Setting up kids friendly kitchens

When most parents plan a new house or a major remodel, they spend a lot of time on the kitchen, trying to make sensible choices from the staggering number of cabinet door styles, countertop materials and appliance models available.

In most cases, though, little thought is given to who will be using the kitchen. Will it just be Mom and Dad, or will the whole family be cooking together? Making a new kitchen user-friendly for kids is surprisingly easy.

Child-friendly materials

For countertops, experts recommend engineered stone, such as Silestone or Zodiaq brands, because it is nearly impossible to scratch or stain and it’s easy to keep clean.

For cabinetry, finish is more critical than style or material, A darker stained wood is more forgiving because it tends to conceal dirt, dents and bruises. Lighter cabinet colors are more revealing and show dirt, but consideration for more natural light would make a smaller room feel larger.

For flooring, I recommend linoleum because it is shock absorbing; fragile dishes accidentally dropped on it are less likely to break. Slate and tile are harder; things dropped on them do break.

The lack of shock absorption in tile and slate can also be hard on the parents. If you cook dishes that require you to stand for long periods at the stove, you may find your legs beginning to ache.

 

Counter height

If you want your children to help with the cooking, you might want to consider a lower work surface. Standard kitchen counter height for adults is 36 inches; kids need a work surface that is about six inches lower.

When ordering new cabinets, you can incorporate a section of lower counter into its design, and this will make some cooking tasks easier for you long after your kids have grown and left the nest.

A lowered counter should not add to the cost of a new kitchen, because most cabinet lines offer both 30-inch- and 341/2-inch-high cabinet boxes,. In any case, a lower counter is ergonomically advantageous for adults, too, because an adult’s arms will be straight when leaning over it. This allows adults to use their entire upper body strength to knead dough or mix ingredients and put more weight on the rolling pin for pastry dough or pizza crust.

A lower counter is handy for tall appliances and toasters, when blenders and food processors are lowered, it’s easier to peer in and see if the food is blended or minced.

 

Counter size and location

Cooking and eating areas are typically separated in most homes. But for teaching kids to cook, integrating the two is advantageous because most of what kids learn about cooking and healthy eating is by observation.

Cooking together will be a family activity some of the time, but they are watching you every day, A social area within the kitchen also helps to reinforce the idea that cooking is not merely providing nourishment but is also “a wonderfully social activity,”

If you plan to use the counter for eating and casual socializing as well, you’ll need one that’s at least 48 inches wide with a depth of 26 inches — “Enough,” Grey said, “to feel like you’re sitting at a table and not a shelf. This is especially important when the lowered counter faces into the kitchen. You need to have a space in front of your face to talk to people, whether they are sitting next to you or standing at the sink across the room.”

Storage

Store everything you don’t want your children to use high up; store everything you want them to use lower down. A practical way to separate the two is a floor-to-ceiling, 12-inch-deep bank of cabinets,.

To make it easy for them to help with chores such as unloading the dishwasher and setting the table, rearranged the contents of their cabinets. Items normally stored up high, such as dishes and glassware, were kept in the lower cabinets, along with the cookware that his children used. Also rearranged the drawers of a drawer base, moving the silverware drawer to a lower position so that his kids had easier access.

Kitchen Safety for Children on Their Own

It's estimated that roughly 7 million children world wide are "on their own" or are "cared for by a sibling" for short periods of time after school. Often the kitchen is the first place children go when they get home. What are the most important food and safety facts that children should know? Here are some clues to kitchen safety that you will want to remember. 

1. Hands carry lots of germs. The first step in food safety is to wash your hands before making or eating a snack. All you need is a little soap and water. Make sure the water is warm, and lather up. Scrub the back and front of your hands, between the fingers and don't forget your fingernails. Wash for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse under running water and dry with a clean towel.

This may sound nice but not necessary. Proper hand washing, however, could save you from becoming ill.

2. Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating ... use just clear, clean water-no soap. 

3. When using a knife to cut your food, always cut away from your body. 

4. Microwave cooking is fast but can cause serious burns. Check with a grown-up for specific directions before using the microwave oven. Some general tips for safe microwaving include:

 Never turn on an empty oven. This can cause the oven to break. 

 Read package directions carefully. Make sure you know how to set the microwave oven controls (for example, 10 seconds, rather than 10 minutes). 

 Use only microwave-safe cookware. 

Food coming out of the microwave can be very hot. Never pop any food right from the microwave into your mouth. Allow the food to cool for several minutes before eating. This includes letting microwave popcorn set a few minutes before opening; then open the bag so the opening is pointing away from you. Steam from the bag can cause serious bums. 

 Food gets hot in the microwave. Have potholders handy to remove hot dishes.

5. Hot liquids, not fire, are the most common cause of burns to children. If you get burned working in the kitchen:

a) Go to the sink and hold the burned area under cool, running water. 

b) If the burn begins to blister cover it loosely with a sterile gauze, or a clean cloth. 

c) Tell a grown-up whenever you are burned. If the burn is severe and hurts badly, get help from an adult immediately.

6. Germs grow quickly in foods that are not stored properly (i.e. milk, lunch meat, hard-cooked eggs, yogurt or foods left out on the counter at room temperature). Put these foods back in the refrigerator as soon as you've fixed your snack. 

7. Discard foods like bread, cheese, jelly, fruits, vegetables or any other foods that have mold spots or look bad. Fruits and vegetables that are shriveled or have soft spots should be thrown away. 

8. If you spill something, take the time to clean it up properly. 

9. To use a toaster safely:

 Keep the toaster away from curtains or towels or other things that could catch fire. 

 Plug it directly into the electrical outlet. Avoid using adapters with many other appliances plugged into the same outlet. Unplug toasters and other kitchen appliances when not using them. 

If toast gets stuck, unplug the toaster. Do not use any object to remove the toast from the toaster. 

Toasters can catch on fire. If you see flames from any kitchen appliance, tell a grown-up immediately. If an adult is not home, call 911.

10. Use a stove only if you have been trained to use it by an adult. Keep things that will burn away from the stove. Towels, potholders, plastics and paper towels can all catch fire quickly when near direct heat or flames.

Keep an eye on the stove when cooking food. Turn pan handles away from the front so someone can't knock them off while walking by. Always turn off the stove when you're done cooking.

11. If something on the stove catches fire:

a) Smother the fire with a lid. 

b) Turn off the burner. 

c) Once the fire is out, tell an adult there was a fire. 

d) Leave the house and call 911 if the fire has leaping flames.

DO NOT THROW BAKING SODA, SALT, WATER OR FLOUR ON A FIRE.

DO NOT CARRY A BURNING OBJECT TO ANOTHER ROOM

Curtains – The “ins and outs” – How to Select the Height or Length of Curtains

There are only a few simple rules to follow for choosing curtain height or length

The length or height of the hung curtain should be to the floor or the windowsill.

Anything in between looks rather odd.

There is a trend today of puddling curtains, this is where they are made longer than the height required and “puddle” on the floor, this requires a skill in fabric selection, so that they sit well. It is used commonly in living rooms and bedrooms.

With puddled curtains on a hand drawn track, make sure that the width of the curtain is not excessive as they become heavy and difficult to draw back. They are also prone to picking up all the fluff from your floor, so a little bit more attention is required to keeping them looking smart.

The top of the curtain (the heading), for all curtains can be at ceiling height, above or at the top of the window frame or flush with the window reveal.

It all depends on the space that you have. Do keep your choice constant in your home as it can look very odd if some curtain heads are fixed at different heights to others, especially when you can view through from room to room or worse, in the same room.

The finished length of ceiling to floor curtains should leave a 10mm gap, so that they don’t catch the floor and are easy to draw back, the gap for finishing at a windowsill only requires 5mm.

For safety reasons, never cover radiator heaters with curtains, look for another solution, either stop the curtains short of the heaters or use a blind as an alternative style of window treatment.

Consistency in design of the window treatments allows for a symmetrical form to be created here in this photograph. The head of the curtains are all the same height and the window swag and tail valance details are all the same and they are all held back at the bottom of the window sill which provides a regular frame for the windows and creates a flow and rhythm to the window treatments.

Kids Furniture Glossary Terms

Armoire: Another name for a tall, wide wardrobe usually having two large doors behind which clothes can be hung or stored. Armoires originated in France where they were used for the storage of armor.

Bedroom Furniture: Furniture sets that are placed in your bedroom such as bed, dresser, chest of drawers and nightstand. Some bedroom collections even come with an armoire, chiffonier or storage chest. Depending on your preference, you may choose contemporary, traditional or transitional styled bedrooms.

Bunk Bed: Two beds that are joined together so that one is placed above the other. Bunk beds are often used in kids’ rooms and dormitories. Federal safety standards exist for bunk bed ladders and rails which protect children from falling injuries.

Bureau: A chest of drawers used in the bedroom.

Canopy Bed: Canopy beds are beds decorated with a canopy. Sometimes they use four posts that are connected at the top with rails that fabric can be hung from. Other times, a hoop is hung from the ceiling over the bed and the fabric drapes down from the hoop. Originally, they were developed to provide protection from insects but now are more commonly used in a decorative fashion.

Center Glide: A center track that a drawer glides on.

Chaise Lounge: A type of sofa or daybed designed for reclining and resembling an elongated chair.

Contemporary: Whether it's restoring antique furniture or modern new wave design, contemporary means present day trends happening and existing right now.

Daybed: A sofa with head and foot and/or back pieces, having a twin sized mattress which doubles as a sitting and sleeping surface. Daybeds often have decorative removable covers and matching pillows or bolsters which act as back rests.

Dresser: A piece of bedroom furniture that typically contains 5-9 drawers in a variety of sizes. Dressers are usually waist height and can accompany a mirror on top.

Entertainment Center: An entertainment center is a shelving unit to place a TV and stereo equipment on. The larger TVs have become the larger entertainment units have grown.

Four Posters: Any bed with four high posts positioned at each corner. Originally, the posts were designed to support elaborate fabric curtains and upholstered treatments which totally enclosed the bed.

Kids Furniture: Kids furniture is specially designed for kids. It is usually designed with eye-catching colors and styles that are suitable for children. Some kids furniture is designed with space-saving functions like storage drawers and desks built into the beds.

Loft Bed: Loft beds are similar to bunk beds except there is sometimes only one bed and the lower space is used for storage or a desk. Often the beds are placed perpendicular to each other and the supports for the top bed also container drawers, shelving or cabinets for storage.

Night Stand: A small, low table or cabinet which sits by a bed.

Ottoman: An upholstered seat or couch usually without a back or an overstuffed footstool.

Platform Bed: Platform beds are beds whose bases consist of a raised, flat, hard, horizontal surface meant to support a mattress. Usually, they have a 'low-profile' foot board. You can use them with or without a bed spring, depending on your preference.

Storage Bed: Storage beds are beds that usually come with additional drawers underneath the bed to save space in the bedroom. Some storage beds have hydraulic lifts instead of drawers.

Toddler Beds and Cots: Toddler beds are a typical transitional bed from crib to twin or full size. Usually kids from about the age of 15 months to 4 years benefit from a toddler bed because of its small size and closeness to the floor. Majority of toddler beds hold a standard crib mattress and come with side safety rails.

Trundle Bed: A low or collapsible bed which is stored under another bed.

Veneer: Thin slices of wood made by peeling the trunk of a tree or by slicing large rectangular blocks of wood. Veneers are then glued to other wood panels to create a flat surface for constructing furniture. Veneers use somewhat less amounts of wood and are easier to fluctuate than solid wood.

OVERALL HOME ORGANIZATION (Q & A)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

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i thought i should start the week with a Bang!!!  Home Organization with suggested questions and answers that could be considered useful.

Q. How can a well-organized home affect a homeowner's overall mood and performance in various aspects of everyday life?

A. We all lead busy lives, and if you're in a muddle at home, looking for things you need, can waste a lot of time. If you have a place for everything, putting away clothes or filing everyday paperwork becomes less of a chore. And whether we realize it or not, we all feel more relaxed sitting or sleeping in a room that is calm, tidy, and well-organized. If you have children, your organizational skills will rub off on them, and they will learn good habits from the start.

Kitchen Storage on a Budget

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Q. What's the best way to improve kitchen storage if there is no budget or space to expand or remodel?

A. The key is to reorganize the interiors of the cupboards you already have. Scrutinize the entire contents of your kitchen cabinetry and make a list of categories: from pantry-shelf foods to fresh vegetables, cooking implements to crockery, and so on. Then strictly allocate particular cabinets, drawers, or shelves to each category, ensuring that the things used daily are in the most accessible places

Media Storage

warm brown sitting room

Q. I am planning to purchase a media-storage unit for my family room. How can I make sure that what I buy keeps up with changing technology?

A. The most versatile choice would be a freestanding media cart. Many discount stores sell inexpensive versions, including trendy designer-style varieties. Choose a piece with a top shelf for the TV and one or more narrow shelves below to accommodate elements such as a DVD player and video game consoles. Coordinating shelf units can store other items such as board games, DVDs, and toys.

Basement Storage

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Q. My bedroom closet is tiny, and the only place I have to store off-season clothing is in the basement. What's the best way to do this?

A. Invest in zipper bags and storage boxes so your clothes are neatly put away in the basement until next season. Clear shoeboxes make it easier to spot what you have, and hats, handbags, and accessories such as scarves should be neatly stacked into smaller boxes and labeled for easy access. Remember to include some mothballs to prevent problems.

Hallway Storage

  Hallway Storage

Q. I don't have an entryway, and mail, purses, school bags, cell phones, and chargers all wind up on the kitchen table until suppertime, when they get shoved to the counter. Is there a simple answer?

A. The best place to keep these items where they'll be ready to go in the morning is in a hallway. If you have enough space for a narrow console table or even a dresser in a hall, then this is the place to store them. If you have narrow hallways, the best solution is to install a small, wall-mount cupboard or galvanized-metal racks.

Catchall Room

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Q. I'm thinking about converting my guest room into an office. I'll still need to accommodate my mother-in-law when she visits. Any ideas?

A. First, you will need a single bed permanently in place. Rather than keeping it made up, consider a divan with a few pillows so that most of the time it looks like a smart daybed. This can become the perfect spot to sit and think when you're not at your computer. Of course, it will be essential to have a desk and an office chair. Just ensure that your work stuff can be put away when your mother-in-law arrives.