Merivale Kitchen Has Many Novel Features

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28010, 3 July 1956, Page 2

Merivale Kitchen Has Many Novel Features

NEWS FOR WOMEN

“Whether she does her own work or not, a woman spends a good deal of time in her kitchen.” said Mrs John Fletcher (Merivale) when a representative of “The Press” called to see her kitchen, which is considered c r .e of the best planned in Christchurch. ‘‘lf a woman can plan her kitchen to make it time-saving and step-saving she will do her work more emciently. and with less fatigue,” Mrs Fletcher said. Colour was just as important in the kitchen as in any other room in the house.

In her own kitchen she has incorporated several ideas which she saw m Sweden, many of her own ideas, and some which she has adapted from books and magazines which she has studied as a hobby. Though the ideas were hers, it was most important to have a good architect to carry them out so that the space available was used to the best advantage, she said.

One of the most useful things in her kitchen is a mobile unit, which, w r hen not in use, fits into place against a wall and becomes part of the bench there. The bench of which the unit is a part has a stainless steel top and is beside the electric stove. Hot saucepans and other cooking utensils could be placed on it without damaging the surface of the bench, Mrs Fletcher said. She was surprised that more housewives did not realise the value of mobile units.

All cutlery is kept in one deep drawer on the right of the sinx, where, by a movement of the arm, it can be placed immediately it has been washed and dried. The drawer has been divided into deep compartments. Each compartment is lined with cherry red felt to protect the silver. When preparing to set the table, Mrs Fletcher pushes the mobile unit beside the cupboards, puts the articles required on the unit, stops at the cutlery drawer, adds the cutlery, and takes her requirements to the breakfast nook. Table napkins and other oddments required always are kepi on the shelves of the unit. When cleaning the refrigerator, Mrs Fletchei

pushes the unit into position, and uses it as a depository for things taken from the refrigerator.

Many of the drinking glasses, dishes, casseroles for table use and special china are kept in deep drawers, instead of on shelves, beneath a bench The drawers can be pulled out and the articles can be seen plainly. Mrs Fletcher hopes to improve this idea and replace the drawers by sliding trays in the recess.

Vegetable Trays She uses drawers also to hold containers of flour, sugar and other cooking needs that in many homes are placed in bins. Many housewives have to bend repeatedly and peer into dark cupboards when sorting trays, cake tins and baking dishes. Mrs Fletchei has eliminated unnecessary bending by the shoulder-high cupboard divided into deep narrow compartments. Each compartment is used for a different type of tin, and the children’s lunch tins are also kept there. All tins can be seen plainly and lifted out easily To the right of her washing machine is a set of louvred drawers with wire trays. In these drawers she keeps her vegetables, and she says they remain fresh much longer than if placed in an unventilated drawer.

To the left of the washing machine is a deep stainless steel sink, 12 inches dee-i. 25 inches long, and 17 inches deep.

“It's the most marvellous thing anyone can have,” said Mrs Fletcher. This sink could be used as a wash tub, for washing trays, pots, tall vases, and many things that one did not want to wash in the ordinary sink. Inset in the window above the large sink is a steam extractor. Above the stove is a similar extractor. When the extractors are not in use they are covered with plastic caps to prevent cold air coming into the kitchen.

Below the bench next to the deep sink is a cupboard where soiled linen may be kept till washing day. A drawer nearby houses kitchen tools. To the right of an electric dishwasher is a small stainless steel sink with a sink disposal unit beneath it. All waste, with the exception of large bones, can be washed down the sink pipe where an electric grinder, acting like a mincer, disposes of them. Stratiated board has been used with effective decorative effect on the outside of a broom cupboard which juts out into the room, near the rear entrance, and forms a partition between the breakfast nook and the rest of the kitchen. Inside the broom cupboard door is the ironing board which opens out from the doorway and gives plenty of space for the ironer to work. The bench opposite the electric ironing machine is used for straight ironing like table linen.

Thirty-two inches was about the ideal average height for a mixing bench and 36 inches for other benches, said Mrs Fletcher. Sunny Breakfast Nook On sunny days the sun streams through the windows at the end of the kitchen on the family’s breakfast and luncheon nook. The small table in the nook is covered with turquoise linoleum and the window embrasures are picked out with pale primrose to repeat the colour scheme of white, cream, primrose and turquoise in the rest of the room. Curtains of red glazed chintz are patterned in cream. Often the nook is used by the younger members of the household when playing with their toys. Their toys ?nd many of their books are kept in the shelves on th? wall opposite the windows. Many odds and ends are kept also inside the box seats round the table. The tops of the seats are upholstered and covered with primrose plastic. Lights flush with the ceiling were Mr Fletcher’s idea to give light where it is most needed. The electric globes reflect light on circular glass—a little like a ship’s portholes. There is one

above the sink, another above the stove, and one over the alcove. The kitchen is warmed by central heating. To achieve her kitchen. Mrs Fletcher said she made a list of all the things she needed, and a list of things usually left lying about. With these lists beside her she set about planning a place for everything. It is only when one looks at the ceiling that one realises that the kitchen is in two heights. Formerly the kitchen, now the most spacious room in the house, was once a very small room. Walls dividing it from other small storerooms and a back porch were removed to make it the pleasant room it is today. Chocolate Eclairs Mrs Fletcher contributes this recipe for easily-made chocolate eclairs: Half a cup of water, quarter of a cup of butter, half a cup of flour, a few grains of salt, and two eggs. Heat the water and butter till it boils, put in the flour and salt all at once. Beat hard until the paste forms a mass and leaves the sides of the saucepan. Remove the mixture from the heat, beat in the eggs, one at a time, and beat very hard after adding them. Spoon the paste on to a well greased tray. Bake 40 minutes or until cooked in a moderate oven <375 degrees). When cool lift tops, fill cavities and glaze with chocolate icing.