“Kitchens are the new living rooms” is a quote from Windsor Smith.  And it was this quote that caught my attention in an article A place for cooking, relaxing and shooting the breeze by Rikki Stubbs in the SMH.  I assume it’s the same Rikki Stubbs from Pure Colour? (someone I’m now following).  It’s all a little back to the future – weren’t kitchens the the old living rooms?

Smith (someone I’m not following) calls herself a “lifestyle architect,” who believes that a house can enhance a marriage – her example when talking about the house above – a master suite that rejects the concept of separate “his” and “hers” areas, and believes that design can strengthen a family by giving everyone an appealing alternative to scattering after a dinner; Technology has in many ways driven us apart,” Smith says.  “We can reclaim our relationships in the way we plan and lay out our rooms.”

I hesitate to admit I agree with the sentiment – Windsor Smith (is that her real name?) makes it all sounds so very pretentious…..

Perhaps it’s all a little easier when you are designing a 8,000 square foot estate (with 6 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms) in Brentwood LA.  When building something like this, it’s not a show home – it’s  a concept home (involving 9 designers).  One that apparently took a little while to sell –  but has reportedly been bought by Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin for about US$10 million.  That’s their kitchen above – the one that inspired Rikki’s article.