KITCHEN FASHIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 112, 13 May 1937, Page 19

KITCHEN FASHIONS

CONVENIENCE AND COMFORT

Comparison is often drawn between the fashions of one generation and tnose of the past—the trousseau, say, or i bride of this year and that of her mother who may -ive been married round about the time of the last Coronation, states a writer in the "Daily Telegraph." Seldom is tha vast difference in kitchen fashions appreciated so keenly, yet these are no less . indicative of changes in the mode and outlook of life. Modern economic conditions usually make it necessary for-the young housewife to begin in a small home with one maid at the most and perhaps only occasional extra help She knows she will have far more than the nodding acquaintance with her kitchen which was often the lot of the bride of the past. The bride of today will buy or request as presents kitchen equipment j very different from that of her mother's choice. In that "request" perhaps lies most of the secret of the change. Often1 in-the planning of the

new home more thought is devoted to. the kitchen than to any other single room. .',;'■. The bride-to-be takes a keen interest in the planning or. reconstruction of the kitchen, so that from actual' arrangement it shall be the ideal workshop. Her aim is to.have it well but not over equipped, satisfactorily lighted, and cheerful, in.fact a reflection of her own brightness of outlook and enterprise. The old dark varnish paper has given place to the white or pastelshaded tiles, even more durable yet at the same time light and scrupulously clean. Tiles may cover the floor, but smoother and smaller than hitherto; alternatively modern, damp and vermin proof composition is used or maybe rubber, quiet and resilient to the feet. Wall gas brackets or one or two central electric lights, with hard, white or dark* green cone-shaped shades, have given way to well-placed independent points for table, sink, oven, and so on. Most advanced is the concealed strip lighting, in which florescent powders give attractive colour effects, including' the glow of simulated sunshine.' The old, open dresser, a dust trap, has been superseded by the well-ap-pointed .kitchen cabinet, complete sometimes even to a fold-away ironing board. When the cabinet is not fitted with a sliding porcelain shelf for •pastry making and other cooking, a porcelain-topped table is chosen. The old deal table, with its ritual of regular scrubbing with soapy water and silver sand, is a memory, as is the wooden rolling-pin which has been replaced by a revolving one of glass or china that conforms to they general colour scheme. In the store cupboard heavy stone jars, with stick-on labels written in ink, are no more. Medium-sized, attractive, enamelled canisters carry out the approved colour scheme, and are clearly printed as to their use. A similar set of canisters in miniature holds the various soices. which are introduced to a marked degree , into modern fare. The cooking of dishes is now timed by a clear-faced washable china clock instead of the weighted specimen of a former age, ingredients first having been decided in a compact enamelled automatic weighing machine —a change from the old pair of scales with metal pan and separate weights. No longer will you see a saucepan shelf, placed well out of reach, with black cast-iron saucepans ranged throughout its entire length, each saucepan having a metal lid that required perpetual cleaning. Now, standing on the floor ready to hand is a graduated saucepan stand, either in bright aluminium or the chosen shades of .enamel. Pudding basins .are available in dainty shades of blue, apple green, apricot, and other pastel tones. Cast-iron frying pans have many rivals aluminium, enamel, or, best of all, stainless steel. happened to be a particularly heated debate which ended with a division, after which the Bill was rejected at this, its second, reading—only the third time such a thing has happened in twenty-five years. There were very few women present. I sat under the strangers' gallery on the same level as the House itself, and consequently heard everything perfectly. Several peeresses were present in the balcony. After we had had tea we went over the library and some of the public rooms. In the writing-room Lord Dudley pointed out to us a mosaic portrait of his ancestor, the Earl of Dudley, who was married to Lady Jane Grey.