Lifestyles are changing and modern social habits are leading to new innovations in kitchen design. A growing percentage of the population is now living in apartments rather than houses. The relationship between living areas of the home has also changed from a clear separation between rooms to open spaces and areas that flow through to each other. With more homeowners having a single living area which has to meet the needs of kitchen, dining room and living room, the challenge has become how to manage and configure the space. In some cases, this change has been brought about by the difficult economy but mainly it represents a shift in our social and living habits. Recent statistics have indicated that more than half of US citizens now live alone. As a result, a new type of kitchen user has emerged. Affluent singles require less room than in previous generations but want to make the most of the space they have available. For them, work areas need to be functional and there needs to be plenty of features, state-of-the-art technology and chef-standard equipment. Time and energy saving equipment has also come to the fore with instant boiling water taps are increasing in popularity day by day.