Parlor Kitchen #5: Where the Party's At
This may be our favorite one yet: This kitchen was designed to be at once functionally and aesthetically pleasing. The house is 22 feet wide hence allowing us to have a rather decent sized room of approximately 16×15. It’s so true that everyone congregates in the kitchen while the living room remains empty during large…

This may be our favorite one yet:
This kitchen was designed to be at once functionally and aesthetically pleasing. The house is 22 feet wide hence allowing us to have a rather decent sized room of approximately 16×15. It’s so true that everyone congregates in the kitchen while the living room remains empty during large gatherings. We had to sacrifice the dining room by about 1 foot to give it to the kitchen and I think the move really paid off. We’ve also tried to maximize storage space by framing an sitting nook with cabinets overhead.
If size was no object, I would have a kitchen island as long and large as possible. There’s something so cozy and functional about being able to carry out tasks on a surface in the middle of the room, be it cooking, eating, working, or simply hanging out. Outside the French doors is a slim balcony that leads to a staircase that goes down to the garden. We attach flower baskets to the balcony rails and put some fruit/herb planters on the deck. I’d highly recommend your friends to add some exterior focal point outside their kitchen as it’s the best way to take advantage of a parlor level kitchen layout.
It’s been about 3 years now and I can’t think of anything else I’d change about the kitchen. And oh yeah, the AGA rocks.
Bootyful.
Update: Check out more pics and description of the project on the jump.
Ideas for the Parlor Floor Kitchen? [Brownstoner]
Parlor Kitchen #1: Architect-Designed in The Slope [Brownstoner]
Parlor Kitchen #2: Contractor’s Own Kitchen [Brownstoner]
Parlor Floor Kitchen #3: Jeffrey’s 35-Footer [Brownstoner]
Parlor Kitchen #4: Spreading Out in a 22-Footer [Brownstoner]
….a couple more photos to help put the kitchen in perspective. The parlor layout (22×50) is living room in front, dining room middle, and kitchen in back, plus hallway, staircase, powder room, the usual suspects.
As for materials – kitchen is rather straightforward and I think can be done to fit a range of budgets. Cabinets are paint grade wood with BM Dove White, floors are black slate from Home Depot, countertop & backsplashes are Carera grey marble, farmhouse sink, etc. The only statement piece is the AGA, but otherwise, the other components are run of the mill and don’t need to be expensive.
Having said that however, it really pays to have good carpentry, good painting, good lighting, and lastly, a good eye.
My mother in law has an AGA, in Ireland. She boils water and makes toast on it, but uses a cheap stove for most of her cooking. The AGA is often used to dry clothes. And when her daughter in law comes from NY, she warms her feet on the AGA because there is no central heat in the house. I don’t cook, but I know some people who do and they’ll only use certain ranges because of the type of flame. Now, I’m not familiar with all types of AGA, but my M in L’s doesn’t have a flame on top. It just heats up. Anyway, it sure is purdy. The AGA is the best thing about this kitchen. My favorite kitchen has been the retro appliance one.
No one lives here…looks like a lovely show piece…I want it!!
Yes beautiful!
That aga stove/oven looks very cool, but unless I’m cooking huge meals requiring 4 ovens I really really don’t see the point. For real – why? What is its raison d’etre? I guess this is exactly why buying the aga is considered “conspicuous consumption” by some.
Wow, wow, and wow.
you can’t fit a turkey in this kind of Aga. it’s a design flaw: 4 ovens, all of them small.
I want to think something catty like, “I could never live comfortably in a flawless showplace like this”, but the truth is I am green with envy. Speaking of green…oh that dining room. I love it all!!
I want to think something catty like, “I could never live comfortably in a flawless showplace like this”, but the truth is I am green with envy. Speaking of green…oh that dining room. I love it all!!
Humph! If I had money, my parlor kitchen would look like that too! Humph! (I am drooling but not hating.)
Ignore the haters? who the hell are the haters?
what are you talking about?