The kitchen of 1983

Press, 10 February 1983, Page 10

The kitchen of 1983

For many women, a modem kitchen with its laboursaving devices and applied modern technology marks their release from the starkly functional kitchens of yesteryear — designed to cook food or wash dishes but not to please the eye or inspire culinary creativity.

The new revolution in home technology has meant a change where more money and thought goes into planning the kitchen than any other room in the home.

Before thinking about all those exciting new appliances, or the appeal of colours and textures, let us get down to basics — the layout and the lighting. If a house has a garden prospect or a view from the kitchen, it is a lot more pleasant to be able to look out the window, to lift your eyes from the sink or the potato peeler. So, look at the advantages of a good size window above the kitchen sink bench. With an older home, this may depend on the location of existing plumbing, and you should ask your local registered master plumber whether it is a practicable idea.

Wide windows mean plenty of natural light but, for the the evenings or the early mornings, a fluorescent tube over the sink bench will do a lot to improve conditions.

For easy working in your kitchen, the floor layout is all-important. The refrigerator, stove and sink bench should be in, reasonably close proximity. This is known as the “working triangle,” and

the position of doors or the breakfast bar should not intrude on this space. Do you need a wastedisposal unit, double sinks or a built-in dishwasher? You may not be able to afford them now, but your master plumber will be able to show you how to make provision for them at a later date.

Give a lot of thought to hot water requirements. It is often good sense to have a kitchen supply that is independent of the main heating system, and there are a variety of shapes and sizes to fit into available spaces.

If it is an older home, the existing laundry may be incorporated into the kitchen. This is an unhygenic arrangement, and the steam and dryer fluff are an everlasting nuisance. The kitchen and laundry should be separate and, of course, with the modern paired washer and drier systems, the laundry need by only large enough to accommodate these appliances. Do not overdo the woodwork and browns and greens. Dark tonings steal the light and spaciousness of your kitchen. Have brighter contrast with a light-toned ceiling and upper walls, and a flooring with a light background. Pick up your colour scheme with matching tap grips.