Designing The Perfect Kitchen
It is important when you are designing your kitchen to store things near the point of first use.
If the first thing you do with a certain kettle is to hold it under the faucet and put water in it, then store it near the sink, because the last thing you will do with it is to wash it, so it begins and ends with the sink.
If the first thing you do with another kettle is to empty a can of soup into it, it should be stored near the can opener.
The location of the can opener is a matter that should be studied carefully.
It must be instantly available, and yet not in the way when not in use. If it sticks out and catches your clothes as you pass, it is definitely out of place. A pie tin will want to be stored near the baking center, where pies are made.
Kettle lids will be stored near the stove, as the lid is generally put on after the kettle is on the stove. The same holds for small items: cutlery, kitchen hardware, strainers, colanders, rolling pins, etc.
Be sure that a thing is not made inaccessible by the activity that calls for its use, as placing the measuring spoons or cups under the mixing board that is pulled out when you start to bake.
Some people like to hang up kettles and long-handled pieces of equipment instead of putting them away in drawers and cupboards.
This practice works well for a few pieces, but too many things exposed tend to make a kitchen look cluttered, and they also collect dust unless they are used frequently.
A few utensils exposed add interest, whereas too many spoil the effect.
For efficiency it is usually better, instead of having too many pieces of equipment, to get the best and use them frequently. Every good workman has a few tools that he uses almost to the exclusion of everything else.
The problem of storage is greatly simplified, if not too many kettles, pans, lids, etc., are used.
It might be a good idea to have good convenient places for the most used items, and to have a general storage area for the things that are not used so often,
the things that well meaning friends give for wedding presents, birthday gifts, anniversary acquisitions, and Christmas gadgets.
Avoid placing things so that three or four have to be moved to get the one that is needed. That is what I have against these nested mixing bowls and similar gadgets.
If you can reach for the bowl you want and get it in one motion without having to molest a half dozen others, you will greatly increase the efficiency of the storage area of your kitchen.
Shelves spaced near together will help you to store more things near where you want them; if the shelves are too far apart, much valuable storage is wasted.
Of course, somewhere you need one shelf with a wider spacing for tall things. Some people labor under the mistaken notion that all shelves should be the same distance apart.
Get as wide a variation in the spacing of shelves as you can, as this will help you to store various sized things more efficiently.
The right way is to measure the things to be stored and make the spaces to fit them, with just enough extra room to make them handy and readily accessible.
The supermarket has changed the culinary life of the average American housekeeper. Let the stores store the supplies.
We get it when we want it, without having to make provision for storage of large quantities of food. Many thrifty housekeepers, however, like to have room for a certain amount of food stocks on hand.
Since it is often cheaper to buy canned goods by the case than to buy a can at a time, plan the shelves in the store room so that tin cans can be accommodated.
If you decide to purchase your new house always use a mortgage calculator to help you get the best mortgage.
New Technology Is Brewing In The Kitchen
Introduction
How does the “ideal digital kitchen” sound? Technology is greatly changing the landscape of our world. Everything is
becoming more convenient in the medical profession, the financial industry, the entertainment world, etc., so why can’t our kitchens be impacted as well?
There are a number of impressive additions on the brink of release for our homes. The kitchen will not be left behind in the future of sensor technology.
The following article features an insight into some of the new features that will soon make a presence to a kitchen near you.
Recipe Projection System
This system will bring the intelligence of the Internet to your kitchen. It will be like a master cookbook. Imagine uttering the desire for a particular dish and you will be able to access all of the information available for that plate.
More people will be inspired to cook if they have the intelligence in front of them providing recipes and suggestions.
Energy Usage Monitor and Control System
How many of us take a look at our energy bill and wonder how that number came to be? What if you were able to monitor exactly where your energy expenditures were coming from?
That is exactly what this system will do for you. Thanks to sensor technology, you will be able to monitor energy consumption by area and appliance.
Home Control Station
These gadgets will enable you to monitor the temperature outside as well as inside and adjust the level of the latter.
You will also be able to view the surrounding areas of your house (front, back, and side) to as part of your security system.
Universal Charging Station
This station will allow you to charge all of your gizmos in one convenient location. Whether it is a cellular phone, PDA, or other handy device, regardless of brand or model, you will be able to keep them charged instead of sitting on the counter top losing power.
Digital Calendar
How many of us keep a calendar in the kitchen, but cannot fit all of the information so we start using those post-its that cover the adjacent wall and become clustered and confused?
A digital calendar will be very convenient for the whole household to use.
It will be like a miniaturized secretarial service. You will even be able to access your calendar if you are away from the kitchen via the Internet.
The Best Kept Secrets In Kitchen Designs
It has often been said that the heart of the home is the kitchen. If that is really true, then why is it that some kitchen designs just don’t seem to support more than one cook or guest at a time?
You can turn your kitchen into a functional and beautiful workspace and gathering place for the entire family.
Even if you have limited square footage, there just may be more room for expansion, storage, and oh yeah, cooking in your kitchen than you think.
Counters & Cabinets
Storage is definitely a consideration in designing a functional kitchen. If you are limited by floor space, just look up.
There is often a great deal of space between the counter tops and ceiling that just isn’t being used in a kitchen. Look at the space above the refrigerator.
Is yours just collecting dust or take out menus? If so, add a cabinet and you’ve got a great place to store seldom used platters or treats you want to keep hidden from the children.
Kitchen cabinets also don’t have to be limited to one side of the countertop. If your kitchen design has a peninsula or island, you can use the ends and back side for more cabinet storage space.
Kitchen cabinets come in more styles and finishes that you can imagine. However, if your budget is limited then you don’t need to replace them for an entirely new look. Cabinet refacing lets you select cabinet patterns that are up to date and beautiful.
New countertops don’t always need to be included in this home improvement project either. Laminate countertops come with repair strips that will give new life to a worn surface.
Laying Out Completely New Kitchen Designs
If your budget calls for a complete renovation, then now is the time to really think about layouts and maybe calling in some specialist.
The basic theory is that there should be no more than 2 steps between work stations. That means you should be able to go from the sink to stove in 2 steps; from the range to the refrigerator in 2 steps and so on. However, with today’s extra large sized kitchens that’s not the case any more.
You still should choose layouts that consider how much time it takes to accomplish the normal tasks of putting dishes away from the dishwasher or getting foods from the refrigerator to the stove.
The newest gadgets in these mega kitchens make timesaving and energy efficiency into an art form. There are refrigerator drawers right next to the range and microwaves that brew your coffee while making your toast!
Fixtures and Furniture
The finishing touches are what make kitchen designs more inviting than ever. The furnishings, light fixtures and even the cabinet hardware can make kitchens into real living rooms.
Look for task lighting that can highlight work spaces and then radiant lighting for atmosphere.
You can even turn the legs of old furniture or newel posts into bases for centre islands to make you kitchen furnishings blend with the rest of the house. Get creative and enjoy doing much more than cooking in your new kitchen.
The Perfect Addition To Your Home: A Kitchen Island
The kitchen is the heart of the home and you want it to be a room that is welcoming and cozy for family and guests.
But kitchens tend to be busy places and can get messy and cluttered up pretty quickly with all of the appliances and gadgets, not to mention décor items, which can diminish the nice atmospheric state you’re going for. One good solution is to install a kitchen island.
Not only are they convenient as a means of additional workspace, but many are equipped with their own cabinets and drawers to help you prevent that untidy appearance.
Your first consideration when deciding on a which type of kitchen island you’d like should probably be how you plan to use it and their functions are as varied as the wide range of design options.
They can be a utilized as a food preparation area, a baking center, a serving spot for an informal meal or buffet and the perfect setting to sit and nibble a snack or sandwich.
An island even can provide a quiet spot for children to do their homework, close to mom while she gets after school snacks or dinner together.
Take the opportunity to make your kitchen island mutli-functional because there’s lots of options to choose from.
Just about any appliance can be built into it including cook tops, under-the-counter refrigerators, sinks, dishwashers and trash compactors.
Deep drawers provide a place to store bulky cookware and pullout shelves allow for more easy access. Pick a countertop for your island that matches your other counters or make it stand out by using a contrasting material.
Also, your choice of cabinetry and decorative elements can make your island into a real quality item, similar to a fine furniture piece.
The dimensions and placement of your kitchen island will depend on the shape and space available in your kitchen.
Professionals say that the island should be positioned at least 36″ from existing cabinets and 42″ from the range, refrigerator or dishwasher to allow plenty of room for opening doors and easy maneuvering around your workspace area.
The height of your kitchen island can vary to suit your individual needs. If you can’t make up your mind on that one, a multi-level island might be the solution.
With all of the new trends in home design, kitchens have become an important part of the family’s living and entertaining space.
If you don’t have the time or money to design your own island, there are many terrific ready-made islands you can order also.
Take your time and choose the island that best suits your needs and taste so you are sure to enjoy it for many years to come.
Saving Energy in the Kitchen
The kitchen, with all its appliances, gadgets and heat, is a real hotspot for potential energy saving. As the oven uses the most energy and creates a vast amount of heat while cooking foods, it is a good place to start.
For instance, when baking cookies use two trays. While one is in the oven baking, the other one is prepped with raw cookies – ready to replace the tray in the oven with no wasted heat and some time saved. When we bake bread we also fill the oven with foil wrapped potatoes. The potatoes can be stored in the fridge without the foil and used throughout the week in a myriad of recipes, or as a side dish. This method can be applied to a menu plan in that if you are baking one dish, try to include a side dish that is baked as well.
By turning off the oven a minute or two before the dish is done, the residual heat will finish the cooking. When done with the oven, open the door to allow any leftover heat to warm the home.
Pasta cooking water can be left out until it has completely cooled – so that the heat and moisture are released back into the air. Before pulling the plug, consider leaving hot dishwater (and bath water) until it cools. Why pay to heat up your sewer pipes? When cooking vegetables, consider steaming instead of boiling. When steamed, more nutrients are retained in the food, and because it requires less water to heat – there is less energy used.
In summer, consider cooking on the barbecue to help keep the house cool. Most barbecues now include side burners that make outdoor cooking all that much easier.
All these methods are relatively easy to adopt and when added up, the savings in energy and time really do make a difference.
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