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The Chinaberry Test Kitchen

 

Test Kitchen mock up

Hey, y’all! Yep. The title kinda gave it away. We’re building a test kitchen at Chinaberry, too. But let’s back up…

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, my wife, Heather, and son, Jack, and I are building a house! You can catch up by checking out the announcement post and by reading all about the house plans as well. That should get you caught up. 

So what’s all this business about a test kitchen? Well, a few years back after working from home for a while, I realized that working from home just wasn’t for me. I’m too easily distracted. I was checking the mail, weeding the flower beds, etc. – all the things that kept me from working. So, I knew I needed a dedicated space to spend my days working on the blog. I wanted a place where I could walk in the door and turn my brain to recipes and photography and know that was my focus there. In turn, it also needed to be a space that allowed me to get things done and turn my “work brain” off when I walked out the door, too. 

So we found an amazing space in the quaint little downtown area of our town and made it my Southern Bite test kitchen. It’s where I do all my Southern Bite work and shoot all the video content you see. You can read all about that right here.

Test Kitchen mock up

One night as we were talking about the future and the Chinaberry House, I casually mentioned how it would be cool if I could have my test kitchen there as well. It would be so handy to have that separate space but also have it so close to the house. I could literally walk to work every day. It would be a place where Ella, our dog, could go to work with me every day. And it would be a great space to entertain in, if we ever wanted to. We both pretty much dismissed the idea as probably being too expensive. But the idea just kept lingering. What if…

Heather came home one day and said, “You know, with what you’re paying in rent and electricity and all downtown, maybe building a new test kitchen with the house might not be the worst idea after all.” It still seemed out of reach, but we set out to put some more serious thought into what a new test kitchen might look like and how we’d like it to function. 

Looking at the cost to own versus cost to rent, it really made more sense to own – especially with interest rates being so low. So we met with our builder – I’m going to introduce him and his wife to y’all soon – and really started putting some serious stock into the idea. He suggested we meet with a local architect to see how we might be able to design an efficient space that would accomplish all our goals but also not cost an arm and a leg. 

We then met with Chip Hudson with Hudson Home Designs and started working on a plan. He took the time to understand my business and the uniqueness of having a kitchen that is both functional and attractive for photos and video. Within a few weeks we had arrived at this quaint little cottage that is all of those things combined – attractive, functional, efficient, and most of all, cost effective. Let me walk you through it… 

Floor Plan for Test Kitchen - First Floor

To start, being able to meet with the builder and architect at the same time was a huge benefit for us. We were able to talk through the costs of various elements and make smart decisions. We decided that about 1,000 square feet would give me all the space I needed. And being that building up is most cost effective than building out, we opted for a two-story design. 

My kitchen and studio will be on the main floor with a small half bath and a storage and pantry area. We’ve planned for lots of natural light on the main floor with lots of large windows and doors and even a 12 foot sliding glass door across from the kitchen. This will provide great north-facing light which will be amazing for food photography. 

Floor Plan for Test Kitchen - Second Floor

My office and more storage will be upstairs. While we wanted to avoid multi levels on the main house, it made sense here with the test kitchen from a cost perspective. And while we do plan for this to be our forever home, we have to think super long term and resale, so we were advised by our builder and architect that including a full bath would be great as the test kitchen would then double as a guest house in the future. Just typing the words guest house makes me feel like I need to be sipping tea out of a fancy porcelain cup with my pinky finger up, but I’m more of a sweet tea in a clunky mason jar kinda guy. 

Overall, the exterior design will match that of the main house and that large porch on the right side will open into the back yard of the house. 

We are crazy excited about being able to include this in the plans for Chinaberry. It’s seriously a dream come true. But somehow, it still doesn’t seem real. 

One of the things that I’m also really excited about is to include y’all in the design of the test kitchen. From early on, Heather and I both acknowledged that we wouldn’t be able to build this test kitchen if it wasn’t for all the folks that visit SouthernBite.com each week and make it such a success, so we wanted to be able to share some of the decision making process with y’all. In the coming weeks, I’ll be reaching out to get y’all to help pick out things like colors, flooring, etc. Seriously, you get to help design this bad boy! This is going to be so fun! Y’all stay tuned…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beverly Jones says

    Stacey, this is so exciting! I hope you realize how many opinions you will get about the design…you are a brave man! LOL! Look forward to seeing how this plays out.

    Reply

    • Stacey says

      LOL! Yes, I’m sure there will be lots. Hopefully we have plan that will help things get decided without being too overwhelming. 🙂

      Reply

  2. JoAnne says

    Bravo! Happy to hear that you are including this kitchen in your plans. Just did my small part to support your dreams by buying your cookbook. Looking forward to your continued success. Well deserved.

    Reply

  3. Mollie Frook says

    The plans for your home and now the test kitchen, are wonderful. This will make the perfect “forever home” for you and your family. Having good people to work with to achieve your vision will make the whole process so much less stressful and allow productive planning and discuss. Looking forward to sharing in your journey.

    Reply

    • Cheryl Graber says

      Ditto, how exciting. Thanks for thinking about us to help with some of the details. I feel like I am a part of the team of people completing your visions. I look forward to future emails and stories to inspire us all. Good luck, get some rest, and May God Blaze Your Vision in to Reality”!

      One of your many friends,

      Cheryl Graber
      North Carolina, USA

      Reply

  4. Pat Williams says

    So proud for y’all. It’s going to be great to be able to walk out your back door, across the lawn to your workplace. Looking forward to watching it grow.

    Reply

  5. Nana says

    The exterior is darling..I am retired and live alone and could visualize my self living in a similar house. It is very inviting.

    Reply

    • Vickie says

      I am so excited and happy for you all! I think you will use this a lot-not just a test kitchen but also as a summer kitchen so it doesn’t heat up the rest of the house, and think of how useful this extra kitchen will be at the holidays! Looking at your plans, I want to stick a suggestion in now-consider a third sink. I find when I am cooking a big meal, half my sink has hot dishwater in it so I can clean as I go, the other half is where I put the washed dishes until I have a moment to dry them but sometimes having a small third sink where I could do a quick wash of some veggies or someone could wash their hands, etc. would be extremely helpful.

      Reply

  9. Carla says

    so Happy for you and your family. and slightly jealous at the same time. In my younger days….a separate test kitchen would have been a dream come true. Glad you can have that. What fun and work will be happening there. Very smart about the full bath upstairs……..

    Reply

  10. Judy Manuel says

    Congratulations on the decision to bring your Test Kitchen closer to home! As time goes on, you will not regret this decision! I speak from experience that having your work area in close proximity to home is having your cake and eating it too!

    Reply

  12. Shirley Northington says

    Wonderful!! I’m terrible at making decisions, but can’t wait to put in my 2 cents worth!!

    Reply

  13. Barbara Miller says

    YYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! So super happy for y’all. Remember to plan for a kitchen garden and plenty of room for herbs and greens in a tiny greenhouse for winter eating.

    Reply

  15. Jane says

    This is very exciting stuff!!! You will get so many different opinions, it will make your head spin! It’s so wonderful of you to let us all share your adventure!!! Thank you!!!

    Reply

  16. Charleen Adams says

    I am very excited. foryou and your family. Please enjoy the use of color. I know white seems to be the accepted color,but let’s live a little. You Will be the one working in it. Looking forward to all of the fun and craziness(&). Lol Take care and God Bless you.

    Reply

  17. Margaret Richardson says

    Congrats on the “new addition” !
    May I suggest built in bookcases for your cookbooks. I always wanted those to display my one hundred plus cookbooks. I can read a cookbook like a novel.
    Blessings to all !

    Reply

  20. Cindy Shaffer says

    I’m very excited for you and your family. Building something new and just the way you want it is amazing.I love your plans, too. I look forward to reading about your “adventures”. I do love your site and your recipes. Have tried many of them. Thank you for your inspiration.

    Reply

  21. Sue Wilkins says

    This will be one of the best decisions you’ve made in your life. I already have a suggestion, put a generator at your home and test kitchen. My daughter has one and when the power goes out you have electricity immediately. With this wild weather we seem to be having more and more often, I think it would be a must have for me.
    Anyway, I am so happy for you and your family. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.

    Reply

  22. Kathy says

    What a Blessing! Stepping in Faith! Looking forward to the journey with you and your family. Your recipes are the BEST!!!!

    Reply

  24. Contractorfinder says

    Hello! I really liked the layout of your kitchen, enough free space, and very functional and concise. The most functional kitchen works clockwise starting with a fridge. The most valuable piece of real estate in the kitchen is next to the sink. That’s where you’re doing most of the prep. A good length of counter space to the left of the sink is great and if you have your recycling bin to the left of the sink, all your prep debris can go right in there. Your work area doesn’t have to be big, it has to be efficient.

    Reply

  26. Bonnie C. says

    Stacey,

    Congratulations on your new home and test kitchen buildings. Like one of your other followers said . . . “You are very brave for posting as you will get many opinions!” But look at it this way . . . someone may have a new idea you never thought of that will be great for you and your family. My only suggestion is to install a full house generator when you build. We built our retirement dream home in Texas 6 years ago and that was the best addition we could have done.

    All the best and Congratulations!

    Reply

    • Stacey says

      Thanks so much, Bonnie! You are 100% correct! It might be an amazing idea that we never considered! And we are certainly looking into the generator. We’ve already talked with our builder about it.

      Reply

      • Loretta Champagne says

        Bonnie C Your a brilliant woman. I keep trying to convince my wonderful hubby we need to get a whole house generator. Especially now we have medical equipment in our home. Stacy you listen to her, LOL

        Reply

  27. Aileen says

    This is so exciting, Stacey! I can’t wait to see the finished result. Good luck! And show us pictures along the way!

    Reply

    • Stacey says

      Thank you! Pictures are coming! Getting the foundation built has taken a little time and isn’t super glamorous, but we hope to have that finished this week.

      Reply

  28. Loretta Champagne says

    I am so happy for your lil family! You have worked and prayed so hard, you deserve a break. Can’t wait to hopefully get in on some of those design tips LOL. I have always love designing but am disabled now so will live vicariously through you! Enjoy the process. Gods Blessings and mine, Loretta in Alaska

    Reply

  29. Lisa H. says

    That is so exciting! Your test kitchen makes me wish I could build one for myself. Not for testing or anything, just to have a dedicated cooking space. Can’t wait to see the finished space!

    Reply

  30. Carmen Echevarria says

    Stacey, I am very happy to see how Chinaberry is turning out, it’s looking beautiful!!! People say dreams come true but for those who believe in God know that when we pray and we ask Our Father…He will make it happen! 🙏

    Reply

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