The
Art of Kitchen Design
by Johnny Grey (Hardcover - May 2000)
Nephew
of Elizabeth David (the doyenne of English Food
writing), and an architect by trade, Grey writes
lucidly and cogently about all aspects of kitchen
design. The first section of the book is a history
of kitchen design through the ages with a good critique
of the good and bad aspects of such kitchens. He
includes lots of pictures of kitchens he has designed
for various types of houses - including those for
Elizabeth David (a winter kitchen and a summer kitchen
no less) and for these insights alone the book is
worth the price. Grey is scathing about built-in
kitchens as he feels that, although they help avoid
clutter, they are also devoid of humanity and warmth.
Grey's kitchen's focus on the Kitchen as the centre
of any house - as a place for cooking, entertaining,
homework, socializing and generally enjoying your
home. Kitchens should for example have lots of places
to perch to encourage conversation to develop. The
book contains lots of diagrams and pictures as well
as some architectural style drawings to illustrate
the points made in the text. Most everything you
would like to know about kitchens is contained in
this book which is well designed and presented.
Highly recommended for foodies and home owners everywhere.