Kitchen Furniture For People Who Like To Eat (Part II)

There are two kinds of kitchens: kitchens to take photographs of for magazines and real estate brochures, and kitchens to cook in. Both types of kitchens tend to be built by big men. The average American woman is somewhere between 5’2” and 5’4”. Manufacturers of kitchen stools and stepladders are very happy about that. The most comfortable working height for counters is no higher than the top of the hip-bone of the person who is going to have to use it.

Working counters should be no deeper than that same person can put a hand flat against the back wall without standing on tiptoe. The counters themselves can be anything from cast concrete to butcher block. Just remember, ceramic, stone, or concrete counters are unforgiving. Whatever you drop is going to break and might chip your lovely counter, to boot. Also, there is no such thing as a no-maintenance counter top material. Butcher block shows scorch marks, ceramic can be chipped, stone can be cracked. Good old, homely formica is relatively inexpensive, a little forgiving, and easier to replace than any of the others.

Now you have to look at the size of your kitchen and analyze the storage space. Is there room for an island or a work table? Do you need more storage and is there space for it? Is most of the storage accessible without a stepladder? Where do you keep the pans and utensils you use all the time? Do you need both a micro and a toaster oven? Did the designer remember to provide a place for the broom and mop? What about a freezer? Is there a double sink? Is there room under the sink for a worm bin? (Do you know what a worm bin is?)

And, of course, are you going to be eating in the kitchen? Is there room for a table and chairs? Is the floor easy-to-clean and camouflage or will it show every drop of water? All of these things must be considered but it’s an imperfect world and chances are you will have to compromise on some things. If you are going to eat in a working kitchen, try to give the eating area at least some psychological distance from the work area. If you are going to spend a lot of time in your kitchen, get good, sturdy pieces that appeal to you.

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