by Janis Turk

photography by Vernon Wentz

No matter where I serve my guests, it seems they like my kitchen best!” So goes the old saying printed on potholders and plaques in homes across America.

But even if your guests like your kitchen most, what if you don’t? Do you ever throw a dinner party in your lovely dining room only to find your guests congregating in the kitchen? Do you then pout and ponder, “Why is everyone drawn to the ugliest room in my house?”

It’s simple: Kitchens equal comfort, and nothing speaks comfort to Texans like food and family. So naturally the place where you cook is going to be the center of any gathering. But face it: In the 21st century, the kitchen is the headquarters of today’s home, and it’s so much more than just a place to cook. Desks, telephones, computers, televisions, stereos, Play Stations, calendars, clocks, wine racks and more — the stuff of life is found in the modern kitchen — not to mention toasters, coffee makers countertops and cupboards.

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