The aunt demanded to give her monthly allowance to set up a separate kitchen.

Why do some old houses not have kitchens?

Older homes had separate kitchens because they generate heat and often get messy. Guests did not want to be exposed to either.

Are closed kitchens coming back?

The New York Times real estate section says the closed kitchen is making a comeback. … Several new residential buildings in Manhattan have offered separated kitchens — a nod to prewar apartment design, but also to the growing demand from potential buyers looking for separate cooking and entertaining spaces.