As many of you know, my husband Michael and I LOVE to cook in our kitchen, as a result, it takes a lot of abuse and ends up quite disorganized, so I looked in to what we should do to ensure it remains in good condition and I wanted to share what I found out… Here are some of the most common scenarios that your kitchen will see and our tips for handling these scenarios. Of course, even if the following scenarios don't directly apply to your household, the solutions are nearly universal in creating a more efficient kitchen. If you are considering a renovation, Call me... I would love to share my input and give you feedback on which items to prioritize and any suggestions on which vendors other clients have had success with.
Playing Host for the Holidays
No matter what holiday you are celebrating in your home, your kitchen is going to receive the brunt of the extra strain, foot traffic, and the judgmental eyes of the in-laws:
Start with an evaluation of your kitchen storage. The first obligation of hosting the holidays is providing meals. You need easy access to pots and pans, mixing bowls, and serving dishes. You may want to think about adding a custom-built cabinet or else moving your toaster oven and other less important items out of the kitchen entirely until your hosting duties are done.
Take a look at your kitchen lighting and its flexibility. No area of the house has the same need for flexible lighting design. You need wide, clear lighting for food prep and cleaning, but task lighting for chopping vegetables and stove tops are also helpful. And what about grandpa's habit of getting up at 3AM for a late night snack? A miniature, overnight light will keep guests' footing safe without disturbing the rest of the household or your energy bills.
Expand your kitchen space. Smaller kitchens can use help from other areas of the home. You probably need every available space for seating, but during cooking times, the dining room can sometimes be converted to aid the work going on in the kitchen. From food prep to laying out extra silverware, napkins, dessert dishes, and other items, look at opportunities in areas adjacent to the kitchen to expand your kitchen capacity.
The Winter Kitchen
When winter arrives, it puts strain on the whole house: Trying to keep the bedroom warm enough, handling cold bathroom tile, and maintaining your heating system in general can all be chores, but you can't forget the kitchen, the most underrated and under-utilized asset in surviving the winter!
It all starts with a hot beverage in the morning, whether it comes from the espresso machine, tea kettle, or instant powder. If you are entertaining and not sure how to juggle various demands of guests, consider going to Bed Bath and Beyond – they have the one cup coffee and tea dispensers on sale this week!
A big, healthy breakfast doesn't hurt, either. Winterizing your kitchen always involves putting its best face forward in the morning.
People tend to eat more in the winter, and this simple fact affects everything in the kitchen. A new oven range will help with your increased baking needs; a new counter top can help with chopping vegetables and better nutrition.
Don't forget the kitchen is still a room. Thermal windows, insulation, and zoned heating can increase energy efficiency in the kitchen, just like anywhere else in the house.
Make it a great week and get that holiday shopping done, it is busy out there!
Triangle Business Journal
The Raleigh-Durham area has finished on top in a study designed to determine how several prominent Southeastern cities compare to each other.
The study, which was commissioned by the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, ranked cities in five separate categories as well as in a composite ranking. The Triangle, which placed either first or second in each category, was No. 1 in the composite rankings.
The categories, and the Triangle’s rank in them, were: employment and workforce (2); income and productivity (2); livability and connectivity (1); new economy (2); and equity and diversity (2).
Other than the Triangle, the cities in the rankings – and their composite ranking – were: Austin, Texas (2); Charlotte (3); Atlanta (4); Dallas, Texas (5); Richmond, Va. (6); Nashville, Tenn. (7); Tampa, Fla. (8) and Jacksonville, Fla. (9).
The study, called Benchmark Charlotte 2009, was conducted by Harrison S. Campbell Jr., an associate professor of geography at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
