Storage solutions: Dining rooms

Southern Living, May 2000 by Joyner, Louis, Belden, Derick, Clavell, Alicia K, Griffin, Eleanor, Et al

Built-ins let you make the best use of the space that's available in a dining or breakfast room, because you can arrange the shelving to accommodate a special item such as a punch bowl or tall cof fee urn. Cabinets are ideal for storing items you use infrequently, such as a soup tureen or turkey platter.

Don't overlook the storage possibilities offered by freestanding pieces of furniture, such as a hutch, china cabinet, or plate rack, that let you enjoy the decorative qualities of special items as you store them. Sideboards, servers, and chests of drawers provide serving space as well as storage.

If you keep flatware in a drawer instead of in a silver chest, line the drawer with a special tarnishinhibiting fabric such as Pacific Silvercloth. Cut a piece of fabric to fit the bottom of a drawer or cabinet, and then secure it with a few staples. Cut pieces to cover the sides, allowing an inch or so of fabric at each edge to turn under; staple the fabric to the sides of the drawer. Cut a separate piece to place loosely over the top of the flatware.

Tarnish-preventing bags that also protect silver from scratches are available at hardware stores and through catalogs that specialize in items for storage. Polyethylene or polyester plastic bags (turkey roasting bags) can be safely used as an outer wrapping to help keep air and moisture away from silver, but they should never touch the silver itself Before sealing, squeeze out as much air as you can. Never use rubber bands near silver; they can cause tarnishing.

As basic as it may sound, store only clean linens. Insects, attracted to particles of food or dirt, can easily nibble away fibers, damaging the fabric. When you put away linens, place a layer of white tissue paper or white fabric over hardwood surfaces in a drawer or on a shelf. This keeps the delicate fabric from coming in contact with potentially harmful oils in the wood. Closets can be custom fitted with rods for holding folded tablecloths; drapery hangers also work well. Whether you use a wooden rod or drapery hanger, first fold a tablecloth to fit, inserting tissue paper between the folds. Refold the cloth periodically to avoid creases.

When storing china, make sure that the shelves are strong enough to withstand the load. If you stack plates, use paper napkins or felt squares between them as cushioning. It's best not to stack cups because it could chip the rims. To avoid breakage, glass and crystal should never be crowded on a shelf. Display and store crystal as it's designed to be used-sitting upright on its base.