It’s a Toast: Why We Love the “Friends” Kitchen
May 1, 2019Welcome to our new series, “Roast and Toast!”
Each month we’re going to feature one kitchen we love and one kitchen we hate. It can be from anywhere – a sitcom, a cooking show, a cartoon, a movie, or any other screen you’d see one on!
We’re starting off with a toast to a kitchen from one of the most popular shows in the U.S. and U.K. – the iconic Friends.
Monica was a caterer in the show, and her kitchen was the gathering point for her friends. Whether it was a girls-only chat or the whole group eating dinner, you couldn’t miss the Friends kitchen and its cute kitchen equipment.
Here’s why we love it!
Killer Mismatched Décor
If you’ve ever heard of shabby chic, you can thank the Friends kitchen for a lot of its popularity. Through 10 seasons we saw the mismatched chairs, blue cabinets, and open shelves brimming with kitchen equipment and dishes.
The open shelving was perfect for television, allowing Monica to pull out pots and pans or whatever else she needed on a whim. But they became a real trend in décor as well, in no small part because of how popular the show was.
The odd drapes, almost cluttered feel, and even the small decorative plates gave Monica’s kitchen a friendly vibe and made it a great place to create memories.
The Versatility of Small Spaces
If you have a small apartment, does that mean you have to do go without the equipment you’d love to have?
Not at all!
One of the things we love about Monica’s kitchen is that it shows you can do a lot with a small space. Yes, there’s a small round table, but that doesn’t keep people from gathering. Sure, there’s not a lot of storage, but she makes the most of what she has.
Just because you don’t have a lot of wall space doesn’t mean that you can’t decorate. You can take advantage of the color of your chairs, your drapes, your cabinets, even your fridge to create a fun, welcoming atmosphere.
A Useful Layout
Monica’s kitchen may not be huge, but the layout works well. The table is in the main open space, and the fridge, stove, and sink are in a logical layout. It’s easy to see how someone (even without Monica’s cooking skills or kitchen equipment) would be able to thrive here.
The set uses a one-wall kitchen layout to save space in what’s portrayed as a small city apartment. This is also known as a Pullman kitchen. Some include an island, but in the Friends kitchen, the table takes that place and creates an easy place for a conversation or a cup of coffee.
Ready to Outfit Your Own Kitchen With Equipment and More?
Do you have a great little kitchen that you’d like to set up in a cute and fun way? If you’re also inspired by the Friends kitchen, we understand. It’s a great way to use a small space with a lot of flair!
If you need smallwares or other kitchen equipment to outfit your space, we’re here to help. Tipton Equipment Supply has served the Little Rock area for years. Contact us to see what we can do for you!
Renovations: Keeping Your Restaurant Supplies & Costs in Check
Every restaurant owner has to face the reality of renovations at some point. Usually, this is good news – your restaurant is growing, or is successful enough that you can expand. Sometimes it’s just a matter of keeping up with the times, replacing old and damaged...
Build Up Your Employees with Fun Perks
Your employees do a lot for you. You depend on them to follow protocols, serve customers with kindness, and keep your commercial kitchen in top shape. Of course, you provide them with a great working environment. But why not thank them in additional ways – with fun...
Commercial Kitchen Fun: Almost a Dozen Ways to Cook Eggs
Cooking an egg might be one of the most basic kitchen skills around, but that doesn’t mean there’s only one way to do it. If you serve breakfast, you’re probably familiar with quite a few of them. But almost a dozen? That’s worthy of its own egg-only menu! Don’t...
Restaurant Equipment Spotlight: Using Tech to Promote Your Restaurant
You’ve got a great location. Your restaurant equipment is in great shape, and you have excellent employees ready to serve. Your menu is on point, and you’re ready to bring a top-level dining experience to your community. So… where are the customers? Having an...
Holiday Marketing for Your Restaurant
It’s never too early to think about how you plan to market your restaurant for the holidays. Your strategy will vary a lot depending on what type of establishment you have. The restaurant supplies you’ll need will also depend on the type of marketing campaign you...
Things to Instagram About Your Restaurant
A picture is still worth 1,000 words, especially when it comes to marketing. While customers taking endless pictures of their food to post online may frustrate your staff, the truth is it gets the word out about your restaurant. However, you don’t have to rely on your...
Choosing the Right Refrigerator for Your Commercial Kitchen
People who buy refrigerators for their homes often spend weeks researching different models and finding exactly what they need. It’s a major investment for many homes, and it pays to get it right! In your commercial kitchen, you may feel that you don’t have that kind...
Tips for Managing Restaurant Inventory
Does the thought of keeping track of every ingredient and piece of kitchen equipment in your restaurant make you want to hide your head under a pillow? You’re not alone. Keeping track of everything is time-consuming and often overwhelming. And you know how much your...
Restaurant Supplies: Getting Started With a Food Truck
While restaurants grow slowly, the food truck industry has been rocketing with 7.3% growth between 2012 – 2017. Food trucks are great for entrepreneurs because they have a relatively low startup cost and annual overhead compared to other businesses. Customers who...
Commercial Kitchen Fun: Restaurant Bloopers
Making mistakes is part of being human. However, sometimes these mistakes are pretty funny and deserve to be shared with others. There are many things that may not have been funny at the time, but in retrospect give you a smile and reason to be more gentle with...
Kitchen Equipment Spotlight: What You Need for Concession Stands
Tis the season for high school football and other fall festivals. Are you in charge of stocking concessions for your local team’s games? Or are you considering opening a concession stand at a local sporting venue, outdoor event, or pool? If you want to provide...
Kitchen Supplies: Should You Go Local With Ingredients?
If you own a restaurant in Little Rock, you’ve certainly heard of the trend toward going local. Local kitchen supplies, local ingredients, even local art as décor. There are a lot of great reasons to buy local – your money will stay in and support your community, for...
Commercial Kitchen Fun: Why Salty & Sweet?
All cooks who consider making desserts know that salty and sweet is a winning combination. Salted caramel shows up in hundreds of recipes. Candy bars combine salted nuts with chocolate. We dip French fries in ice cream. We put pineapple on pizza. People even put salt...
Restaurant Equipment Spotlight: Ensuring Safety in Your Restaurant
A lot happens in your restaurant every day. You have people coming and going all the time. Your employees are constantly moving around, and customers are entering and leaving throughout the day. Unfortunately, with all that activity, there’s also a lot that can go...
Questions to Ask Before You Invest in Kitchen Equipment
When you invest in kitchen equipment, you want to make sure you’re getting exactly what you need and that it will last you a long time. It can be overwhelming to think about everything you need when you’re starting a restaurant. Even if you’re just trying to add or...