Customer Reviews
A nice primer but incomplete 
2007-03-30
This book was a nice start to get the brain going, but I found it failed to address important elements in kitchen design and renovation. As a soon to be owner-builder, I would love to see more in depth information on standard measurements, accessibility, and ergonomics in the kitchen. This book reviews the concept of zoned work spaces(replacing the outdated "work triangle"), but doesn't go into depth on the details of how to make it work, sympathetic zones that will flow into the next, or examples with components. While there are a few examples of improved design layout for renovation(ie: before and after), I would have loved to see many more detailed floor plans of kitchens that work efficiently and well with an explaination of why each does.
This book is a primer for cost analysis and lists some common kitchen features found in basic, intermediate, and gourmet kitchens. It contains general overviews of kitchen theory, and some tips on rennovation. This is a great book for getting started about thinking about kitchen redesign for someone who will be using an architect and general contractor. If you plan to list some ideas on paper and hand it to a professional, this book will help you assess some good ideas and the realistic expectations of the cost involved.
If you want to do your own design and hand it to a professional with the intent of reproducing what you have drawn, this book won't help you. The book, Independent Builder: Designing & Building a House Your Own Way (Real Goods Independent Living Books) is fabulous with in depth coverage of all aspects of home building, but I feel that with the complexity involved, a whole book of similar nature should be devoted to kitchens. Sadly, Kitchens That Work: The Practical Guide to Creating a Great Kitchen isn't it.
********* EDIT **********
Many thanks to the previous reviewer who recommended DK Home Design Workbooks: Kitchen. I heartily second the recommendation. Get that book instead of Kitchens that Work. It covers almost everything in this book, plus more comprehensive coverage of the HOW and WHY behind actually DESIGNING a kitchen.
I also second the recommendation of Build Your Harvest Kitchen. The information and pictures are a little dated, but Harvest Kitchen provides plenty of examples of insightful floor plans, why they work, and how you integrate the design into your own. There's quite a bit of information about harvesting your own produce, canning, jam making, and the like, but if you skip that and read the rest, it's definitely worth the read.
The best part? You can buy both Harvest Kitchen AND DK Home Design Workbooks: Kitchen(including shipping on both) for less than the cost of this one and gain much more knowledge and insight about kitchen design than by reading Kitchens That Work.
If you are designing/building a house, splurge on The Independent Builder and A Pattern Language to learn how to create the best design for your homebuilding needs.
Nothing Not Covered in Other Books 
2006-07-11
But still an OK good all round resource, albeit woefully short on design ideas. My first reaction was that it's not the book the other reviewers read, but maybe I was too hard on it. This is an edited review, and if I could change the number of stars, I'd give it three, anyway, having set it aside and picked it up again.
I have several other books that cover the subject very well--especially when it comes to function and design--and I've been through a remodeling, so a lot of what's in this one didn't seem new, thorough or insightful the first time I sat down with. Probably the rave reviews by other readers created unreasonable expectations that this would have some fabulous unique insights about designing kitchens that work AS KITCHENS. It doesn't, but it is very comprehensive when it comes to construction, working w/a contractor, avoiding on-site screw-ups, adapting kitchen layout to the spaces that surround it, etc., none of which should be given short shrift. Maybe that's what excited the other reviewers; guess that's the main perspective and expertise of the authors. It would be quite useful for someone who has not spent as many months [years, maybe] studying the subject and been through multiple additions and remodelings.
Don't buy this one for design ideas. It tries, but it's not even the best when it comes to function, though you might have high expectations based on the title. It's really pretty basic in that respect and focuses more on common mistakes that contractors find in designers' work, like 'that door is going to bump into that [wall/cabinet/doorway/etc.]. The most thorough book on my shelf when it comes to kitchen function [i.e., making using it efficient and comfortable] is good old (1980) Build Your Harvest Kitchen (Rodale Press). For creative design ideas, try DK Home Design Workbooks: Kitchen. For innovative, high style ideas, try Terence Conran Kitchens: The Hub of the Home. Another good one is Kitchen Redos, Revamps, Remodels, and Replacements: Without Murder, Suicide, or Divorce; also the New Kitchen Idea Book. I also have and like Joan Kohn's It's Your Kitchen. My current kitchen is based on ideas pulled from everywhere, including pages ripped from obscure magazines and stuff I found on the web. If you're not as inclined as I am to cast a wide net, maybe at least these brief comments will lead you to a book or two that will meet your needs. This might be one of them--if you're handing the contruction details yourself.
great for first-time remodelers 
2004-04-25
This book is great for planning, with a lot of details that would prevent a first-time kitchen remodeler from making a lot of mistakes. The authors give details such as standard counter heights that other books skip. The photos are terrific. It doesn't offer much for people who've been through several remodels or planning new kitchens in a custom home. They also omit to mention the tedium of microwaved food for six months, sliding completion dates and escalating costs (muliply time by three and money by two to get a real figure, and I'm not joking), and the reality of washing dishes in the bathtub. Reminder memo to self: you must prevent food scraps from ever reaching the tub drain- there is no garbage disposal.
A primer on good kitchen design 2003-12-01
This book is a good primer on kitchen design and remodeling. It is one of the few willing to mention some real world issues such as "what's behind those walls" and "making sure doors don't get in the way of each other or traffic patterns" and of course "budgets". It doesn't presume the reader has a huge kitchen or budget to work with. It offers ideas that could help anyone planning a kitchen remodel. Its chock full of real world tips. I only wish they could have expanded on some issues that were simply mentioned: such as examples of using non-kitchen cabinet furniture in a kitchen design, and perhaps given xerox-able example lists of what to try to include in a given kitchen area as a starting point for readers to work with.
Soup to Nuts, This is the book to get 
2003-11-04
I bought Kitchens that Work at the same time I bought Great Kitchens, At Home with America's Top Chefs. I love Kitchens That Work, and am disappointed in the one about America's top chefs. If you are wondering what Mario Andretti's garage looks like, it is nothing like you would imagine. Probably more like a GM assembly plant. Top chefs think in terms of production, not beauty. One of the kitchens has bare cinderblock, unfinished on the wall. Very utilitarian with little warmth. Others are better than that, but I did not find anything inspiring in there.
Kitchens that work on the other hand, has every level of kitchen pictured. Some high end kitchens to dream of, as well as some a little more practical. The important thing as they mention is an intelligent design, that incorporates what you need, rather than the latest trend.
When I read some of the reviews on Kitchens that Work, I thought it would be lacking something, NOT! It has every consideration covered. Planning, layout, design, considerations when dealing with contractors, things to look out for when opening up walls, like hidden pipes for example, and the list goes on and on.
All I can say, "Soup to Nuts, This is the Book to Get" You could spend a year pondering all of the considerations they give you. Well done, definitely five stars.
A Must Have for anyone thinking about a new kitchen! 2002-03-08
The kitchen is the social center of the home -- a place for eating, a place for working, and a place to organize everything from spices to household finances. Because kitchens serve so many different needs, creating a new kitchen that not only serves these many needs but works well is a major challenge.
Featuring over 200 color photos, illustrations, and charts, Kitchens That Work uses a lifestyle design model to guide the reader through the complex process of designing and creating a great kitchen -- one that works for everyone living in the house. The book guides the reader through each step of the process, from initial planning through the many material and design choices made along the way. Especially helpful is the unique insider's perspective on finding, evaluating, and managing kitchen contractors.
Very Basic 2001-12-08
We are working on our 2nd kitchen remodel and found this book just too basic which means it might be right as a basic book for a first timer. Just a few kitchens were used to illustrate principles and I would have liked to see a larger portfolio represented. "Great Kitchens, At Home with America's Top Chefs" had the ideas that I was looking for.
Nuts and bolts of remodeling and kitchen design 2000-08-19
There are so many kitchen design books on the market. If you want the best one, buy this. Why? Because it forces you to think about how you want to function in your kitchen before you even begin to select cabinets, appliances, fixtures and fittings. What good does it do you to install attractive features like professional ranges and refrigerators, expensive cabinetry and lighting if, in the end, you have to walk clear across too long an area to get from your refrigerator to your sink? This book guides you to examine how you work in your kitchen, e.g., whether one or two people cook, whether you entertain, whether you have special needs for children, etc. There is a great section that teaches you about the hidden systems in your walls, like plumbing and electrical, in a way you can understand, so you can be informed about these hidden elements and aren't a total dummy when talking to your contractor and when determining whether what needs to get done as far as plumbing and electrical work is in fact being done. Might prevent the old "being taken to the cleaners" problems we've all experienced as, say, when dealing with auto mechanics. The section on construction scheduling and contractors is invaluable. The chapter entitled "Designing with the Physical Space" is terrific. This book is worth every penny and probably a lot more in terms of making yourself aware of all aspects of your kitchen remodeling project, what you want and what you don't want in terms of the functionality of your finished kitchen. As it is an expensive remodeling project to undertake, it seems worthwhile to make yourself as knowledgeable as possible. After reading this book and knowing I have it as a reference, the task of remodeling the kitchen seems much less overwhelming.
Start with this book! 2000-08-12
If you are remodeling or building a new house this is the kitchen book to start with.
What it is: a kitchen design book that covers everything from floor plan layout to appliances to decorating to the plumbing, heating, cooling, etc.
What it is not: a nuts and bolts "how to" book. A picture idea book.
I was fortunate to begin with this book. It covers every angle of kitchen design so I really had to think of everything when planning my new kitchen. I haven't built it yet but I feel very confident about my design because of the details this book made me account for.
For most people this book could be the single purchase necessary. This book covers the varying levels of needs that kitchen users have. If the kitchen is just a place to have coffee and warm up soup or restaurant leftovers, or if you are a family cook, the design basics you need are here. If you are a serious cook who entertains a lot, like me, you may need to add other resources to your library. Or if you want a show-piece kitchen, you may need to go further than this book. Whatever style of kitchen you are creating START here, then go to other resources if you need to.
Good pictures (and quite a few of them), though like I said it is not a picture idea book. Text is prosey and easy to read.
Very highly recommended.
Best all-around book on the subect. 1999-06-27
I've bought just about every kitchen remodeling guide out there, and a huge stack of kitchen magazines. I wish I'd found this book earlier in the process -- it's by far the best. Practical advice and methodology on every step of the process from space planning to a great system for coming up with a workable color scheme (I was REALLY going nuts over this aspect, and now have an aesthetic approach that makes sense). Little things that other books don't discuss, like planning for the space needed to open cabinet and appliance doors, and what's considered a practical width for passage between a stove and an island, and setting up a working temporary kitchen for use during the project. It discusses all options and doesn't necessarily embrace all the latest fads. Do you need an island, or will it just clutter up your floor plan? It prepares you for what to expect during the process -- hiring contractors, the delays, when to order things, should I hire a designer or an architect? Or neither? And what's the difference? Lots of color photos and diagrams, discussion of various materials, relating your remodel to the architectural history of your house -- I could go on. All in simple, thoughtful, common-sense prose by authors who've apparently been there many times and know the joys and the pitfalls -- and have a great sense of design. You won't regret getting this book.
