Furniture Tutor™

There are basically two types of bakers’ racks.  One is industrial for use in commercial baking facilities and restaurants and the other is residential for storage and decorative purposes in a family home.  This article discusses the residential version.

There are no common sizes to bakers’ racks; they are available in hundreds of widths, depths, and lengths.  However, one of the only common denominators in residential bakers’ racks is the height of the serving counter area.  Typically they are 30” to 36” high so that the user can easily access the open serving area.  Frequently they are used for storing pots, pans and cooking utensils so they are easy to reach and to see because most bakers’ racks are open from top to bottom.  Some manufacturers make the racks with closed storage in the bottom and with open shelves in the upper portion of the unit.  There are some that have adjustable shelves in the top or bottom but the middle main serving shelf is usually a fixed position shelf which adds strength to the rack.  The option of wall mounted is available if someone has limited space and requires open floor space below the unit.

The original purpose for a bakers’ rack was to give you a place to put hot foods straight out of the oven or off the stove top without fear of damaging counter tops.  It also allowed you to free up space on the stove top once something has finished cooking however, now with more decorative units available and different finishes being used, some bakers’ racks cannot have hot items placed on them without ruining the counter’s surface.  In most industrial applications they are made of metal from top to bottom so they don’t get damaged by the hot pans placed on them.

Some bakers’ racks are available on castors, which makes it easy to move it around the room and bring the rack over to where you are doing your food prep work.  It also makes it a breeze for clean up because you can simply roll the unit to the side to clean underneath.

If you have decided to use a tall (over 60” high) unit, you do need to be mindful of how much weight you wish to stack on it.  If you reach into your kitchen cabinet and pull out three frying pans, one cast iron pan, a few pots and a few baking sheets you would probably have 50 to 100 lbs of items in your hands.  When you load all of these items onto your bakers’ rack the unit could become top heavy and then this becomes a tipping hazard.  Be sure to distribute your utensils evenly on your rack to try and avoid this dilemma.  The other option for a rack(without casters) is to secure the unit to the wall so it cannot tip over at any time.

The most commonly used material for building bakers’ racks is metal however, with the popularity of  bakers’ racks in residential kitchens, the materials have been modified to suit the public’s tastes, so many of these units are now available in wood, glass and stone.  Be sure that you know how you wish to use your rack and whether or not you require heat proof surfaces for hot pots and pans straight from the hot elements.  Most woods will not stand up to a cake pan that has just come out of the oven.  It will leave a mark on the surface that may not be repairable.

Unfortunately most showrooms will not have a large, if any, selection of bakers’ racks on the showroom floor because these are not a top selling item and they don’t want to use up valuable floor space for these kinds of items.  Start your shopping by going online and get a feel for what is available in the market.  If you find something you like, get a picture so you translate what you are after to a sales rep and see if they might have something or a supplier that they have access to.    It’s true, a picture is worth a 1,000 words.

Bakers’ racks are a very simplistic item, so testing the unit for strength and durability is easy.  Grab a hold of the unit and give a good shake.  If you push on it does it lean from side to side or from front to back?  It will be holding up pots, pans and potentially food so it cannot feel flimsy and wiggly.  Make sure that the unit is solid and rigid in all of its connections.  Ultimately, could you sit on it without feeling that disaster is around the corner?

There are countless looks and styles available so it may take some time to find your ideal piece but they are out there.  Of course, always follow the golden rule and know how much space you have or are willing to allocate for your bakers’ rack within your room.

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Countless times while working in retail furniture, customers would come into the store requesting bar stools.  The next question I would ask is, “Where will you be using the stools”.  The answer more often than not would be – at their kitchen counter.  For the record, kitchen counter tops are 36” high in most kitchens in North America, therefore, a bar stool is too high.

Counter stools have a 24” to 26” seat pan (the thing you sit on).  A bar stool has a 28” to 31” seat pan, so the user would have had to bend over too far to be comfortable at a kitchen counter.  Know this height before you go shopping for stools so that you are prepared to make a decision when confronted with the choice of heights.

Pneumatic lift stools can be an asset in many situations because of the range of heights available to the user.  Many will run between 24” to 31” so that one size fits all.  The only set-back with gas lift stools is that sooner or later your gas lift will die and the stool will sink to its lowest position.  You may be able to replace the gas lift in some models but most of the time it’s difficult to find a supplier of gas lifts that will fit your existing stool.

The foot rungs are very important to user comfort.  It is always best to find stools that have consistent rungs from front-to-back and from side-to-side at the same level because it allows the user to sit in a variety of positions.  Many stools will have front-to-back rungs that are at a different height than the side-to-side rails and the user has to have their feet in a higher position to sit with their feet on the rails.

One of the most important considerations with stools is the foot placement.  Some of the rungs are very narrow pieces of wood or metal, which are extremely uncomfortable for you to rest your feet on for any length of time.  It actually hurts your feet after a while.  The wider the foot space, the more comfortable they will be otherwise you’ll find yourself needing to put on shoes or slippers so that they don’t hurt the bottoms of your feet.  Some stools have little tiny footrests that look good but again are completely useless for long-term comfort.

When the human body loses contact with the floor and we are supporting our weight with our derriere and feet, most people can only do this for a limited amount of time.  The pressure created on the back of the legs starts to slow down the user’s circulation and your legs become weary.  Lack of circulation also leads to your legs falling asleep, otherwise known as pins & needles.  So many customers have asked me over the years if they should use a higher table in their dining rooms and I always say no.  Not unless you are young and all of your guests will be young.  It is very tough to find really comfortable long-term usage stools that an older generation can be happy sitting in for a few hours.

The nice thing about buying stools with no back is they will usually fit under any standard height counter tops and will provide adequate comfort to almost all size users.  One size fits all so as to speak.  The downfall with backless stools is that most people can only sit on a stool or bench for a limited length of time before they are done.  They need the back support in order to achieve greater comfort for long-term seating.  This detail deserves careful consideration before buying backless stools.

Having a back and arms will absolutely create a more comfortable stool but of course they can’t be stored under the counter top.  The backs will always be higher than your counter so they will be in full view all the time.  This will have an impact on your decorating scheme and so it must be considered.

The seat pans come in many shapes and sizes.  I strongly recommend that you sit on the stool for at least 30 minutes to see if it feels right.  Take off your shoes and see how the foot rungs feel on your stocking feet so you know if your body can take the size and position.  If they do have backs, lean against it and see if the angle of the recline works well for you.  Often manufacturers will have the stools or chairs leaning so far back that you couldn’t imagine trying to eat breakfast or sit comfortably with some guests for a long period of time.

Another major factor is the material.  Wood frame or metal frame.  Both work exceptionally well.  The question you have to ask yourself is about the durability.  Is it wiggly?  If yes, then you need to pass on them.  You need them to be sturdy and rigid so they can handle the weight of all your potential users.

Upholstered seats and backs can increase comfort and allow you to introduce other colours and patterns into your space, which is always a bonus.  Be sure that the fabric is tough and durable.  Can it be washed, scrubbed if necessary?  The quality of the seat foam can come into play but most stools have slab foam in the seats and therefore will flatten out within a couple of years of use, meaning that it will need to be replaced.  The next question is “How easy would it be to replace the foam or the fabric on the stool?”  If it looks like it would be near impossible to change the foam or the fabric, then it might be something worth considering when making your selection.  Many wood stools come with non-upholstered wood seats, which will give great longevity to the product, but of course you lose a little comfort as the trade-off.  If it is a quality counter stool, then they can last a lifetime.

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One of my favorite furniture items in a house is the elegant curio cabinet.  I love to look at all the little keepsakes that people have collected over the years.  The holiday season gives you a great opportunity to decorate with your beautiful Santa and snowman ornaments that we collect but don’t always get to display.  It is well worth the effort to swap out your treasures for your special holiday pieces.  So, in the spirit of the holiday season – Merry Christmas and we hope you enjoy our Curio Cabinet post!

For my wife and I, we are the potpourri types.  We have seen many attractive items over the years together that really drew us in and we would buy these trinkets to remind us of that event or time.  We have a few curio cabinets in our home and I know my wife is only too happy to describe every detail, of every item, in each cabinet (for those who will listen).  In spite of these being a more traditional showpiece, there is still a good range of styles in the market today.  Even if the stores don’t carry all the models on their floor, be certain to ask about others that might be available from their catalogs.   Curio Cabinets are such a treasure trove, it makes me wish I had a bigger house.  (However, I always wish that).

Knowing what you want to display and how you wish to display is the secret.  Before going to a showroom to look at what’s out there, know approximately how many items you are hoping to show.  If you are buying a cabinet to put all of your precious collectibles into in a random manner then you won’t require the same sense of detail and organization.  Once you know what and how you want your collectibles to be presented you need to consider the following:

• How tall do you need the cabinet to be?
• How wide?
• How deep?
• How many shelves do you desire?
• How many adjustable shelves do you need? (Most tall cabinets will have one fixed middle shelf for stability).
• Do you want lights in it?
• If yes, what material do want the shelves to be? (Glass, wood, or metal)
• If wood or metal, do you want a light under each shelf so that the cabinet is lit from top shelf to bottom shelf?
• If glass, do you want multiple or singular upper light(s)?
• Do you want front loading with swing doors or sliding glass panel door?
• Do you want it side loading? (The front glass panel is fixed in place and you access your shelves from hinged side doors).
• Are you looking for a corner unit or flat wall unit?
• Does it require a power source?
• What kind of material are you looking for the cabinet to be made from? (Wood, metal, glass, or other)
• How many linear inches would be ideal for you to display your collection?
• Do you want a mirror or wood, (other), backboard material?

These are some of the questions that you need to consider before you head out on your shopping spree.  One of things that you should be aware of is, that some cabinets will have the front top and bottom doors framed in wood  and so when they are in the closed position, they block off a big chunk of your display.  Check carefully to be sure how the cabinet will showcase or block off the view of the display.  It is imperative that you get a solid-as-a-rock cabinet for your display.  The unit needs to be tough, rigid and stable on the floor.  The shelves should be easy to put in or take out for cleaning purposes and height adjustable with easy attachments for future changes in shelf height.  Will the cabinet be easy to clean in your current setup?

Shape, size and style are personal.  You might not know exactly what you are looking for when you leave the house but most people will find themselves drawn to a particular look.  By running through the check list of things to pay attention to it should greatly assist you in your cabinet selection.

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