The great thing about Modular Kitchens is that there is a unique, not to mention, smart space for everything. i.e.: Right from your masala bottles and vegetables, to your cutlery and large cooking vessels. But before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's decide on a basic cabinet style.

When it comes to cabinet materials, you can choose between Particle Board, Marine Ply, MDF and solid wood. If you have a housemaid or a cook, be sure to choose a durable material - not everyone treats your kitchen as dearly as you. Marine Ply is a popular durable option - it's a bit steeply priced though.

Another option to cabinet materials is powder coated steel.

Prices range between Rs.270 to Rs.1800 per square foot (approx.), depending on the material you choose.

Now that you are done with the basic cabinets, let's talk shutters. Depending on your space constraints and cabinet usage, you can opt to have shutters with front opening hinges, top opening hinges, or even non-invasive sliding shutters.

As far as materials go, you can choose from wood laminates, foils, polyurethane paints, and solid wood shutters. Most of them come in a variety of colours, designs and textures that help you add that special touch to your kitchen.

Shutters come in two varieties - i.e.: glass shutters with aluminium framing and wood framing. You can also select from plain glass, frosted glass, or even, stripped and chequered varieties.

Most modular kitchen brands will give you a basic variety of shutter handles. But if you are looking for something more extravagant, you can buy handles from a hardware store and ask for them to be fixed in. You can opt for knobs, vertical handles, horizontal handles, in-built handles, etc.

Also, choose from a variety themed knobs and handles for the kitchen. They are available for as little as Rs.50 a knob and go up to a couple of hundreds.

As for kitchen platform options you can decide between Granite, Artificial Marble, or options from the Dupont Corian brand, etc. Granite is around Rs.240 per square foot, while brands like Corian are in the Rs.1200 per square foot range. This usually includes labour.

Now is the time for drawer accessories. You can either get steel trolleys and baskets or go with marine ply. While wooden shelving is expensive, remember, it also lasts longer than steel accessories. Make sure your drawers have a self-closing, spring action to keep pests and dust from getting. Prices start at Rs.5300 onwards.

Depending on your needs you can add on pull-out masala racks and plate holders, cleaning material baskets below the sink, rotating corner shelves, cutlery treys, steel trolleys with pullout drawers for stocking food items, etc. Their price varies approximately between Rs.3000 to Rs.7000 a piece, depending on where you buy it from.

(With images from NUplus World)