In the world of kitchen and bathroom design, cabinets are more than just functional storage units; they are key elements that define the style and personality of a space. Among the myriad options available, Fabuwood Cabinets stand out as a top choice for homeowners, builders, and designers alike. Known for their blend of quality craftsmanship, innovative design, and affordability, Fabuwood Cabinets offer a range of solutions that cater to diverse aesthetic preferences and functional needs.
1820: First kitchen sink as we know it
1850: Oberlin Stove
1911: First refrigerator arrived in America cost $525 and didn’t sell because the Ford Model T was $300 at the time. Therefore the Icebox was still used until the 1940s.
1950: Dishwasher sold to homeowners and cost $300
1960: Microwave for homeowner was sold and cost $495
When we think of the Kitchen we think of the center of the home, but it may surprise many of us how recent many of the utilitarian items we use every day were made of recent days gone by. To see how we arrived where we are today, we must look at where it all began. As humans we have always cooked over a fire, but not until the 5th Century were wealthy Greeks placing a kitchen that was separate from the house. They used clay ovens that are much like today’s pizza ovens. Roman kitchens, although still separate from house, used stoves and invented a type of centralized heating system. European countries continued to rely on hearths with open fire. The first woodburning stove according to the Farmer’s Almanac was invented in Europe in the 1500s. This was almost 200 years before kitchen became a permanent fixture in homes. The 1600s ushered in the modern kitchen. They began appearing in England because of the growing wealth. However, the wealthiest of homes only had kitchens even up to the late 1600s. There was a critical change in the kitchen layout in the late 1600s. The hearth was moved to a wall and affixed to stone, brick, or timber chimney above allowing for smoke to escape.
Early Colonial Americans began with fireplaces with a metal pole positioned horizontally over fire to hold kettles. However, Benjamin Franklin invented a traditional woodburning stove due to wood shortage in Pennsylvania. Another Benjamin, Benjamin Thompson designed one of the earliest cooking ranges. By the 1850s, The Industrial Revolution brought factories, which then brought inventions and change to the kitchen. The Oberlin stove was invented and slashed cooking
in half from the Franklin stove. By the turn of the century many Americans relocated into the cities and the availability of gas and running water enabled the kitchen to transform yet again.
War had many influences on the kitchen, from WWI and the 1918 Influenza outbreak, made people more concerned with sanitation practices. Then WWII brought on a housing shortage in the cities which led to developers and contractors building outside the city in what we now refer to as the suburbs. With the new housing the kitchens became bigger than city dwelling could house and became something people were looking for in a house. You will recall a pink that was the décor of the 50s, which was formally called Mamie Pink after Mamie Eisenhower for her love of the color.
Countertops of the 1950s were laminate, but not exclusively. Some were metal or plastic with brick or with wood framed. Corian was first sold in 1971 for countertops and has continued to lead the commercial industry. Nonporous, durable, and easy to clean and repair allows it to be unsusceptible to bacteria, fungi and even graffiti which can be cleaned off.
By the 1990s we began to see an introduction of granite and marble
countertops into the home and by 2000 Engineered quartz made its way into our kitchens and now is surpassing granite due to its nonporous qualities in leu of any breakage. It allows a homeowner to live without worrying about sealing the material every couple of years.
With these advancements in the kitchen, one must ask what is next? We are now seeing growing trend to move cooking to outdoor kitchens. Finding material to withstand the UV light and outdoor elements can be challenging if not impossible. We would like to suggest Corian Solid Surface for just an application. An array of colors from concrete to Calcutta look can make a statement from modern to traditional. With the ability to thermoform our material you can make decorative seating and columns to match the countertop. Backlit walls, pool surrounds, and many more designs are yet to come.
Truly with Corian the design only stops when your imagination stops.
Stay Ahead with H.J. Oldenkamp Co.
Stay ahead of the curve and let your designs shine with the latest color trends from H.J. Oldenkamp Co. Explore our collections and discover how you can create spaces that are both contemporary and timeless. For more inspiration and to view our full range of products, visit our website or contact us today.
