31 January 2009

American Kitchen?

Lately while feeding and rocking Global Baby I've been watching a program entitled "A Place in the Sun" in which Brits travel to warm and sunny locations. Generally to purchase either a vacation home or a retirement home.

Frequently they talk about how the house or apartment features an "American kitchen."

I cannot for the life of me figure out what they mean by that. The kitchens don't look particularly American or even much like each other.

Anyone know?

10 comments:

rswb said...

I think it's a kitchen that is open onto another room, as opposed to a kitchen that's a distinct and separate room.

Unknown said...

In England, most homes have what Americans call a bar-fridge. It's a small fridge that fits under the counter. In America, we like the massive side-by-side refrigerators that require their own postal code. Other than that, I believe it refers to a more modern looking and spacious kitchen.

Danie <--a Canadian who has lived in the US and the UK, but by no means an expert!

G in Berlin said...

Here in Germany it's what Americans call a real /modern kitchen. Open plan, generally with an island or peninsula, always with good (rather than piece of crap mini) appliances.A kitchen for those who love to cook, rather than those with downtrodden servants.

Anonymous said...

In Ireland they just say "American style fridge" to denote the bigger standing unit that has a freezer attached. I always think that "American" anything refers to a bigger size!

Susie Vereker said...

I don't watch the prog, but I think they must mean a large modern fitted kitchen. In the UK we mostly have this style of kitchen now (or hope to) but, for instance, both in Switzerland and in France, we had tiny kitchens compared to the size of the house/apartment.
Agree that what we call an American-style fridge is a big tall double one.

Global Librarian said...

With these comments in mind I watched a couple more episodes. I think it is a combination of two things: extra large size and/or open floor plan with a living room area.

It seems as if the estate agents also don't completely agree!

Of course, the "extra large" size is relative. By European standards the kitchens are large, but by US standards -- not so much!

Anonymous said...

I wish that I had an "American Kitchen" and I live in America. Apparently Americans didn't think a decent sized kitchen was needed in 1924. I've seen bigger kitchens than mine in studio apartments.

Diane Mandy said...

All I know is I can't get my American dinner plates to fit inside my German dishwasher. Max and I eat using our salad plates as a result.

The Big Finn said...

One of the many things I've discovered while living in Switzerland: It's not the size of the kitchen, it's the skill of the cook that matters. Mrs. TBF creates one masterpiece after another in our tiny kitchen for the many dinner parties we have. Cleanup is a bit of a logistical ordeal, but the food sure is good.

Koekkener said...

Maybe kitchen is the most center of the topic so maybe its a very very nice movie. Thank you for sharing...