Despite claims that nobody does any cooking these days (probably because we're all too busy watching cookery programmes on the telly) the kitchen remains the hub of the household. Which is only as it should be, when you think how much money people spend on fitting it out.

Victoria ''Posh Spice'' Adams and her footballer fiance are said to have have just shelled out #40,000 for some upmarket kitchen units from Harrods for their new penthouse flat in a converted mansion which presumably already had a perfectly adequate kitchen - as you would expect in a property that cost #300,000.

But at #40,000, surely most people would want to take the kitchen with them if they decide to move?

Well, these days you can, now that the non-fitted or free standing kitchen has started to replace the more traditionally fitted variety. Instead of building up your storage units from flatpacks you buy free standing pieces of furniture that sinks and cookers slot into.

But free standing kitchens don't come cheap. Count on at least #1000 for the latest ''must have'' in free standing kitchen sinks, the old fashioned white ceramic jawbox set in an equally old fashioned looking wooden cupboard.