Belgian kitchens have been highly influential because they present a beautiful lifestyle aesthetic. I’m very late to the Belgian kitchens party. Over the past six or seven years they have been shown, explained, copied and widely admired. Classic Belgian kitchens — like these by designer Joris Van Apers — led the way towards the so-called “social kitchen,” which includes a … [Read more...]
A Suddenly Social Kitchen
As a serious cook, a social kitchen was an afterthought, not initially a necessity. This past July, after visiting House Beautiful’s Kitchen of the Year, designed by Mick DeGiulio, I realized what was missing in mine: a place for Mr. AM or a visitor to sit down, hang out and socialize. In other words, a social kitchen. Many people have seating “bars” in kitchens but I find … [Read more...]
Butter and Cream Kitchen
A refined, old-world furniture look currently known as a Belgian style kitchen. Comfort comes first in a Belgian style kitchen. And what's cozier than an old leather chair on an Oriental rug just a few steps away from the kitchen's work space? This is a lovely design by SieMatic, a German cabinet concern in pale shades of white and cream, akin to butter and cream. … [Read more...]