Homeowners can make effective updates to their kitchens without reworking the entire room, an expert has argued.Patricia Warner, interior designer and owner of Patricia Interiors in the US, told the Detroit News about one of her own remodelling projects where the homeowners wanted a design that offered more space for food preparation and seating while also retaining core aspects of the decor.To do this, she replaced a central island with additional seating and workspace options but kept existing balloon window treatments and duet shades which, she said, had stood the test of time.In fact, because my client still loved the beautiful floral print, we used those colour tones to set the mood for the new wallpaper and counters, said Ms Warner.The designer also added a tile backsplash and washable wallpaper in the food preparation and kitchen sink areas to give the room depth and durability.Meanwhile, the New York Times reported this week that the German design company Poggenpohl has created a new kitchen which includes not only worktops and cabinetry but also walls, floors, dining furniture and an independent ceiling.