This Old House Kitchens: A Guide to Design and Renovation

Here the team from television's This Old House concentrates their efforts on remodeling that most heavily used and often changed room in the American home, the kitchen. Of note are current contributing factors to change: the increasing interest in food preparation and the eventual abandonment of the dining room, now often integrated into the kitchen, the center for workaday and social gatherings. In 30 years, kitchens have evolved from hygienic laboratories into cozy, plant-filled family havens. There is certainly much to consider in renovating, with ever-newer appliances and equipment vying for space in an already highly competitive area. How are we supposed to deal with microwave ovens and food processors? Where can we efficiently install a dishwasher, a refrigerator? A great many possibilities are explored with the kind of cheerful optimism we have come to expect from This Old House 's crew, but without the limitations of television. The very different requirements of readers are considered, and solutions are framed by advantages and drawbacks. Basic planning and designing are covered, with plumbing, electric, heating and venting systems reviewed in layman's terms that observe both quality and function. This isn't just a reference book for professionals, but a helpful guide for the homeowner whose kitchen needs a timely redo. Photos not seen by PW. (Jan.)