I am a forward thinking person. In a world with so many negative issues, looking forward to a future world that can be better than our current one seems to be a more mind sustainable attitude than just dwelling on the current issues. And yet, history tells us almost everything we need to know about the future: what the future can be, how to get there from here, etc. So today’s lessons will become very useful, once they are integrated into history, as a formation for the future.

Specifically, pertaining to YesterTec, some of our creations can be quite useful in the design of future living environments.  Our mini-kitchens and hospitality centers already are working so well in multi-generational homes, home offices, enhanced entertainment and workout spaces etc.

In the near future, as we continue to deal with the pandemic issues of social distancing, working remotely, shelter in place and even the loss of homes, the adjustments to our normal way of living may be severe. But to survive this kind of turmoil, we must have faith and remember an old truth; “When one door closes, another will open”.

For example, according to a recent survey by economists at Harvard Business School, when the pandemic is over, one in six workers is projected to continue working from home or co-working at least two days a week. Another survey found that one-fifth of the workforce could be entirely remote after the pandemic. This of course will necessitate changes in the home.  Perhaps an extra bedroom, attic, basement or an outbuilding will be used to separate work and home life. Or maybe just a closeable armoire with the office equipment inside will be enough for many. Hiding your computer at the end of the day, along with any paperwork you haven’t addressed gives yourself a mental rest. When it’s quitting time, stow it away, or close the office door if you can so that your home switches to being a calming haven instead.

Multi-generational homes will be on the rise too, but they can be better prepared for the next big one, and there will be more outbreaks. Current thinking is that Covid-19 will be ongoing, in the way that the Cold and Flu season continues on each year, with new strains evolving each year. And with worldwide mobility systems in place, the spread of any infection will continue to be so difficult to stop.

Multi-generational homes will include young adults as they are among the essential workers who may be returning to the homes of their parents and grandparents. High school and college-age children may expose teachers as well as parents and grandparents as they move in and out of the home.  Sooner or later doctors say, most older people and those with underlying health problems will mix with the younger generation.  Many of us have had to quarantine in our own multi-generational homes due to the mixed lifestyle of the residents. Wouldn’t it be better if an auxiliary mini-kitchen could be incorporated to allow for a more separate living space?

During this pandemic, my wife (69 years old) lived with our daughter’s (41) family and our 3 grandchildren (4,2,2 months) for 4 months early this year.  Our son-in-law worked at home too in a separate room. They were always trying to figure out how they would live together if any of them caught C-19. A small mini-kitchen could have helped immensely, and after the emergency, it would enhance their lives immensely too.  Come to think of it, Christmas is not too far off, maybe I can fix this!!

In many cases, even a hospitality center may be enough to provide convenience and emergency cooking facilities.  Inside our hospitality armoires that hide a countertop, a sink and lots of shelving, any appliance with a plug can be hidden away.  So very efficient, moveable hot plates, toaster ovens, small microwave ovens and coffee makers etc. can be used and stored out of sight. With a refrigerator/freezer concealed below, you could easily quarantine in place. Larger units even can have a dishwasher/drawer as well.

But don’t forget about the extra entertainment spaces that many families are trying to create to enrich their increased time at home. As schools, offices, bars, restaurants, theaters and gyms are shuttered, we will still need places to accommodate replacement activities at home. More than ever before, we need homes that make us FEEL GOOD!  Many of our homes are big enough to create separate spaces, and our armoire kitchens of many sizes can discreetly work well inside these spaces, eliminating the need to hoof it to the main kitchen all the time.

 

But they can also work in existing but smaller, multifunctional rooms as well. The armoire design that SAFELY hides all the functions of a working kitchen can even become a beautiful asset for almost any room design.

For those of you who are really progressive, creating an Auxiliary Dwelling Unit (ADU) for the purpose of creating additional income can be the ultimate step in preparing for the future.  Similar to how America bunkered down during the Cold War by building fall-out shelters, an ADU can be useful in so many ways. First and foremost, they are a great solution to provide cheaper housing solutions for so many people that are forced out of conventional housing. Or for our older citizens, they can become homes for caretakers and personal assistants.  Though so many of these units may not be able to afford our top of the line mini-kitchens, for the ones that can, no other fully functional kitchen units can save space as beautifully and safely as our armoire style mini-kitchens.

I think you get the idea by now. We are always looking ahead with your future needs in mind.  Even our main line of Kitchen Workstation Furniture is a progressive alternative to the current method of designing kitchens with exposed appliances and endless runs of cabinets.  And our Stealth Kitchen Modules that allow built-in kitchens to SAFELY and COMPLETELY disappear are unique in the entire world!

Whether you become a YesterTec customer or not is not the only reason I’m writing today. I hope that you too will look toward a brighter future, to progress from whatever situation you find yourself in today. Think in terms of baby steps so as not to get overwhelmed. As a country, we need to come together now, with an ultimate goal of trying to define a world that can work for all of the world’s citizens. But for now, we need to discover how each of us can contribute to a better future for all of us.

Best to you all,

David Beer, President

YesterTec Design Company