The kitchen has become the main focal point of the home in which families gather to feast, fight and party, an expert has said.Interior designer Johnny Grey told the Daily Telegraph that kitchens are now more like living rooms where people happen to also cook.Noting that people no longer want small kitchens that are cut off from the rest of the home, he said that many kitchen designs now focus on expansion by removing old walls and corridors.In addition, Mr Grey said that as many mass market kitchen suppliers go out of business, homeowners are hiring specialist design consultancies to create kitchens tailored to their needs.Visiting the home of Claudia Mahoney, a fashion and beauty editor for the publishing house Cond Nast, the newspaper observed that she owned a kitchen of our times, featuring a central island with kitchen sink, plus sleek, white cabinetry.This week, handyman Darrell Thomas told Freep.com that there are a range of ways that people can make quick and effective changes to their rooms.