Love-hate relationships with the kitchen

Kitchen. Food. Mess. Comfort. Cleanup. Apple pie. Dishes. Spaghetti sauce. Stains. Roasts. Clogged sinks.

As you can imagine, the list goes on. Given our present economy, we're more cautious when it comes to spending. Not surprisingly (and quite wisely given the impending HST), many of us are spending it on home renovations - especially in the kitchen. A good number of us spend a relatively large amount of time in our kitchens and when it comes to health, taking care of the environment in which you prepare your food is a no-brainer.

Starting this week, I'll be sharing a series of tips on how to go about kitchen renovations.

1. Consider the three primary functions of the kitchen: Storage, food preparation, and clean-up. Your kitchen renovation should incorporate all three goals. That being said, the final tip for today is... location, location, location!

How are you planning the layout of your kitchen?

Do you have enough room for the classic "work triangle"?

Is there enough room to accommodate another chef?

Trust me, cooking with your spouse can be an excellent way to bond.... sometimes (Otherwise, sic him/her on the dishes, they may as well be useful if you're sweating over the stove).

That's some food for thought. I'll be back tomorrow with your next assignment!