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The Hub of the Home
My kitchen is a busy place. No, I don't
bake cookies all day, or make homemade bread three times a week. The layout
of our home is such that the master bedroom is on one side of the kitchen
and the rest of the house is on the other side. So, even when we're not eating,
preparing or cleaning up a meal, someone is usually passing through to get
to the bedroom where the computer is located. The basement door is near the
master bedroom as well, so anyone going downstairs must pass through the
kitchen. I fold clothes at the table. I pay bills at the table. I write up
lesson plans at the table. The majority of our school work is done at the
table. We play board games at the table. My sons do arts and crafts projects
at the table. I chat with neighbors at the table. I even do my writing at
the table before I type it into my computer. I think you get the idea!
Because my kitchen is such a busy place, it helps to keep it organized. (Some
days the clutter gets out of hand, but that's another article!) I've learned
that I'm not the only person who feels this way. Back in April I received
a wonderful letter on kitchen organization from my friend, Briva. With her
permission, I'm sharing her tips, and sprinkling in some of my own.
At Briva's house they've made the kitchen counters into "centers." I was
taught this concept myself in home economics class. Typical kitchen centers
are "baking/cooking," "storage," "serving" and "food preparation." You may
have a few more of your own to add, or you may combine these to make fewer
centers. Your kitchen is no doubt different than mine, in size as well as
layout. Use what you can of these ideas, and leave the rest for someone
else.
Let's start with the baking center. Briva has hers opposite her pantry, near
her stove, where her mixer sits on the counter. She stores her cake pans
and cookie sheets below the counter, and spices are above, on an open shelf.
You'll also find her knives and cooking utensils in racks above the counter.
My stove has no counters near it, so my baking center is located near my
sink, which is directly across from my stove. My baking center includes a
linen drawer. Pot holders, towels and aprons are kept in a drawer closest
to the stove, for easy access. My microwave is also located in my baking/cooking
center. Briva has placed her microwave on a shelf to get it off the counter
- this is a great idea if you have limited counter space and ample wall space.
Consider putting your electric can opener there as well! If you bake on a
regular basis, Briva suggests permanently placing a large wire cooling rack
next to the stove.
To keep your baking center organized, invest in some good storage containers.
Tupperware and Rubbermaid make some nice ones. Herbs and spices need to be
kept in airtight containers - some even in dark containers, to avoid fading
of color. A Lazy Susan offers easy access to your herbs and spices. Be sure
to put the less-used baking supplies in the back of the cupboards. Baking
soda and powder can be located behind the brown and white sugars if you only
bake a few times a month, but use sugars for sweetening on a weekly basis.
You should also put your flours and sugars in airtight containers to keep
the bugs out. Once they come in, it's very hard to get rid of bugs!
There are two types of storage centers in most kitchens. One is for storing
food, such as in the pantry, and the other is for storage containers. I don't
have a pantry, so I keep most of my canned and boxed goods in the cupboards
under my peninsula, which separates my cooking area from my dining area.
As I mentioned earlier, you should put your flour and sugars in airtight
containers. Cereals and pastas stay fresher longer in airtight containers
once they are opened as well. Storage containers should be kept in an easily
accessible area near the sink as well as the food preparation center. As
you clean up after meals you can easily find an appropriate container for
any leftovers you may have.
For the serving center, be sure to keep the plates, glasses and silverware
near the dishwasher, if you have one, or the sink. You'll want to keep these
items in the cupboards and drawers that are nearest to the place you eat
(i.e., the table, if it's in the kitchen, or the dining room.) I've found
that the racks which store your plates upright work very well, as opposed
to laying them flat and stacking small plates on top of big plates. If the
plates are stacked, it's harder for 'little helpers' to assist you since
they must lift all the plates out to get at the bottom ones.
Briva has a coffee/tea center at her house. She keeps her coffee makers (one
is espresso) and her toaster on the counter, with her coffee cups, saucers,
coffees and teas above in the cabinet. (I don't drink coffee or tea, so I
don't have this center in my kitchen. The coffee maker only comes out from
under the cupboard when we have guests over.)
The food preparation center is best located near the sink. I have a portable
dishwasher sitting in the middle of my kitchen and this acts as my food prep
center. Briva's is also near her sink, opposite her refrigerator, which allows
for a convenient place to put items as she brings them out.
When you set up centers in your kitchen you'll find it's easier for two people
to work there at once. Even small kitchens can be easily maneuvered when
everything is organized efficiently. Have you found something that works
well for you in the kitchen? I'd love to hear about it!
During the next three months I'll talk about children's rooms and infant
nurseries. Next month I'll focus on toys and general room arrangements (so
you can organize while the kids are outside playing) followed by closets
and clothes in August (just in time for back to school clothing purchases)
and the nursery in September (when so many babies are due.) If you have any
ideas, please feel free to let me know!
Our friends at Organized Times have a great article on Kitchen Clutter
here:
http://www.organizedtimes.com/kitchenclutter.htm
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About the Author
Kelly Huckaby is the
HOMEWriter. This Christian/Wife/Mother/Writer lives in WI with her
husband of 13 years and their five always-homeschooled children. She is
active in her local homeschooling support group, is the moderator for four
homeschooling and two writing e-mail lists, and has a web page that offers
support for families using The Weaver Curriculum. Her goal as a writer is to
be an encouragement to other mothers. You can visit Kelly at her Unofficial Weaver Pages.
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