From the title you can tell I’m a Harry Potter fan right? And as in the wonderful world of Hogwarts there are tools you can add to your kitchen to make it more functional and uniquely you. You’ve considered your layout, your appliances have a location, now you need to identify and define the “zones” in your kitchen. The zones of kitchen magic are; Prep, Cook, Clean.
As most people can tell you, you spend 70% of your kitchen life prepping your food for cooking. As a result you need to consider your space; you will need adequate counter surface for chopping, measuring, blending, and assembling. Some things that may make your life easier in this zone are drawer organizers; from knife blocks and utensil trays, to Pot/Pan roll, use them for storing large mixing bowls, soup pots, maybe even your food processor? Adequate organization and having these things to hand makes that 70% of time more enjoyable and productive.
Your second “zone” is actually the cooking area. As much as my mother said to me that she “slaved over a hot stove all day”, you only actually spend 10% of your kitchen time in front of the cooking surface. And here again there are “Bits and Bobs” to simplify and organize the process. One of my favorite kitchen organizers are spice racks! Something that is clean, organized and makes every container clearly visible will speed up your cooking process like no one’s business. Trust me I’ve lived through the days of bagged spices stuffed into a box on the top shelf, not a lot of fun.
Another item you may find useful in your cook zone is a “base rollout”. These handy additions to any kitchen, installed beside your range, they give you quick access to larger items you may need; olive oil when sautéing, flour for a rue, rum for a Flambé? The opportunities are endless and completely customizable to you. Maybe you need cutting boards or cookie sheets close to hand, these rollouts can do that too!
The final “zone” in your cooking adventure is the cleanup, accounting for 20% of you task, why should this be a chore? Now when designing this area keep in mind that the cleaning and prep zone’s share a few key elements; the sink and waste/recycle centers. Are you an avid recycler, do you back yard compost? Do you live in a municipality that picks these things up? Do you need to sort paper from plastic? Any great kitchen is designed around the homeowner, simplifying your life, what is your system? Consider a towel bar for you dishcloths, rather than leaving them to smell on your faucet, this door mounted towel bar keeps them out of sight, out of smell, right?
The above mentioned “bits and bobs” are only a sampling of what how a kitchen can be customized to you. Speak to a local professional; and remember that your kitchen designer has the knowledge and expertise to make your dreams a reality.
For all the latest on kitchen renovations, kitchen design, organization tips and more always check back often to the Superior Cabinets Design Corner. Book an appointment today with one of our kitchen designers in any of our showrooms in Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Calgary.
– Michelle Beaudoin, Superior Cabinets Calgary
