Now, in the 21st Century, changes in our lifestyles and homes are set to make the kitchen the nerve centre of everyday living. And it's unlikely there'll be talking robots wearing pinafores bringing us a cup of tea. Zanussi doesn't think so. Humans are generally social beings, so we'll always look towards the kitchen as the heart of the home, a place for coming together to prepare food, eat and socialise. People enjoy cooking, and the creation element is important, so food preparation will never be completely performed by machines.
People also like their appliances to make a statement, which has led to the return of big fridges.
Ultra-sonic technology will allow washing machines to wash clothes without using water. Water storage is also likely to become the norm in laundry appliances, with the previous rinse water being saved for the next wash, while we can expect to see multi-function machines which iron clothes as well as wash them within 20 years. Whereas kitchen appliances over the past 30 years could be summed up as small white boxes, the late 90s saw them embracing shape, size and colour as never before. This rise of design in the kitchen has been matched by the popularity of home styling, from TV programmes to the wealth of specialised magazines and home design coverage in the national press. The move towards colour in the kitchen has been driven by smaller appliances like kettles and toasters, and is spreading to cookers, fridges and freezers, with washing machines likely to follow next.