When my 7-year old was 3, he asked me where my office was. I told him my office is the kitchen. It is. As a stay-at-home mom, my domain is the kitchen. When we built our house, I was able to specify what I wanted in my kitchen. I wanted lots of windows for natural light, lots of cabinets, a big island, and commercial appliances. I also wanted a desk for my PowerBook. When the 7-year old boy became tall enough, we were able to replace our breakfast table with a bar height one that seats 8.
The most used and cannot-live-without gadget in my kitchen is the boiling hot water dispenser (above right). I used it to warm breast milk while I was nursing. And I use it for everyday cooking. Dispensing water on demand at a scalding 200-degrees-Farenheit, it allows me to cook soups faster. It also allows me to make a cup of tea anytime without having to boil water. It's also a good way to rinse oily utensils and pots. Really, I can't live without it.
Kitchens. I have two. My other kitchen is in the basement. When we built our house, we had the builder fully finish the basement. There was a dead space in one part of the house and my mom suggested building a complete kitchen in an otherwise empty space. This kitchen has never been used (except for the refrigerator) and I doubt we'll ever use it. It's a neat idea, though.
My dream kitchen will have 2 dishwashers, a separate beverage refrigerator, and a commercial 8-burner stove. Someday. Someday.
More beautiful kitchens through the comment thread here.
