2 minute read
Show Kitchen • Go behind the scenes on the set of The Kitchen—and steal some decorating tips while you’re at it.
Color rules
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Jed balances a strong paint color with neutral pieces, like white ceramics, and textured accessories, such as wooden bowls and cutting boards.
Fridge staples
Geoffrey Zakarian acts as “the set sommelier,” Jed jokes. In warm weather, rosé and San Pellegrino are usually on hand for the cast and crew.
Showcase pantry
Jed stocks the glassdoored pantry with colorful vinegars, oils and spices more for looks than actual use (it’s backlit, so the colors pop). It also contains some playful fake can labels ( like Kauffman Soup).
Backlit yard
The backyard is real—but some of the shrubs are fake and change seasonally. Natural sunlight streams in from the right and a megawatt light fixture beams rays in from the left. “We always joke that it looks like The Kitchen is shot on a planet that has two suns,” Jed says.
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His-and-hers spoons
When producers were creating the set, they asked hosts to send individual wish lists. Jeff Mauro requested a carved wooden spoon, and Sunny Anderson liked it so much, Jed got her the version made especially for lefties.
Book collection
Books make a room look lived in—and they personalize a TV studio, Jed says. He chose some cookbooks and covered other books with colored paper or picked them based on the color of the spine or jacket (which explains why this collection includes a copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses).
Decorative pots
Though the copper pots look nice hanging in the window, Jed says the hosts almost never use them for food prep. “There was a lot of fantasy involved in the design of this kitchen,” he says. “Copper cookware is part of that.”
Show-off shapes
Painting the inside of shelves helps accentuate the shapes of displayed objects, Jed says. Message center Jed writes teasers for each segment on a group of chalkboards with chalk-ink markers. The house-shaped clock is always set to 5 p.m., a nod to Geoffrey Zakarian’s catchphrase, “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”
Vintage ceramics
Jed decorates the shelves with both new and vintage ceramics, like a creamer and sugar bowl from his great-grandmother. He wants the collection to look like it has grown over time.
Fantasy island
Jed tried five different renderings before finalizing the shape of the island: “It’s straight where they cook but rounded where they sit and hang out so they can see everyone,” he explains. Fans often ask if the countertop is Carrara marble, but it’s Formica. “It’s a triumph of Formica, how real it looks,” he says.
Flower power
Jed calls flowers “the lipstick of a room.” Katie Lee often ends up dressing to match their colors— entirely by coincidence, he says. “Her wardrobe is very seasonal.”
