Wake-up, San Francisco, Johnny Grey’s in town
One of the highlights of my visit to New York last week was the chance to meet legendary designer Johnny Grey. It’s not every day I get to hang out with someone whose books I’ve had in my design library since before I even had a design library. Like several of the kitchen designers invited to Brizo’s New York Fashion Week event. I was just as awed and excited to be meeting Johnny Grey as I was to meet fashion designer Jason Wu. OK, to be honest, even more so, since I enjoy fashion, but I do tend to eat, sleep and breathe kitchen design.
If you’ve followed this blog for I while, you’ll know how much I like a kitchen connected to the life of the home, with a real sit down table, and a comfy chair or two if at all possible. I thought I had absorbed this notion with my mother’s milk, or breathed it in with the damp air of my native land, but every thought I might have attempted to have on the subject is right there in Johnny Grey’s books, explained, expanded upon, and put in its historical and psychological context. Even if you think you’ve never seen a Johnny Grey kitchen, you’ll probably find that you do recognize them – the use of fine materials, craftsmanship, details, colors, and shapes is like nothing else you’ll see:
Workspace meets social space, Johnny Grey Studios
Multi-level and multi-functional, Johnny Grey Studios
We are so lucky in the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend, because Johnny Grey will be here, giving a workshop and lecture in Moraga (Saturday, February 20th 2010). I don’t know exactly what the subject matter will be, but I hope to hear more about the post-culinary kitchen and Johnny’s ideas for unblocking the design process, to help us all escape the sameness of most kitchens today. If there is any way you can get yourself there you are in for a treat – details and RSVP here. If you’re not in the Bay Area, check out the Grey Matters blog for a little foretaste of Johnny’s current thinking on design, including a complete re-imagining of the Obama’s White House kitchen. I earnestly promise that I will take notes and report back after the event.
Cooking, eating and living in one beautiful, open space
All images courtesy of Johnny Grey Studios
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Aw thanks Marie – we need Johnny Grey for the rest of us, don’t we? The copper highlights totally transformed that kitchen of mine – actually it’s one of those post and beam houses with exposed adobe brick, so cool and clean would just have been out of place there.
Well, I hate to come across as one, but when the socks fit …..
These are such beautiful kitchens, I also love your own design using the grey cabinets as well, it’s so warm. My postage stamp of a “kitchen” also has grey cabinets but teemed with stainless steel and gives such a cold feeling to the room. Could do with a bit of Mr Grey’s warmth and style methinks.
I hate come across like a star struck bobby soxer, but so be it. The man has had a profound influence on my career and it’s been an honor to get to know him.