Kitchens continue to be the hub of the home and are therefore larger. The kids are at the peninsula or island doing their homework while Mom and/or Dad are in the kitchen preparing the evening meal. Kitchens open to an informal dining room, thus eliminating the need for the breakfast nook. Often sliding glass doors are installed on the back of the house leading to outdoor living spaces.
When you entertain, the guests all jam into the kitchen to chat with the cook. One of my clients complained that she can’t disperse her guests to other rooms in her large home because everyone wants to be in the kitchen or family room; all the more important that these two rooms function especially well for you.