Letting The Sunshine Into Your Kitchen

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 36, 15 March 1935, Page 56

Letting The Sunshine Into Your Kitchen

OW, I ask you-exactly what would grannie’s feelings have been if she had been ‘transplanted from her poky linoleum-covered kitchen with the large smoky coal range and the long wooden bench and sand-soaped table in the cen tre of the room, into a snappy kitchen glistening with the snowywhite freshness of enamel wails: and cupboards finished in soft. soothing cream and honey-yellow shades? If grannie was asked to cook the dinner and found’ the very latest in stoves tucked away ‘in one corner and a super refrigerator in another, a glass-topped bench beneath which was hidden the smartly-painted garbage cans,

and spacious cupboards. with ample room tor pots, pans and china, and plenty of drawers for cutlery and minor cooking utensils-well, just what would grannie do? Probably she would think that, although all very nice, it was horribly extravagant and quite unnecessary. But is this so? The kitchen might well be considered the central point of the home from which radiates the general health and well-being, and to an extent the happiness, of the family. Consequently, in addition to being the most important room in the home, it should be the happiest. Here in the kitchen the average woman of the home spends more of her time- . during working hours-than in any other room. Here, more often than not in the busy home, breakfast is served-especially if the kitchen is provided with a pleasant sunny alcove. Reasons enough surely, why the kitchen should be efficiently planned and attractively equipped. The cardinal aim in arrangement of the equipment and fittings of the modern kitchen is to bring everything together in the most convenient way, and

to provide stirfaces that are easy to ‘clean. For the alcove, or breakfast nook, an ordinary white deal kitchen table can be lacquered in keeping with your existing colour scheme, or if your kitchen is white, any | desired colour can be introduced. For instance, a black lacquered table with chairs in black and apple-green, light muslin curtains carried out in apple green would introduce a strikingly .modernistic note to this most . efficient of rooms. Such things as the up-to-date stove, with its oven, which obviates all stooping, are a decided acquisition and should be carefully studied. For those who love colour, and. who are desirous of intro-

ducing a brighter note into a kit-. chen which is dreary, the following is a suggestion. Cover. the floor with a green linoleum and paint the woodwork with a lighter shade of the same colour. Cover the walls with cream Sanitas, having a tile effect and touches of green. Your aluminiiim utensils will look splendid against the green. The pipes, ‘door knobs, and so on, can be painted with aluminium paint so that the general effect will be the reverse of dreary ; in fact, this kit~ chen would display originalitya, pleasing individuality — and should be the object of envy. Col-. our notes are given also by blue and white check curtains and decorated porcelain canisters. ‘Ample cupboard and drawer space is essential, as it makes for neatness and method, and adds to the appearance of the room. We can’t all have a panoramic view or a pretty garden to look

upon from the: kitchen windows: unfortunately. Dut if chimney pots be yours why not introduce a gay window-box, or some small -pot plants, the pots gaily painted? You will not worry about the view-for . growing plants and budding flowers have charm all to themselves. Can YOU say with pride. "Come into my kitchen?" If not, consider using a little enterprise to make this room the pride of your home. Ecru muslin curtains, too, featuring colourful checks, spots, or floral sprigs, are delightful for kitchen windows. They are so inexpensive, too. If you add a frill, it will give the room a softer, cosier look. A modern and inexpensive sideboard for a kitchen can’ be made with two white wood cupboards, painted with lacquer or stained to match your tables and chairs, .and topped with a sheet of plateglass. This piece of furniture is charmingly suitable for a small room,