Kitchen Essential

Tin trays

Tin trays are made from tinplate, litho printed. Each colour is separately stoved and the tray is finally given a protective coat of transparent varnish.

Trays should be wiped with a damp cloth and dried before putting away. Dunking them in hot washing up water will soften the protective varnish and the decoration will then get worn very quickly. Don’t use anything abrasive and avoid scratching with knives, etc.

Glass

Table glass is tough provided you follow a few simple rules:

1. Don’t subject to sudden temperature changes.

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All cutlery should be washed as soon as possible in warm soapy water. Salt, vinegar, lemon juice and egg can pit and blacken cutlery. Water will mark it too, although only temporarily. If you want it to look good, it should be dried and lightly buffed by hand — even if it is machine washed.

Stainless steel

Don’t use a silver dip on stainless steel, it will turn it dull grey. There are special stainless steel polishes.

Silver and silver plate

Sterling silver and plate should be kept in a baize-lined box or drawer so that the pieces do not get scratched or rubbed. Storage for silver not in use should be airtight. Remove egg tarnish from silver spoons with table salt. Continue Reading »

Dishwasher

This is one of the most complicated pieces of machinery in the house. Regular servicing and maintenance are advisable. Most manufacturers recommend the detergent and softener. Daily maintenance is confined to keeping filters clean. Continue Reading »

The choice of finishes on cabinets contributes to the visual appeal of the kitchen. Well displayed kitchen utensils, or open shelves of glassware and crockeryenhance the elements of design in the kitchen and make it a more enjoyable space. By using a combination of three or four different textures and patterns you will be able to add contrast and variety when color in the room is limited.

1. Laminated and solid surfaces have a smooth, tactile finish, with the option of decorative patterns.

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FOOD PREPARATION

Frequently used items must be housed at hip height. Position wall mounted cupboards 45 cm from the base unit so that they are easy to reach but still allow space for small appliances below.

For easy accessibility, fit deep cupboards with one or two shelves on runners, or have a number of narrow adjustable shelves in the unit. Wicker or wire drawers make good containers for vegetables or cleaning equipment. Continue Reading »

Getting organized is your top priority in the kitchen. Deciding how much youwant to store and where it will be most accessible will help you eliminate kitchen clutter. Space is the most precious commodity, and the use of variable heights and split- levels can provide some ingenious and visually exciting solutions.

Plan your shelves to accommodate the various shapes and sizes of your crockery, cooking utensils and glassware. Functional flexibility is the key to effective storage. The style and appearance of your storage in the kitchen must reflect the character of the room. Continue Reading »

The kitchen is one of the most functional rooms of any home so the main focus should be on providing shadow-free task lighting for each work surface.

Install lighting with different circuits and use dimmers.

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With the integration of the kitchen into the living space, kitchen design involves smart storage and good lighting. Texture and pattern arevital design elements as they provide style and warmth to your look.

Natural light promotes the true colors of food, and neutral tones of white, cream and palest yellow provide an excellent backdrop for the earthy colors of vegetables and fruits. Light colors suggest cleanliness and spaciousness, while bright colours, although dramatic and electrifying, are less appetizing in the kitchen as they are inclined to cast a light that discolors food. Continue Reading »

Just one look at this table setting will inspire you to rediscover the hidden bounty in your cupboards and drawers, and to go out and search for treasures inshops and flea markets.

Table settings can include china, coloured glass, damask or homespun place mats, large candles or hurricane lanterns, and other attractive details that create intensely personal, decorative settings.

This exuberant Bohemian style will appeal to anyone who loves to see and be inspired by homes that are full ofpassion and originality. The style lends itself to improvisation from cast-off materials, and juxtaposition of an assortment of idiosyncratic and everyday items.

There is a treasure trove of quick and easy ideas for creative table settings. Try inexpensive painted embellishments that echo elements in your furnishings. Explore the use of rich colours; mismatched glass in jewel-like hues and unusual containers for flowers and candles, such as large tin cans tied with organza bows and tea lights in small multi-coloured glasses.

In summer time the cooking is easy. To keep your guests lingering at your table, avoid a fussy table setting and scour cookbooks for ideas and inspiration for preparingtasty, home-cooked meals for your guests.

Evening entertaining can be magical as the light fades, the air stills and the first stars appear. Vintage Provençal table linen, fresh-cut flowers and wine sets the ambiance.

This French look can be achieved in any style of home, from contemporary to Provençal and from farmhouse to city apartment. Continue Reading »

To become the ideal host, it’s important to rememberthat success lies in the details: the niceties of setting a lovely table, extra attention to comfort, and adding those thoughtful little touches that surprise and delight your guests. Whether the occasion is a barbecue, tea or a children’s party, the table setting will set the mood. Choose white linen for a formal dinner; cutlery wraps and a quilted liner for a picnic hamper. Plan your centre-pieces and candleholders, and choose napkins that suit the occasion. Continue Reading »

SEASIDE CHIC

Natural textures with pale wood Shaker-styled units bring a fresh breeze into this seaside holiday home. The eclectic ’shabby chic’ look continues to be a popular choice in casual, formal or contemporary settings.

Accessories

Muted pastels, slightly wilted roses, chipped paint and pure whites blend modern practicality with wistful, old-fashioned aesthetic appeal. Tall glazed wall units, generously wide pot drawers and wooden counter tops are a feature of the U-shaped kitchen, where the work triangle is displayed to its best advantage. The plain white scheme complements the white-washed wooden beams and chunky wooden counter tops that add warmth to the kitchen. The plate racks on the walls add character, and open shelves display colorful crockery and glass jars. The glass-fronted units give the room a lighter look compared to the solid doors on the units housing cookware and china. Stools pulled up to the counter top for casual dining have faded floral cushions for comfort. Continue Reading »

In any decorative scheme, colours brighten, set a mood,or provide depth and texture to a room.

The kitchen isno exception, and there’s now a vast selection of flooring, work surface and cupboard finishes. Choose practical shades, and bear in mind that colour in the kitchen influences your sense of sight, smell and taste. White and neutral backgrounds promote cleanliness, freshness and efficiency.

Adding color changes the look and feel of a room. If your kitchen is to be cool, light, airy and open, then stay natural and avoid dark woods and lots of pattern. But if it needs sprucing up, a colourful counter top may be a practical and decorative option. Continue Reading »

Enjoy the simple pleasures of tea in the kitchen, by thefireplace or under a shady tree. Set a table with bonechina cups and saucers and serve biscuits and at least two kinds of cake, as well as cucumber sandwiches, crumpets and scones with jam and cream.

TABLE SETTING

Choose cutlery, cloth and napkins with restrained patterns; delicate teas, small sandwiches, classical biscuits and petits fours. The soft colours of this delightful table setting are matched with the tablecloth and napkins bathed in the afternoon sun.

TYPES OF TEAS

• Assam: a tea with a strong flavour, from the Assam region of North India.
• Ceylon: a bright-coloured tea from Sri Lanka.
• Darjeeling: a tea with a light, delicate flavour, from the Himalayan area of India.
• Earl Grey: a blend of black China teas with a fruity aroma.
• English breakfast: a strong blend of Assam, Ceylon and Kenyan teas.
• House blend: a popular general blend of teas.
• Kenyan: a bright-coloured tea from East Africa.

Of all the rooms in the house,the kitchen is the most difficult to plan. Unlike other rooms where you can move furniture around to your heart’s content, you have only one opportunity to design the perfect kitchen layout. Once the plumbing is in, your design is fixed, so take as much time as you need to work out the most pleasing and practical plan.

Cooking is a serious task that requires adequate space, specific equipment and functional fittings. Good kitchen design is more about planning well than having the largest possible room.

As the kitchen occupies a central role in our daily lives, it’s important to consider its position in relation to the rest of the house. Continue Reading »

The shape of the room will dictate the most appropriate layout. Size is secondary to good planning and organization. The process of getting food from the fridge, preparing it, cooking it and serving it, should follow a logical sequence.

THE GALLEY KITCHEN

This layout suits the smaller, long, thin kitchen. In a narrow area all the appliances will have to be ranged down the length of one wall. If the door and window permits, make use of the width too. A slightly wider room offers two parallel working areas. The galley kitchen needs streamlined, fitted units. Aim to use the wall from floor to ceiling in your design, and store seldom used items on the higher shelves. Continue Reading »

PASTA MACHINE

For the purist who prefers to make pasta from scratch, this machine has a variety of discs to produce the different pasta types, from macaroni to fettuccine.

DEEP FAT FRYER

Thermostatically controlled fryers cook chips perfectly.

ELECTRIC WOK

These offer similar facilities as standard woks, but they can also be used for stewing, steaming, poaching and simmering.

SANDWICH TOASTER

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Kitchen appliances often tantalize with promises of timeand energy savings, healthier food or the creation of exotic new concoctions. Many live up to their claims and make your life easier, but others quickly lose their charm and are consigned to the back of the store cupboard.

Kitchen equipment ranges from basic to futuristic, and from simple to state-of-the-art.

When choosing items, consider how much maintenance they will need, the range of functions you require and the level of sophistication you expect; how much money you are prepared to spend and finally, their aesthetic appeal.

KITCHEN ‘MUST HAVES’

FOOD PROCESSOR

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This can vary from modern and classically elegant to pretty, country kitchen styles. Choose cutlery, china and glassware to complement each other in style.

Glasses:

Good quality glasses are thin, and have a ringing tone when tapped. Fine glassware may be classically simple or elaborately designed expensive crystal. Wine glasses should be clear or cut glass so that the colour of the wine can be appreciated. The shape should curve at the top but still be wide enough to allow the drinker to swirl the wine in the glass.

China:

Prices and quality range from the very cheap to extravagant and exquisitely shaped and decorated pieces. Inexpensive earthenware is homely and attractive, but it does chip easily. Stoneware is strong, but bone china is the strongest of all. Consider how food will look on the plates you select and check that the items are dishwasher safe.

Cutlery:

Stainless steel, solid silver or satin finish cutlery must all be smooth and blemish free. Try it out to make sure it is comfortable to use. Some styles look wonderful but are not very practical. When the handles and blades are made of different materials, check that the joins are smooth and finished well.

OMELETTE AND FRYING PANS

These have slightly flared sides. Nonstick versions are great for omelettes.

ROASTING PANS

Used to cook foods by surrounding them with hot air in an oven. Some have low sides but some cooks much prefer high, covered roasting pans.

SAUCEPANS

Non-stick saucepans are a big advantage when cooking foods that are inclined to stick. Saucepans with rounded inner edges Continue Reading »