rs 200 crore, the market for modular kitchens in India is growing by 25-40% annually  Kitchens, in India, are considered to be much more than a place just meant to cook. Often, Indian homemakers are found referring kitchen as a sacred place, where everything should be neat and clean. With globalisation spreading its wings in the country, the style quotient for kitchens has gained considerable prominence in unison with being durable and convenient. Therefore, the emerging concepts in kitchen décor are making waves in the Indian construction and designing industry. Pegged at around Rs 200 crore, modular kitchens are the latest ‘in-thing’ in the kitchenware industry. Sectoral analysts and experts opine that growing number of working women, improving lifestyles and increasing spending propensity are popularising modular kitchens among masses.
To get a clear picture about the growth drivers, a correspondent of Times Journal of Construction and Design (TJCD) contacted Thakur Ahuja, chairman of Mumbai-based Sleek International, the company that pioneered the concept of modular kitchens by introducing wire baskets in the early 1990s. “Demand for modular kitchens have shot up in recent times as these emanate class, convenience and aesthetics as well as saves space and improves work triangle (involving the basic activities of cooking, storing and washing),” says Mr Ahuja. The market for modular kitchens in India is growing by 25-40% annually, opines the chairman of Sleek International.
Modular kitchens: The concept-n-details
Going by the dictionary, ‘modular’ would mean constructed with standardised units or dimensions, allowing flexibility and variety in use. So modular kitchens are made up of various accessories, which are easy to use, maintain and repair. In India, these are available in pre-fabricated and ‘ready-to-install’ format.
“Modular kitchens are usually available in four different layouts, L-shaped, parallel shaped, island shaped and open kitchens,” says Mr Ahuja. Speaking on the layouts further Ahuja adds, “The L-shaped is mostly seen in apartments where space crunch looms large, the island shaped looks gorgeous where there is more space and the parallel shaped focuses on improving the work triangle to the maximum.
Besides, in case of modular kitchens customers have the option to choose from a wide range of colours, different finishes and materials for shelves and cabinets. The major fit-outs for these kitchens would be utility shelves, designer chimneys, sinks, trays, cabinets and faucets. High-end modular kitchens include storage shelves called carousals that are technically sound.
“Apart from optimum utilisation of space, modular kitchens are very appealing,” says
Shukla Bhattacharya, a homemaker residing in Ballygunge, Kolkata who has recently installed a high-end modular kitchen. Commenting on technology, she says, “My cabinets and drawers are dust-proof. Besides, the drawer if left opened shuts automatically after a while.”
The right combos
According to many kitchen interior designers, granite tops the preference when it comes to choosing material for countertops or platforms. This is because granite being impermeable does not absorb stains or waters. Corian can be used but it stains quickly and gets scratched easily, while marble should be avoided for platforms as it is porous.
For kitchen cabinets, marine ply seems to be perfect because it is durable and has greater resistance to water and other materials. Solid wood cabinets are least suitable as they are not water-resistant and require frequent polishing to retain the lustre.
The cost of a standard modular kitchen varies from Rs 1-5 lakh, signs off Mr Ahuja.
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