Kitchen Culture: Re-inventing Kitchen Design Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm addicted to coffee table books on home design, and I usually love kitchen design books- my all-time favorite book which I took on vacation and also recommended to my book club was "Great Kitchens". I think that this book overpromised. Johnny Grey stated that he's "reinventing kitchen design". The reinvemtion is his trademark style of semi-circle curved cabinets and round and oval islands. The workmanship on these curved units is amazing and the photographs do them full justice. I was wondering where in the world a person would have curved cabinetry custom made...and lo! The cabinetry is available through "The Grey Guild". Johnny Grey is the only kitchen designer featured in this book, which is terrific is you're an ardent fan. I found that I was not a fan (yawn), seen one and you've seen the unique, all of the rest is style differences. The book, to me, was a shameless sales job for Johnny Grey and his organization. I would have given the book a "2" rating, but the section on kitchen ergonomics at the back redeemed this book a little, in my opinion (finally something useful!). I do design, build, and live with new kitchens, as my husband and I are owner builders and rennovators. His kitchen designs would be a pleasure to cook in (for the most part), but the curved cabinetry would blow up my largest kitchen budget before appliances were purchased. These kitchens belong in multi-million dollar homes and they aren't a reasonable design choice for even a million dollar home building budget. The money spends quickly in homebuilding, and a large part of the house budget is gone before the house is finished enough for kitchen purchases. In my expereince the kitchen budget receives the most scrutiny and is the source of most budget arguements. These "Grey" kitchens would pass muster only in a project where money was no object and the budget had no ceiling.

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An inspiring design guide and practical resource.

The kitchen is the home base for any family to prepare meals, eat, interact, read the paper, listen to the radio, watch TV, relax and more. No other room is used for so much by so many.

Kitchen Culture is a beautifully illustrated reference for creating the home's busiest and most important room. The book explores how the kitchen influences sociability, family life and relationships with food and also examines how changing attitudes towards family life are changing kitchen design. Each generation invents its ideal kitchen -- reflecting personal views, lifestyles and the latest design concepts and technology.

Kitchen Culture provides critical design advice for maximizing the role the kitchen plays. The book offers fresh ideas and fascinating possibilities for using the kitchen as a lounge, retreat, library, art gallery, playroom, activity center and hospitality zone. Topics include:
Effective kitchen storage
Working triangles and ergonomics
Cooking, small appliances and tools
Facilities for cooking
Lighting, floors and work surfaces.


Practical tips on materials and craftsmanship are also included along with a source list of suppliers and manufacturers.

Kitchen Culture is the ideal reference for anyone designing a new home or remodeling a kitchen.
(20041203)--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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