The design of American kitchens have been in transition since the 1920's from utilitatian to an all encompassing hub of the modern home. Along the way the American kitchen has also become a bit of a status symbol. The European kitchen seems to have evolved into more of a compact and utilitarian room. This is not to say that there are not some stunning kitchen designs coming out of Europe. On the contrary, many ameriacn manufacturers take their styling cues from what is going on over the pond and then adapt the design to fit the American market. One concept that I am quite interested in is the European version of the modular kitchen.

There are many stunning lines coming out of Europe these days, Poggenpohl, Arc Linea, Baulthaup, to name just a few. One line that I believe is quite smart is the Chef line by Driade. I first came across the Driade kitchen a few years back while perusing the modern candy store that is Teo Jakob in Bern, Switzerland. The collection is meant to maximize space without sacrificing design.

The particular unit above is based on Driade's storage collection, Pontos.

The kitchen has all of the neccessary components to make it functional, while fitting into a small footprint that can be closed up and out of the public's eye when not in use. The materials are simple and modern, with a pallete that is probably a bit brighter than what is the norm in the US market.

While the Driade kitchen is not currently available in the US, I believe you will see more of thses types of kitchens trickling into the US marketplace fairly soon. Stay tuned.