It’s official…the kitchen as we know it is morphing into something else altogether. Tomorrow’s kitchen goes beyond the bread and butter basics—the room we cook in and eat in—to the high functioning heart of the home. It’s the space where we entertain, relax, work and play.

A recent survey by Electrolux revealed that three out of 10 Americans say they spend more time in their kitchen than in any other room in their home (and considerably more time with their fridge than their spouse). Why? Because all the things that used to happen in other parts of the house—like eating in the dining room, entertaining in the living room and napping in the den—are moving into the kitchen. 

That’s why Electrolux is taking the extraordinary step of renaming this heart of home space, formerly known as the kitchen, and proclaiming it the live-in room.

Step Inside…The Live-In Room™ by Electrolux
Here, in the ultimate live-in room, comfort rules, and almost anything goes…Witness the counter-intuitive touches such as a baby grand piano and a tepanyaki grill built into the countertop (you know the ones you see in Japanese restaurants!). Here, they take center stage to help make the point that this new heart of the home space can—and will—be interpreted in a million different and highly unique ways.

To bring our vision of the ultimate live-in room to life, Electrolux took a few liberties and ascribed to a few simple rules…

Rule #1: Throw out all of the old ideas about what this space should—
and shouldn’t—be.
As the walls come tumbling down between the kitchen and dining and living rooms, this new space is getting the attention it deserves, with elaborate moldings, architectural details, specialty lighting, and custom-built floors and ceilings.

In the Electrolux Live-In Room, overstuffed chairs comfortably coexist with a sleekly stylish commercial range and provocative contemporary artwork. Here, appliances break out of their typical roles—going beyond the traditional work triangle to infiltrate the dining and entertainment zones. An icemaker, wine refrigerator, trash bin, microwave, full-size sink and secondary dishwasher (with special cycles for delicate china and stemware) are welcome additions to other zones. (After all, who wants to carry loads of dirty glasses from the entertainment zone back to the food prep area?)

Rule #2: Zones help conquer and maximize the space, no matter how large or small.
The Live-In Room by Electrolux is a sleek, thoughtfully designed space that’s been divided into three distinct yet overlapping “zones.” There’s a zone created expressly for relaxation and entertainment, another for dining, working or crafting and a third for meal preparation, cooking and clean up. This attention to shared space helps keep chaos at bay. In the “entertainment zone,” for example, an over-sized rear projected Chess Board beckons while the fireplace’s sunken cushioned hearth is inviting—perhaps for a cup of tea and the daily crossword puzzle? And for those who are more inclined to recline than to perch, two over-sized custom-built sofas invite napping, daydreaming and TV watching.

Rule #3: There is a place for everything (and everything in its place).
Clutter is the number one offender in the Electrolux Live-In Room, so streamlined solutions and high-tech touches (think wireless) help to keep gadgets out of sight, yet not out of reach. A full-size sink in the island creates another food prep zone, while a larger, deeper farmhouse-style sink along the room’s back wall creates a more serious “clean up” center. Counters of varying heights help break up space between the food prep area and living areas, and reduce the appearance of counter clutter. They also provide a convenient spot to pull up a barstool to do homework or pay bills.

Rule #4:  Great design = happiness.
As kitchens and adjacent rooms continue to merge into single large living spaces, there is a tendency for homeowners to choose cabinets and appliances that blend in versus stand out. Here, the look is streamlined and clean thanks to a “whole room” approach. Stainless steel appliances are a must because they are neutral, clean and can work with a variety of different design styles from contemporary to traditional. Another bonus—premium stainless steel appliances stand the test of time by never going out of style.

Rule #5: The best live-in rooms reflect the needs and wants of the people
who use them.
The Electrolux Live-In Room is flexible—expanding and contracting to meet the everyday needs of the people who use it. Witness the quick prep area in the Electrolux Live-In Room where a small sink, cutting board and microwave help busy families meet their minimal weeknight dinnertime needs. Yet the overall space is designed to accommodate two or more chefs as they entertain a large group of friends on the weekends.