It's seen as the heart of the home — the kitchen table is where we gather to prepare meals and break bread together.

But the average kitchen lifespan is about 15 to 20 years. Outdated benchtops and cabinets are replaced with modern, minimalist fit-outs, with more than kitchen replacements and renovations amounting to billions every year.

So what do we lose from our family history in this cycle of modernisation?