About 25 years ago, we re-did our kitchen.
Technology is now making that re-do look obsolete.
Kitchens are still being built as ours was. They’re energy hogs. There’s a big oven, a four-burner cooktop, and a dishwasher standard. These are built into the walls and counters. They take up a lot of space.
Meanwhile, there are a host of new mini-appliances that can replace all that. It’s going to be a hot niche this Christmas. We’re talking about air fryers, sous vide devices, “Instant Pot” devices and grill-griddle-air fryers. Plus, there are those ubiquitous Keurig machines and multi-purpose microwaves.
Two things are happening. One is that counterspace is now at a premium. So is shelf space for that matter. The other is that people are saving both money and energy. An electric oven like my Dacor can cost $3,000. All the devices I’ve mentioned above cost $1,000, total. They also use a lot less electricity.
Over the next few years this is going to turn into bad news for companies like Costco. Millennials can’t afford the big house and big kitchen, or the vast quantities warehouse stores specialize in. They’re getting the small apartment in-town and ordering in. My kids are a lot less interested in cooking than I was. That time is going into their devices, along with every other minute they can find.
My big kitchen renovation replaced four smaller spaces, including a pantry and a laundry room, that dated from early in the 20th century. I suspect that when I’m gone, my kitchen will look just as outdated.
