Inside the Rachael Ray Show Kitchen

Fans of the Rachael Ray Show know that Rachael loves a makeover! She's transformed moms, men, dogs, homes, you name it. So when the show moved to a new address and upgraded to high-def cameras in 2013, the next makeover was obvious: the studio kitchen!

By Rachael Ray Every Day

May 22, 2013

Rach's Studio Kitchen

Take a behind the scenes tour of the Rachael Ray Show kitchen! Plus, find out how to get Rachael's kitchen look with six products from the set.

"I wanted to give it a modern look and make it sizzle in HD," says production designer Joe Stewart, who also designed her former studio (and, along with business partner John Shaffner, the set of Friends).

New Beginnings

In the new kitchen, Stewart swapped the old set's retro blue fridge, checkerboard floor and orange stove for sleek stainless steel appliances and warm stone and wood finishes. "It's a mix of city, country and rustic Italian -- just like Rachael," he says. And Rach is thrilled: "After six seasons, this was our seventh-inning stretch," she says. "I just love working in here."

Here's something you won't ever see on TV -- Rachael's view from behind the counter! (That's a lot of camera lights, right?)

Hard Knocks

Rachael's big request for the new studio: reclaimed wood. The rustic tables and shelves -- and the sliding barn door in front of the pantry -- mirror pieces she has in her own home.

Hues Clues

"We designed the kitchen in deep golds, greens and autumn colors to make it feel inviting, like you could just plop down at the table with Rachael," Stewart says. "The bright pops come from accessories, like Rachael's own serving pieces, and the scene outside the 60-inch plasma 'window,'" which is also used to show videos or photos during cooking segments.

Counter Culture

"I always design my TV kitchens with countertops made out of slab butcher block so I can chop and prep anywhere on the set, and the cameras can move around with me," Rach says.

Rach's Tip: If you have a small kitchen, buy a large wooden cutting block that you can place over your sink. It creates more countertop space!

On the Surface

"I like how well cream-colored subway tiles pair with exposed brick," Stewart says. "It looks modern but still classic and clean."

The Pantry

Name Game: There's a reason you've never heard of the Pennoni pasta or Flap Jacks pancake mix sitting on the shelves: They don't exist! The Rachael Ray graphic design team creates all of the packaged food labels that appear on camera -- except for Rachael's real line of stocks, spices and oils.

Rach's Tip: Don't clutter up your kitchen with a lot of pots. Just buy the ones you need, and only get a set if you can really see yourself using every piece.

The Drawers

Inside Track: Rachael keeps her cooking must-haves, like her favorite knives and spoonulas (spoon-spatula combos), in a drawer by the stove. "I'm a big music lover, so I always have my iPod or a CD nearby." (Yup, that's Rick Springfield's latest album in there!)

The Fridge

Candid Camera: Nestled among the hunks of cheese and fresh veggies is a tiny camera that clicks on when the door swings open. "It's a cool new perspective," Rach says. "And the TV viewers don't have to stare at the back of my head as I grab stuff from the fridge."

Rach's Tip: An open bottle of red wine will lose its flavor a day after it's opened. White wine, though, is fine for 3 to 5 days if kept in the fridge.