A Short History of Kitchens

Long Ago,

A kitchen was in a separate building apart from the home to protect the family's dwelling from fires. The kitchen slowly became attached to the dwelling and, in Colonial days, was the "heart of the home" with the open flame from the fireplace used to warm the family as well as cook the food.

The idea of a well-planned, well-designed kitchen was first talked about in the 1920's when Hoosier cabinets were introduced by the Hoosier Company and Cornell University began research on functional planning. However, the room still remained a workroom, where function and ease of cleaning were the only consideration.

Immediately following World War II, several leading Midwestern and Eastern cabinet companies introduced color for the cabinetry, as well as decorative hardware and interesting accent cabinet pieces. Built-in appliances were introduced in the late 1950s and 1960s, as well. These avant-garde kitchens were highly touted in fashion magazines such as Town & Country and Vogue, as well as other publications.

Ladies Magazines featured fashionable kitchens for the 1950s and 1960s home

In the 1970's, a startling new concept was introduced in several well-respected shelter magazines- the idea of the "Great Room". Walls were torn down between the kitchen and adjacent living spaces, bringing the kitchen out of the "dungeon" category, into serving a role as part of the family public space. The concept of the Great Room brought mass appeal to the idea of a decorated kitchen- one that was attractive to look at, as well as functional to work in.

A classic look for the 1970s

The concept of an aesthetically pleasing kitchen grew in importance throughout the 1970s, 1980s and into the 1990s as the English "bespoke" idea of an "unfitted kitchen" was coupled with the consumer's interest in highly stylized environments attempting to recreate the warmth of a sun-drenched villa in Tuscany or a cozy Colonial cottage in New England. Architectural details from these historic settings became more and more popular for consumers planning kitchens that were becoming center stage in their homes.

1980s floor plans included more open space

A 1990s kitchen was starting to have a more stylized look. See photo below for "After" look

The interest in such beautiful spaces continues today. Consumers may be planning a room that has a European influenced style, or one that is harmonious and calming, inspired by a Pacific Rim interior, with the help of such sites as Houzz.com or HGTV.com. The possibilities are endless!

A full remodel of the kitchen pictured above with a soft "French- country" theme