Kitchen designs that position the cooking area in the centre of the room are becoming increasingly popular, an expert has said.Interior designer Ellen Cheever wrote for Kitchen and Bath Design News that open-plan kitchens with central food preparation areas are highly suited to busy families which treat the room as the focal point of the home. She said that such a design allows for an easy, circular traffic flow, while allowing corner spaces to be given over to other uses.In addition, Ms Cheever argued that by using a central island for cooking tasks, homeowners could replace standard wall cabinets with more functional, tall cabinets. University studies have identified the ideal storage area as the shelf space from the principal users knee level to eye level, she said, adding that in traditional cabinetry, this storage area tends to be interrupted by the countertop, kitchen sink and backsplash wall space.According to interior designer Peter Dunham, who spoke to azcentral.com, people are less interested in chic styles following the economic downturn and instead want more traditional and authentic kitchen features.