Practical Ideas for Kitchens and Bathrooms

In ancient times, taking a bath was synonymous with ritual, a cult of the body and even, in public bathhouses, meeting friends. In other periods, hygiene was not exactly a priority, so bathing facilities were virtually non-existent. The 19th century saw an increasing concern for hygiene and so bathrooms began to be set up in a self-contained space that was considered as an entity separate from the rest of the home. Technological advances have led to new models and materials, as well as cladding that is more resistant to water. Bathrooms are now chosen with decorative criteria, and they have gradually gained prominence as a space for hygiene and relaxation. Bathrooms can be designed as big spaces filled with light and divided into clearly delimited areas, or as small rooms with highly practical means of taking full advantage of the space, so that users can benefit from their functional purpose while also using them to relax and rest-all this without forsaking the privacy that is particularly necessary in this room. The concept of the kitchen has evolved with the passing of time. At the beginning of the 20th century the kitchen was a neglected room and it was exclusively reserved for cooks and servants, even in quite modest houses. Servants gradually started disappearing from homes and women had to replace them. The woman's role only changed when she decided to abandon purely domestic chores and seek work outside the house. With the new technological advances, the kitchen has opened up to the rest of the house to become a practical space filled with light. The gradual disappearance of the dining room as the family meeting place has made the kitchen the most important space in the house, used also for gathering together the family. More time is now taken to choose the materials and decoration for a kitchen, it is allocated more space and a wide range of practical ideas are exploited to increase its capacity and make its organization more efficient. All today's kitchen designs favor bright, comfortable spaces where preparing food and sitting down to eat become a real pleasure. Издание на английском языке. Формат: 19,5 см х 24,5 см.