Domestic Insight: Susan's Lazy Ways

Pity the Lazy Suzan. In the realm of domestic tools, appliances and gadgets few are so cruelly labelled. But how did this household staple come to be; why was it named "Susan" and is she really lazy? I will try to answer some of these questions in the first edition of my new monthly column on Martha Moments called Domestic Insight.

Most of our kitchens are equipped with a Lazy Susan: those round turntable servers and trays that helpfully proffer condiments, spices and other small items that can be tricky to reach for. Few of us, however, know anything about its history.

The name "Lazy Susan" is a Twentieth-Century invention, first appearing in print in Vanity Fair magazine in 1917. The origins of the name remain largely unknown, although some believe it to have been a reference to a sluggish daughter of either Thomas Jefferson or Thomas Edison. There is no actual evidence to back this up, however, and the claim is largely dismissed by historians.

The concept of a turntable serving tray is much older, dating back to Eighteenth-Century England when it was known as a dumbwaiter: another pejorative term! Its popularity likely stemmed from a need for convenience. The aristocracy, finding it increasingly difficult to keep an adequate roster of maids and footmen to serve them at dinnertime, conceived of the ingenius device, which made reaching for the mustard a little more civilized. Dining room tables at the time were often outfitted with large round turntables that could hold the various courses and their accompanying condiments. No one person has yet been credited with inventing it.

As the decades unfurled, the Lazy Susan became increasingly popular. Henry Ford commissioned a large table with a Lazy Susan that accompanied him on his lavish camping excursions. The table measured nine feet in diameter and was designed to allow his guests to help themselves to their meals.

It was during the 1940s through the 1960s, however, that the Lazy Susan became a must-have household item in America. Advertisements for the device could be found in nearly every women's magazine in North America and new models were being designed with useful details, such as multiple, removable compartments that surrounded a larger central dish. These more detailed models were often made out of ceramic or glass.

In the '60s and '70s, the Lazy Susan began to change her role slightly, moving from the tabletop to the countertop to assist with food preparation rather than food dispensation. Salt, pepper, olive oil and all manner of daily cooking supplies were kept on Lazy Susans, well within reach of the home cook. During the 1980s, kitchen designers began to incorporate stationary Lazy Susans in cupboard interiors that could hold much larger quantities, keeping clutter out of sight but still close at hand. Today's modern kitchens still maintain this design feature, usually in a corner cupboard where space is more generous.

So you see, Susan was never really lazy. In fact, she is quite a hard worker! Perhaps those of us who use her services are the lazy ones being referred to here! Below is a gallery with some examples of Lazy Susans.

Henry Ford and some of his guests in 1923 enjoying a casual campsite meal at his 9-foot-wide table, which was equipped with a Lazy Susan turntable for serving. Photo courtesy of the Henry Ford Museum.

 An example of a Fiestaware (ceramic) Lazy Susan from 1946 with removable compartments.
This Mid-Century example, also ceramic, has a central caserole dish with a lid for keeping food warm. The compartments around the perimeter can be removed for serving.

Top: An English mahogany Lazy Susan from the 1800s and a modern two-tier Lazy Susan for counter or cupboard storage.

Many modern kitchens have built-in Lazy Susans in lower corner cupboards to store pots and pans.

The New Book by the Beekman Boys

My friends Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell will be releasing their third cookbook this spring, and this one is all about veggies! The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Vegetable Cookbook is now availalbe for pre-order at Amazon and will be released in bookstores on May 13th. The team that worked on their last cookbook, the Heirloom Dessert Cookbook, is back to help with this volume as well: Paulette Tavormina supplies the gorgeous photographs and Sandy Gluck, formerly the editor-in-chief of Everyday Food magazine, helped develop the recipes. I can't wait to add this volume to my collection!

The Alexis Stewart Effect

I want Alexis Stewart's apartment. It's really that simple. Equally as simple is Alexis's imagined reply: "Eff off!" For all her prickles and stings, though, I've always had a soft spot for Alexis Stewart, Martha's formidable daughter: former co-host of the wildly popular Whatever! radio show. I met her very briefly when we were both guests on The Martha Stewart Show in 2010 but I never had the courage to tell her that she has actually influenced my life: superficially but significantly. Basically, Alexis has informed my sense of interior design and for that I am actually very thankful. I do not live in a sleek apartment with wall-to-wall terrazzo and floor-to-ceiling windows, but because of Alexis I know how to edit; I am unafraid to purge ''stuff'' that I no longer use or need; I crave light and spaces that are restful to the eye and I keep things organized and tidy, which has resulted in a happier me. So, thank you, Alexis!

I wanted to reflect on Alexis's apartment because I think it demonstrates that an elegant interior space does not require ornament and filigree to achieve drama. To me, her apartment is the perfect blend of formality and informality, comfort and practicality, simplicity and grandeur.

Several years ago, Alexis purchased three units in the Richard Meier building on Perry Street in Manhattan. Encompassing three floors and more than 9,000 square feet of living space, the apartment is a marvel of light and minimalism with sweeping views of the Hudson River and Manhattan. Merging the three units into one living space was reportedly achieved with the help of architect Annabelle Selldorf who modified the floor plans to include a free-floating staircase to connect the apartments. The first floor is devoted primarily to Alexis's children, Jude and Truman, and their living spaces, including a large playroom. The apartment has a beautifully streamlined kitchen, terrazzo floors throughout and windows, windows everywhere!

Unlike her former apartment in Tribeca, which was devoid of colour, Alexis allowed herself to embrace the odd pastel hue this time around. Quiet shades of coral and blue can be found mostly on the upholstery of the mid-century modern furniture she acquired for her new living space but also in some of the tile, fixtures and textiles. The addition of warm wood tones and a few hits of whimsy keep the place vital. The result is a soft, pretty home that is serenely minimalist without being cold. Many of these photographs of Alexis's apartment were originally published in the September, 2012, issue of Martha Stewart Living. Some were photographed by Mike Tauber/Brown Harris Stephens. The last photograph is of Alexis's former apartment in Tribeca.

Remembering: Good Things for Organizing

Organization is such an integral component of the Martha Stewart ethos. Devotees of her brand have come to expect not only excellent recipes, gardening tips, craft projects and entertaining ideas but ways to streamline and simplify the art of living through organization. We, Martha's regular readers and viewers, can now so easily identify and recognize the "Martha Stewart way" of organizing through classic visual cues that have become iconic - and often mimicked: labelled linen storage boxes, glass decanters for dish soap and laundry detergent, bulletin boards with ribbon borders and perfectly-appointed closets with hooks, baskets and boxes assigned to very specific functions.

 In 2001, Martha released her first and only book on the subject of home organization. (She later followed with several special issue magazines devoted to the subject.) This book is essential for anyone who needs some inspiration to kickstart a clutter-control regimen in any room of the house. Filled with beautiful photographs and very practical and simple ideas to bring order to some of the busiest areas of the home, the book is divided into two parts: Living and Working. Each part is then divided into four chapters: In part one (Living) organization ideas are grouped by rooms: Kitchen, Living Rooms, Bedroom, Bathroom. In part two (Working) the same principle applies: Home Office, Workrooms, Utility Rooms, Storage Rooms. This makes the book itself a testament to effective editing!

I love this book a lot and have referred back to it many times over the years. There are a few subjects that now seem outdated, such as storage ideas for audio cassettes, VHS tapes and photo negatives, but most of the ideas are timeless and infinitely helpful. As with most Martha Stewart books, it is the beauty of the ideas and their photographic presentations that moves me. The hallmark of Martha's style of organization is the pairing of old with new, never compromising on the beauty of the idea. Who wouldn't want to have a beautiful antique armoire converted into a small but strategic home office? Or perhaps a linen closet so skillfully maintained that just gazing upon its perfect rows of fluffy, colour-coordinated towels makes you smile? The book thinks of everything and no clutter problem is left unsolved, from organizing family recipes to storing rugs and artwork, from designing a functional and beautiful home office to strategies designed to keep your bedroom and its closets true to their initial purposes. If you don't have this book yet, I highly recommend it.

 A HUTCH FOR ANY OCCASION: One of my favourite themes in the book is the recurring use of antique hutches and armoires for storage purposes. I've always loved the idea of being able to close the doors of a cabinet to conceal its function, whether it is to store your collection of china or to house a discreet and neatly appointed home office. When you close the door, you see only a beautiful piece of furniture, which also happens to be serving an important organizational function. Below are a few examples from the book.

This hutch was fitted with a series of interior compartments to house numerous pieces of collectible dinnerware and serveware.

An unassuming cabinet in this living room houses stereo equipment and various audio/visual media in smaller boxes and compartments that fit neatly onto its shelves.

My favourite image in the entire book is this magnificent Hungarian armoire that was converted into a home office. A desk insert was built with a hinged front that serves as a desktop when opened. It also has wide cubbies for extra storage. Crisscrossing ribbon on the insides of the doors create bulletin boards.

A small armoire makes an ideal closet for a baby's clothes and accessories, especially one that is given extra shelves and painted bins that slide out like drawers. On the insides of the doors, a pivoting pants rack proffers baby blankets, a clipboard keeps doctor's recommendations (and small works of art) close at hand, and a cotton bag collects laundry.

Adding a few extra shelves to this American Empire armoire, as well as some dowels on the inside of the door, was all it took to transform it into a a beautiful crafts storage center.

 At Lily Pond Lane, Martha's summer home in the Hamptons, an old cabinet on the back porch was given a new life as a storage unit for everyday gardening supplies, such as Martha's favourite gardening clogs, flower bulbs, terracotta pots, bags of fertilizer and an extra length of hose.

In the kitchen at Lily Pond Lane, Martha uses this Danish pine armoire as a storage center for extra spices, copper pots and pans, mixing bowls, cookbooks and more. Extra shelves and cubbies were built as was a series of four drawers, which keep Martha's spices in order. The insides of the doors were fitted with linen-covered panels to use as a bulletin board and extra hooks for hanging tools.

For Martha, inspiration can strike at any time - even in the wee hours of the night. To accommodate this impulse, an antique drop-leaf table was used in Martha's Turkey Hill bedroom to do double duty as a nightstand and a home office. Her phone, a notepad, a laptop as well as a collection of the reference books and novels she was reading at the time are shown. Once her work is done, she can put the books away, slip her laptop into her briefcase and drop down the table leaf to create a more restful nightstand.

Martha's classic Turkey Hill kitchen in all its glory, with copper pots hanging beautifully above a very functional center island.

A craft room is perfectly appointed to be multifunctional with different stations for different activities and maximized storage space. (Attention to detail: clay pots are used to store pencils, brushes and rulers; a keyboard can be slid out of sight on a rolling shelf.)

ALSO LOOK FOR: These two special issues are also very helpful guides to organization. At Home With Technology, a special issue of Martha Stewart Living, was issued in 2001 and examines all the ways we can stylishly incorporate technology into our homes. It also explores how many of the machines we use at home function and can simplify our lives. A special issue called Organizing, released in 2012, has even more storage solutions and organization ideas for every room in the house; many of the ideas were originally printed in the Good Things for Organizing book. You can often find these out-of-print special issues at Amazon.com (through private sellers) or at Ebay.

Season 3 of Martha Stewart's Cooking School Has Begun on PBS!

Last year, Martha Stewart's Cooking School was the most popular food show on PBS. Naturally, she is back for a third season with 13 all-new episodes to help the novice and the more experienced cooks perfect their skills in the kitchen. Season three of the series began last weekend with an episode about chicken: chicken paillard, chicken pot pie and Spatchcocked chicken. Next week, it's all about onions: onion rings, French onion soup and balsamic-glazed pearl onions. Below is a complete list of episodes, week by week. Be sure to check your local listings for air times and click here to learn more about this season's shows as well as watch clips and previews.

EPISODE ONE: CHICKEN Chicken pot pie, Chicken Paillard, Spatchcocked Chicken.
EPISODE TWO: ONIONS French Onion Soup, Fried Onion Rings, Balsamic-Glazed Pearl Onions.
EPISODE THREE: ROASTING Roast Rack of Lamb, Salt-Roasted Sea Bass, Saffron-Roasted Chicken Wings
EPISODE FOUR: NOODLES Pad Thai, One-Pan Pasta, Pho
EPISODE FIVE: BRAISING Osso Buco, Corned Beef, Lamb Shanks
EPISODE SIX: RICE Paella, Stuffed Peppers, Persian Rice
EPISODE SEVEN: VEGETABLES Steamed Artichokes, Braised Leeks, Fried Okra, Roasted Garlic
EPISODE EIGHT: GRAINS Mushroom Barley Soup, Couscous Royale, Grits with Broiled Potatoes
EPISODE NINE: SAUCES Béarnaise Sauce, Kansas City BBQ Sauce, Tartar Sauce, Cocktail Sauce, Salsa Verde
EPISODE TEN: PORK Porchetta, Glazed Ham, Pork and Plums
EPISODE ELEVEN: POTATOES Scalloped Potatoes, Potato Salad, Puréed Potatoes, Smashed Potatoes
EPISODE TWELVE: SALADS Frisée au Lardons, Chopped Salad, Caesar Salad
EPISODE THIRTEEN: CORN Corn Fritters, Corn Stock, Summer Corn Chowder, Creamed Corn

Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside: Martha's Smashed Potatoes

The Winter issue of Martha Stewart Living

The January/February issue of Martha Stewart Living will be on newsstands Monday. This is the first time January and February issues of Martha Stewart Living have been sandwiched into one 'winter' issue. While I will miss the independent January and February issues, I'm looking forward to paging through this volume to see how the merged content is handled by the editors. Valentine's Day ideas mingle with clutter-clearing solutions and healthy meals for the New Year in an issue that must combine romance with organizing - tricky! This is the time of year when I most like to hunker down with a good magazine, so I'm hopeful this warm-looking issue will get me through some of these bitterly cold days! (Love the heart-shaped waffles!)

Kate Bosworth in Martha Stewart Weddings

I must admit that I actually did not know who Kate Bosworth was until I read about her in the winter issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, which features exclusive photographs of her wedding to Michael Polish. I had heard the name but after reading through her profile on IMDB, I can confirm that I have never seen a single one of the American actress's television shows, films or advertisements. How she escaped my purview is a mystery, but she is now on my coffee table, frozen in a lovely image on the cover of the latest Martha Stewart Weddings - which is a terrific issue.

Kate worked closely with the editors at Martha Stewart Weddings on every detail of the wedding, which took place on a mountaintop in Montana. Rustic-modern details gave the wedding a casual elegance and a reception room filled with vines and votives lent a moody atmosphere. For favours, the guests left with whiskey and bitters wrapped inside paper that featured a rubber stamp of the couples’ new monogram. Today is Kate's birthday, in fact, so it gives me great pleasure to feature this post today of all days. The winter issue of Martha Stewart Weddings is on stands now.

Macy's and Martha Settle Their Legal Dispute

Well, here is some good news to start the New Year! The lawsuit filed against Martha Stewart Living by Macy's has now been settled! Even nicer news? The outcome of the settlement will not affect MSLO in any material way. This has been a very long, drawn-out battle between Macy's, MSLO and JC Penney. The lawsuit was filed over a year ago after it was announced that Martha had signed a merchandising contract with JC Penney in 2011 to sell housewares at its many stores. Macy's saw this as a violation of its merchandising alliance with Martha Stewart, which was formed in 2006. Despite the lawsuit, the deal went ahead and hundreds of new Martha Stewart products found their way onto the shelves at JC Penney. However, last October JC Penney revised its deal with MSLO, ceasing the production of many of the Martha Stewart branded items it had promised to carry, limiting its deal to only a few house and home categories that were not contested by Macy's.

Martha Stewart Living did not disclose the terms of the deal but was clear that the settlement would in no way affect the company's bottom line. An outstanding claim filed by Macy's against JC Penney regarding the matter is still before the courts. Here is a brief statement from MSLO:

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. and Macy's have resolved their legal dispute, and we are pleased to be able to put this matter behind us. The terms of our settlement are confidential, will not be disclosed, and are not deemed to be material to MSLO. We can now return our focus to what we do best – bringing beautifully designed, high quality, affordable products to consumers nationwide. We look forward to a continued, successful partnership together.