John D Cunningham asked:
Designer kitchens should be beautiful, practical and functional, but how many of you actually give any thought to the safety of your children when having your new kitchen designed? When planning a new kitchen as adults we tend to go for how the finished article will look, as opposed to how safe it is for our children. If given some time and thought at the planning stage this can save a lot of do it yourself jobs at a later date, possibly damaging your cabinets in the process.
Another aspect of safety in the kitchen is that of a wheel-chair bound person. Access in and around the kitchen can be very difficult for someone in a wheel-chair. Things that we take for granted such as: work-top height, access to the sink, positioning of taps on the sink, even the width of the door to the kitchen. Work-top height is a difficult decision to make, as this will have a big impact on selling your home at a later date. Access to the sink is fairly simple, remember a wheel-chair user needs to get close, solution, do not have under-sink cabinets, as for the taps make them the lever type and have them positioned closer the front of the sink. Getting into the kitchen, as able bodied people we tend to overlook the fact that a wheel-chair needs a minimum of thirty two inches in width.
A little thought at the planning stage can and will make your kitchen a thing of beauty as well as being safe and functional.
Here are a few ideas to make your little ones that much safer in your designer kitchen.
• Safety latches on the lower cabinets.
• Be sure that where you keep kitchen cleaning materials is only accessible by an adult.
• Deeper work-tops so little fingers can’t reach hot surfaces.
• Make sure the handles of hot pans are turned inwards.
• Do not let gadget cords hang from work surfaces.
• Do not pour hot water when your child is close by.
• Lock away your alcohol.
• Be clean in your kitchen; wash your hands and work-tops regularly when handling meat and poultry.
• If your kitchen is also your dining area, watch the table cloth, kids love to pull these.
You spend a lot of your time in the kitchen, and it can be great fun to have your children along side you. Make sure they are safe; if they want to “join in” give them plastic bowls and utensils to use. A simple thing like letting them put dough into baking trays makes them feel that they are a part of the whole family. Keep a child safety gate close to hand if you have to step out of the kitchen, even if its only for a minute, it takes no time at all for a very serious accident to occur especially in the kitchen. Do not sacrifice safety for a kitchens looks and functionality for a wheel chair user. A good kitchen designer can help you with these aspects.
Designer kitchens should be beautiful, practical and functional, but how many of you actually give any thought to the safety of your children when having your new kitchen designed? When planning a new kitchen as adults we tend to go for how the finished article will look, as opposed to how safe it is for our children. If given some time and thought at the planning stage this can save a lot of do it yourself jobs at a later date, possibly damaging your cabinets in the process.
Another aspect of safety in the kitchen is that of a wheel-chair bound person. Access in and around the kitchen can be very difficult for someone in a wheel-chair. Things that we take for granted such as: work-top height, access to the sink, positioning of taps on the sink, even the width of the door to the kitchen. Work-top height is a difficult decision to make, as this will have a big impact on selling your home at a later date. Access to the sink is fairly simple, remember a wheel-chair user needs to get close, solution, do not have under-sink cabinets, as for the taps make them the lever type and have them positioned closer the front of the sink. Getting into the kitchen, as able bodied people we tend to overlook the fact that a wheel-chair needs a minimum of thirty two inches in width.
A little thought at the planning stage can and will make your kitchen a thing of beauty as well as being safe and functional.
Here are a few ideas to make your little ones that much safer in your designer kitchen.
• Safety latches on the lower cabinets.
• Be sure that where you keep kitchen cleaning materials is only accessible by an adult.
• Deeper work-tops so little fingers can’t reach hot surfaces.
• Make sure the handles of hot pans are turned inwards.
• Do not let gadget cords hang from work surfaces.
• Do not pour hot water when your child is close by.
• Lock away your alcohol.
• Be clean in your kitchen; wash your hands and work-tops regularly when handling meat and poultry.
• If your kitchen is also your dining area, watch the table cloth, kids love to pull these.
You spend a lot of your time in the kitchen, and it can be great fun to have your children along side you. Make sure they are safe; if they want to “join in” give them plastic bowls and utensils to use. A simple thing like letting them put dough into baking trays makes them feel that they are a part of the whole family. Keep a child safety gate close to hand if you have to step out of the kitchen, even if its only for a minute, it takes no time at all for a very serious accident to occur especially in the kitchen. Do not sacrifice safety for a kitchens looks and functionality for a wheel chair user. A good kitchen designer can help you with these aspects.