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Several weeks back, Reese Witherspoon shared a photo of herself enjoying a summery beverage in her kitchen wearing a beautiful dress from her clothing brand, Draper James. There are almost as many reasons to love Reese Witherspoon’s kitchen as there are to love the actor, producer, and entrepreneur herself — the soft gray paint, stunning gold hardware, and timeless cabinet doors. Her kitchen is nothing short of perfection. But there is one thing that gave us pause.
While it may not have caught your eye at first, there’s one mysterious detail in the photo Reese shared that we simply can’t stop thinking about: the stainless steel drawer in the bottom left corner. What is it? What is its function? And where can a home cook who aspires to have a kitchen as flawless as Ms. Witherspoon’s purchase one? We talked to experts to find out.
So, What Exactly Is That Drawer?
The short answer is that we’re not entirely sure. The long answer is that we think it’s a proving drawer. It would make sense that Reese would have one in her kitchen — they’re a luxurious addition — but they’re typically attached to an oven or microwave. We turned to an expert for help. Alexandra von Gymnich-Scully, owner of Rustic Rooster Interiors, weighed in, offering many possibilities as to what it could be. “It’s either a warming drawer, a refrigerator for drinks, or a dishwasher, microwave, or it could be a vegetable and fruit drawer,” she mused.
Sarah Storms, the creative force behind Styled by Storms, is more certain it’s gotta be a proving drawer: “It’s too long and skinny to be a freezer drawer,” said Sarah Storms, “It looks like a warming drawer based on the dimensions. It’s interesting that the kitchen designer put a set of drawers on top.”
If you’re not already familiar, a proving drawer, or proofing drawer, is an oven compartment specifically designed to help dough rise by maintaining the proper temperature. Also called warming drawers, proving drawers are incredibly handy for keeping food warm before serving (an entertainer’s dream!), which is especially helpful when you’re preparing a meal with multiple components or hosting for the holidays.
So, what exactly is that shiny drawer in Reese Witherspoon’s kitchen? Dear reader, what do you think that drawer is? Is it a proving drawer? A freezer for drinks? A portal to another dimension?
And Reese, if you’re reading this, please tell us so we can end this once and for all: What is that drawer in your kitchen?