I discovered Uncommon Kitchens by Sophie Donelson, through her interview with Evan Kleiman on KCRW’s Good Food podcast, a favorite for many years. While listening, I was so taken with the author and her ethos about kitchen design, that I added to my book wish list without a second thought. I have a running tally I keep on Blackwell’s. No surprise, it’s lengthy.
We spent Christmastime in Rochester with Andy’s side of the family, which was delightful. So I picked up a copy while in the USA, where english language books are plentiful and three times cheaper than locating the exact same ones in Zürich. It was during this same time that I learned about The deVOL Kitchen by Paul O’Leary, Helen Parker, and Robin McLellan from Suzi Brenner, who picked it up at the same time I got Uncommon Kitchens. As I glanced through her copy, she told me a bit about the background and history of deVOL with their in-house designers, craftspeople, and makers at Cotes Mill. I knew right away that I would be ordering this one as well.
Both books propose that the kitchen should not be an afterthought, that it shouldn’t have to bow to current design trends—giant immovable island, blocky, built-in cupboards, giant fridge, and little room for personality—that smack of sameness while also rendering it soulless.
According to deVOL, “I always want someone to walk into their kitchen and feel like it’s their favorite room in the house.” I couldn’t agree more. As someone who is keen about design but has zero training, I have always gone on instinct when it comes to my home, my space, my decor. It’s quirky, it’s colorful, it’s cozy and it’s beloved. When you have rented your entire adult life—and rent still, well into your forties—you have to really flex those creative muscles when it comes to making a space your own but within a lot of constraints. Like, walls in places you wish they weren’t, or bland cupboards in your Swiss kitchen you can do nothing about. When it comes to the kitchen, it’s the room where I spend the most time, and arguably make the happiest memories. You’re not sitting in front of the TV silent and siloed; you are doing, creating and sharing. In the kitchen, you nourish both yourself and others. You dress the salad and bake the bread, you teach your daughter how to salt the potatoes. You invite dear ones in, to have a drink, stay awhile, get cozy, and eat delicious food together. What isn’t more happy-making than that?
But back to the books. In Uncommon Kitchens, Donelson smartly sums up, “for all the love and emotion we festoon on the kitchen, it doesn’t always look it.” She is right. And she encourages, through her book, by looking at lots of different designers and locales, to “abandon the rigidity of the modern uniform dream kitchen,” and look toward flexibility, making the space work for you, and imbuing it with aesthetic elements that bring you joy, excitement, hope, fun and some soul.
I highly recommend both, if you’re interested in kitchens, in design and or simply in making your own home a bit more you. If the idea of throwing away the conventions and “rules” adopted for certain rooms speaks to you, if a colorful palette speaks to you, and if beautifully crafted furnishings and details speak to you, then these two books are great additions to your library. Though I can’t afford to hire deVOL for my non-existent kitchen remodel, I can dream of it. And be inspired by all that they do. But most importantly, books like this are for inspiration. Color, pattern, art, unique lighting! Look around at what you have already and see if it might bring more personality or joy to your own kitchen (and home).
If you pick either of these up, or already know of them, let us know, what do you think? What is your kitchen like at home? Do you love it? Do you wish you could change things? Have you been inspired to change something?
Thanks for reading!