Terence Conran's Kitchen Book : A Comprehensive Source Book and Guide to Planning, Fitting and Equipping Your Kitchen

Photographs of the professional and home kitchens of chefs and celebrities accompany a history of kitchens since Norman times, ideas for kitchens, descriptions of equipment, and lists of manufacturers

"Everything and the Kitchen Sink" would be an appropriate subtitle for Conran's foray into the heart of the home. In one thick volume, the retailer, restaurateur, and jack-of-all-design-trades covers all the items needed to create and equip a kitchen worthy of food preparation, entertaining, or just plain enjoying. Conran probes the history and the styles of professional and home cooking places, seemingly from the discovery of fire to sleek modern stainless appliances, and he more than adequately illustrates them with color photographs of the various design styles and accoutrements. Conran is good at assessing the pros and cons of a variety of appliances, surfaces, and materials (e.g., of ceramic-tile, as opposed to cork or concrete, flooring) as well as at framing questions you should ask when hiring a kitchen planner. All the designs shown, however, tend to require major dollars, and Conran is also not hesitant about promoting certain manufacturers. So this is finally a wish book more than a real-life kitchen problem-solver. Barbara Jacobs

Conran, whose name will sound familiar to many readers, is the popular author of many enjoyable, informative decorating books. He begins his latest with the history of kitchens and then takes readers through the essentials for redoing a kitchen or designing a new one. He covers flooring, walls, countertops, cabinets, storage, and appliances as well as decorative styles. The book includes numerous color photos and sketches, and it is fun to page through even if you don't want to "study" it. Highly recommended.
- Barbara Bartos, St. Croix Central Elementary Sch., Roberts, Wis.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.