Renewing the Kitchen by L. A. HANSEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 16, 1916

Renewing the Kitchen

By L. A. HANSEN

L. A. HANSEN

OUR kitchen was not a room that would make an attractive workshop for the housekeeper. The walls were an ugly dark blue, and were scaling badly. The woodwork was of a cheap yellow-ocher color, and the floor was rough and splintered.

A kitchen may be an object of beauty and pride, so that it may be shown to visitors with as much pleasure as any other part of the house. The woman who spends a considerable part of her time there is more likely to enjoy her work if the surroundings are agreeable.

The walls of this kitchen were first scraped with a broad putty knife; but a better instrument, with a blade about three inches wide, may be obtained at the ten-cent store. Then a coat of lead paint was given to fill the pores, though a coat of glue size or cheap varnish would have answered. Next came two coats of a flat paint, of which there are several good brands on the market. We got white paint and tinted it with chrome green and chrome yellow. The yellow gives life to the shade, and avoids the hard blue appearance of green. The shade is a soft one, very restful.

The woodwork was painted with lead paint, thinned with turpentine for quick drying. Chrome green without yellow made this harmonize with the walls, but gave a little different shade. A little varnish might have been added if some gloss had been desired.

The floor seemed a hopeless job, but turned out fine. First, the cracks were filled with crack filler. We found this should not be allowed to stand more than twenty-four hours before being coated, or it would get brittle and come out. Two coats of brown paint, made by mixing burnt umber and burnt sienna ground in oil, were next given. The second coat had some floor varnish in it. Then we sandpapered. Next came a coat of floor varnish, a waterproof brand, colored with a little umber and sienna to cover spots that appeared after sandpapering. To make the floor still better, we gave it another coat of varnish, not much of the last coat being required to cover.

For want of suitable wall space, a kitchen cabinet could not be used. Wall space that was unused was utilized for cupboards and shelves. A cupboard over the table takes the cookbooks, small kitchen tools, and jars for salt, sugar, and flour. Cup hooks are used for the can opener, mixing spoons, egg beater, and other utensils that will hang up. A set of shelves by the range holds the stove vessels, with hooks under the lower shelf for skillet, frying pan, etc. Another cupboard is for dishes, and a small one in the corner serves for a medicine cabinet. All these are painted white, with enough varnish in the last coat to give what is called an “eggshell” finish, and are smooth enough to permit washing, and yet are not glossy.

A nickeled cup holder at the sink and a towel rack on the door are convenient, and look well. Two or three pictures (yes, why not?) help to make the room cheery. As we have no greasy cooking, we can use a nice rug or two. The old kitchen chair was also given a coat of white, but this has made it so pretty that it is spoiled for standing on. We must get a small chair stepladder. Now it is a delight to work in the kitchen, and a pleasure to keep it neat.