Lacey Madsen--NKBA/ K+B Essay Contest Finalist
Dark with almost a sinister look; dingy, soiled with soot from cooking past suppers; cramped with the immense coal stove and protrusive cabinets; silent with only the occasional rousing of the scullery maid, the aged kitchen of the 19th century is now only returned to in pictures from a history book. Standing in its stead is the airy, organized, spacious, bustling quarters of the modern home kitchen.
As much as the kitchens of the past have changed, so too have the families of society who occupy those kitchens. With nearly half of all marriages ending in divorce, the dynamic amounts of single parent homes, the increase of teen pregnancy, and the horrific rise of childhood violence, as designer I am only led to ask myself what I can do to heal these homes. The answer lies in the kitchen. The social hub of families, kitchens can be designed to promote communication, foster parent/child relations, answer questions, instill values, create joy, laugher, and harmony, and provide for the physical, emotional, even spiritual hunger of the family. I can make a difference in my home by making a difference in my kitchen.
How often does Grandmother feel exiled from her family? Her wheelchair prevents her from maneuvering well in the kitchen. How often does Little Brother feel like a hindrance? He's been told to set the table but the dishes are too high. I can make a difference in my future kitchens by educating myself about and employing universal design. Designing varying counter heights, raising the toe kicks, lowering a microwave to accessible height, utilizing various specialty cabinets, such as a pull-out dish drawer, are only a few simple ways among many which can be used to address universal design. By employing universal design we include, not exclude, all our family members. Grandchild identifies with Grandmother as she teaches how to cook heritage foods and tell about her days in native Denmark. Little Brother feels a sense of helpfulness as he pulls a cup from the drawer and sets it proudly on the table.
How often is a hurtful word exchanged when Mother yells at Daughter because she dropped supper all over the floor? She didn't mean to, the floor was slick. How often does Baby disturb with a piercing wail when he bumps into the corner of the cabinet? He's learning to walk and the corner was sharp. I can make a difference in my future kitchens by taking note of designing for safety. Use of slip-resistant materials on the floor, matte-finished wood or laminate, textured vinyl or a soft-glazed ceramic tile, will do the trick. Installing fire extinguishers, regulating water temperatures, wisely locating electrical outlets, avoiding sharp countertop corners are many ways to encourage safety in the kitchen. Daughter, when presenting Mother with her first self-made supper, smiles at the receiving of genuine praise. Baby totters past the cabinets with glee at his new-found freedom.
How often does a curse word fly because Husband wants to sort through the taxes but Wife wants to prepare supper? The counter is covered in gadgets and there is no place to work. How often does Son simper because he doesn't understand math and Father is busy in the kitchen? There's ample storage space but the room lacks a spot to sit and ask questions. I can make a difference in my future kitchens by recognizing and designing for the needs of the family. There are many types of workstations that can be incorporated into a kitchen today from a computer/desk station for sorting out the bills, to a baking center for the preparation of meals, to sitting areas where entertainment can take place. Adequate space is provided between surfaces for the amount of people in the room. Clearances are kept in mind when planning out the appliances. Traffic flow is taken into consideration for the least amount of disturbance. Countertops provide ample workspace while cabinets supply sufficient storage. Husband shares a joke with Wife about the IRS while she tries out a new recipe she found online. Son grins when he sits at the counter showing off the A+ on today's math test and Father rewards him with permission to lick out the brownie batter bowl.
It is amazing how communication within a family is enhanced as the planning and design of a kitchen is improved. As we become more passionate about kitchen design, let us become more passionate about our families, making the current trend of family disintegration a thing of the past, only to be found in history books.