NKBA asked members what they are thankful for in their kitchens. By Loren Kessell
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it’s one of the most important rooms during the holiday season. Thanksgiving is coming up, and the NKBA wanted to know what people love the most about their kitchens. Here’s what everyone had to say:
“Although this was the kitchen in a house I sold a few months ago, I was in love with the functionality of my Delta Faucet pot filler! Having moved into a new house since, and a house that did not come equipped with a pot filler, I am finding cooking to have an additional layer of inconvenience! With two Australian Shepherds drinking lots of water, the pot filler made filling their water bowls much easier, and made grabbing a tablespoon of water during a stir fry that much more efficient!” – Jennifer Hutton, Artisan Kitchens Baths at Appliance Associates
“I am truly thankful for our new Verona gas range! Our oven broke last summer, and it was time to start gradually updating our appliances. The 30″ Verona gas range is beautiful, and the burners are incredibly powerful. It also has a convection oven and I’m eager to bake a pie. We love our new range and it’s professional features!” – Deborah Main, Deborah Main Designs
“My induction cooktop! It is just an ordinary 30″ KitchenAid around 10-11 years old, but it’s still so fast and responsive. It still looks pristine, because stuff never cooks onto the surface. You can ALWAYS get it clean.” – Cathy Osborne
“Our 21-year-old orange Sharp Half Pint microwave. It has a small footprint and sits on a counter where you wouldn’t stand and work (and would likely just get cluttered if it wasn’t there). It’s function isn’t obvious, and of course, it really ties the room together.” – Michael Lotz
“I am thankful for all the obvious reasons but when it comes to design I am thankful for all the new technology that NKBA and others use to keep us informed and the new design programs we use to bring a project together.” – Nancy Francis, Nancy Francis Kitchen and Bath
“I am most thankful for my Wolf Steam Oven!” – Robin Rigby Fisher, CMKBD, Robin Rigby Fisher Design
“My 2.5″ thick Grothouse Lumber chopping block, of red oak and walnut end grain. It provides a place for two to sit as well as do all my prep beside the Sub-Zero refrigerator. It is raised to 38″ high on custom forged steel supports while the other countertops are at standard 36″ height. After waiting 23 years to do my own kitchen, this one, with custom stained green on oak cabinets is all I could ever want. The dishes in the glass door cabinet are my mother’s everyday china from the 1940s.” – Ann Chittum, Signature Kitchens & Baths of Charleston
“I’m so thankful for my new Kitchen Aid electric induction range that replaces my gas one. I’ve been wanting to reduce my use of fossil fuels, and once I let go of my attachment to the primal gas flame, this was an obvious choice. I assumed there would be a learning curve, but my Kitchen Aid range is intuitive and easy to use. The burners are so responsive! I had also assumed that I would have to replace all of my cookware but, testing with a magnet, I found that half of them would work. I had too many to begin with so I haven’t bought any new pots or pans. Very happy with the upgrade.” – Tracey Stephens, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Inc.
“Full illumination, under cabinets and all interiors. Also, excellent accessories (in base cabinets) and drawer organization.” – Donn Wilber, Hafele
“Besides my kids, my sharp chef’s knife and my Cuisinart straight-sided 12-inch stainless steel skillet. It’s the workhorse of my culinary creations, whether preparing a massive holiday feast or everyday family meals.”– Dianne Pogoda
“I am most thankful for being able to use my kitchen, no matter how big or small, and to make my family’s time-worn recipes year after year.” – Gina Halland, Gina Halland Design and Build
“The thing I am most thankful for in my kitchen is our GE Monogram Advantium Oven! Our kitchen has a tiny footprint, and with the compact size of this oven, we were able to fit this in a tucked away area and not lose any valuable storage space. And with its multiple functions, it takes me from regular microwave to speedcook to full additional oven for bigger Thanksgiving meals. I try to include one of these in all of the kitchens I design if there’s a need for it!” – Jill Warren Kahn, Jill Warren Design
“I’m thankful for so much in my kitchen, but the one thing that makes my heart sing every day is the northern light that helps my kitchen be bright and cheerful without sacrificing storage. When we built our home, we chose insulating concrete forms that make all of the exterior walls 9.25″ thick. The cabinetmaker was reluctant, but I persisted. He built both display cabinets to insert in front of two fixed windows and backless standard cabinets to create 43″ wide functional, beautiful cabinets on both sides of the sink and the casement sink window. We’re able to store all of our daily glassware, plates, and bowls in the cabinets plus the crystal that sparkles beautifully.” – Diane Plesset, D.P. Design
“I’m most thankful that I had a great team helping me with all the products I selected. I especially like the Rev-A-Shelf pull out knife block and stainless steel canisters that keep my counter from gathering clutter. I love that I reset into the wall my Thermador fridge, Miele Steam oven and Thermador Convection oven, gaining more floor space. I love the brick wall and marble countertop and Textured Thermograin finish on the Avalon Truframe cabinets. And I especially love the stainless steel floating shelves I positioned left/right of my Zephyr vent hood – these open shelves store my everyday dishes.” – Jan Neiges, CMKBD
“I am most thankful for my Monogram Advantium (5 in 1) oven.” – Bohnne Jones, Decorating Den Interiors
“The windows. I have a beautiful view outside my kitchen window that I get to enjoy every morning while making and drinking my coffee. It’s my favorite thing to wake up to each day.” – Heidi Lopez
“My new and powerful Best hood vent. It grabs all the grease, vapors and odors and whisks them quietly away to the outdoors. Nothing escapes to trigger the smoke detector. Every cook needs a vent with proper ventilation.” – Penny Letson, Light Benders
