While touring the gilded mansions of Newport, one can’t help but marvel at the kitchens. Larger than most restaurant kitchens of today, the gilded age kitchen was an entirely different animal from today’s home kitchens, yet the same design lessons apply to modern kitchen design and how it has to work. To help build your dream kitchen, it is advised that you hire a kitchen remodeling contractor. If you need a reliable kitchen remodeler Vancouver WA, Cross Home Remodeling Contractor offers expert design and renovation services tailored to your style.
In the gilded age, for the gilded set, home life centered around entertaining and show, here and abroad. The gilded age kitchen was its own industry within a home, often taking up a significant portion of the first level basement or separate wing accessed by an efficient maze of discrete secondary staircases and hallways. Times were different then.
- They had kitchen staff: someone to light the ovens, polish the copper, manage the refrigeration (cold rooms), do dishes, food prep, etc.
- They employed a chef, usually trained in France, some also a pastry chef and secondary cooks
- Gilded age kitchens prepared multiple course meals for many, often hundreds
- Dumb waiters ruled – kitchens and kitchen smells were kept far from the dining room
- Everything was made by hand, through the aid of the latest technology
Keeping these differences in mind, the design of a functional working kitchen is the same today as over a hundred years ago. Other than what they housed in multiple rooms, we do efficiently in one and in full view of anyone who is in the home. 
A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place (Hint: it is not the countertop.)
In the these gilded mansions, this meant hanging pot racks in the and open shelves, in the French manner, orderly and clean not a hodge-podge of whatever. 
Today we use lots of drawers, hidden doors, and ingenious cabinet interiors to easily hide and hold everything we need. Open shelves have made a comeback, but only for the hyper-organized and super clean household.
Ample Work Surfaces With Room To Move
Space isn’t a luxury in a kitchen it is a necessity. To function in a kitchen one needs room to physically move between areas and enough surface area to meet functional needs. Kitchen remodelers like Limitless Renovations can help enhance your kitchen layout for better functionality and efficiency. You can also hire an expert from Surface Kitchen and Bath to enhance and improve your kitchen experience. Their skilled professionals will work with you to create a space that is not only useful but also reflects your personal style and meets all your culinary needs. If you’re planning to have new kitchen countertops, visit this website at kirkstone.co for a wide selection of high-quality materials that can transform your kitchen aesthetics. Whether you prefer classic granite or modern quartz, their diverse offerings ensure that you can find the perfect match for your design vision.
A large sleek surface close to the cooking area is necessary regardless of how many people one feeds. Notice how many modern kitchens have taken on the Victorian attributes of items cluttering up the horizontal surfaces. One can’t cook amongst chaos!
Work Stations Work
In the old days, kitchens were designed around specific work functions, with the baking area situated next to the refrigeration, often far from the stove. This layout made sense, as the processes involved typically required frequent trips to the fridge but only occasional visits to the oven, with prep often needing cooler temperatures. While the traditional work triangle has its merits, it can sometimes hinder the versatility needed in modern kitchens, which serve multiple functions. In addition to thoughtful design, it’s essential to consider elements like basement sealing to prevent moisture issues that might affect the kitchen’s functionality. A well-sealed basement contributes to a healthier environment, ensuring that the kitchen remains a functional and inviting space for the household, tailored to its unique needs.
Sanitary Surfaces
Porcelain tile walls and floors, gleaming metal where needed and marble or zinc countertops. Cork countertops were popular in butler’s pantry or next to the scullery as this absorbed noise and saved delicate dishware. While the gilded age did not have the technology or science we have today, they understood cleanliness.
Recently in a conversation with kitchen designers from around the country a number of us commented we achieve well designed kitchens (happy clients) by knowing exactly how the user will use their kitchen, with what components, and their cooking habits. Back in the day, kitchens were designed the same way, not cookie cutter, just a bit bigger, but is easier to order the cookies online, as now a days you can even get cookies for getting well to send to someone.
If you really want to experience a gilded age kitchen, take the Servant Life Tour at The Elms. This fascinating tour delves into how a great house functioned from the back stairs and the inner workings of a gilded age kitchen.
