The kitchens in Chennai homes are increasingly becoming the heart of the house. Homebuyers are prioritizing spacious and well-equipped cooking areas when searching for their dream homes. This trend is particularly evident among those seeking luxury apartments in the city’s core, where the demand for four-bedroom units, complete with a maid room and a one-floor-one-apartment layout, is on the rise.
According to a report by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) Chennai, the city witnessed the sale of 2,597 units in the second quarter of 2024, spanning April to June. Developers reported selling at least 100 luxury home units in the first half of the year. This shift in preference is evident in the changing ratio of homebuyers opting for different apartment sizes.
“Before the pandemic, the ratio of homebuyers purchasing two-bedroom to three-bedroom apartments was 45:55. After Covid, this shifted to 30:70, with more people preferring four-bedroom apartments. Contrary to popular belief, these additional rooms aren’t being used as office spaces, but as reading rooms, guest rooms, or maid rooms,” said Arun M N, managing director of Casagrand. He added that the average age of homebuyers is now between 28 and 30. “Many customers, especially couples, prefer larger kitchens. Earlier, the average kitchen size was 75 sq. ft.; now they want 120 sq. ft. and above,” Arun explained.
Srinivas Anikipatti, senior director of Knight Frank India (Tamil Nadu and Kerala), attributes the demand for larger kitchens to the increasing use of additional equipment. “People now want island kitchens equipped with dishwashers, ovens, and other appliances. Besides, both men and women cook at home, which necessitates a larger space,” he said.
Meanwhile, those opting for luxury homes in core city areas like Adyar, Nungambakkam, and T Nagar, where the guideline value exceeds 17,000 per square foot, are particularly interested in one-floor-one-apartment models. “Most of these buyers are high-networth individuals. It’s no longer just NRIs purchasing such homes; the majority are local residents. Their checklist includes four bedrooms, a maid room, and privacy — they don’t want neighbors on the same floor. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to sell three-bedroom apartments in these localities,” said P Kruthivas, managing director of Pushkar Properties Pvt Ltd.
