As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
One of the things I love is being an interior decorator and architect, which due to being poor, I never can indulge in beyond creating designs.
The problem is with most home design is people hate being at home, due to most are not at ease with themselves, so all you have are uncomfortable designs centered around large screen television, computers and beds.
Most women hate kitchens and it shows, as much as most men hate offices and dens, and they are pure torture chambers.
If one observes the colonial past, the aristocracy absolutely loved their dens and libraries and were massive show pieces, as much as their servant kitchens were absolutely functional, compared to what is walled off and spine twisted today.
A good kitchen is what this is about, and a good kitchen should not have you reaching for things, twisting your spine in moving from sink to stove, nor should it have you at distance dripping things on the floor.......and it should not be confined and dark.
If you observe the kitchen of Mount Vernon, in President and Mrs. Washington, it was a delightful affair in the center was a massive fireplace where all revolved around, with one massive table for preparation. Of course there were outside ovens in the repressive seasons, but this design was lovely, except the fireplace should have perhaps been next to an outside door, where loads of wood and ash could be transferred easily without difficulty. It is not that difficult to put in a side door and a window to assist in traffic, light and ventilation, as things go smoke sooner or later.
I have no time for counters that people sit at. They always look wonderful, but people never digest food at them well as stools and high chairs are uncomfortable, and soon enough are just this thing there in the way.
TL's residence has a high counter which views the sliding glass windows which is nice across the living room, as one must never feel trapped. I would though much rather have windows over sink and cutting boards, to enjoy the view as one works. In my design, this would view a herb garden or patio patch.
My basic design has an assembly block, with at the end a bay window, where the table is presented, with sliding glass doors to a patio where I would feed birds and enjoy the vista of some fruit trees and the gardens.
The best of kitchens link the inside and the outside, in bbq decks to stoves in the kitchen, where one may even venture for a few sips of coffee in the morning air or desert in the evening.
This though is back to the assembly line design as you are now thinking how inviting a kitchen can be if it is not a slave chamber and instead a family area where wonderful adventures can take place, as food is the most wonderful of adventures.
I demand a great deal of counter space and the anchor point in this is my refrigerator on the extreme right. Six feet of counterspace to the left is my sink, a large basin with medical faucet to do dishes. I have no time for dishwashers......when the tap is there, the water is hot, dishes can be easily accomplished while the meal is cooking.
I apologize, but my dish drying rack is to the left of the sink, but my being right handed, I do not expect it a problem in repitition training and TL being left handed is a bonus.
The 6 feet of counter space includes sockets for appliances which are housed there in food processor, stand mixer and slow cookers.
Immediately adjacent to this is my range, with microwave on top, and an exhaust fan.
This then allows even more counter space of 6 feet to do carving, setting of hot things, and for a place for dirty dishes. When outside food is prepared, the counter that extends to the table with bay window, is a convenient location to have things available.
I have windows primarily instead of overhead cabinets, as short people can not reach them, and I prefer to see outside while cooking. There is though an overhead cabinet to fill up space left to the left of the fridge. Under the food preparation area is where the major cooking pots are, and the basics of flour, sugar, spices etc... are housed. I move to the right to obtain eggs, butter, milk, fruit or vegetables from the freezer, and if they require cleaning, they go into the sink, and I have my chopping block next to the stove on the left as well as the right.
I am a firm believer in wooden blocks of 14 inches by 14 inches, oiled with olive oil and sponged clean with hot water and canted in the sink to drip dry.
The knives are housed in drawers below these two areas as well as cooking utensils.
I rarely put dishes away that I am constantly using and leave them in the drainer for quick use.
I realize that there are gives and takes in this, as with all kitchens, as something is always in the way. This though is what would suit me and one can never have too much counter space like too much bacon.
People flow better right and left than turning, and that is why assembly lines are assembly lines. This is very pretty kitchen which does have hanging pots and pans, and a lovely pantry for bulk storage of food and cookware.
The nice part about having pans on display, is when they get dusty or greasy, it is a time to use them on some adventure, and by this clean them up again.
That though is the Lame Cherry kitchen design. The freezer is in the pantry and it all is this homey nook which is a joy in not being confine, not too big or small, as no one likes being fatigued walking from the fridge to the sink and no one likes having a relative in your back pocket while cooking as they assist.
I have probably wasted enough time in this in finally settling the kitchen issue
Am thinking now about the ultimate breakfast table for my bay window....like massive table tops in thickness, but not about to be knocking my knees on big timbers below. Food just tastes better on slab deep tables as it gives substance to the food......love captains chairs too as Mom does. So much to build.
agtG
