Help me understand this...

[erinlovesmarc]

After we finish the renovations on our house this summer we might decide to sell and move so we were looking at houses yesterday on the net...I don't know if it's a regional thing but please help me understand this...

I grew up in an Italian neighborhood and a lot of Italians have a "show-kitchen" and a "show-living room" (complete with the original plastic on the sofas that they came in)...I can understand the appeal of having a living room that is just for show (it is not only Italians that do this) but why would you want 2 kitchens - they pay insane amounts of money to have a kitchen they don't cook in with top of the line appliances and cabinetry and they use the crappy kitchen in the basement...I never understood that...:rolleyes:

[sneezles]

I've heard and seen the furniture bit but have never heard of the kitchen one! Very odd!

[Beth]

I've heard of the kitchen thing but not seen it. I've always been told that the show kitchen is set up for catering, some serving and to impress. It's all about sparkle and polish. The working kitchen is where everything gets done.

For me, you would be right. I wouldn't put high dollar appliances in for show adn not have them to work on. And while there might be a certain appeeal to never having to worry about dirty dishes in the sink (because those all disappear into the working kitchen -- like Camelot), but I'd rather take the space and have one huge kitchen to work and talk in than to have two separate kitchens. But then, I am not trying to avoid being in my kitchen or getting my hands dirty.

[lindrusso]

I have never heard of a show kitchen! Sounds silly and indulgent to me - not to mention INSANELY expensive. If I shell out the money for top of the line appliances, I'm darn well going to use them!!! And trekking downstairs to the basement to cook? I don't think so! Is this really appealing to anyone? :confused:

While I understand wanting a living room that is kept neat and tidy and doesn't have things like the kids' toys in it so that you always have a room ready to receive guests, the whole plastic on the furniture thing drives me nuts! It's so unwelcoming and uninviting and uncomfortable.........ugh..............

[SusanL]

my mother's Italian neighborhood had a kitchen downstairs because you didn't want the neighbors to see a "messy kitchen". If you cooked downstairs, the company came into a clean kitchen. I know it doesn't make sense but it was an Italian thing here in her neighborhood. My neighbors come over whether our kitchen is clean or not!

[foodfiend]

I think I've heard of this as an Italian thing...essentially having a showcase upstairs while the real living goes on in the basement.

[ChristyMarie]

I have an Italian friend who's parents have their house set up that way. The main floor has a "show" dining room, living room, kitchen and family room. I've NEVER seen them used.

They live in the basement which has the "real" kitchen and family room.

I think it is incredibly bizarre.

[foodfiend]

BTW, Erin which area of Montreal do you live in now?

[suebear37]

I think it's largely an Italian & Polish custom... although I'm not familiar with knowing it as having a "show kitchen". I've seen the basement kitchen more for use in the summer when it's too hot to cook upstairs. Especially useful for canning & other marathon cooking.

[blazedog]

Fascinating as I have never heard of a show kitchen and I grew up with lots of Italian friends in New York.

In Los Angeles, there are plenty of show kitchens -- i.e. very expensive kitchens for people who never cook -- but there aren't TWO separate kitchens.

As for show living rooms, that was the norm among all the families when I grew up although the plastic was removed at a certain level of sophistication.:D I never thought it was odd that there was a fancy room in which formal entertaining took place and a den/family room in which the family lived. Don't most homes still have a living room/parlor and a place to hang out -- at least when one can afford the additional space?

[Clover]

I've never heard of the show kitchen thing either, or even of having two kitchens at all. I spent the first part of my childhood in an Italian neighborhood in San Francisco, and one side of my family is Italian, but everyone just had one kitchen and used it. It's true, though, that my great-aunt on the Italian side, and later her daughter, did have a show living room that only got used maybe on Christmas. They spent most of their time in a tiny room off the kitchen and laundry area, which I'm sure was intended to be a maid's room, while the beautifully furnished living room and den/family room sat empty.

[LakeMartinGal]

I think it's largely an Italian & Polish custom... although I'm not familiar with knowing it as having a "show kitchen". I've seen the basement kitchen more for use in the summer when it's too hot to cook upstairs. Especially useful for canning & other marathon cooking.Both DM and DMIL had this...DMIL used hers for canning, etc, before air conditioning. DM had a small kitchen in the basement, because she entertained a lot in the walk-out basement/family/billiard room, and she used it for the appetizers, and had a dishwasher to prevent getting the dishes confused between upstairs and downstairs... The folks at the marina (near Parry Sound) have a summer kitchen, out on the porch, because they don't have a/c...:)

[Middydd]

I think it's largely an Italian & Polish custom... although I'm not familiar with knowing it as having a "show kitchen". I've seen the basement kitchen more for use in the summer when it's too hot to cook upstairs. Especially useful for canning & other marathon cooking.

Around here those second kitchens in the basement are often referred to as "summer kitchens", you cook there when it's too hot upstairs.

I've also heard of converting the garage to a living/dining room for use in hot weather.

[Canice]

Wow, I've never heard of either of those things! Must be nice to have real estate so cheap you can afford to create rooms you won't use - I can't imagine.
Of course there are people who build out extraordinary kitchens just to impress, but it's still the only kitchen; my mind is racing at the notion that a person can (or would want to) have two kitchens. In the Victorian era, sure -of course there was the front parlor for visiting clergy, suitors, and for funerals- but I can't believe it: today people still have a living room that's for looking at, but not for sitting in? I wouldn't want that at all, but I guess I live in a more informal area. Only the stinking rich would entertain that way.
Curious.

[blazedog]

Wow, I've never heard of either of those things! Must be nice to have real estate so cheap you can afford to create rooms you won't use - I can't imagine.
Of course there are people who build out extraordinary kitchens just to impress, but it's still the only kitchen; my mind is racing at the notion that a person can (or would want to) have two kitchens. In the Victorian era, sure -of course there was the front parlor for visiting clergy, suitors, and for funerals- but I can't believe it: today people still have a living room that's for looking at, but not for sitting in? I wouldn't want that at all, but I guess I live in a more informal area. Only the stinking rich would entertain that way.
Curious.

Canice -- I can only speak to the living room and not the show kitchen but I think it's still pretty prevalent for people to have a formal living room and also another room or rooms in which they hang out -- Unless people are really pressed for space like in an urban apartment, -- most homes homes I visit or view voyeuristically on the TV shows like House Hunters etc. have a "living room" which is generally used by adults for formal entertaining and some other room or rooms which are more casual -- whether they are called dens, playrooms, rec rooms, finished basements.

The living may now be used more frequently as I don't know anyone who never uses the formal living room or consigns themselves to banishment in a small horrendous space. -- The fabrics may be less kid friendly -- there might be more delicate wood finishes and the mess of every day living is contained in an area which is easily closed off.

In newer homes, the formal living room seems to be smaller (except in really expensive homes) than the informal living spaces reflecting the reality of how people use spaces.

[lsdesign]

Yes, yes and yes! All of the classmates of Italian descent I knew growing up in the Detroit suburbs had this phenomena exisiting in their households, the kitchen AND the living room. I was reminded of it while watching re-runs of "Everybody Loves Raymond" with the sofa covered in plastic. The upstairs were always spotless no matter how many kids they had, everyone really lived in the basement.

[sneezles]

Only the stinking rich would entertain that way.
Curious.

Sniifff, sniiifff, sniiifff...:p

We have a family room and a more formal room (it has no tv or other electronics) where the real fire place is located and where we entertain after dinner and such. It has a wonderful view of our land. The family/game room is just too busy for just sitting and relaxing after a nice meal. The windows are covered with blackout blinds for movie viewing.

In 2 previous houses we had formals for both living and dining. The furniture in the formal living room was stuff we inherited from DH's paternal grandmother. We still have the furniture but it's now in the guest house (the house that was already on the ranch when we bought the place).

Right now we have only 1 kitchen but hope to get an outdoor one this year!:cool:

[erinlovesmarc]

I have never heard of a show kitchen! Sounds silly and indulgent to me - not to mention INSANELY expensive. If I shell out the money for top of the line appliances, I'm darn well going to use them!!! And trekking downstairs to the basement to cook? I don't think so! Is this really appealing to anyone? :confused:

While I understand wanting a living room that is kept neat and tidy and doesn't have things like the kids' toys in it so that you always have a room ready to receive guests, the whole plastic on the furniture thing drives me nuts! It's so unwelcoming and uninviting and uncomfortable.........ugh..............

LOL...exactly!

I guess the extra kitchen would bring up the value of your house (and you could turn the basement into a Bachelor apartment if you wanted to) but if you're not Italian and you don't want to rent your basement I always thought it was silly...they do the same thing with bathrooms by the way...the really nice bathroom (HUGE with the beautiful tiles and glass shower and jet bath) is on the main floor but only guests can use it and the bathroom everyone uses is in the basement...

I don't know...just looking at these houses that are insanely overpriced...who is going to buy that?! Not us, that's for sure!

[erinlovesmarc]

BTW, Erin which area of Montreal do you live in now?

I grew up in St-Leonard (the Italian neighborhood)...now DH and I live in Montreal-East near Anjou...

[erinlovesmarc]

Fascinating as I have never heard of a show kitchen and I grew up with lots of Italian friends in New York.

In Los Angeles, there are plenty of show kitchens -- i.e. very expensive kitchens for people who never cook -- but there aren't TWO separate kitchens.

As for show living rooms, that was the norm among all the families when I grew up although the plastic was removed at a certain level of sophistication.:D I never thought it was odd that there was a fancy room in which formal entertaining took place and a den/family room in which the family lived. Don't most homes still have a living room/parlor and a place to hang out -- at least when one can afford the additional space?

These show kitchens are quite the norm in the Italian communities, in Montreal at least! Like ChristyMarie said your main floor is all show...living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and the basement is where you actually live...I always thought it was strange when I visited my friends but I figured there must be a logical explanation to this madness!

[Clover]

Perhaps this phenomenon didn't reach full flower in California because of the rarity of basements.

[KristiB]

I want an outdoor kitchen.

I saw a show on tv about really high end outdoor kitchens and I was envious. Especially since it gets too darn hot in Phoenix to fire up the oven.

But right now I'll settle for my grill...

[Canice]

Sniifff, sniiifff, sniiifff...:p

We have a family room and a more formal room (it has no tv or other electronics) where the real fire place is located and where we entertain after dinner and such. It has a wonderful view of our land. The family/game room is just too busy for just sitting and relaxing after a nice meal. The windows are covered with blackout blinds for movie viewing.....

OK, that makes sense; DBF uses one of the bedrooms as a "TV room" so there doesn't have to be one in the living room, so I guess it's sort of the same idea, only not so....sniifff, sniifff ;) :p . I can see that, but I think I was imagining something a lot less familiar to me. But plastic covering on the furniture? :eek:

[KristiB]

But plastic covering on the furniture? :eek:

Now that I've seen! And don't forget the plastic on the lampshades too!

[erinlovesmarc]

OK, that makes sense; DBF uses one of the bedrooms as a "TV room" so there doesn't have to be one in the living room, so I guess it's sort of the same idea, only not so....sniifff, sniifff ;) :p . I can see that, but I think I was imagining something a lot less familiar to me. But plastic covering on the furniture? :eek:

Yup PLASTIC...furniture from the 70's that still has plastic on it! It's obviously to keep the furniture in good condition, but, this is just me of course, I wouldn't buy furniture so expensive that I didn't want to use it or worrying about using it because it might get dirty etc.

[sneezles]

But plastic covering on the furniture? :eek:

I have an aunt whose DH was in the furniture business (one of my cousins still runs the family business) and she always had plastic on her formal furniture. Of course, she never had any furniture very long and the cousins were never allowed in that room!

I recently saw an episode of Moving Up and a woman decorated her living room around this set of antique furniture she had inherited from her grandmother. It had the plastic on it and was in truly original condition because no one ever sat on it...how sad! Though it was truly ugly furniture!!:p

[testkitchen45]

I need a "show" laundry room. :D

The whole "summer kitchen" thing just kills me, and it's popular in my area. When it's 110 degrees out, do you want to be grilling in the "summer kitchen," or inside in the A/C, using the broiler? :) I love having the grill, etc. but I'd hardly name that area my "summer kitchen!"

[Cinnamon Crazy]

Perhaps this phenomenon didn't reach full flower in California because of the rarity of basements.

That's when you'll see the kitchen in the garage.

I am Portuguese and my mother as well as most of my aunts had a kitchen in the garage. They still used the kitchen in the house; the garage kitchen was used for extra storage and for the extra oven. The biggest reason for the garage kitchen was to cook smelly foods (like fish).

Growing up we had the extra dining room that no one was allowed in. The show living room with the super expensive furniture. Funny thing, I don't remember my parents even entertaining guests in there. My mom wanted it, and my father indulged her. Now that my mom is gone, I inherited the dining room set - a really nice set in excellent condition. I am glad to say that I use it daily and it reminds me of my mom every time I see it. I wonder if she would kill me if she knew I was actually using it. :D

[Kay Henderson]

Perhaps this phenomenon [the "real" or summer kitchen downstairs] didn't reach full flower in California because of the rarity of basements.

I think you're probably right. I knew a woman who had moved to California from the midwest and she was horrified that almost no houses had either basements or attics. "Where do people STORE things?" she asked.

Canice, although my mother's 1954 Sacramento house has only a living room and a dining room, formal and informal areas are the norm in most late 20th century houses in the Central Valley. This is the case for both houses we have owned. On a recent trip to the Palm Springs area, I probably looked at 50 model homes. None had family rooms. I could understand it in the age restricted community, but all of them?

One of the things I've really enjoyed about the BB is the odd factoids regarding regional and ethnic variations that I had never heard of. Thanks for starting this thread, erinlovesmarc!

Kay

[applecrisp]

Who knew. I had no idea.

Interesting to learn about the differences...

[mbrogier]

Most of the houses Rob and I looked at in Michigan had small basement kitchens. Our house didn't, but it didn't have a basement, either. Since we were used to not having a basement since we're from NC and SC where slabs or crawlspaces are popular, we didn't mind. The one kitchen we had was marvelous. Many houses also didn't have air conditioning, so in the summers (who are just as hot as those down South) the basement kitchen would be very useful.

My MIL has a formal living room, but that's the kind of people they are. She's relaxed a lot in the 13 years I've known her, and she now lets people eat in there. The only grandbaby gets run of the whole place. :D

In design school, I heard about two kitchens being used by people who kept kosher. Some aren't that strict, but there are some that do keep two separate kitchens instead of just separate sets of dishes and cookware.

[newcook]

When I was growing up, one of our neighbours not only had a show living room, but it was also cordoned off using those posts with velvet cords like they use in movie theater line-ups. That room had plastic on the furniture and I'm pretty sure it was never used not even for special occasions.

The funny thing is that right now I have a brand new sofa in my TV room with a slipcover on it. I covered it because I was allowing my puppy on it when I wasn't too confident about her potty training. For some reason I never thought of not putting it back on after laundering. I often eat in front of the TV and have been quite happy having it when I spilled on it.

[TerriS]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. I was looking for ideas about how to decorate my basement 'party kitchen' and well, here I am.

We have what we call our "party kitchen." It has cabinets, a fridge, a sink but no stove. We assume it was meant for entertaining - making drinks, etc. It does have a hookup for a stove but I am not sure it has been used. The house was built around 1950 and does have a relatively swank finished basement. We keep our wine fridge there, and keep beer and soda in the other fridge down there. We keep wine glasses and other extra glasses for entertaining in the cabinets there.

My Italian grandparents in New York had the classic live in the basement thing. Their "upstairs' kitchen was not so much a "show kitchen" as the kitchen table was piled with mail and was generally a mess, but they lived and cooked in the downstairs kitchen. They did have a formal dining room but I think they did actually use it for formal meals like holidays.

I think a big part of the "show kitchen" and 'formal living room' is the statement of "hey, we have enough money to have a room we don't even use." For my grandparents who grew up during the Depression, I am sure having a formal living room, kitchen, and dining room was a big deal to them.

[Canice]

.... For my grandparents who grew up during the Depression, I am sure having a formal living room, kitchen, and dining room was a big deal to them.

The house I grew up in needed a TON of work at the time my parents bought it, but my mother always said that she talked my dad into it because it had two huge floors, with the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. Having grown up in the Depression, the idea that one family could have both stories to themselves had seemed an unattainable dream to her.

[SusanL]

My mom, God rest her soul, would have had a fit as well. I now have a kitchen in the basement. Maybe because there were so many people of the same cultural background in the neighborhood? Cooking smelts upstairs would be a travesty!!

[Debralynn]

Very common here in PA, especailly with italians. Most have a second kitchen in the basement, Most basement kitchens I have seen are nicer than my one and only kitchen! They go all out! My neighbor across the street has a full kitchen in her basement, she spent a fortune on putting it in! I have enough problems keeping one kitchen clean, no need for more work here!!!!!!!! :) Debbie