A star in its own right, Julia Child's home kitchen in Cambridge, MA, served as the set for three of her cooking shows in the 1990s. Now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, to whom Child donated the kitchen in 2001, visitors can view the iconic room, the details of which capture the exuberant chef's fun-loving personality.

Remodeled in 1961 by Child and her husband Paul, the 14-ft. x 20-ft. kitchen features an oven that can accommodate two 25-lb turkeys; maple countertops built 2 in. higher than standard to suit Child's 6-ft., 2-in. frame; an ice maker to keep food fresh during tapings; a pastry pantry, where Child stored her baking equipment and supplies; slots next to the dishwasher for 16 baking sheets; ceiling-mounted poles that once held TV lights; and a blue and green color scheme, chosen by Paul.

With the kitchen on display, and on screen once again in the film Julie & Julia, K+BB thought it would be interesting to see what today's designers have to say about the 1960s kitchen—what they like about it, and what they'd do differently were they given the opportunity to remodel it.































_{Julia Child's kitchen, on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.}



I love Julia's collection of copper pans hanging on all of the available wall space, and the fact that she hung paintings on the cabinet doors. The blue cabinet color is both retro and modern. And there is plenty of counter space—a MUST for any serious home cooking.

On remodeling the space...

• I would install task lighting and undercabinet lighting throughout the space.

• It looks like linoleum on the floors, which would be typical of the era. I would replace it with a rich, warm wood flooring. It would ground the soft blue of the cabinets.

• Also, I love the kitchen table, but it seems as though Julia used this as a workspace. It would be more functional as a counter-height freestanding table, which would keep the period feel of the space, but ease the strain on the back from bending while working at the table.

• The sink looks like a single-bowl model. I would replace it with a spacious double sink, which would aid in the cooking/clean up of such a busy workspace.

 —Marlaina Teich, interior designer, Marlaina Teich Designs


























_{A closer view of the kitchen. Check out Child's collection of knives stored on magnetic strips between the windows. Like most of her tools, they are out in the open and easily accessible.}



I love this kitchen for the simple fact that it shows a passion for cooking, which is the whole point of having a kitchen! I am very fond of the way the kitchen feels with the tools of the trade on display everywhere. While some might find it cluttered-looking, it makes me feel like I can almost see Julia bustling around the kitchen, grabbing her tools as she needs them, while creating her masterpieces. The open-base cabinets lend to the functionality of a gourmet cook on a mission to create her dishes.

There is a vast amount of counter space, which allows for many different work zones to exist. The use of butcher block for most of the surfaces is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The stainless sink/countertop combination creates a nice contrast to the butcher block, yet creates functional harmony for the kitchen's surfaces.

Julia's addition of bright, cheery paint only adds to the pleasure that she brought to many while cooking in that space. Today's kitchens should borrow more of the painted cabinetry idea instead of focusing so heavily on stained woods. The combination of the two adds such a personal touch to the space that can't be beat.

On remodeling the space...

Should a "modern day" kitchen designer like me have had the opportunity to remodel this space for Julia, some of the adjustments that I would have suggested to her would be minor adjustments that would only add to the functionality of her kitchen. One major move I would recommend would be the location of the refrigerator. While it is located in an area that allows for copious amounts of counter space in the rest of the kitchen, it seems a bit far away from the sink area and the cooking zones. It is also located in a corridor into the kitchen, which could hinder proper traffic flow into and out of the space. In addition to the poor location of that appliance is the location of Julia's beloved Garland range. It is quite the appliance and most certainly the heart of a lot of Julia's cooking—therefore, I feel that it should be located more in the "heart" of the space. I would move it down and center it on the wall it is currently on. That would allow for safer entry into the kitchen from the corridor it is currently next to, as well as counter space on both sides of the range for cooking utensils and food ingredients waiting their turn to become part of her "tour de force" dishes. It could also allow for a focal point in the kitchen design itself.

Another of Julia's trademarks from her kitchen is her use of the pegboard to hang her pots and pans. While this is simply Julia's own homage to her art, I feel that it could be dressed up a bit by framing the pegboard areas with contrasting wood or paint colors and adding decorative interchangeable hooks for everything to be hung on.

I would also like to remove the kitchen table (although I love the cheery yellow tablecloth!) and instead create smaller, dual islands in the center of the room. One island would be a small, dedicated prep area with an additional prep sink and a contrasting butcher-block top with open storage underneath, which would replace the hard-to-access removable butcher block on legs next to her double ovens. The second island would be a larger island that could be used for guests to both sit at and help Julia prep dishes on, with lots of closed storage underneath and a single-height top with an inlayed marble piece for rolling out dough and pastries.

What a dream come true would it be to design for someone as talented as Julia Child!

—Michelle Ellerhoff, allied member ASID, interior designer/kitchen & bath specialist, Woodharbor Design Showroom of Cedar Rapids



























_{Julia in her beloved kitchen. Photo courtesy of Jon Chase.}



Great kitchen design is all about organization, and Julia Child was a master at that. By using point-of-use storage, she kept things organized and close at hand, such as oil and vinegar close to the stove, and knives on a magnetic strip close to the counter. She grouped things, such as spoons and utensils, in separate well-labeled containers to be accessed easily and has wonderful drawer storage for all her supplies!

Much of her storage was done out in the open on a pegboard, for items such as pots and pans and baking supplies, thereby utilizing vertical wall space. By keeping things, such as good silver and china, outside the kitchen, she freed up space for those things necessary for cooking.

While her kitchen and style worked well for her, I would prefer a cleaner and less cluttered look. It is important to feel comfortable in your kitchen, and to make it not only a relaxing and creative space for you to work in, but also one that reflects your style.

On remodeling the space...

If I were updating Julia's kitchen, I would work around her wonderful black range and stainless-steel ovens. I would paint or replace the cabinets in a creamy white, add new stainless hardware and undercabinet lighting, panel the front of the dishwasher to match the cabinets and replace the refrigerator with a built-in stainless-steel or paneled-front model. I would add an appliance garage for mixer and accessory storage and replace the table with a fun island painted black and topped with a thick black and white Carrara marble counter. The island would have seating on one end and open shelves below for pots and pans. A tall, shallow pantry could be added in the corner behind the ovens, where the pots and pans are currently located, for food storage and supplies. Black granite countertops and a fresh white subway backsplash would unify the space. The floor might be fun in a black and white diamond pattern, and a wonderful hanging light over the island would add ambience and task lighting. Accessories could be in her favorite accent color.

—Leslie Meyers, AKBD, Partners 4, Design




























_{A replication of Julia Child's kitchen for the set of Julie & Julia.}



Julia Child's kitchen appears as eccentric and interesting as the woman herself. Since her stature as a world-renowned chef and media personality precedes her, it's an intimidating prospect indeed to contemplate remodeling the space so famously featured in her long-running cooking series.

On remodeling the space...

At first glance, it's obvious that the kitchen is well loved and well used. I am quite sure it fit her like a favorite pair of shoes. In contemplating changing things in an environment so comfortable and familiar to its mistress, it's probably a good idea not to make wholesale changes and much better to take what exists and improve upon it. Keeping that in mind, I would leave the major work areas approximately where they are now, but make additions and improvements while upgrading materials and fixtures.

The original kitchen dates from 1961 and, luckily, many of the innovations in technology, appliances and lighting that have occurred since then can be applied to bring it up to modern-day standards without entirely sacrificing its charm.

One of the first things I would do is to make the kitchen more efficient and comfortable to work in. I would add a prep sink to the right of the range to provide a place to prepare food and fill pots without having to walk diagonally across the entire kitchen.

I would take the space currently occupied by the kitchen table and turn it into a multifunctional three-tiered island, with the end nearest the range having a full-height working top, the middle being a lowered area with a stone top for rolling out pastry, and the other end having a table-height seating area with chairs since it is obvious that meals were often taken right in the kitchen. In the island, I would house undercounter fridge drawers facing the range wall, as well as plentiful cabinetry drawers. Julia was famous for her love of gadgets, so she would need plenty of space to store them!

Adding storage to the kitchen by adding the island would also allow enough space to add a second dishwasher to the left of the main sink for all those dirty pots, pans and utensils.

I would also take the refrigerator and move it from its location on the left side of the doorway and build it in on the right side of the doorway. That way there would be counter space immediately adjacent to it to facilitate getting food in and out.

That would mean providing a different solution to storing all of the pots, pans and skillets. I would specially design custom display racks to house them all so they are still easy to see and reach but are organized and attractive.

On the wall oven end of the kitchen, I would slide the wall oven and the warming drawer to the left toward the corner, and adjacent to the doorway would be counter space topped with butcher block with open shelves above for cookbook storage. Again, this would allow for counter space immediately adjacent to the oven for ease of use.

Julia was 6 ft., 2 in. tall and all of her work counters were, and would continue to be, set at 38 in. above finished floor. I would probably suggest a quartz countertop for the sink wall for easy maintenance. I would add undercabinet lighting wherever possible, plenty of recessed lighting over the sink wall and island and three accent lighting fixtures in the form of simple glass-shaded pendants over the island.

Aesthetically, I would most definitely keep the same blue, green and butter-yellow color scheme. It gives a warm and cozy feeling and feels very "French," plus it's obviously a color scheme that Julia was comfortable with since she lived with it for more than 30 years. I would reproduce the colors and be very careful not to give the replacement cabinetry a cookie-cutter feel (pun intended!) so that the new space would continue to feel as quirky and charming as the original. A carefully edited mix of open shelves, glass doors and closed cabinets would allow for functional storage without looking too utilitarian.

For flooring in this hard-working kitchen, I would choose a resilient-type option such as a high-quality real linoleum in either a complementary solid color or a subtle checkerboard, or possibly even a fine-grained natural cork. All of the appliances would wear stainless-steel fronts in homage to the quasi-commercial nature of the space.

There are remodeling projects where tearing everything out and starting from scratch is the best method of approach. In a kitchen that has a proven track record of success, it only makes sense to appreciate, honor and enhance what is already there. I believe Julia would approve of the above philosophy and would find that the new design would work just as comfortably but much more efficiently than the original. Bon appétit!

—Amy E. Britton, CKD, owner, Artisan Kitchens LLC


























_{Meryl Streep as Julia Child, on set in Julie & Julia. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Wenk, Sony Pictures Entertainment.}



The first thing that caught my eye and impressed me about Julia Child's kitchen was how large it was for a kitchen from the 1960s. One could not be mistaken that many seriously prepared culinary meals were produced from this kitchen. Like most chefs' kitchens, the use of drawers versus standard drawer and doors is incorporated into the cabinet design, and the major appliances are all placed based on the "form follows function" principle. Each "zone" was designed with the right amount of counter space for preparing that part of the meal and with adequate storage adjacent to the other related zones. Everyday tools, pans and skillets of all types and sizes—which most chefs use daily—are out in the open for ease of use while at the same time providing an artful textural element to the kitchen.

On remodeling the space...

Functionally, if I were to modify anything in the kitchen, it would be the placement of the refrigerator in relation to the cooking area. The refrigerator appears to be "outside" the main kitchen area and separated by a doorway leading to another part of the home. This makes it almost impractical for today's busy lifestyles and daily meal preparation of the average family of today. I would almost switch the oven and warming drawer tower with the refrigerator, if I were to redesign within the same space. The location of the dining table, which divides the galley-style kitchen layout, normally would be an element of contention; however, knowing the cooking style and the quality of meals produced in this kitchen, I see it more like a chef's table nicely placed "in the kitchen" as opposed to "in the way."

Aesthetically, the kitchen as it is really is not that bad, naturally a bit dated, but overall the juxtaposition of colors, textures and materials makes for a nice, relaxing environment in a kitchen where Julia spent hours on a daily basis. At least you don't see harvest gold and avocado green!

In conclusion, overall the kitchen would receive a passing grade with flying colors from both a functional and aesthetic perspective, even compared to some of today's kitchens.

—Alan Hilsabeck, Jr., CMKBD, ASID, Hilsabeck Design Associates, Inc.


























_{Meryl Streep as Julia Child, cooking up a storm in Julie & Julia. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Wenk, Sony Pictures Entertainment.}



What I like most about Julia's kitchen is how she had organized it to work specifically for her. The pegboard concept on the wall seems perfect for her, "every pan in its place and a place for every pan!" There was no question as to where each pan went; the master plan or outline of each indicated so! I love the chopping block table, the character it adds to the space and the story behind it. The windows are great, adding wonderful natural light.

On remodeling the space...

If I had the opportunity to remodel Julia Child's kitchen, I would:

• Keep doorways the way they are because I am not sure where they go to.

• Keep the windows in their existing location. The blinds would for sure go away!

• Update appliances with:

1. a 48-in. pro-style range (navy blue or a deep blue in color) with a stainless range hood above, stainless backsplash and shelf.

2. a 36- to 42-in. built-in refrigerator

3. a 30-in. high-speed oven

4. a 30-in. single oven

5. a 30-in. warming drawer

6. Two dishwashers

7. a 15-in. ice maker


• Add a deep single-bowl sink with stainless drain board and a high-arch faucet.

• Adjust the layout as follows (see floor plan below):

On the range wall, move the pro-style range and range hood so that there is counter space, and base and wall storage on either side. Base storage would be a three-drawer stack on either side. Wall cabinets would be molded to the ceiling. Undercabinet lighting would be added, as would a pot filler.

Move the refrigerator to the wall where the oven is. Omit the pegboard and place the refrigerator a bit closer to the doorway than the oven was but still leave enough clearance for traffic through the doorway. To the left of the refrigerator, remove the chopping butcher block and add base storage. Add lazy susan storage in the base corner and 15-in.-deep wall cabinets above, leaving the counter space clear. Add undercabinet lighting. The ice maker would be installed next to the refrigerator.

On the sink wall, add a new stainless sink with a drain board, a faucet with a high arch and a pullout spray. Also add one dishwasher to the right of the sink base and one to the left of the sink base. Three-drawer base storage to the left of the left dishwasher and a wastebasket cabinet (with two baskets) to the right of the right dishwasher. Storage turns the corner to a tall oven cabinet that houses a high-speed oven/single oven/warming drawer in the cabinet. Tray dividers would be installed in the deep cabinet above the ovens. Open shelves create storage on the wall. Countertop space remains clear for this baking center.

Where the refrigerator is currently, I would convert this area to a message/planning center with all open shelving that fills the wall to the countertop. This area houses cookbooks and the counter space is the perfect place for planning and note taking. Shallow storage under the countertops allows for an overhang to act as a "perch."

Incorporate a table island that could act as both a working area (36 in. high) and also be used as an eating area. On the end of the island across from the refrigerator, move the chopping block table so it can be accessible on three sides.

• Aesthetically...

Range: navy blue or a dark blue. All other appliances, sinks, faucets and hardware will be stainless steel.

Cabinets: linen color.

Walls: mushroom color.

Floors: mid-to-dark-toned woods, wide plank.

Countertops: for the perimeter, granite or quartz, linen to mushroom color. For the island, wood.

Overall, visually, I would keep it pretty clean and crisp-looking, eliminating a lot of the visual clutter.

Notes regarding storage: Julia liked a lot of her cooking tools out on the counter. I would provide storage solutions behind doors and drawers where possible. I would, however, keep the pegboard on the wall left of the cabinets on the range wall and also to the wall space right of the refrigerator. The pegboard would be painted the wall color, so that it would kind of fade into the background. After all, Paul Child came up with a great storage solution on the walls for all of Julia's pans. I must leave some of their signature storage idea!

—Janice Pattee CKD, CMG, janice pattee design










































_{Janice Pattee's vision for the floor plan of Julia Child's remodeled kitchen.}



Julia Child believed in having a practical and attractive kitchen "designed by cooks for cooks." Her innovative approach revolutionized the way Americans cook and continues to influence kitchen design today.

Julia turned cooking into a social and family event by inviting her guests to participate in cooking—now a mainstay in American households. And by labeling containers, she ensured that her guests could comfortably help. Moreover, when she appeared on television, Julia exchanged her kitchen table for an island, ideal for conversing with guests while preparing a meal. My clients' number one request is an island, which not only provides additional cooking area, but encourages family and visitors to assist in meal preparation.

Julia customized her kitchen to meet her needs, rather than adapting her cooking to the limitations of traditional kitchens. She stored items near their point of use in a readily accessible manner, such as having multiple stacks of drawers at the prep and cooking zones for optimal organization and ease of access. A pegboard allowed pots, pans, hand tools and knives to be easily found. Additionally, her countertops were raised to the correct height for her stature.

Having the right equipment and lighting were also important in Julia's kitchen. Plenty of general and task lighting—essential for efficient and safe food preparation—was always present, as were a commercial-grade range and food processor, now commonplace in modern homes.

Why scrub more than you have to? Julia reduced cleanup and maintenance time by using easy-to-clean, durable materials. Her kitchen cabinets, featuring a simple door design, were painted cheerful shades of robin egg blue and were devoid of crevices that attract dust.

Julia Child changed the way America cooks and put the warmth back into to the heart of the home by making cooking something "to enjoy….not endure."

—Amanda Harolds, kitchen & bath designer, Bailey Industries


























_{Another shot of Meryl Streep on set filming Julie & Julia. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Wenk, Sony Pictures Entertainment.}



It is a difficult room to critique because it has to work and work...and work. But there are a few items I would add or revise.

On remodeling the space...

I would move the range down away from the doorway. From one view of the kitchen, it looks like you walk right into it. I would probably move or rotate the refrigerator to get it out of the corner—however, while sitting in the corner, it does impede less on the seating area. I would improve the lighting for sure—it seems dark and uneven to me...

I think as designers we often forget that it is about the client and what they want...and this client wants a room to work in, but it has a charm to it. It reminds me of a kitchen I was in as a child where we would gather around the table as the cook whirled past prepping the meal, and, when ready, we would sit in the room gorged by the sights and the smells of the meal and devour it!

In terms of simple aesthetics, I think if the cabinet color were reduced to one color, it would help the kitchen not look so busy. I think the pot and pan wall rack is cool, and the painted finish helps "calm" the room—along with the floor—but the wood trim around the sink wall may help calm the space if it were just one color.

There is one aspect of the kitchen that I love...and that is it is used and loved. Can anyone really look at this room and not feel that this is a place that is really in love with the art of preparing a meal? One detail that I feel gets overlooked is that some rooms just become sooooo "done" or overdone. This room is a workroom—call it a food "war zone" all about the work.

—David Stimmel, owner and senior designer, Stimmel Consulting Group, Inc.

 
























_{Meryl Streep as Julia Child, in class perfecting her craft. Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures.}



After looking at the provided pictures of Julia's kitchen, I think it would require significant work.

On remodeling the space...

• The fridge is too far away from the rest of the kitchen.

• I would eliminate the table in the middle of the kitchen and create two islands.

• One island closer to the cooking area would have a sink in it with a disposal, which also creates a second prep area.

1. The island with the sink would have two warming drawers in it opposite the 48-in. range.

2. The second island would have a wood top for baking and also seating on one end.


• I would take the oven box down where the single oven and warming drawer are to the left of the pots and pans and probably put the fridge there (a 48-in. built-in model)

1. The extra oven would be at the opposite end of the kitchen, as it would most likely be used for baking.


• The pots and pans are a major item to address:

1. Take advantage of the many drawers to house them.

2. Since Julia was tall, maybe add a rack over one or both of the islands.


• The lighting scheme would be completely redone using LED and compact fluorescent recessed cans.

• I would add a second dishwasher on the left side of the sink and move the first dishwasher closer to the sink on the right side.

• Add more wall cabinets on the sink side of the room.

• The color scheme of the cabinets would be a primary color on the perimeter and a secondary color for the islands.

• The floor probably has a linoleum with asbestos backing and would need updating.

1. Because of the size of the room, I would utilize a wood floor (maybe cork) with some area rugs.


• This would be a great kitchen for any kitchen designer to address—very large room. Based on the size of the room and the cooking/appliances requirements, I would guess a budget needed at today's costs would be in the $150,000.00 price point (+/–).

—Ed Cholfin, CAPS, PMP, president and kitchen and bathroom designer, and Emily P. Smith, marketing communications manager, AK Complete Home Renovations






















































_{Meryl Streep as Julia Child, standing in the recreation of Julia's Cambridge, MA, kitchen, on set filming Julie & Julia. Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures.}