The kitchen is one of the most important spaces where our lives are played out: the place where food is prepared, a center of communication and companionable shared times. From the utilitarian uses of past centuries, the kitchen has evolved beyond a purely functional room to a space expressing individual lifestyle. It is no longer a single room, but instead is increasingly often integrated into a home’s living areas. Functionality, professionalism, and comfort are decisive demands. This book gives a brief outline of the history and the gradual changes that have taken place in the kitchen. Classic models like the "Frankfurt kitchen," standards of kitchen furnishings earlier and today, classic and trendy kitchen systems of leading manufacturers (including Bulthaup, Poggenpohl, Alno and Strato) are presented, but also standouts like "Plastica," a completely plastic kitchen, and the Screenfridge, a refrigerator with an integrated touch-screen that not only provides internet access, but also lets you operate almost everything in your home. Lazy Susan, egg separator or herb grinder, Kitchen Aid, toaster, or pasta machine: an entire chapter is devoted to the kitchen helpers and machines without which we couldn’t function. In addition, this book explores why it is that all parties take place in the kitchen, how Tupperware’s triumph came about, how "convenience food" keeps the frozen food industry booming, and much, much more. 240 pages and more than 400 illustrations draw an exciting portrait of all aspects of this all-important place. An extensive appendix with manufacturer and product addresses is the crowning touch on this volume.