Back in the early 20th century, kitchens tended to be purely functional. Typically, they centered around wood-burning hearths or stoves, which would be used for cooking and also to heat water for bathing and washing dishes. Pots and pans hang over a roaring fire in this photograph from 1903.
Unlike the kitchens of today, which are designed and streamlined for the convenience of the modern cook, those of yesteryear revolved around large, clunky appliances. Hulking stoves and bulky laundry facilities took up a lot of space, leaving little room for useful worktops and cabinetry. Here, a maid prepares food on her lap in the kitchen of a wealthy family.
Most modern-day kitchens are kitted out with fitted cabinets but that wasn't the case in the early 1900s. Instead, the free-standing Hoosier cabinet rose in popularity in the early 20th century. This nifty dresser was equipped with drawers and cupboards perfect for storing crockery and cooking utensils. The central part offered worktop space too. Here, circa 1900, a man uses his Hoosier cabinet to prepare a slice of toast.
The refrigerator as we know it wouldn't find its way into American kitchens until later in the century. Its predecessor, invented in the 19th century and common in home kitchens by the 1900s, was the icebox. This giant cupboard, usually made of wood and lined with tin or zinc, kept perishables cool with large blocks of ice packed into a built-in compartment. A child rummages for a snack in this shot from 1910.
The electric kitchen was first debuted at the Chicago World Far in 1893, but it wouldn't become commonplace in American homes for decades yet. This one, however, was ahead of its time. Captured in 1911, the room is filled with mod cons, from an electric stove and iron to lighting. The decor is much more elaborate than was typical of the era too.
After the First World War, the USA's female workforce grew – and that meant the American kitchen needed to be as functional and convenient as possible for time-strapped home cooks. The 1920s saw the advent of the 'Frankfurt kitchen', a neat, fitted set-up designed by the Austrian architect Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky. It was the first of its kind and thousands of units were built throughout the decade and into the 1930s. Notice the swish, streamlined storage space, ample worktops and modern electric stove in this photo.
The now iconic AGA was also born in the 1920s, with the aim of saving precious time in the kitchen. It was invented by Swedish physicist Dr Gustaf Dalén, who noticed that his own wife was left exhausted from preparing meals with a traditional oven. These large cast-iron cookers, which stay hot continuously, gained popularity over the decades that followed and have stood the test of time. The name, by the way, stands for Aktiebolaget Gas Accumulator, after a Swedish company that invented a system of safe storage for gas used in lighthouses.
Though electricity was becoming more common in homes across America, the gas stove continued to dominate through the 1920s. This photo from the time shows a woman cooking up some lunch. You'll also spot the stovetop kettle, a precursor to the modern, electric kettle, at the back.
The Roaring Twenties were all about sumptuous style and decadent design – and, perhaps more than ever before, it mattered what your kitchen looked like. In this kitchen, the swish electric stove is complemented by a neat floral clock, a long statement sink and patterned linoleum flooring. The photo was taken in Wisconsin circa 1928.
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The Great Depression saw the female workforce continue to grow since 'traditionally female' occupations, such as care jobs and service roles, were less affected by the economic downturn. That meant that modern contraptions like dishwashers, pictured here in the 1936, were more important than ever. The history of dishwashing machines goes back to 1850, though it took around a century for them to really catch on.
It was in the 1930s that electric stoves finally gained in popularity. In this decade, sweeping electrification projects meant that those who were previously off-grid were finally hooked up. In this vintage shot, American actor and model Leila Hyams is shown cooking something up on her electric stovetop in 1933.
Labor-saving mod cons continued to pop up in the American kitchen through the decade. Here, the star of the show is a whizzy electronic mixer that looks just like those that are hugely popular today – the iconic KitchenAid brand has been around since 1919. Note the slick contemporary refrigerator that stands in place of a cumbersome ice box too.
This image, taken from a design book printed in 1939, shows the contemporary, fitted kitchen taking its shape. The space shown here was designed by American artist and interior designer George Sakier and its packed-in cupboards, shiny countertops and decorative features feel decidedly modern.
Many kitchens in the 1930s, however, stuck to more traditional designs and equipment. This one from the decade is without electricity and continues to use a wood-burning stove instead. In the photo, a women prepares to stoke up the fire with a basket of wood while a saucepan simmers away on the stovetop.
As family dynamics changed and women continued to enter the workforce after the Second World War, the function of the kitchen also continued to shift. No longer was this a purely functional space – it was also somewhere to spend time as a family and make memories. Here, a mother prepares food with her young children.
The US also saw a post-war technology boom and soon America's kitchens were filled with electrical contraptions. Now, previously sought-after items like pop-up toasters and mixing aids were becoming commonplace. A boy is shown making some toast in this nostalgic snap from 1946.
That technology boom saw a rise in refrigerators in the home too. Though the first mechanical fridge was patented in 1899, it wasn't until the 1930s and 1940s that the appliances became safer, more slimline and more wallet-friendly. By the 1940s, around 45% of Americans had a refrigerator in their kitchen.
A staggering number of houses were built post-war too and, increasingly, American families poured out of the cities and into the suburbs. Large suburban homes meant large suburban kitchens, like this one, captured at the end of the decade.
Dishwashers may have been invented way back in the 19th century but it took decades for the contraption to take on its modern form. Early models were top-loading and held far fewer dishes. The post-war tech boom saw to it that white goods like these were leveled up – modern, 1950s families craved convenience and dishwashers were soon commonplace in the home.
Increasingly, the kitchen was also a design-led space. The 1950s are known for trends towards bright and funky interiors, and that included the kitchen. It wasn't unusual for the room to explode in a riot of pastels, from pale pink to green. This space keeps things relatively subtle with a loudly patterned floor and dainty floral curtains.
This continued into the 1960s too. By this point in time, many American families had a kitchen-diner rather than the compartmentalized rooms of yore, extending the function of the room as a place for everyone to gather. Here, a family prepares to dig into a delicious Southern feast of baked ham with pineapple, veggies and bread.
Part of a trend carried over from the 1940s, the kitchen continued to cement itself as the hub of a home. In this photo from the decade, a young family enjoys breakfast together before everyone heads off to school and work.
The modern microwave came into its own in the 1960s. It was actually invented by accident in the 1940s: engineer Perry LeBaron Spencer was conducting a test with magnetrons when he realized the chocolate bar in his pocket has melted due to the radiation. He created an early version of the microwave which, by the 1960s, had developed into a neat, countertop appliance popular across America. It's fitted above the oven in this 1960s kitchen.
The kitchen island – still a huge trend in America and elsewhere – became increasingly popular in this decade too. Some put their rise down to beloved chef Julia Child, who worked from an island when filming her show The French Chef, which debuted in the 1960s.
A 1970s kitchen design is unmistakable. Pops of harvest yellow and rich browns and rows of wooden cupboards characterize the kitchens of the decade. They typically had electric stoves, dishwashers and modern refrigerators too. This photo shows a kitchen typical of the era.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the women's liberation movement was at its apex. More than ever before, women were eschewing traditional domestic roles and the kitchen had become a place for the whole family. This gave rise to more open-plan spaces, with kitchens leading on to larger dining and living areas. This photo was captured circa 1970.
However, smaller spaces – such as this 1980s mobile home – were still kitted out with all the mod cons. The counter-top microwave and chrome refrigerator here wouldn't look out of place in a modern kitchen. With people valuing extra space, banquette seating also became popular in this decade.
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The trend for large islands and open-plan living continued into the 1990s and, as in previous decades, the kitchen was no longer just about preparing and storing food. It was – and is – where many people choose to spend their downtime. Bill Clinton, then the presidential candidate, is no exception. He's snapped here making a peanut butter and banana sandwich, crossword at the ready.
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By the 1990s, the kitchen had established itself as the true center of the modern home: a place for entertaining, doing homework, family time and, of course, cooking and dining. This photo represents a classic kitchen from the time in a middle-class American home. The stove faces outwards on a peninsula, so the cook isn't excluded from conversations, and there's a casual breakfast bar too.
Unsurprisingly, the future of the kitchen is likely to be hi-tech. Increasingly, appliances such as smart fridges – from voice-activated models to those that play music or incorporate home hubs – are finding their way into American homes. It's also thought that post-pandemic, kitchens and living spaces may become less open plan. As more people continue to work from home, the need for separate dining, living and working areas is becoming more important.