Home Design and Architecture Guide

The “Unfitted” Kitchen

Although I painstakingly design kitchens to maximize every possible square inch, I do love the look of an “unfitted kitchen.” To me, “unfitted,” literally means that the cabinets are not fitted between walls. This was the manner in which kitchens were once installed in homes before the German cabinet company, SieMatic, introduced the worlds first “fitted” kitchen.

While the images I have assembled may not be a literal translation, they embody the same principles of the kitchens of the early 20th century. These kitchens recall a time before sippy cups and loose Tupperware, before steam ovens, built-in coffee makers, warming drawers, and 15″ wide ice makers. These kitchens’ imperfect charm still inspire designers and homeowners today. Fortunately technology today makes it easier than ever to show the appliances we want to see, and hide the ones we don’t!