|
<In small apartments where space is at a premium, a well-planned kitchen is an asset and will make cooking less of a chore.
In most apartments unlike independent houses there is no separate storeroom to store monthly provisions and ingredients which are not used on a daily basis. Without adequate storage, no kitchen can be efficient and finding suitable places for items is not always easy. However, with careful planning of storage spaces this problem can be overcome in apartment kitchens too.
Kitchen layouts in apartments are either a straight line, L-shaped, U-shaped or a galley style. Storage space available in any case is above and below the kitchen counter. Your cooking style affects the kind of storage, amount of work surface, equipment and appliances you need.
A cook who loves to entertain needs plenty of storage for food equipment, special china, glass and serving dishes and a greater than average preparation area. A convenience food buff can save space on gadgetry and equipment and allow more for storing frozen, tinned and packet food.
Storage space can be provided in the form of open shelves; base units (below the counter) and wall units. Some kitchens may allow tall units. Remember, the work triangle in the kitchen formed by the stove, the wash-basin and the storage for cooking items, determines the areas of storage. Close to the work surface which links the storage areas and sink, you need to keep the knives, peelers, tin and bottle openers, scissors, a colander, chopping board, grater and waste-bin. Adjacent to the sink, keep the detergent powders, brushes, a dish-rack and towels. Cooking utensils like woks, saucepans, frying pans and ladles should be kept near the stove.
Shelves: Open shelves mounted on the wall, are probably the simplest means of providing storage. Bulky items that are seldom used can be stored on the topmost shelf and kept out of the way. A narrow shelf above the work surface is ideal for storage of spices, tea and sugar. Shelf storage must be kept tidy. A muddle of jars and packets waste space, looks a mess and makes it hard to find the things you want. Try to keep similar things together: dry ingredients in labelled storage jars, fruits and vegetables in baskets. Lidded boxes are best for clutter like strings, pencils, candles and rubber bands. Some kitchen equipment need special storage.
Knives for instance, stay sharper and are less of a hazard if they are not put in a drawer together with all the ladles. Knife blocks available in the market are ideal for storing knives.Base Units: Storage under the work surface can be in the form of base units with either pullout drawers or shelves. There are excellent wire mesh storage racks available in the market which can be used instead of drawers and can be mounted on pullout trolleys, making it easier to clean the kitchen. It is usual to store the gas cylinder under the cooking stove, but remember to provide adequate ventilation if it is enclosed.
In U-type kitchens, the corners will pose a problem of access. A very good solution is to have carousel shelves or 'lazy-susans' to provide easy access at awkward corners. It is also a good idea to mount the garbage bins on the inside of the shutter under the washbasin.
Wall Units: To avoid clutter when using open shelves, wall units with shutters are a slightly more expensive option. Shutters can be with a laminate finish or with a glass front. These units can be used to store the monthly provisions, dinnerware, toiletries and just about anything used everyday. These units can be provided with locks for safety.
Tall Units: In larger kitchens, there may be space available to provide tall units or full length cupboards. These units like the base units can be a combination of pullout drawers and shelves.
A kitchen need no longer be a place to dread. It is very often the focal point of the apartment for the small family. For a quick meal in the kitchen, a folding table is a space saving option. Foldable chairs can also be hung on the wall to save space. A pullout table top is another option.
Look out for our next feature on Space Saving in Bedrooms.
| 
