Make Each Zone Your Own – Cucina di Lusso Parte Seconda

Whether you have a large, open kitchen or a smaller L, U or galley style room, your kitchen designer can help you achieve zone perfection – making room for those “extra” activities that routinely take place in your kitchen.

In smaller kitchens, zones or activity areas may actually be combined. For example, food preparation and cleanup make a good pair, and obviously, baking and cooking can take place in the same area of your kitchen – all you need are the appropriate tools and accessories. In Part One (Parte Uno) of our exploration of zones, we looked at the Big Three – preparation, cooking and clean-up. But, there are many other activities that may be important to your kitchen life.  Here’s how you can make some of the ancillary kitchen zones user friendly.

Is Baking Your Thing?

If a favorite weekend activity is making crusty French bread or baking mouth-watering apple pies, you want to make sure your newly designed kitchen has a well-equipped, dedicated baking station that is up to the task. Consider the following:

• Marble countertop/ counter area – Julia Child would approve.
• Special drawers, dividers and bins for key supplies and ingredients – spatulas, wooden spoons, cookie cutters, baking sheets, rolling pin, measuring cups and spoons, oven mitts, pot holders, apron, and of course flours, sugars and baking spices.
• Shelves for favorite dessert and baking cookbooks; pull down cookbook rack.
• Nearby accessible cabinet space/deep drawers for mixing bowls, pie, bread and cake pans.
• Pop-up stand for your mixer.

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Do You Delight in Dining/Entertaining at Home?

Set an elegant table at a moment’s notice when accessible storage for tablecloths, placemats, napkins, or “company” china has been “designed in” with custom drawers or shelves close to the action.

Is Work-at-home or Homework Part of the Family Routine?

Your kitchen can accommodate a mini-office/homework center with a little pre-planning. Don’t fret if there isn’t room for a formal office. A pull-down desk and chair that tucks away underneath might do the trick. Make sure there are electrical outlets nearby to accommodate your electronics.

Or maybe you want to be able to watch the TV chef as you attempt a new gourmet dish. Plan for a TV that can be installed and positioned for culinary success.

You’ll find more must have items for all your kitchen work and play zones in the Extraordinary Accessories section of this website.