Kitchen Think: A Guide to Design and Construction, from Refurbishing to Renovation

The latest book from Nancy Hiller is a fun and engaging read that will also encourage you to approach design challenges with more creativity.

Nancy’s books, which include “Making Things Work: Tales from a Cabinetmaker’s Life” and “English Arts & Crafts Furniture,” always have interesting takes on materials and cultural history and “Kitchen Think” is no exception. Nancy traces the concept of kitchen work from its somewhat reviled status (and association primarily with working class women) to its more recent HGTV-endorsed centerpiece of personal expression and wealth. At the same time, working woodworkers have had to rethink their uninterest in kitchen work (“Why would I want to build plywood boxes when I could be building 18th century highboys,” as one of Nancy’s friends asked) to meet clients’ newfound interest. The increased social focus on sustainability dovetails nicely with Nancy’s own longstanding interest in building materials, and “Kitchen Think”reflects these concerns.

Kitchen renovations are chock full of logistical challenges - lack of space; awkward structural elements; fire safety rules; residents who want to keep using their kitchens - and punishing expenses. “Kitchen Think” has beautiful pictures of 24 kitchens to convince you that the outcome justifies the pain, but more importantly, the book inspires you to think -- to understand your taste, your budget, your schedule and your practical restrictions, whether you’re tackling a build-from-scratch, partial renovation or just a delightful extra like a rack for your handmade spoons. The book is filled with clever tips like maximizing the utility of odd spaces and inside corners and also includes a fun peek at items made by hand tool community celebrities like Megan Fitzpatrick’s tiger maple plate rack or Father John Abraham’s MagBlok knife holder.

“Kitchen Think” makes a great gift for design professionals or anyone contemplating a kitchen renovation.

368 pages. Hardcover. 8-1/2” x 11”. Printed in full color on coated, 80# matte paper. Sewn binding covered with a fiber-reinforced tape spine. Produced and printed in the USA.

Pages: 357
Binding: Hard Cover
Publisher: Lost Art Press