Kitchens That Work: The Practical Guide to Creating a Great Kitchen
by Martin Edic, Richard Edic
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Book Summary Information
Author: Martin Edic, Richard EdicEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Format: Illustrated
Published: 1999-10-01
ISBN: 1561583197
Number of pages: 216
Publisher: Taunton
Book Reviews of Kitchens That Work: The Practical Guide to Creating a Great Kitchen
Book Review: A nice primer but incomplete
Summary: 3 Stars
This book was a nice start to get the brain going, but I found it failed to address important elements in kitchen design and renovation. As a soon to be owner-builder, I would love to see more in depth information on standard measurements, accessibility, and ergonomics in the kitchen. This book reviews the concept of zoned work spaces(replacing the outdated "work triangle"), but doesn't go into depth on the details of how to make it work, sympathetic zones that will flow into the next, or examples with components. While there are a few examples of improved design layout for renovation(ie: before and after), I would have loved to see many more detailed floor plans of kitchens that work efficiently and well with an explaination of why each does.
This book is a primer for cost analysis and lists some common kitchen features found in basic, intermediate, and gourmet kitchens. It contains general overviews of kitchen theory, and some tips on rennovation. This is a great book for getting started about thinking about kitchen redesign for someone who will be using an architect and general contractor. If you plan to list some ideas on paper and hand it to a professional, this book will help you assess some good ideas and the realistic expectations of the cost involved.
If you want to do your own design and hand it to a professional with the intent of reproducing what you have drawn, this book won't help you. The book, Independent Builder: Designing & Building a House Your Own Way (Real Goods Independent Living Books) is fabulous with in depth coverage of all aspects of home building, but I feel that with the complexity involved, a whole book of similar nature should be devoted to kitchens. Sadly, Kitchens That Work: The Practical Guide to Creating a Great Kitchen isn't it.
********* EDIT **********
Many thanks to the previous reviewer who recommended DK Home Design Workbooks: Kitchen. I heartily second the recommendation. Get that book instead of Kitchens that Work. It covers almost everything in this book, plus more comprehensive coverage of the HOW and WHY behind actually DESIGNING a kitchen.
I also second the recommendation of Build Your Harvest Kitchen. The information and pictures are a little dated, but Harvest Kitchen provides plenty of examples of insightful floor plans, why they work, and how you integrate the design into your own. There's quite a bit of information about harvesting your own produce, canning, jam making, and the like, but if you skip that and read the rest, it's definitely worth the read.
The best part? You can buy both Harvest Kitchen AND DK Home Design Workbooks: Kitchen(including shipping on both) for less than the cost of this one and gain much more knowledge and insight about kitchen design than by reading Kitchens That Work.
If you are designing/building a house, splurge on The Independent Builder and A Pattern Language to learn how to create the best design for your homebuilding needs.
Summary of Kitchens That Work: The Practical Guide to Creating a Great Kitchen
The kitchen is the social center of the home -- a place for eating, a place for working, and a place to organize everything from spices to household finances. Because kitchens serve so many different needs, creating a new kitchen that not only serves these many needs but works well is a major challenge.Featuring over 200 color photos, illustrations, and charts, Kitchens That Work uses a lifestyle design model to guide the reader through the complex process of designing and creating a great kitchen -- one that works for everyone living in the house. The book guides the reader through each step of the process, from initial planning through the many material and design choices made along the way. Especially helpful is the unique insider's perspective on finding, evaluating, and managing kitchen contractors.
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