We all enjoy a good gossip while we’re cooking, but now you can talk directly to your kitchen… in French!

A ‘talking kitchen’ has been created that gives cooking instructions in French to help students learn the language.

A computer is fitted into the kitchen which allows the cooks to select any French recipes they want to follow. Digital sensors are built into the utensils, containers and other kitchen equipment to communicate with the computer and make sure the right instructions are given at the right time.

The kitchen tracks the French-learning-chef’s movements and actions using Wii-like sensors and apparently speaks in a similar way to a car sat-nav.

Portable versions of the technology are being installed at Newcastle College, where the technology was trialled, and at the Institut Francais, a London-based charity dedicated to teaching French.

The user can ask for an instruction to be repeated or translated into English at any time so it’s easy to use and makes sure the French is easy to learn – it certainly makes learning more fun and easy to put the language into practice!

Handless, sleek looking designs can instantly update the kitchen to give it a contemporary feel, or can be contrasted with a country style look.

And that’s what property guru Kirstie Allsop did when she chose the Urban Lineaire kitchen from Magnet for her Channel 4 show, Kirstie’s Homemade Home.

The inspiration for this kitchen came from Cath Kidston’s home as she also has a sleek, white kitchen and uses this as a blank canvas to put a stamp on the room through the rest of the decoration. Kirstie contrasted the modern kitchen with the pretty, rustic wooden worktops and floral designs.

But if you love the pure, contemporary look, then the Urban Lineaire looks great styled with the quartz stone sparkly blue worktop and the latest appliances. The kitchen is also availiable with curves for a softer feel.

Let us know what you think!