This is the space for the kitchen at The Lodge. It will be the spot of family gatherings, cowboy lunches, retreats, wild (okay, not that wild) parties, and possibly, online cooking lessons/demonstrations for PW Cooks. The space is great; skylights above and windows on two walls let in a glorious amount of natural light, and both the stone wall in the distance and the slanted ceilings give the room a nice architectural edge.
We have a general floorplan—sketched from the ideas of Marlboro Man (surprisingly innovative), his mom (a design person with great taste) and me (clueless). And I have a general direction in which I’d like to head, which I’d like to share with you now: Rather than a large room with continuing runs of matching cabinets and perfect countertops, I think it would be interesting and more true to the pioneer lifestyle to have the different areas of the kitchen look like…different areas of the kitchen. And ideally, the cabinets (mostly lower; no uppers) would take on the look of old, beautiful pieces of furniture—some with different finishes, different legs, etc. Time was, when country people packed up and left for another homestead, they’d take their kitchen cabinets with them. Now, we don’t necessarily need to make ours portable, but the appearance is what I’m going for. For instance, one area of cabinets might have an earth tone finish, really distressed, with black iron hardware; another area could have a painted color with ball feet. Crazy, I know. But I’m feelin’ it, man. I’m, like, totally feelin’ it.
Oh, and I’d like the whole thing to cost under $100. Yep. Call me crazy, but I think I can pull it off!
When it comes to kitchens there are just so many options. So many directions in which to go. So many products and angles to explore. If you’re not thinking about cabinets, you have to think about appliances; if you’re not thinking about countertops, you’re thinking about lighting. And sometimes, you want to crawl into your own closet, hide under the long dresses and coats, and suck on your own hair, avoiding the whole dadgum mess lest you head in a flawed or ill-advised direction.
As always, I’m interested in hearing from you. You see, as attractive and interesting as I want the kitchen at The Lodge to be, I also want it to be exceedingly functional. What features do you like best in your own kitchens? What do you like least? What do you wish you had, or what would you eliminate if you could? What’s most important to you when it comes to cooking? What things should I consider passing trends and therefore stay away from? Many of you have smaller kitchens; what makes them functional? Some of you have larger kitchens; what makes them cozy and inviting? Do you like stainless appliances or cabinet-front appliances? Granite countertops or chopping block or lime green Formica? Wood tones or whites or neon pinks? Or reds? Greens? Yellows?
Your advice/suggestions for concealing the wires in the computer center were brilliant and inspired, so I know whatever you have to share in the realm of kitchens will be, too. Thanks for being here for me.
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
