Dori Howard
Brentwood, Tennessee

Our family decided to make the move from Los Angeles, California to Nashville, Tennessee. We anticipated many changes. Topping our list was finding a place to live. We agreed on the location. Now we needed to find a house that would accommodate our lifestyle; a house with a kitchen and a floor plan that allowed us to host gatherings of all sizes.

We looked at dozens of homes ranging from 1800’s historical homes to newly built custom homes, all boasting of renovated or existing gourmet kitchens. We soon found this to mean beautifully appointed space equipped with the latest appliances needed to reheat already prepared foods.

By prioritizing the importance of aesthetics over thoughtful planning and quality products, this type of kitchen limited my options as a cook.

The decision was made that we should settle into a temporary living situation while developing plans to build our own home. I began collecting pictures and articles with ideas we could incorporate into our house plans. In the process, I read several kitchen design books. The one that proved most helpful to me was Kitchen Design with Cooking in Mind by Don Silvers. The information Don laid out in his book gave me the foundation I needed to create a family cooking environment that would prove to be the heart of our home for many years to come.

I compiled my wish list. I wanted a kitchen that was:

User friendly
To provide an intimate family atmosphere, yet would accommodate parties of 8 to 80 without overload.
I wanted appliances that could stand the test of time while providing me with an attractive environment in which to work.
I wanted efficient and well-organized work and storage space, making clean-up easy for anyone using the kitchen.
I wanted a floor plan that tastefully united the kitchen and the adjoining rooms in the house.
Finally, I wanted a cooking environment that gives guests the opportunity to help cook or simply sit nearby and visit, allowing me to enjoy their company without having to maneuver around them while preparing a meal.
Now all I needed to do was get my totally overwhelming kitchen concept together and hand it over to Don. We planned a trip back to L.A. Don’s passion for educating people to fine foods along with his gift of creating a personalized environment that enhances the abilities of a cook quickly became evident. The concerns we had of Don being in another state during the building process were put to rest as soon as we saw Don’s plans. Our architect noted the attention Don paid in providing such detailed blueprints. If a question arose on the job site, we called Don and he addressed the situation with concise clarity, getting everything back on track. With the aid of phone, faxes and Fed Ex our project with Don was free of glitches. I only wish the rest of the house came together so effortlessly.

I have numerous examples of bringing in ideas I had pulled together for my kitchen, and Don understanding what I was trying to accomplish. He demonstrated how, in certain situations, I was actually working against myself. The best example of this is in regard to my plan was in dealing with my pantry. I had designed an 8’ by 9’ walk in pantry, which I was thrilled about. It would hold everything: canned goods, dog food, overnight guests….The possibilities were endless!

After reviewing my blueprints Don suggested that I relocate my pantry to build a built-in roll-out cabinet space, enclosing a hutch I could display dishes in. This would free up the 8’ by 9’ space to be a baking room. I paused, caught my breath and reasoned…. Yes, I love to bake. In fact, I’m a serious baker. But give up my pantry? That one was hard for me. Don assured me that I’d have more that enough storage space. As a result of Don’s engineering, my pantry is the highlight of my kitchen. I’m thrilled with my baking room, and our overnight guests enjoy a spacious guest room upstairs.

We moved in a over a year ago and, without hesitation my family would say that the kitchen is the most lived-in space of our home. Whether its homework, after-school snacks, late-night talks or dinner parties, our kitchen is truly the heart of our new home.

We are grateful to Don for giving us an environment where our family and friends can gather, creating memories we will cherish throughout our lives. Don, our sincere thanks.

Dori Howard