Home Design Chat with Nancy

IS YOUR KITCHEN FITTED OR UNFITTED?

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Nancy’s welcomes back Jan Rutgers, a regular guest on this podcast.

A little bit about Jan:

  • Jan Rutgers has been designing kitchens and products for over 25 years and is a recipient of Kitchen & Bath Design News’ Top Innovators in 2020 for the Kitchen & Bath Industry.
  • She has designed more than 1000 kitchens learning valuable skills with each one!
  • Her experience in Kitchen Design, Millwork Manufacturing and Product Development has led her to create VESTABUL SCHOOL OF DESIGN where she educates and mentors people passionate about the Kitchen Design Industry.

    • This week we are going to explore the unfitted kitchen–

    What is it

    • A true unfitted kitchen is one where everything is free standing
    • It is furnished with individual items used for specific tasks
    • Items can be added as needed and arranged for different tasks
    • Canning and preserving of the fall harvest are a good example.
    • Tables would be brought into the space for better workflow during this busy season

      • Unfitted vs. Fitted

      • The invention of built-in cabinetry evolved the modern kitchen into what we call a Fitted Kitchen around the 1920-1930’s
      • All the elements in the kitchen are built-in or fitted to the space.
      • Indoor plumbing was part of this evolution
      • A main reason for the kitchen going from unfitted to fitted though was space.
      • Original kitchens were part of a large space so there was room to move things around
      • Single family homes began to be built and they were much smaller
      • A built-in solution was a much better use of space in small kitchens

        • What to do with appliances in the unfitted kitchen

        • Panel the refrigerator(s) to look like pieces of furniture
        • Microwave can be put in cabinet – hoozier with lift door
        • DW & warm’g dwrs with panels to look like drawers
        • Ranges can look very old fashioned
        • Ovens, steam ovens ???

          • Summary

          • A completely unfitted kitchen is probably not a solution for most people
          • A fitted sink with plumbing hook ups is more desirable than lugging water from an outside well!
          • A combination of a fitted and unfitted kitchen is a design direction that is one worth exploring.

            • This podcast sponsored by Premier Lighting

            email questions to [email protected]

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            Home Design Chat with NancyBy Nancy Hugo
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