Have you heard the term un-kitchen.  What is it and where did it come from?  I’ve been hearing this term for a couple of years and at first I was like WHAT, what is this all about?  Personally, I would love to have a large enough home that I could create an un-kitchen.  

When I was a senior in high school I took my first interior design class.  I started combing my moms magazines from cover to cover.  Reading every word including the addvertisements because, some of the most phenomenal information was in those adds.  A home furnishings or antique shop, a place to look up if I was ever in that neck of the woods and the articles themselves gave me insight to historical homes where I would love to visit.  In studying each page although I didn’t know it back then I was discovering the un-kitchen.  In those pages of lovely old historical homes, I discovered the “Keeping Room”.  A place of everything.

What is a Keeping Room?  In Colonial America, most cooking took place around the fireplace because it was the only heat source in most colonial homes.  Being the warmest place in the house, the family would also gather as they came in for the day to keep warm. Getting in the cooks way, there became a need to create a bit of separation adjacent to the fireplace.  Allowing for the family to settle but still creating enough space to allow the cook “mom” to create a fabulous meal of gruel and cornbread!  Often this was the room.  The only room.  All purpose for eating sleeping and entertaining. All furniture was mobile so that it could be moved around the room to accommodate the different tasks of the day.  For some reason, back when I was a senior in high school, this really appealed to me.  No definitely not to sleep in!  But one big space to be able to cook for my family and still be part of the conversation.  In my next life, I will have a Keeping Room.

This brings me back to the un-kitchen.  I think the metamorphosis originally started back in the 80’s when “Country” became so popular.  You were just beginning to see the use of old cupboards and pie safes (I had one) with original finishes becoming so hot on the antique market.  They were very good serviceable pieces of furniture that were great for unique design but also good storage.  

Reproduction of an 1820’s bench made Pie Safe with pierced tin inserts.  Love this piece.

In the beginning of the Farmhouse Craze the traditional kitchen just kept breaking down.  Instead of that traditional upper and lower cabinets how about a cabinet that looks more like a piece of furniture.  The “Peninsula” turned into an island which turned into a big farm table.  Something that is less precious that you don’t have to worry if your kid runs his cars across the surface or takes a crayon to.  Then it started to break down even more and people started taking the doors off their cabinets.  Shocking I know!  Then they started to say well why do I need the upper cabinets at all.  This room would look so much bigger if the uppers were gone.  A lot of truth to that one.  Let’s all do open shelving.  Wait a minute, why do I need this tiny formal dining room?  What would happen if I didn’t have a dining room at all?  Look how much more space I could have in my kitchen.

All of these points are valid but are they practical. Only you can decide.  I for one would love to get rid of my uppers, but my space doesn’t have enough storage with counter space as it is.  So yes my uppers are securely in place. 

Open shelving although I have some, definitely not for me exclusively.  

The un-kitchen was born out of that desire to replicate the old world charm of France and English Cottage Style.  Where every piece was separate including the kitchen sink!  With wood beams (who needs insulation) and wood or brick floors.  True Kitchens of the period would have a fireplace, a table, a few chairs, a few plates made of pewter or earthenware and some utensils. A cupboard to protect the food from rodents and if you were lucky a water source of some kind.  But most did not.  During the 19th Century they expanded on that a bit.  You might be lucky enough to have a stove and a water source.

DeVol kitchens out of England are premier kitchen designers that I have been watching for the last couple of years, and they take the un-kitchen to a whole new level.  Creating practical kitchens that integrate so beautifully into the rest of the home.  Have you heard of them?  I am happy to say they are now on the Magnolia Network their show is FOR THE LOVE OF KITCHENS.  I watched their first episode tonight and I wasn’t disappointed as they walk you thru their process.  These are simple kitchens but not simple at all. They are rich in color and texture with a simplicity of design that is just magical with what they do with light and space.  This is soon to become my favorite show on the Magnolia Network for now.  If you haven’t had a chance to check it out it’s worth the time.  

Could you do an un-kitchen?  Let’s start a conversation.

Thanks for stopping

Shelley