OrgaNYze your Kitchen with IKEA

26 Nov OrgaNYze your Kitchen with IKEA

Presenting at IKEA is amazing!

The opportunity to speak at the Long Island IKEA landed on my lap and I couldn’t say no. Even though it came at a time when we were refinancing our home and our appraisal was looming — not to mention, I had a couple clients I was also balancing, I knew I had to make time and present during their “kitchen week”. We just finished renovating ours (I can’t wait to show you pictures!) and my head was bursting with tips, tricks, and especially, what-not-to-dos.

The presentation took place on Friday, October 23, 2015. I reeeeally wanted to share with the audience a bit about kitchen history, because I find it so fascinating. I may have been a little long winded with my intro-to-kitchens section.

And that brings me to another thought: presenting is nothing like acting. Acting and singing is what brought me to NYC—and I had a decent amount of success. But speaking in front of a group of people and NOT telling a story, per se, is NOT the same as “performing”. I kept looking audience members in the eye, getting very passionate about the information I was sharing, and immediately they would look away. Which would, in turn, make me so nervous! Let’s just say I had a coughing attack and I was nervous I ruined kitchen week. But then we got to demonstrating how different IKEA pieces could be used to make your kitchen more organized and I quickly found my comfort zone.

Here’s my presentation in a nut shell. No need to look away awkwardly, we can’t actually see each other. 😉

Kitchens weren’t always desirable places. They weren’t for entertaining and they were prone to fires and often dark and dangerous. They were kept far from spaces where people gathered, much different from kitchens today. Kitchen conveniences were constantly changing with the advancements of gas, cast iron, plumbing, and electricity. In 1899 Hoosier Cabinets invented and introduced storage space to the kitchen (Thank you Hoosier!). Not to mention, Hoosier Cabinet also featured the pull out work surface. Kitchens were forever changed. In the 1920’s, Germany boasted ergonomics expert Frederick Winslow Taylor who invented the Frankfort Kitchen. This kitchen put all kitchen tools at arms reach and introduced the golden triangle.

• 1920’s efficiency ergonomics to a step forward with the invention of the Frankfort Kitchen – introduced in Germany by ergonomics expert Frederick Winslow Taylor. This kitchen put all kitchen tools at arms reach and introduced the golden triangle.
• Technology and war opened up the kitchen in the 1930s and 40s. Integrating the stove and sink into the cabinet layout or having a “fitted kitchen” made kitchen design more appealing and efficient. Major time saving devices, tools, and stylish designs advanced the kitchen to more of a show piece.
• The 1960s and beyond America experienced many social changes which meant life was happening in the kitchen again and designer everything became desired.
• 1980s, open kitchens were introduced and trophy kitchens were born.

Kitchen Golden Triangle and Work Zones – 5 minutes

• Taylorism, or studying the worker and minimizing their steps was revolutionary and controversial.
• Three points of the triangle were the stove, refrigerator, and sink
• Each point on the triangle was anywhere from 4ft-9ft apart
• Main traffic was not to cut through the triangle
• Fast forward 70 years and kitchens are not just for the housewife, but a centralized location often opening up to living spaces
• Kitchens now have dishwashers, microwaves, double ovens, and other advancements that challenge the triangle theory. Today, designers often incorporate 2 work triangles to accommodate more people in kitchens and more work spaces
• Work zones are a great way to attack kitchens of all sizes: galley to large open spaces can benefit from work zones. You can too!
• Section off your kitchen, organize by task
• Think of all the activities that take place in a kitchen
  • prep, cooking, baking, food storage, cleaning, etc.
    • for example, put your dishwasher, trash, and sink close together so when you’re prepping food or cleaning dishes, the task requires almost no movement and becomes seamless.
    • If you’re a big coffee family, have all coffee appliances, tools, and accessories within arms reach. When deciding where things will be stored, make sure you have enough space and allocate accordingly. Making coffee won’t interrupt the cook in the house as they prepare Sunday morning breakfast.
    • The cooking zone might take up the most space so spend time carefully planning where everything will live. If you have to, cook a meal or two and adjust accordingly.
      • if you have the luxury of designing a new kitchen, landing spaces next to major appliances are a huge plus and make prep and set your freshly prepared dish to cool.
      • knives, pots and pans should be within arms reach
      • don’t forget about a kids zone!
        • homework, snacks, and a hangout helps keep them busy while adults cook
• Islands can often act as a barrier between guests and the host. Keep wine, glassware, and serving dishes close by so everyone can interact, but the cook is able to remain efficient.
• Don’t be afraid to get your paper and pencil out, see what works for you and your family. Lay it out and then implement.

IKEA Products to help you get organized – 10 minutes

• Pruta, Droppar, IKEA 365, Burken
  • Small lidded organizers for junk drawers, pantry, and cabinets
    • transparent so you can see the contents right away
    • easy to label
    • streamlined cabinets give a sense of calm and order
    • easy to label
    • compartmentalize everything – easy to find!
      • flour, sugar, cereal
      • Twist ties, clothes pins, rubber bands, hardware
• Knuff, Pluggis
  • Magazine holders
    • hold cutting boards
    • holds wraps, plastic, aluminum
    • can be treated/painted to coordinate with your kitchen
• Spontan, Luns, Kvissle
  • Command centers keep families organized
  • list what is left over in the kitchen so food doesn’t go bad
  • organize mail, keep paper off counter tops
  • Snudda
    • Lazy susans make use of otherwise “dead” corners
    • use on countertop to bring items together
  • Omvaxlande, Smula
    • Smart use of space above refrigerators for items such as placemats and napkins
    • Omvaxlande for makeshift bar or as pacesetting for centerpiece
• Bekvam
  • Spice rack you can coordinate with your kitchen!
  • Add it to your command center to organize writing utensils, folder, papers, etc.
• Pluggis 6” tall
  • Perfect for pantry storage
    • breads, baking items, lids, cereals, snacks can all be organized and placed on shelves to pull out easily
• Variera
  • Uses the vertical space within your existing cabinets
• Observator Clip on Basket
  • stack them or hang!
• Fintorp System
  • endless possibilities
  • hang long kitchen tools
  • herbs
  • cutlery
  • small jars, spices, etc.
  • produce
  • command center
• Raskog
  • mobile units are great for cleaning supplies to have anywhere you need them
  • bar cart
  • kids crafts and storage cart to keep them busy!

END – Audience Quiz/Giveaway/Q&A  – 5 minutes