KITCHEN DESIGN FOR PARENTS: TIPS FROM OUR DESIGNER!

The birth of a first baby is beyond a doubt one of the most momentous events and one of the biggest changes that a couple can experience in its lifetime. My partner and I are expecting the arrival of our first little girl very soon, and I can confirm that this true. We feel very excited and fulfilled by this news!

We now have to plan for her arrival: future parents and new parents will no doubt understand the whirlwind that we are swept up in! I therefore prepared a loooooong list of things that we need to get done before our little lady arrives (my partner will tell you how much I love lists!). This list obviously includes ways in which we need to set up our kitchen. It’s my favourite room of the house … but perhaps I am professionally biased!

Cooking has occupied an enormous place in families for a very long time. Since I hope to transmit my love of cooking to my daughter, I would like to give her a place of her own in the kitchen. The question is, how do I design an aesthetic space adapted to her evolving needs without completely changing our current kitchen?

Creating a kid-friendly kitchen island

At our house, the kitchen island is an essential element: in addition to being an important work surface, the island allows everyone to come together to exchange. In this sense, I wanted to find a way that our little girl would be welcome there too!

At Cuisines Steam, a client once asked us to make a low kitchen island so that her children could be comfortable and participate in meal preparation by helping with smaller tasks. However, an island with a lower counter surface doesn’t offer an ergonomically adequate solution for adults. With a bit of research, I found a few booster chairs and high chairs that allow kids to hang out at the island without compromising on functionality.

My favourite is definitely the Tripp Trapp chair by Stokke. This chair is sleek, classic and adapts to your child’s different stages of growth. It can be adjusted over the years so he or she can always be seated in an ergonomic position. The greatest thing is that children can sit comfortably at the table with everyone else no matter how old they are! Accessories offered by Stokke will allow you to adapt the chair according to your family’s needs. This product immediately charmed me because it is free of harmful substances, it is available in many colours and, of course, because of its Scandinavian design! It is therefore possible to integrate an ergonomic high chair into your kitchen while preserving the aesthetics of your space. One of our clients has even consulted us so that we could help her choose the colour of her Tripp Trapp chairs for her new Steam kitchen. The result was beautiful and the client was delighted!

Tripp Trapp chair. Photo credit: Stokke.

Another really interesting option is a portable high chair like this model offered by the company Inglesina. It attaches to surfaces (counters or tables) and allows your baby to eat or play with the rest of the family. This economical alternative can be used at home, in public or while visiting family and friends. Your little ones will grow up, and their needs will change… This is why it is better to make informed choices, and to opt for timeless accessories that will be in harmony with the rest of the house.

Fast table chair. Photo credit: Inglesina.

I was surprised to see all the baby accessories available for purchase, and items related to meals are no exception. Bottle dryers, bottle warmers, dishes, utensils, brushes, food processors, breast pumps, sterilizers, containers for storing purees, bibs … the list is long. The first question is whether all these objects will be useful to you. Since an unimaginable number of products are offered on the market, it is very easy to fall into the useless gadget trap. Of course, companies will make you believe that their products are essential to your survival! For our part, we found solace in a shop where the vendors helped us identify our real needs rather than sell us the latest tools (it was a great relief).

Involving your children in the kitchen

When planning your new kitchen, it will certainly be useful to optimize your space with several drawers to store your regular kitchen accessories and your children’s accessories. Why not set aside a few bottom drawers for their dishes, utensils and glasses? They will be able to help themselves and even participate in tasks like setting the table or storing clean dishes. Plus, these drawers will always be useful!

What better way to make food fun for kids than to involve them in meal preparation? Several tools adapted to their abilities are now available, such as wooden knives, cooking kits for children or small gloves to clean vegetables. Numerous popular websites also offer kid-friendly recipes, like Trois fois par jour. Moreover, you can find a lot of interesting information and tips on the Naître et grandir and Cuisinons en famille websites.

I hope to be able to conjugate family and meals in the new routine that awaits me… This will, of course, be validated once our little one is here. One thing is certain: if things don’t go as planned, it will certainly not be due to a lack of research!

Marie-Claude D.

Recommended