Thanks, Holiday-ers! Gosh,. Tksgvg is just 2 wks from today! Can't believe how fast Fall is leaving me behind! LOL! I am fortunate that all our family plans on coming home (weather permitting). PM...that stacked cups & 3 sizes of plates is really, really elegant-looking...love it w/those added faux flowers...this would be a fun project w/mixed pretty old dishes picked up at garage sales or something! TFS! milo, jane & janet...glad you love that squirrel...I'm glad I bought it even tho I pd full price...so I will keep using it quite a bit. punk...that leafy plate & leafy bowl that match also has a big cup with it...it was a GS find a few yrs ago & I was hoping I'd come across more of that pattern (a couple yrs ago I didn't have as many dishes! ;-) Stamped on the back w/"Home Trends." Thank you all for your comments! 'appreciated! Jeanne S.

My good ones (passed on by my great aunt) are rolled on tubes from the fabric store. Auntie covered the tubes in acid free tissue, rolled the cloth on, the whole thing is put in a fabric bag with a draw string and hung in the closet. The every day cloths are folded in the linen closet. I just toss them in the dryer to get the folds out.

Once you've finalized your basic design, it's time to analyze your storage needs in each zone. The results of that analysis will drive the size & configuration of your cabinets and drawers. First, make a list of everything you plan to store in your new kitchen, regardless of where it's stored now...kitchen, basement, dining room, etc. Next, take the list and group the items according to function. Will they be used during prep? cooking? baking? cleanup? Some items, like pot holders, may belong in two different zones (in this case, cooking & baking). You can either find storage between the two zones or have duplicates and store one in each zone. Now, determine where each of your zones will be (prep, cleanup, cooking, baking, storage, etc.) The next step depends on the stage you are in the design/order process... If you've already ordered your cabinets, then you will have to work with what you have. So... Identify the storage potential in each zone and list them on a piece of paper with a section for each cabinet (base & upper) and one line per drawer or shelf in that cabinet. This includes your pantry for your "storage" zone. Take the two lists and, while imagining yourself working in each zone, put the dishes, tools, etc. that you will be using in cabinets in that zone. Fill in the lines in the cabinet list with these items. If you are still in the design phase, you will have the opportunity to plan your storage to meet your needs in each zone. Take your list and imagine yourself working in each zone. Go through the motions to determine the best locations for each item that will be used and stored in that zone (don't forget that you will probably have both upper and lower cabinets). Now that you know where to put the items, determine what the best way is to store those items (drawer, shelf, etc.) and what size (e.g., pots & pans work best in 30" or 36" drawers) Lastly, transfer what you've done to your design & tweak as necessary. You should now have a well-thought out and highly functional kitchen! Sample storage map: This process and the resultant "map" will not only help you to "see" how things will fit, but the map will also help when you move back into the kitchen...you won't have to think about it, you'll be able to just put things away. It will also be a handy map for everyone to use when attempting to find things the first few weeks w/o having to open every drawer or door! Oh, and don't forget the Junk Drawer! Most people end up with one, so you may as well plan for it so you at least have control over where it's located! skip line Common Zones, Appliances In That Zone, and Suggestions For What To Store There: Storage--pantry & refrigerator--Tupperware, food, wraps & plastic bags Preparation--sink & trash/recyclables--utensils, measuring cups/spoons, mixing bowls, colander, jello molds, cutting boards, knives, cook books, paper towels Cooking--cooktop/range & MW (and near a water source)--utensils, pot holders, trivets, pots & pans, serving dishes (platters, bowls, etc.), paper towels Baking--ovens/range--utensils, pot holders, trivets, pots & pans, casserole dishes, roasting rack, cooling racks, cookie sheets, foils, rolling pin, cookie cutters, pizza stone, muffin tins, paper towels [often combined with Cooking Zone] Cleanup--sink & DW & trash--detergents, linens, dishes & glasses, flatware Eating/Serving--island/peninsula/table/nook/DR--table linens, placemats, napkins, dishes & glasses, flatware Utility--broom, dustpan, swifter, mop, cleaning supplies, cloths, flashlights, batteries, extension cords Message/Communication/Command Center--keys, phones/answering machine, charging station, directories/phone books, calendar, desk supplies, dry erase board or chalkboard, pens/pencils, sticky notepaper skip line Less Common Zones: Tea/Coffee Bar--tea/coffeemaker (and near a water source)--mugs, teas/coffees, sugar, teapot Snack/Beverage Center--near MW & refrigerator or small refrigerator--snacks, snack dishes, glasses [often combined with Tea/Coffee Bar] Pet Zone--feeding area--food, snacks, leashes, medicines (if no children in the home), etc. skip line Overlapping of Zones Due to space constraints, some zones often overlap. If this is the case in your kitchen, be sure there is enough work space in the overlap for both activities. Zones that commonly overlap... Prep & Cooking Zones--These zones should be adjacent to each other, so this is a common overlap and is generally not a problem. Just be sure you have enough room for prepping as well as landing space for the range/cooktop. (It is strongly advised you have enough room for emergency landing space on both sides of a range/cooktop.) Prep & Cleanup Zones--If there is only one sink in the kitchen, these zones will be adjacent to each other because of the need for a water source for both zones. However, true overlapping is not generally a good idea. Instead, try to keep the cleanup area separate from the prep area by putting the sink between them. E.g., DW on one side, Prep Zone on the other side. (You should strive to keep the DW out of the Prep Zone as well as out of the path between the sink and Prep & Cooking Zones and between the refrigerator and Prep & Cooking Zones.) Also try for at least 36" (42" or more is better) of room on the Prep Zone side of the sink for ample workspace as well as accommodating the inevitable dirty dishes that will accumulate next to the sink. skip line Commonly Used Items: pots & pans, utensils, small appliances, linens, pot holders, trivets, dish detergents, "Tupperware", knives, pitchers, water bottles, vases, picnic supplies, cook books, etc. Foods: Spices, Breads, Flours/Sugars, Teas/Coffees, Potatoes, Onions, Canned Goods, Dry Goods (rice, pasta, etc.), Cereals, Snacks Small Appliances: Toaster, Stand and/or Hand Mixer, Blender, Breadmaker, Toaster Oven, Food Processor, Crockpot, Waffle Iron, Electric Skillet, Coffeemaker, Coffee Grinder, Ricer, Steamer SPECIAL NOTE: If your ceiling or one or more of your walls is coming down, consider wiring for speakers, TV, Computer, etc. skip line Some helpful threads: forestfire..please help me with my lists [Missing In Action as of 5/16/10...if anyone has saved it, please let me know by emailing me via "My Page"] List of stuff in kitchens? What should go within easy reach of the cooktop? What goes where? Reloading the new kitchen, any tips where things should go?

Jjam, that is exactly right! I ued to futz around with mini christmas trees on the sideboard and stuff on the table that all had to be removed when we ate. One year i did a display of nutcrackers on the dining table at different heights.....it was an engineering feat and many had to be taken down before a meal....what WAS i thinking, lol?? I do have a lovely centerpiece planned of red roses and white hydrangea for Christmas Day after the game of thrones thing is over. Wanted to share fun thing i got for the table this yesr, scrabble trays and tons of tiles, so people can make their own words / names etc.. Last year we filled our water goblets with varying heights to make notes and "played" a few simple songs by making the rims of those crystal glasses hum. and our Christmas crackers each contained one zylophone piece so we played music with those, too. And in our 70 degree temps I actually thought about making the Christmas message on our bulletin board say Winter Is Not Coming as a political message, lol!