I feel certain it came about because math textbook series about 10 -15 years ago started doing what was called calendar math. It was a way of introducing concepts and revisiting them on a daily basis, usually done at the beginning of the day. One of the big things to do was to count the number of days in school. Everyday, a straw or something used that would visually count that day would be put in a cup (usually part of the calendar display). There would be 3 cups: one for the units or ones (1-9), another for the 10's (10-90) and a third for the hundreds. For example on the 10th day of school, you would already have 9 straws in the units cup. On the 10th day you would add another but now you would band the 10 straws into one group of ten and move it to the tens cup. Ten means "1 ten and 0 units. As the year progresses, you would have say for the 75th day, 7groups in the 10's cup and 5 in the units. On the 100th day, you would already have 99 days in school; 9 groups of 10 in the 10s cup and 9 in the units cup. When you add the 1 straw for the 100th day, you would have 9 groups of 10 in the 10's cup and now 10 straws in the units cup. That means you move the 10 units into a group of 10. Now you have 10 groups in the 10s cup but that makes 100 straws so you band them and move it over to the 100's cup. So now there is one big group of 100, 0 ten's and 0 units. Schools would plan big celebrations about the 100th day of school, all centered around math, like measuring and comparing the length of 100 new crayons to 100 new pencils. Really it all was about math concepts and in this case PLACE VALUE. I loved calendar math in my kindergarten class. It really helped the children. One year I had an average student raise his hand on the 100th day of school when we were talking about what "100" means and he said "if there are 10 tens in 100 then there must be 100 tens in 1000. WOW! Sorry this is probably way more than you wanted to know!

This program is of interest to anyone who is researching their own family. One can pick up pointers and techniques, many of which I found that my wife and I were already using. It is very much like being a dectective on a "cold case". The only problem I have is my envy of their having an almost unlimited travel budget and for hiring very highly trained technicans and their diagnostic equipment. The thrill of discovery is enjoyable and enlightening. If your ancestors were here when this country was being founded, you'll very liklely find a connection to Early US history. For example, my wife found that her ancestors were involved with the building of the Erie Canal; I found that I had a g-g-granfather who had served under Andrew Jackson and was later a Captain in the Black Hawk War. One of his sons was in the Mexican war, and before that, 4 brotheres were in the American Revolutionaey War with Britian.

I think it starts from viewing the kitchen as a work area. Rich people didn't go in there, so whatever the builder-architect specified was fine. Looking at Thomas Jefferson's kitchen is interesting - partly because it was advanced for its time and partly because its stripped of the affectations of the main house. Even though its spread across multiple rooms - it matches. The woods, the flooring, the simplicity of having only enough to do the job at hand, etc. So, I think the matchiness comes from the builders vision of what a kitchen is, with a little practicality sprinkled on. Plus, who has ever wanted to go 15 different places for their "work area" storage. Right now, I see two things. Other than matchiness has a long, long history - particularly in dining rooms. The first is that the matchiness can be soothing to the eye. It looks better in small environments where a collected look can quickly turn into a jumble. It can visually expand space by simplifying line and color and unifying the presentation of a small space. Sometimes, I think people who choose monochromatic color schemes are drawn to the almost zen feel that matchiness in monochrome can produce. The second is that two colors is fashionable right now. As anyone who has ever seen pics of 1970's decorating can attest, fashion is a strong force. I like some matchiness. That's partly cultural - I grew up in a time when matchiness was prized (I'm sure it will be again). And part is the touch of the ocd fairy - my eyes try to sort jumble - which is how a table for 12 where every chair is different and all the place settings are different appears to me. In a kitchen, I think matchiness (or unity) is the background for the focal points where you are directing people's attention.

Its been since June of last year since we moved the kitchen into the living room in anticipation of the kitchen remodel. While packing up the small kitchen,16 x8, found all the McCormick spices shoved to the back of the cabs. There is a spot at the McCormick website that you can enter the code on the jar and it will tell you how long ago it was manufactered. Some were from the 90s! Kinda gross. Its amazing what you find. Did I need 6 spatulas? And 4 wire whisks? I also got rid of the extra blenders/ parts, the bread maker, the waffle maker, stuff I used m ybe once a year. And the garage is full of boxes as is the spare bedroom. More going thru is clearly needed before the kitchen is reloaded.