The Washington times., 1924-03-10
MENT IS
IMPORTANT
IN K|TCHEN
Writer Says It Is Heart of
Home and Should Be
Treated Accordingly.
By SALLY e. DAVIDSON.

L
contend the kitchen is the heart
OF home-in fact, it is the home,
or rather that which contributes
more to making home than any
other part of the house. One might
live In hotel or a boarding house
for all the comfort to be derived
from living without a kitchen. But
in spite of the kitchens importance
in the home, it is not receiving
generally the attention it should.
How little thought some women
give 1t can best be illustrated by
an interview had recently with
young woman who was about
to be married. She came to me for
counsel regarding the furnishing Of
her home. She was an efficient
little person and had budget for
every room In the house. Every
thing went nicely until we came
to the kitchen-at the bottom of
her list. The budget for eQuipping
the kitchen was a hundred dollars
This at once told me two things:
| firstly, that she knew practically
! nothing Of real home.making, AMI
| secondly, that she had not visited
an up-to.date kitchen, or priced
| the modern kitchen equipment for
very long time.
Today some Of the modern kitch-
ems that are the pride of efficient
| housewives represent a fair invest
ment-but it is an investment in
happiness and health. To the
modern housekeeper the kitchen
represents the laboratory Of the
home. So that the ancient rule
| about always being able to Judge a
woman by her kitchen, cooking and
| dining table, still holds good. The
reason is not difficult to define.
1t is simply that it does not require
any real judgment or ability to
keep the rest of the house CLAN
and in order. But it does lex: uire
considerable ability and judgment
| to properly organize and equip q
kitchen which will enable the
preparation and cooking Of meals
there in comfort and in a sanitary
manner.
The properly equipped modern
kitchen, first of all. is painted
light buff or white, and it is prop
erly lighted. 1t is very important
to have the light source placed as
high as possible, in order to re.
duce shadows and to permit the
use Of high wattage lamps without
glare. An opal glass open reflector
can be used. with a bowl enameled
lamp: another method is an en-
closed globe mounted close to the
ceiling.
OF course when this is used the
kitchen must be equipped with at
least one or two convenience out
lets for use with the electric iron
and other appliances. Otherwise
1t is best to have a center unit
wattage lamp.
In Smaller Kitchens.
For ordinary kitchens, that is up
to twelve feet square, a 10O-watt
Mazda lamp will be sufficient, pro-
viding an average of five or six
foot candles of lighting intensity.
For larger kitchens a 15O-watt
Mazda lamp should be used, or if
the room is longer than it is wide
two ceiling units should be used to
get best results. At the sink it is
sometimes advisable to have an
extra wall fixture in which can be
used 40.watt frosted lamp with
an open reflector. to facilitate the
proper washing and drying of
dishes, and preparation of food.
The equipment should comprise u
substantial. light colored kitchen
cabinet, good table, an electric
range, and dishwasher, a chair and
stool. To this then should be add.
ed a complete set Of utensils, tools
and dishes and large supply Of
towels.
The cost Of this equipment will
probably amount to about $500,
which is less than the average cost
of furnishing the less important
rooms in the house.