Explainer: Martha Stewart's top kitchen tips
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1. It’s all in the details
Martha considered every corner of her kitchen in Bedford, right down to the shelving supports. “I like ‘bird’s beak’ supports, an old carpentry style with notches that let shelves slide in and out,” Martha says. No holes, no hardware — the look is streamlined.
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2. Open up and use every inch
Shelving in place of upper cabinets makes the room look lighter and airier. “I use everything in my kitchen regularly, and shelves make it all accessible,” Martha says. “These nearly reach the ceiling, putting underused space to work.” A combination of shelving and cabinets makes sense if you don’t want everything on display.
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3. Create stations
Everything Martha needs for a perfect cup of coffee or tea is all in one place: The espresso machine is on the counter; assorted cups, French presses, and teapots are on the shelves above; and everyday flatware and teas are in the drawers below. Fresh coffee beans are stored in electric grinders next to the espresso machine.
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4. Islands
An island provides a central spot to work and eat. Martha doubles the functionality and flexibility with a pair of marble-topped islands, one on wheels and one stationary. She can use one for prep work and the other to seat guests for an informal meal. “I also push the rolling island up to the stationary one for buffets,” Martha says. To be most useful, an island must be at least four feet long and two and a half feet wide; clearance of at least three feet all around is essential.
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5. Hang up the pots
Using a rack will save so much space in your cabinets— and make your pots and pans easier to find. Martha hangs hers above the stationary island near the range
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6. Customize storage
Decide what you want to keep in the islands, and plan the space accordingly. “Upright steel slats provide perfect spots for heavy baking sheets,” Martha says. She also has drawers for aprons and utensils; deep shelves for platters, books, and pet supplies; and small cubbies for towels and other items.
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7. Add baskets and bins
Corral items on open shelves using nice-looking containers. These baskets add warmth and texture to the room; the gray trays are simple and stylish. Add adhesive pads on the bottom so they slide smoothly.
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8. Protect surfaces
A large, white commercial cutting board sits on the marble countertop, so there’s always a place to chop, prepare food, or place a hot pot. A nonskid pad beneath it keeps it from sliding.
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9. Keep a towel handy
Mounted hooks put towels on the sides of the islands just where you always want them and give purpose to an unused space.
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10. Plug it in
Electrical outlets near the top of the island allow you to use small appliances easily, without the cord getting in the way.
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11. Display, but don’t clutter
By all means keep out the items you use often or enjoy looking at; Martha keeps fruits, vegetables, and eggs, as well as a collection of mortars and pestles, on the counter. Just make sure there’s plenty of room to work so you don’t have to rearrange things when you’re ready to cook.
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12. A place for everything
Martha designed her kitchen with lots — and lots! — of drawers. You might not have as many, but you can still use her tips: Group like things together, use containers and dividers to customize spaces, add labels, and do a good clean-out once a year to make sure all the items are where they belong.
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13. Japanese knives
Martha has collected these tools on trips to Tokyo and Kyoto (many from centuries-old knife maker Aritsugu). “These are my favorites,” she says.
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14. Everyday flatware
Martha likes organizers with rectangular compartments (rather than spoon- and fork-shaped compartments) for the French ivory flatware she uses daily.
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15. Cake- and cookie decorating supplies
Pastry bags, biscuit cutters, icing tips, and frosting combs: Everything is easily accessible in clear boxes.
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16. Office supplies
They’re not for cooking, but don’t you always need a pen, scissors, a ruler, or a stamp when you’re in the kitchen? Among Martha’s essentials are a label maker and tags and twine for gifts.
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17. Hardware basics
Devote a drawer to the things you need most, such as lightbulbs, batteries, extension cords, and EZ Glide pads (available at hardware stores) for chair legs.
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18. Cocktail napkins
Stack sets of napkins with the smallest on top, so you can see them all.
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19. Wooden tools
Rolling pins share space with mallets, salad servers, and springerle molds for cookies.
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20. Zesters, graters, and peelers
An assortment of graters lets you get just the right texture from citrus peel, cheese, and more. These tools are sharp — give them their own space so you don’t nick yourself.
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21. Tea supplies
Be ready to make the perfect pot with strainers, tea balls, honey dippers, and special tea leaves all in one spot.
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22. Napkin rings and chopstick rests
Grouped in plastic bins, Martha’s Bakelite, porcelain, silver, and ivory accessories are easy to find when it’s time to set the table.
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23. Silver flatware
“Shallow drawers lined with tarnish-controlling flannel provide the right environment for silver,” Martha says. The pieces rest in a single layer on the fabric — no dividers or stacking necessary.
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24. Skewers and picks
Having a variety is handy for hors d’oeuvres. Bundle each kind with a rubber band or a snippet of string.
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25. Knives
“In-drawer wooden knife trays save counter space,” Martha says.
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26. First aid kit
The kitchen is command central in most homes, so keep basic supplies there. Martha arranges items in little containers.
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27. Dish towels
“You can’t have enough soft, absorbent white cloths,” Martha says. “They should be neatly folded and stacked for easy access.”
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28. Small hand tools
Without wire baskets as dividers, this drawer would be a jumble. Instead, the tools are ready to grab when you need them.
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29. Be savvy with your staples
You don’t need a walk-in pantry to keep things neat. Martha doesn’t have one. Instead, she devotes a tall cabinet to nonperishables, grouped according to use and cuisine. Shelves are labeled and lined with custom-cut stainless steel sheeting, which protects the cabinetry and wipes clean. Canisters on top hold ingredients purchased in bulk.
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30. Enjoy the view
When you’re designing or renovating a kitchen, make it a priority to put a window over the sink. It vastly improves your outlook on washing dishes. “Looking at the farm is a pleasure,” Martha says.
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31. Add a basin
“Use a plastic bin for soaking or soaping to save water,” Martha says. The plastic is also more forgiving than a hard sink should you drop a dish. When you’re washing a lot of very fragile items by hand, such as crystal stemware, lining the sink with a terry towel also does the trick. Keep dish soap in a clear plastic pump bottle by the sink.
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32. Get into the groove
Consider adding slightly angled grooves to the draining-board counter next to the sink: Water from just-washed dishes runs back into the sink.
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33. Focus on the faucet
High gooseneck faucets make it easy to fill large pots and vases and to maneuver things in and out of the sink.
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34. Be hands-on
Use a small tray to keep hand soap and lotions ready.
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35.Sneak in more shelves
“In a kitchen, unused wall space is wasted space,” Martha says. Thin shelves — these are antique milk glass — add storage without feeling heavy or imposing, even in a tight spot. These hold teapots and spices (metal tins keep light out so spices last longer).
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36. Get an edge
In a high-traffic area, adding a side “wall” to a counter can be helpful. At Martha’s pastry station, by the kitchen door, there’s a marble bracket with a graceful silhouette, echoing the wooden ones in the room. It keeps flour from flying onto the floor and prevents things from being knocked off the counter when people walk through the door.
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37. Dish it up
Martha collects vintage enamel holders, originally used for soap and sponges in bathrooms. She mounts them by sinks to hold sponges, brushes, and scrubbers.
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38. Bring on the bins
Large metal bins for garbage and recyclables sit at each end of the island (food scraps go into smaller pails for composting). Though the trend is to have pull-out bins behind cabinet doors, these are easier and cleaner to use: Step on the pedal to open.
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39. Take a step up
Keep a stepladder in the kitchen — if you’ve maximized your space, you’ll need one for reaching the highest shelves.
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40. Let the sunshine in
In addition to tall windows, Martha has a glass-paned kitchen door. Translucent, lightweight shades can be lowered for some privacy, while still letting daylight through.
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41. Illuminate your work surface
Countertops are often hidden in shadows. Undercabinet or undershelf lighting brightens those areas.
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42. Dim the lights
Dimmers on fixtures let you control the amount of light and increase energy efficiency.
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43. Keep spoons and such stove-side
Whether you use one crock or several, it’s wise to have essential tools in arm’s reach when you’re at the stove. Martha keeps ladles, whisks, pastry brushes, wooden spoons, and flexible spatulas in separate containers.
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44. Get rolling
A cart provides storage where you need it. Martha usually parks this stainless steel one, with tools for cooking, by her range. A small freestanding island on wheels can serve the same purpose and is especially useful in a tight kitchen; it provides a work surface and a casual sideboard. “By adding a custom-cut marble top, a rolling cart can also be used as a bar when entertaining,” Martha says.
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45. Reach for flavor
Also on the rolling cart: Martha’s mise en place — ramekins of various salts and often-used spices. A pinch is easier to gauge with fingers or a spoon than it is with a shaker.
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46. Think safety
Martha keeps two fire extinguishers in the kitchen. Look for ones designed for the kitchen or multipurpose ones for the home. Read the instructions so you’re prepared, and test the devices according to the directions. Keep them by exits, and remember that safe evacuation is always the priority.
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47.Dress the dogs in a snap
Martha’s dogs spend a lot of time in the kitchen with her. When they head out for walks, it’s usually through the kitchen door. As such, Martha keeps their sweaters and coats in a basket on a shelf under the island.
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48. Grab a leash
A shallow drawer keeps coiled leashes from getting tangled.
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49. Create a storage system for pet food
“I have three dogs, five cats, and 22 canaries,” Martha says. “So it’s important to be organized.” She devotes pantry space to dry food, which she transfers from the bulky bags into stackable airtight plastic containers. Labels are crucial for keeping them straight. Bowls and cans are stacked nearby in see-through bins.
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50. Make mealtime neat
Martha’s cats have their own buffet in the servery. Several dishes are lined up in a long tray, which catches any spills so food doesn’t end up on the floor.
(c) 2012 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
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