The Heart of the Home

At the risk of appearing controversial, which is certainly not our intention, we have never regarded the kitchen as the heart of the home nor as somewhere in which we wish to spend much time. For the first eleven years of living in Budapest we were fortunate to have a full time housekeeper, Tímea, and were more than happy for the kitchen to be her domain. Nowadays we rely upon Irén, who is truly a National treasure, and who comes in to assist with the heavy work but which does not, alas, normally include cooking or taking overall command of the kitchen. 

A jib door opens to reveal the kitchen

That, unfortunately, is left to us. Unlike the modern trend for kitchens, a space where the entire family, friends too, may gather, be seated, and entertained, ours falls far short of that - too compact, even if we wished, to accommodate a sofa, television or even a table of a size to qualify as a dining kitchen - it is purely functional which is exactly as we like it.

The kitchen painted in Breakfast Room Green 

 

Open shelves house everyday items

That said, we do have what in Hungarian is referred as a ‘kamra’ which roughly translates as a utility room and which accommodates additional storage shelves and cupboards, the washing machine as well as a second sink. However, it has to be admitted that the arrangement does, whatever, necessitate a great many journeys backwards and forwards between the two rooms.

A painting by Levente Herman fills a wall

Would we have it any other way? Probably not. We do, of course, come across images of the most up to date kitchens which impress by their size and purpose, most often referred to as ‘living spaces’, and which are designed to fulfil the every need in today’s world. Simply, they are not for us.

Out of sight, out of mind

It is always with a certain amount of relief that we close the door!