If you've ever traveled to Europe or seen historic footage of the continent on a documentary, you'll be aware of how their century-old drugstores are designed. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, classic European apothecaries (early pharmacies), particularly those in Switzerland and Gemrany looked more like libraries than the open, modern pharmacies we see today. Their small, cubby-style cupboards were central to this aesthetic. You can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to see similar-style cupboards in Reese Witherspoon's kitchen. Reese's Shaker-Style kitchen cabinets have the same quaint feeling as those century-old spaces, with a modern twist. Their cubby-style nature and small gold handles are reminiscent of a bygone era, while the muted gray brings her kitchen back into the 21st century. Before industrial pills, apothecaries were troves of raw ingredients: dried herbs, resins, roots, minerals, spices, animal products, and metals, all carefully stored to avoid contamination. Cabinets with hundreds of small drawers kept each component separate and labeled, turning the shop into a space from which we can take lessons on modern kitchen organization. Just ask Reese, who has already set the blueprint.
