John Ota - The Kitchen: A journey through time-and the homes of Julia Child, Georgia OKeeffe, Elvis Presley and many others-in search of the perfect design

THANK YOU FOR READING this book. I had so much fun writing it. I hope it sheds some light on your house, your kitchen and your food.

Kitchens, like people, come in all shapes and sizes. Some people like cluttered kitchens, others like clean, austere surfaces, some like closed off and square, some like round and open to the living space. There is not one template for a perfect kitchen. Whatever works for youwhether it is for cooking, eating, entertaining or as a fashion statementI hope that you enjoy your kitchen.

What does the future look like for the North American kitchen?

Kitchen islands will morph into the focal points not only of the kitchen but of the entire ground floor of the house. In the same way Lucille Armstrong made a design statement with her curvy turquoise cabinets, the island will provide glitz, with under-counter appliances, televisions, computers, compact cultivators to grow herbs and salad greens and, of course, be the family dining table. It will become more beautiful and spread right into the living area.

From faucets to fridge to coffee maker, technology has entered the house like a tsunami, and the kitchen will be the nerve centre. Built with interior cameras and LED screens, the refrigerator will track whats inside, how much and how fresh. No more running out of milk. When you are running low, the smart fridge will contact the grocery store to make a delivery.

Most of all, the kitchen will continue to be the most important room in the houseand more. As life becomes faster and family members become increasingly isolated in their private rooms, the space where we come together for a shared meal will become more treasured. Other separate rooms will become obsoletethe dining room, living room, family roomthe walls will disappear. The kitchen will take over the social spaces of the house. We can already see it happening in the Pearlstone House, where the kitchen has become the great room combining the social and food-preparation activities of the house. The kitchen expands inside and to the exterior. We have come full circle back to the Pilgrim kitchen at Plimoth.

It may not seem rational for a late-middle-aged man to have been criss-crossing North America on his own to look at kitchens. I met wonderful people on this journey and I learned a lot about historic houses, kitchens and food. I also learned why I like to visit kitchens so much.

Do you ever wonder why at a party most people gather in the kitchen?

My answer: There is less anxiety there.

Sure, its where the food is, but theres more to it than that. At a party where you dont know anybody, its much easier to start a conversation in the kitchen. Guests dont have to sit in the oh-so-important living room and impress each other with clever conversation and job titles.

The kitchen is informal, friendly, and it doesnt matter if you spill your red winethe kitchen is where youll find the paper towels. There are always little jobs to do in the kitchen to help the host or hostess, which also leads to friendly chatter. You can move around, jump in and out of conversations, talk about what really mattersthe food. At a party, it is the kitchen where we go to relax, laugh and eat. It is a great anxiety-reducer and social equalizer.

Maybe, in the end, what we are seeking in the kitchen is peace of mind, comfort, happiness.

And memories.

I am looking for my grandmother to make me cinnamon toast and hot chocolate for breakfast on a dark and cold morning before school.

I am looking to stay up with my mom till three in the morning, rolling sushi on New Years Eve.

I am looking for my parents, aunts and uncles so that we can eat, drink and laugh together.

God, I miss them. I truly believe that on the day I die, I will see them again. And I know that when I find them, itll be in the kitchen.

J.