The summer kitchen is a rectangular, one-to-two-story, usually gable-roofed structure that is closely related to the main house. Sometimes it is a wing, but usually it is semi-detached or completely detached. As its name implies, the summer kitchen housed cooking facilities for the hot, heavy processing work of the high season.
What is the purpose of a summer kitchen?
A summer kitchen can be given new purpose today. Like properties with other historic outbuildings, such as carriage houses, blacksmith buildings, and tenant homes (small structures with boarding quarters), houses with restored summer kitchens are often used for entertaining and may be rented out for special events, such as weddings.
Do summer kitchens still exist in houses?
In addition, indoor running water was newly being installed, making it more convenient to do most of the cooking in the main house kitchen. The majority of historic summer kitchens are gone, having fallen victim to the ravages of Mother Nature, but a few thousand have been restored.
What is a New England summer kitchen?
Outfitted with a large fireplaces and stone bake oven, these early summer kitchens, located mostly in New England, were designed to be used by slaves or servants for cooking the big meals necessary to feed all the people living on the property.
What is an 18th-century summer kitchen?
While summer kitchens are primarily found in upstate New York and the Midwest, 18th-century houses in the mid-Atlantic region—like Virginia—often separated the kitchen in a distinct, usually wooden, structure. Unlike summer kitchens of the north, these discrete workspaces were the main kitchens and were used year round rather than seasonally.
Why did people have summer kitchens?
The single main reason for building a small summer kitchen was to keep the main house cool by preparing meals elsewhere. At this time, there was no air conditioning, and cooking was done exclusively on wood-burning stoves and fireplace hearths, both of which radiated intense heat.
What did a summer kitchen look like?
The summer kitchen is a rectangular, one-to-two-story, usually gable-roofed structure that is closely related to the main house. Sometimes it is a wing, but usually it is semi-detached or completely detached.
What is a summer kitchen in basement?
It had a stove, sink, refrigerator, deep freezer and plenty of storage shelves. During the summer and early fall it was cooler to cook in the basement than it was to cook in the kitchen.
Why did old houses have two kitchens?
The 1767 kitchen dependency was built separately from the main house. This helped reduce the risk of fire damage to the residence, while also keeping the sounds and the smells of kitchen activity out of the main living quarters.
How do you make a summer kitchen?
0:471:42How to build a DIY outdoor kitchen for summer entertaining - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause I am doing concrete countertops the way of the concrete is going to be an issue so you wantMoreBecause I am doing concrete countertops the way of the concrete is going to be an issue so you want to make sure that you've built a strong enough base I've used 3/4 inch plywood.
How do you set up a summer kitchen?
2:209:00EPIC SUMMER KITCHEN BUILD - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd what we want to do is put it in the bottoms. Of the cabinets that way we're able to adjust it upMoreAnd what we want to do is put it in the bottoms. Of the cabinets that way we're able to adjust it up and down get the cabinet just right it also keeps it off the ground for moisture.
Why do some old houses not have kitchens?
In many older homes, the kitchen does not match the rest of the house simply because it was installed at a very different time from the other rooms. No matter the vintage of the house, people have always wanted modern conveniences.
Is it OK to have a kitchen in the basement?
A basement kitchen can serve multiple purposes. For instance, if you install a guest bedroom in the basement, the kitchen can serve as a guest's food preparation or consumption space. If you have a separate entrance to the basement, you might even be able to rent the space out as an apartment.
Does a basement kitchen add value?
A home with a basement kitchen is more valuable than one without. Money spent on your basement kitchen will produce a return on investment up to 85% of your expenditure. The added amenities, such as a wet bar, appliances, and storage space, will also increase the home's value should you decide to sell.
What are second kitchens called?
A second smaller kitchen adjacent to the main kitchen also known as a prep kitchen or scullery is coming back into style in modern home design.
Why do Italian homes have 2 kitchens?
0:262:46Why do Italians have two kitchens? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause they have enough area to lay everything out.MoreBecause they have enough area to lay everything out.
When did outdoor kitchens become popular?
Since the 1960s other grills and cooking stations have emerged, from propane barbecues to fire-clay smokers. All the while, outdoor gatherings continued to play a role in everyday life. It wasn't until the late-1990s that outdoor kitchen cabinet manufacturers such as Danver Stainless Outdoor Kitchens entered the scene.
How to tell if a house is a summer kitchen?
The telltale sign of a structure being a summer kitchen was one or more large chimneys rising from the roof. Smaller summer kitchens of the average homeowner were much more modest, and while some were built with quality materials, such as stones or timbers, many were constructed from inferior wood or rough-cut logs, ...
What were summer kitchens made of?
Large summer kitchens built on sizeable plantations and estates were often made from timbers or stones to match the style of the main house, and some featured second-story sleeping quarters for slaves or servants. These kitchens also provided extra room for other activities and chores, such as laundry and sewing, and it wasn’t unusual for them to feature 1,200 square feet or more on the main floor. Many had dirt floors and a few included excavated root cellars for housing root vegetables and canned foods over the winter. The telltale sign of a structure being a summer kitchen was one or more large chimneys rising from the roof.
What can you do with a restored summer kitchen?
Like properties with other historic outbuildings, such as carriage houses, blacksmith buildings, and tenant homes (small structures with boarding quarters), houses with restored summer kitchens are often used for entertaining and may be rented out for special events, such as weddings. Few are used for cooking anymore, but if those that are have usually been retrofitted with modern appliances and flooring installed over original dirt floors. Some homeowners have opted to turn the structure into a private art studio, gallery, library, or guest house.
Why did they build a small kitchen?
The single main reason for building a small summer kitchen was to keep the main house cool by preparing meals elsewhere. At this time, there was no air conditioning, and cooking was done exclusively on wood-burning stoves and fireplace hearths, both of which radiated intense heat.
Why do we need a summer kitchen?
But even more than that, the physical separation of a lit stove or hearth from the primarily wooden house meant that summer kitchens also reduced the risk of house fires.
Where are summer kitchens found?
While summer kitchens are primarily found in upstate New York and the Midwest, 18th-century houses in the mid-Atlantic region—like Virginia—often separated the kitchen in a distinct, usually wooden, structure.
What was the significance of the separate kitchens in the mid-Atlantic region?
The separate kitchen structures of the mid-Atlantic region, which were used by enslaved workers, also held social significance, as it physically separated the enslaved in a space that often was capped by sleeping quarters in its attic.
What is Shutterstock story?
Shutterstock. This story is part of a group of stories called. Everything you need to know about your home, from securing a mortgage to painting your living room. Editor's note: This story was originally published on June 16, 2016. It has been updated with new information.
