Happiness is the Perfect Kitchen - Jill Manasseh

Welcome to the fifth series in the annual podcast programme from Academic Archers, bringing you papers from our 2024 conference.

This episode takes us into the heart of the home, as Jill Manasseh explores kitchens in Ambridge and beyond.

Happiness is the Perfect Kitchen - Jill Manasseh

What makes the perfect kitchen? This paper considers how kitchens are designed, lived in, and regretted. Using a playful slideshow of Ambridge-inspired kitchens, Jill explores seven common design mistakes, from the positioning of the sink to the ergonomics of storage.

Alongside the humour lies a serious reflection: kitchens are the backdrop to daily life, shaping family interactions, meals, and memories. In Ambridge, they are often the stage for drama, laughter, and secrets. By looking at kitchens through this lens, the paper reveals how such ordinary spaces hold extraordinary cultural and emotional weight.

About the speaker

• Jill Manasseh is a long-standing Academic Archers contributor with a particular interest in the everyday settings of Ambridge life. She brings professional insight, personal experience, and a touch of humour to her reflections on kitchens, design, and domestic spaces.

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