Читать книгу 1001 Ideas for Kitchen Organization, New Edition - Joseph R. Provey - Страница 18

Once you’ve completed the list of activities suggested on page 36, start a second list of the items you need to perform each activity. Under “baking,” for example, list measuring cups and spoons, cookie sheets, rolling pins, and the like. Under “watching TV,” you may list eyeglasses, notepad and pencil, and TV remote. Under “making school lunches,” your list may include sandwich wrap, napkins, plastic containers, and paper lunch bags. Under “serving meals,” be sure to include trays, serving spoons and forks, trivets, potholders, and so on. Once again, tailor the lists to your habits and preferences. If you cook Asian-style meals, your “prepping dinner” list will probably include a wok, cooking oils, sauces, herbs, cutlery, a cutting board, and wok utensils. If your breakfast routine includes coffee or tea, juice, vitamins, and a baguette with butter, be sure your list includes sweeteners, mugs, juice glasses, pills, a cutting board, and a bread knife. If you drink tea, your list may allow for a dozen blends, along with preferred sweeteners and tea-making equipment.

You can probably guess where all of this is headed. Armed with your lists and priority ratings, you’ll be better prepared to make all sorts of storage and organization decisions that would otherwise be wildly confusing. The final step is to assign activities, and the items associated with them, to specific locations within your kitchen. The best way to do this is to pencil them onto your kitchen floor plan. (See the illustration on pages 36–37.) Begin with your highest-priority activities. If you scored “making coffee” a 9, indicate your preferred location before deciding on where to put a 3-rated “serving wine.” Follow your instincts. Put “preparing dinners” near a counter that is close to the range. Some activities may go in two places. “Unpacking groceries” may be listed near the fridge and the pantry. If two or more activities are vying for the same prime location and there’s not room for both, the one with the higher-use priority should get the nod.

A beverage center is a nice luxury for a kitchen. Include storage for wine and other beverages, glasses, a decanter, and trays—and don’t forget a bottle opener and a corkscrew.

This informal kitchen, with its three sinks, can easily accommodate two cooks. Don’t hesitate to store duplicates of inexpensive cooking aids, such as measuring cups and spoons, if your kitchen has two work stations and you have the space.

Make table-setting easier by storing everything you need near your kitchen table. This table-setting center includes shelves and a rack for tableware as well as drawers for flatware and napkins.