My Un-Fitted Kitchen

I have a confession to make: I am not a fan of fitted kitchens.

I've never lived anywhere that didn't have a fitted kitchen (the oldest building I've ever called home was built in 1950, by which time they were a standard feature), but I still don't care for them.

Overhead cabinets make me claustrophobic...I haven't had a dishwasher in years and would rather have more space, thank you...lower cabinets can be too deep (which means back pain when trying to locate and retrieve less-used pieces)...I can't imagine ever needing so much cabinet space anyway so it's a waste of room...somehow, the prep area is never big enough...and what do you do about a hopelessly inefficient work triangle?

Having traveled a bit (and having seen lots of Apartment Therapy house tours), I have serious kitchen envy. If you have an older kitchen without anything built in (beyond the sink, stove, and refrigerator)...can we trade houses? Please? Small size is not a deterrent.

This kitchen suits not just my visual style, but my cooking style as well.

When I get home with a week's worth of food, I tend to do all the prep work in advance, then store it in the fridge and have it ready to go when it's time to actually cook. Hence the sink on one end, prep table between the sink and stove, and the fridge on the other side (and the pantry across the room).

It's still a work in progress, but I like how it's coming along.