Julia Child was a pioneer in the world of haute cuisine at a time when celebrity "chefdom" was a decidedly manly occupation. She didn’t care. The kitchen was her natural habitat and she had her own ways of making it work for her whether she was whipping up a soufflé or flaming a creme brûlée. 
Child is credited with bringing French cuisine to America in the 1960s and was host of The French Chef on PBS which aired from 1963-1973. Interestingly, she did not learn to cook until she met her husband Paul Child, an American diplomat with a refined palate. Julia also worked for the government during WWII as a research assistant in the Secret Intelligence division of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services). It was in this capacity that she created her first recipe which was for shark repellent! It worked and is still in use today. After the war the couple settled in Paris where Paul worked for the US Foreign Service and Julia attended the renowned Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. She had fallen in love with French cuisine. Julia stood 6’2”, never had any children and left this world in 2004, two days shy of her 92nd birthday. She was quoted as saying, “with enough butter, anything is good”. Apparently her health was none the worse for it. 
Julia’s real life kitchen was donated, moved and reassembled in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in 2001. The layout was devised by Julia and her husband and customized to her cooking needs, including higher counter tops to accommodate her height. Pots and cooking utensils are all placed exactly as they were in her home. Today Julia would be utterly amazed at the advancements in appliances, materials and new storage options. Although her kitchen goes back 50 years she had ideas and practices that are very relevant today. Here is what I think today’s kitchen would look like through the eyes of The French Chef. 
Organization and Easy AccessJulia was known for her handy and efficient peg board system. Companies like Rev-A-Shelf have taken this concept and expanded it so that it doesn’t have to be on the wall. Moving pegs allow these inserts to be customized. This is especially handy for dish storage in new kitchens that feature fewer upper cabinets. A "Julia kitchen" includes a place for everything and everything in it’s place. 
To Make the Cut You Must Have Great KnivesA self-proclaimed knife freak, Julia collected them all her life and never met one that was sharp enough for her! Check out this delightful anecdote from the New England Historical Society and you'll see what I mean. I agree that there is nothing more frustrating in the kitchen than dull knife. The winner in my book is J.A. Henckels International 8" Classic Chef's Knife in terms of quality and value for the money.
Having a great knife is half of the equation, now we have to store them. Julia preferred to house them on a magnet attached to the wall. Today she would love this railing system by Clever Storage that allows you to take advantage of the space between upper and lower cabinets. It's safe, attractive and accessible. Win! 
The Mother Ship of RangesJulia used a 1950s six burner used commercial gas range by Garland. This company is still in business so you can get a modern version today but I’m betting Julia would fall for the TriFuel range by Tecnogas Superiore for its state of the art versatility. In fact, it was just announced Product Innovator Award winner for 2016 by Kitchen & Bath Business Magazine. It features dual gas burners plus four induction zones and an electric griddle. Below are dual gas ovens equipped with two convection fans and a broiler.
The Beauty of Butcher BlockThe French Chef was fond of her extra high maple counter tops for food preparation. You may not want an entire kitchen with wood tops but, if you can, it's great to have a section of it for food prep. Wood butcher block counters are a natural eco-friendly choice, absorb noise, are gentle on dishes and can be refinished. In addition to this, wood has inherent antibacterial qualities and can add a beautiful warmth to your kitchen. If you're going to use your counter for food prep it should have an oiled finish which does need to be maintained. 
Last but not least never enter the kitchen without a sense of humor and adventure Child was never without it! She said, “in cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude!”-If you'd like to experience cooking like a French chef you can stay at what was once Julia and Paul's part-time residence in Provence, France courtesy of Airbnb.
Kitchen Design 2017- What's Next?
Fashion is a fickle phenomena. What's in today quickly morphs into the the next new sensation. It doesn't matter if it's clothes or cabinets. Granted, interior trends are slower to transition but it works the same way.
Lately I've been giving a lot of thought to the huge love affair with contemporary design. The pendulum is deep into the greys, floating shelves, waterfall counters, clean lines, simplicity, slab style cabinet doors or wide stile and rail shaker fronts. Don't get me wrong, I love it and I think it's going to be many years before these looks become "outdated." If you've followed my advice in the past, you know I believe in designing to the structure. If you follow the styling and architecture of your home when designing your cabinetry your kitchen will never be dated. Then, of course, you have to have what you LOVE! That is numero uno.
But what's next? As sure as the sun rises the pendulum will eventually swing the other way and when it does it's going to be in a completely new direction. I just can't see us going back to the traditional looks of the past with glazes, heavy molding etc. Will the pendulum swing back to Traditional territory and what will the new Traditional look like? What's next on the horizon? “We are all familiar with consumers’ constant desire to see something new, yet they still want, in many cases, to have somewhat of a familiar comfort level,” said Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman – executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. I think she's right. We want fresh and new but we want to feel a connection to qualities we've enjoyed in the past. This kitchen by Rutt HandCrafted Cabinetry has got me thinking about what a "new Traditional" would look like.
Clean lines continue but now soft elegant detail makes an appearance
Darryl Minch, manufacturer's rep with the Baronet Group International, Inc., says "I'm seeing less extreme contrasts of color in the kitchen, think softer palettes , white and off -whites used in the same space". My own prediction is that we will see a big resurgence of natural wood finishes. I see hints of this all over. For quite a while white painted finishes and dark espresso stains have ruled. Neither shows the beauty of wood grain. Textured laminates round out the top choices at the moment but how about the real deal?
Take your paneling in a different direction. If you have an island in your plan, chances are you're going to need some paneling to tie it all together. Take the traditional vertical beadboard and turn it for a "new traditional" effect. I'm loving this option for a coastal look as it's reminiscent of ship lap. I started to use this design detail in my projects and now I'm seeing it more and more.
If you're a design lover or savvy pro I'd love to hear your predictions for kitchen and bath design 2017.
Be Cool with Big Chill Appliances
There is a fresh new concept on the scene when it comes to kitchen appliances. For years the challenge has been to make them go away, visually, that is. Integrating your refrigerator and dishwasher using matching cabinet panels can be the perfect solution in some situations but let's take another look, shall we?
What if you crave something different, you have yen for retro design and you LOVE color? If this is you, Big Chill has you covered. This Colorado based appliance maker was founded in 2001 by Orion Creamer and Thom Vernon, two guys looking for vintage style with modern functionality.
In the early days of the company Thom and Orion studied vintage styling from the 50s, particularly automotive detailing as well as the materials that were used. Their wish was to replicate the quality of products from this bygone era and blend it with the latest technology. I am impressed with the wide variety of appliances offered by Big Chill! Think the 48" pro range, induction cooking, large capacities as well as compact counter top microwaves.
Also, if you're not a fifties fan they have two other lines, Classic with 1920s detailing and Pro offering the same bold color selection in twenty first century design. Speaking of color, if none of their many options is just right for you, custom colors are available too. You can find dealers throughout the US but if they're not in your neck of the woods you can purchase on line with free shipping in the month of August. For much more info check out their website and blog.PS. I have no affiliation with Big Chill. This just came across my radar and I had to share!
Concealed Kitchen Elements Reavealed
Earlier this year in Milan at the EruoCucina tradeshow a lot of manufacturers were featuring kitchens with retracting and telescoping counter tops.
K+B Insider Young Huh says, “It was the epitome of seamless integration and smart use of space". Shown here is the Atelier collection as seen in the Minotti Cucine showroom. This counter top pulls back to reveal a cook top underneath. It also conceals a kitchen sink and pop up faucet.
This is absolutely cutting edge, allowing the function of the kitchen to be hidden from view so that we are left with the beauty of cabinetry that doubles as sculpture. Is this something you could live with? Maybe not but we do love to use the concept of concealment. Think appliance panels, appliance garages and even the "larder" concept that has become so popular. Just remember that concealment comes with a price. It's a case by case decision and don't feel bad if you want to let it all hang out. I think that today's appliance designs are created with aesthetics in mind, yes, they can have their own type of beauty. It is fun, though, to explore all the options!
Summer, the Season for Outside Cabinets
Summer is in full swing! I must confess I'm one of the few who loves a hot steamy Florida summer. Recently I got a call from a potential client with some extra space to fill outside by the pool (lucky them right?) Adjacent to the dining room and tucked into an alcove a new idea sprang to mind! How about an outside wine bar? Perfect for entertaining and here in Florida we can enjoy this scenario most of the year. There are a few things to remember if you're thinking of investing in outsider cabinetry.
The Right Stuff- Cabinets for the outside should be exterior grade, ready to stand up to humidity and temperature changes. Some good options include Mahogany, Cypress and Teak. These can be pricey, especially the latter two but there are other options. Why not consider a painted finish? As long as you're using an exterior grade paint over and exterior quality MDF you're set! Your friendly local custom cabinet maker can help you with any of these options. 
There are also cabinet lines that are manufactured for the outdoors. Danver Stainless Outdoor Kitchens makes powder coated stainless steel cabinetry for barbecues, outside kitchens and, yes, outdoor wine bars!! They tout their all powder coat finishes for low maintenance, protection from harsh weather conditions and a safeguard form chlorine (salt air) and muriatic acid which is used to clean pavers. 
We say "outside" but I recommend your bar area have at least an overhead cover. You gotta protect the goods, right? Protected or not, perhaps the most durable way to go is with a product called King StarBoard® ST. It is a special, high-density polyethylene sheet that provides a super tough surface for many applications. I like that it comes in colors and that color goes all the way through, no chipping ever!
I also love Dekton by Cosentino, a highly durable scientifically complicated package of counter top loveliness. Just have a look at these new colors!
Back to my client, here's what I envision for this space (at top). The stone wall lends a wine cellar feel while being totally suitable for this outside application. Here I'm showing the stone also on the adjoining wall but it would work equally well only over the bar. Last but not least, favorite art makes it your own with a personal touch. Just make sure your work is framed professionally so moisture doesn't enter into the picture, so to speak. If you'd like to explore creating your own little slice of heaven outside I'd love to help you. You know where to find me ;) Cheers and happy summer!
Gold and Bold for Your Powder Room
The powder room is one place where you never have to be shy and it should decked out to impress! Normally I shy away from the pedestal style sink for everyday usage but as an artful, sculptural element it can be the perfect focal point for your Powder Room. Anything metallic is particularly bold and timeless at the same time. 
Meet Bronze Chalice, designed by Santa Fe artist David Hoptman and manufactured by Stone Forest, a company who's focus is on bringing the organic beauty of nature to the home. I'm sure they succeeded here! I love the contrast between this sand cast bronze sink and the very simple wall mounted faucet, designed to have a quiet presence that enhances rather than competes with the loveliness of Bronze Chalice. A word of advice if you are considering a vessel sink of any type, especially if you are using a wall mounted faucet. This design looks deceptively simple but it is crucial to apply the correct dimensions. There really is no room for error in both the centering and the heights of both the sink and the faucet. Get it wrong and you'll be taking a shower in your powder room! Bronze Chalice is available in three finishes, Weathered Bronze, White Bronze and Gold Bronze. It retails from $1,720-$1,870, depending on finish, and can be obtained through luxury distributor Hastings Tile & Bath.