© Malorie Currier, Page1Design, Inc., 2018
Ask the Kitchen Lady
I once lived in a big Colonial with a spacious floorplan, yet all of my guests always
crammed into the kitchen, crowded around the dinette table, draped over the
peninsula, leaned against walls and doorways--of course, often in the way.
Before I acquired taste (yes, it is acquired), the kitchen had cream color cabinets, a
pink tile floor, pink and blue wallpaper, and beige countertops. It was a tranquil
setting, except for the bustling mob around me, of course.
So why did family and friends pack into this one modest room? Did it stir
childhood sensibilities of warmth and comfort? Was it a desire to be near me?
Was it a "pack mentality”? Perhaps they were motivated by some primal instinct
to be close to the source of food so that the larger or stronger pack members
wouldn't get it all. Maybe.
Though the underlying cause of this common phenomenon is unclear, it's true in
many households. Therefore, your kitchen redesign project requires some
planning as to how you can manage food preparation efficiently when family and
guests are hopelessly drawn to you by the "kitchen mystique."
1) Locate the refrigerator close to the kitchen entry so people can more readily
help themselves without forcing you to step out of their way as they pass behind
you. Ice and water dispensed from the fridge door, with convenient cups, can
reduce traffic.
2) Add a nook for yourself--a small snack counter with a stool where you can tuck
yourself in and out of the flow for some conversational relief, to review a recipe,
or to just take a breath.
3) Where feasible, "spill" the kitchen cabinetry around the wall of the kitchen into
an adjacent room. Add some extra seating there. For continuity of design, the
cabinetry can retain the same style door but change color or grow a bit more
decorative with a glass or mullion feature.
4) Open a pass-through to keep your guests visible but happily on the other side
of the wall.
5) Add a wine or coffee service area in another room. Or add a small fridge for
beverages, some seating, or a phone charging center to attract your guests to this
separate area.
I love entertaining my extended family and friends. But a mob scene in my
kitchen adds stress--the consequence of being sociable while trying to
prepare a successful meal. It’s not easy to keep everyone content while we
organize, keep track of cooking or serving times, and manage to enjoy our
lovely social event!
Tip: If All Else Fails…
Recruit a guest, server, or family member to pass hors d’ouvres in an adjacent room. Make these tidbits small, and few on a plate to create competition among your guests. They will pretend total focus on the conversation in progress, but actually have one eye peeled for the re-entry of the next plate of treats.
<The Kitchen Mystique
- Welcome To My Blog
- The Kitchen Mystique
- Relax. Your Renovation Can Be Fun
- I Can't Visualize! So Who Can?
- Are Cluttered CountersYour Fault?
- Hate to Clean Grout? Don’t Use Any!
- Think Outside the Box
- Can I Live at Home While I Renovate?
- Big Dreams, Small Budget, Now What?
- Scope of Work -- The Executive Approach
- I Survived My Own Bathroom Renovation, But I was Grouchy
- Safe Design Decisions? or Go for It!
- Knobs and Pulls, Knobs and Pulls, Oh My!
Ask the Kitchen Lady
I once lived in a big Colonial with a spacious floorplan, yet all of
my guests always crammed into the kitchen, crowded around the
dinette table, draped over the peninsula, leaned against walls
and doorways--of course, often in the way.
Before I acquired taste (yes, it is acquired), the kitchen had
cream color cabinets, a pink tile floor, pink and blue wallpaper,
and beige countertops. It was a tranquil setting, except for the
bustling mob around me, of course.
So why did family and friends pack into this one modest room?
Did it stir childhood sensibilities of warmth and comfort? Was it a
desire to be near me? Was it a "pack mentality”? Perhaps they
were motivated by some primal instinct to be close to the source
of food so that the larger or stronger pack members wouldn't get
it all. Maybe.
Though the underlying cause of this common phenomenon is
unclear, it's true in many households. Therefore, your kitchen
redesign project requires some planning as to how you can
manage food preparation efficiently when family and guests are
hopelessly drawn to you by the "kitchen mystique."
1) Locate the refrigerator close to the kitchen entry so people
can more readily help themselves without forcing you to step out
of their way as they pass behind you. Ice and water dispensed
from the fridge door, with convenient cups, can reduce traffic.
2) Add a nook for yourself--a small snack counter with a stool
where you can tuck yourself in and out of the flow for some
conversational relief, to review a recipe, or to just take a breath.
3) Where feasible, "spill" the kitchen cabinetry around the wall
of the kitchen into an adjacent room. Add some extra seating
there. For continuity of design, the cabinetry can retain the same
style door but change color or grow a bit more decorative with a
glass or mullion feature.
4) Open a pass-through to keep your guests visible but happily
on the other side of the wall.
5) Add a wine or coffee service area in another room. Or add a
small fridge for beverages, some seating, or a phone charging
center to attract your guests to this separate area.
I love entertaining my extended family and friends. But a
mob scene in my kitchen adds stress--the consequence of
being sociable while trying to prepare a successful meal. It’s
not easy to keep everyone content while we organize, keep
track of cooking or serving times, and manage to enjoy our
lovely social event!
Tip: If All Else Fails…
Recruit a guest, server, or family member to pass hors d’ouvres in an adjacent room. Make these tidbits small, and few on a plate to create competition among your guests. They will pretend total focus on the conversation in progress, but actually have one eye peeled for the re-entry of the next plate of treats.
<The Kitchen Mystique
- Welcome To My Blog
- The Kitchen Mystique
- Relax. Your Renovation Can Be Fun
- I Can't Visualize! So Who Can?
- Are Cluttered CountersYour Fault?
- Hate to Clean Grout? Don’t Use Any!
- Think Outside the Box
- Can I Live at Home While I Renovate?
- Big Dreams, Small Budget, Now What?
- Scope of Work -- The Executive Approach
- I Survived My Own Bathroom Renovation, But I was Grouchy
- Safe Design Decisions? or Go for It!
- Knobs and Pulls, Knobs and Pulls, Oh My!