Ina’s
New Kitchen
The Barefoot Contessa gives us a tour of her dreamy space.
Ina Garten has built more than a few kitchens during the past three decades—in different apartments and in the barn where she tests and shoots recipes. But during all of these projects, her kitchen at home in East Hampton, NY, has remained the same. When she set out to renovate it for the first time in 27 years, she had two goals in mind: “I wanted to make sure it worked for my needs and that it looked good,” she says. “Whenever I’ve compromised function in favor of design, I’ve regretted it.” Meanwhile, her husband, Jeffrey, had just one goal: “He wanted me to be happy!” Ina centered her new range, so she’d have a workspace on both sides, put in open shelves and a floor-to-ceiling pantry and added oak floors that match the rest of her house. “It’s a surprisingly small kitchen,” she says, “but I don’t have to walk long distances to make something.” And it’s just the right size for small gatherings: “I can prepare and serve dinner, and also be at the party!”
Breakfast Nook
On most mornings, Ina and Jeffrey have coffee in this sunny little spot. “I also like to read here because it has a view of the garden—and it gets the best light in the house,” she says. The Rodney Smith photograph is from Staley-Wise Gallery in New York City.
Cookbook Corner
Ina keeps all 13 of her cookbooks handy—she cooks out of them for parties. They’re sitting on Calacatta Borghini marble, which replaced dark limestone in the former kitchen. “The counters have a sealer so they won’t stain when you put something acidic on them,” Ina says. “It makes a massive difference.” (She uses Aqua Mix Sealer’s Choice Gold.)
Pantry
Ina keeps dishes, platters and other serveware in this open pantry. The pieces are mainly from Crate & Barrel and Williams Sonoma—in white, her go-to neutral. “It’s really about what makes the food look best,” she says.