Checklist for What Every House Needs

Kitchen Essentials
By INA GARTEN, cookbook author

A GOOD SET OF SHARP KNIVES by Wüsthof, including a chef's knife, a paring knife, a slicing knife, and a bread knife

ALL-CLAD POTS: small and large sauté pans, small and large lidded pots, and a large stockpot

ONE LARGE ALL-CLAD ROASTING PAN . You can make something small in a big one, but you can't make something big in a small one.

One medium and one large LE CREUSET ROUND DUTCH OVEN

I cannot imagine not having my KITCHENAID MIXER K45

Ditto my CUISINART PRO CUSTOM 11 FOOD PROCESSOR, with its slightly bigger bowl

A set of STAINLESS-STEEL MIXING BOWLS (try a restaurant supply house). I also have a set of 10 clear glass bowls that you can get at Williams-Sonoma for about $38 — the best value in the world.

On the counter, I have a big pot of WOODEN SPOONS AND RUBBER SPATULAS

I have another pot with WHISKS AND MEASURING SPOONS. All available from a restaurant supply place — they shouldn't be fancy.

A CHEF'S CHOICE ELECTRIC KNIFE SHARPENER

A BOOS BUTCHER BLOCK CUTTING BOARD

A MEAT THERMOMETER

For potholders, I use BLACK OVEN MITTS

A stack of HALF SHEET PANS. They're about 13" x 18" each with a one-inch rim. I use them for roasting vegetables, baking cookies and brownies, and lots of other tasks.

Security Essentials
By SERGEANT ANTHONY ARCHULETA, Durango, Colorado Police Department

FLASHLIGHT

FIRST AID KIT

ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WHO KNOW CPR

ROPE LADDER with wooden steps, to get out of a second-story window in an emergency

FIRE EXTINGUISHER

BOTTLED WATER, CANDLES, AND CANNED FOOD, in case of a power outage

Guest Room Essentials
By TOM SCHEERER, interior designer

BATH AND HAND TOWELS, WASHCLOTHS

FRESH SOAP

SHAMPOO

BATH OIL OR FOAM

UNISEX XL TERRY ROBE

HAIR DRYER

REFILLABLE WATER VESSEL and a glass

PAD AND PENCIL

ALARM CLOCK

A RANGE OF MAGAZINES

A RANGE OF HANGERS

LUGGAGE RACK

BEDSIDE NOSEGAY or a single blossom

AN ORANGE OR AN APPLE