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House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year

by habituallychic

07 . 22 . 09

House Beautiful was sweet enough to invite me to the launch party for their Kitchen of the Year with the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten, at Rockefeller Center Monday night. The kitchen was designed by Robert Stilin and will definitely be placed in my file for my future home design reference. It’s the absolute perfect kitchen for cooking and gathering. It will be on display until Friday, July 24th and there will be lots of cooking demonstrations and tastings to attend if you are in town. (To see the schedule of events, click here.) If you’re not in New York, you can see some of the photos here and also on the House Beautiful website.

Here is the Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten, with the editor of House Beautiful Stephen Drucker. She was super busy but was gracious enough to pose for a few photos and chat with me for a second. Of course, I had to compliment her on her fabulous necklace which she said was an anniversary present from her husband, the famous Jeffrey. She also suggested that I read her book, Barefoot in Paris, before my trip for ideas on where to go while in Paris.

Ina and Jeffrey were just as sweet and adorable together as they are on her television show!

One of the best parts of the attending the event was picking up the gift bag on the way out. I mean if you’re going to break your diet for anything, I mean it might as well be for the Barefoot Contessa sour cream coffee cake! I cannot wait to make it! And I will proudly wear my new apron and use my new spatula while doing so! A big thanks to everyone at House Beautiful for allowing me to be apart of their evening!

Photos by Heather Clawson and Julian Wass for House Beautiful

33 Comments
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  1. paula July 22, 2009 | 4:44 am

    It’s all so very stunning…

  2. Caitlin July 22, 2009 | 6:07 am

    Ina has such a classic livable style. I love watching her show just to see the snippets of her home in the background. I love the industrial look of the bar stools.

  3. La Maison Fou July 22, 2009 | 6:09 am

    I really like this year’s kitchen. Last years kitchen was as equally wonderful, I love the sky light and the open shelving!
    Leslie

  4. the sweet life with olives July 22, 2009 | 8:34 am

    Utter Perfection. I’m drooling.

  5. The Antiques Diva™ July 22, 2009 | 9:42 am

    Great Kitchen! About 1/2 my everyday Parisian recipes come from this cookbook Barefoot in Paris she recommended! You’ll love it! Super simple and super tasty!

  6. a. July 22, 2009 | 10:17 am

    Wonderful kitchen and I LOVE Ina!

  7. Laura Casey Interiors July 22, 2009 | 11:33 am

    Oh you lucky duck! Ina is my fave. The kitchen is beautiful. Looks like you had a great time!

  8. Carol Ann July 22, 2009 | 11:42 am

    You are one lucky lady, how cool is it that you got to see that wonderful kitchen in person…equally cool to know that Ina and Jeffrey are as nice as they are on television, I watch her show as often as I can…I have all her recipe books and her recipes are as good as they sound, one cannot say that about everyones cookbooks… now as for the design of that kitchen…wow
    I love the two chairs facing each other with the ottoman between, in front of the fireplace, is a look I try to use when ever I can with clients…they so enjoy using the room when I do…
    Thank you for sharing your visit to this event. Regards, CAM

  9. Sarah's Fab Day July 22, 2009 | 1:58 pm

    I make the sour cream coffee cake (from her book) frequently for brunches. It’s to-die, you’ll love it!

  10. home before dark July 22, 2009 | 2:07 pm

    What fun! I like Ina’s kitchens, and they all have a very similar layout, because they work on every level. Monster kitchens may look great, but if you are really a cook it’s like running the bases in a ballgame. Here the surfaces are meant to complement the work being done and everything is easy to find and easy to use. It seems all of the stars are aligning for you two in Paris. So much to dream about and look forward to.

  11. annechovie July 22, 2009 | 2:41 pm

    What a treat, Heather! I am such a big fan of Ina’s.She is adorable and I love watching her show. So fun to see these photos of Ina, Jeffrey and Stephen. Stephen has done amazing things with HB.

  12. Baxter Design Group July 22, 2009 | 2:46 pm

    she is so effortlessly chic…and that kitchen is to die for!

  13. Ivy Lane July 22, 2009 | 3:31 pm

    How wonderful to be able to experience that event and to meet Ina and Jeffrey!! I love watching her show! Thanks for sharing the pictures! oh…yes..the kitchen is gorgeous too! 🙂

  14. Decor Fellow: James Saavedra July 22, 2009 | 4:00 pm

    heather- this was like Christmas only 100 times better! Oh, how perfect!

  15. Joanna July 22, 2009 | 5:17 pm

    The woman sure knows how to live. What an inspiration!

  16. Rachel July 22, 2009 | 5:26 pm

    Wow! It must have been so amazing to meet Ina, see that dream kitchen, and be a part of that event. You are truly blessed! I love your blog and always look at your articles and links when you post them. Thanks for sharing your experience and I love the photos!

  17. margo July 22, 2009 | 7:30 pm

    Heather, you are so AWESOME! How do you continually come up with gorgeous, interesting, fun, stylish, and may I say chic photos and musings of people and rooms and places and things? I’m so glad I signed on to your blog.I’d love to hang out with you for a day, any day!

  18. Janine July 22, 2009 | 8:16 pm

    I just found your blog today. Well done! I met Ina at the gift show in NY last year. She is a class act. I love her show.

    I look forward to following your blog.

  19. Maison Luxe July 22, 2009 | 8:48 pm

    That kitchen is so beautiful, it makes me want to cry! Or bake a cake (which also usually leads to crying)…thanks for sharing!

    Kelie

  20. Jen @ GreetQ.com July 22, 2009 | 9:16 pm

    I love the kitchen! Do they do this every year? I’m curious to see the work of past winners.

  21. girl, inspired July 22, 2009 | 9:24 pm

    Gorgeous! You’re so lucky!!

  22. Mademoiselle Frou-Frou July 22, 2009 | 9:30 pm

    that is without a doubt how i would like my kitchen to look…that’s how it looks in my mind!!

    btw, i just wanted to let you know that we awarded you the I Love Your Blog Award! You can see the award in today’s post on our blog! Feel free to pass it along to those other blogs you love!!
    xox
    http://www.froufroufashionista.blogspot.com

  23. Marni at Style Carrot July 22, 2009 | 11:21 pm

    Now that’s a table that ALMOST makes me want to throw a dinner party!

  24. Chic Coles (Cole Design) July 22, 2009 | 11:33 pm

    Your so lucky to have gone to the party! I went to the Kitchen of the Year Friday before it was open and it was really fun, but being able to be at the party is another thing altogether. The kitchen is so beautiful and it was so amazing that it was built right in Rockefeller Center!

  25. A Gift Wrapped Life July 23, 2009 | 12:32 am

    I truly think Ina is the best. I’ve done the Gourmet, Bon Appetit, every cookbook known to man or woman, but I go back every time to her recipes. I have every cookbook and have tried 99.9% of her recipes and every one of them is delicious. Her Paris reference is the best, otherwise I would have missed Flamant and that was a highlight. Thrilled you got to meet her…..as she always says
    “How good is that?”

  26. Shoshana July 23, 2009 | 12:41 am

    How does this kitchen relate to the one at Kips Bay this year? That was an extraordinary kitchen too!

  27. Tamstyles July 23, 2009 | 8:07 am

    love ina..she is the type of person that you want to be your aunt…

  28. pve design July 23, 2009 | 3:14 pm

    I adore INA! Her smile and her recipes are always so recognizable!

  29. Blushing hostess July 23, 2009 | 5:51 pm

    So lovely!

  30. luvptown July 23, 2009 | 7:52 pm

    I went to Paris earlier this year and I DID consult Barefoot in Paris prior to my trip. I already had the book and have also been to Paris before but it was great fun to go to some of the places she loves (her places for bread were amazing and a welcome discovery. If you do nothing else she suggests, go to Poilane). Page 230 of the book.

  31. Alicia July 24, 2009 | 3:47 am

    Are not Jeffrey & Ina the cutest couple. I still adore his story about the brownies she first baked him.
    Oh & the kitchens heaven too!!!

  32. Farmhouse Now July 26, 2009 | 11:16 pm

    Thank you so much for all of the candid party photos! I am a huge lover of Ina Garten and her fabulous new farmhouse. I’ve seen her products around everywhere lately–I’m interested to see how your coffee cake turns out! I’m sure it will wonderful, and, as Ina always reminds us about cake in general, “How bad can it be?”

  33. Tobi Fairley August 8, 2009 | 5:14 am

    I am super jealous that you went to this event. I DVR Ina’s show everyday. I am actually watching an episode right now! Too bad you didn’t get an extra goodie bag for me!