Considering that the kitchen department is largely responsible for the health, comfort, good temper, and general well-being of the entire household, it is remarkable that so little time, thought, ingenuity, and money are spent upon it.

The newly-married couple throw themselves heart and soul into the style and decorations of the sitting-rooms and bed-rooms, and criticise the architecture of the whole establishment, except that of the kitchen and what are termed domestic offices, which include a stuffy little larder, a cupboard-like place dignified by the name of scullery, and a badly built, badly lighted and ventilated room for the kitchen and living-room of the unfortunate maids.

A suggested ideal kitchen

Now, an ideal kitchen is one in which the necessary cooking can be done expeditiously and with the least possible drudgery.

There is no need for a huge kitchen; on the contrary, a large room, much furniture, and many utensils are not easily kept spotlessly clean and tidy.

However, if there is not even a tiny room in which the domestics can sit and have their meals, it is advisable to have a larger kitchen, because, otherwise, the valuable maids will soon leave, and the worthless ones, who may condescend to remain, will work specially badly.