Features: Kitchen

Retro Enamel Bowls from Primrose & Plum

Retro Enamel Bowls, £15 for a set of three, from Primrose & Plum

Get baking with these Retro Enamel Bowls from Primrose & Plum. £15 for a set of three

One of my new favourite pastimes is baking. Yes, yes I know I’m a little late to the party but there’s nothing more therapeutic than having the radio on while baking a batch of brownies on a Sunday morning.

It must be my age as nowadays the flat is full of the delicious smell of cooking chocolate at the same time I used to be coming in through the door from a night out.

Given my recent obsession with baked goods, I have also naturally become obsessed with baking equipment which is why I love these Retro Enamel Bowls from Primrose & Plum.

They come in a set of three and are perfect for mixing everything from cake batter to meringues so you can create goodies until your heart’s content.

What’s more they’re stackable so you don’t need to worry about them taking up precious cupboard space.

Water Bobble Filter Jug in Blue from Oliver Bonas

Water Bobble Filter Jug in Blue, £29.66, from Oliver Bonas

Add some eco chic to your dining table with this Water Bobble Filter Jug in Blue from Oliver Bonas. £29.66

While water filter jugs are great, after all who wants to spend hundreds of pounds on fancy bottled water, they’ve not traditionally been the most attractive of products.

However, I’ve come across this rather cool Water Bobble Filter Jug from Oliver Bonas.

Available in blue or red, the clever bobble filters your water removing all those nasties to leave you with a jug full of clean, fresh water.

And as well as being clever, it’s rather stylish too which means it wouldn’t look out of place in the dining room.

Time to stop buying bottled water? We think so.

Teapot Tiny Hearts from Summerill & Bishop

Teapot Tiny Hearts, £89.50, from Summerill & Bishop

Make the perfect cuppa with the Teapot Tiny Hearts from Summerill & Bishop, £89.50.

Much as I love an enlivening espresso or a comforting hot chocolate, I am a tea girl at heart. And whilst, for a quick brew, it may be easier to pop a teabag in a mug, if you want a proper cup of tea you need a proper teapot.

I love the Teapot Tiny Hearts from Summerill & Bishop. It has a very cute design, in white and blue with little contrasting hearts, yet at 3 litres can manage 12 cups of your favourite blend.

Set of 3 Marmite Cake Tins by ECP Design from Pelican Pear

Set of 3 Marmite Cake Tins, £22, ECP Design from Pelican Pear

You’ll love this Set of 3 Marmite Cake Tins by ECP Design from Pelican Pear, £22.

Marmite – they say you either love it or hate it. I have to admit that I’m no fan, but I’m a huge fan of this funky Set of 3 Marmite Cake Tins by ECP Design from Pelican Pear. Nesting inside each other, they are decorated in a retro, pop art Marmite design, in cool shades of pink, blue and green.

Perfect for storing whichever tasty treats you do love.

Herb Stand from Bodie and Fou

Herb Stand, £31.99, from Bodie and Fou

Keep your herbs in check with this Herb Stand from Bodie and Fou. £31.99

As much as I would love to have a miniature herb garden in my kitchen, my rather narrow windowsill doesn’t allow for one.

Or so I thought until I stumbled across this Herb Stand from Bodie and Fou.

The neat stand is designed to hold four herbs but is small enough to be in even the tiniest of kitchens.

It also houses a handy pair of scissors so you can snip your herb straight into your culinary delights.

Shop the Room: Country Kitchen

Our pick of Country Kitchen accessories

Add some country style to your kitchen with these buys.

Nothing makes you feel at home more than a cosy, country kitchen. These country-inspired accessories are sure to give your home some rustic character.

The Country Style Wooden Shelf Unit from Primrose & Plum instantly injects a relaxed and old English feel to any kitchen, as well as being great for storing cookery books and paraphernalia.
While the Vintage Style Cream Cake Tin from Fields of Blue is perfect for storing any of your baked creations.

(Clockwise from top) Prestige 54314 Traditional Kettle from John Lewis, £69.95, Small Floral Milk Jug from The Contemporary Home, £4.99, Shabby Chic Botanical Wall Clock from Fields of Blue, £69, Vintage Style Cream Cake Tin from Fields of Blue, £18.95, Pink and White Check Tea Towel by Fog Linen Work from Summerill & Bishop, £14.50, Country Style Wooden Shelf Unit from Primrose & Plum, £350.

Movie Quotes Tea Towel from Hunkydory Home

Movie Quotes Tea Towel, £12, from Hunkydory Home

Release your inner film buff with this Movie Quotes Tea Towel from Hunkydory Home. £12

Let’s face it doing the washing up is dull and well, when it comes to drying the dishes, that’s even more dull.

So you might as well make it as fun as it can be with this Movie Quotes Tea Towel from Hunkydory Home.

Featuring memorable lines from flicks such as Dirty Dancing, Jerry McGuire and and Top Gun, you can quiz your washing partner on which line is from what film and we guarantee it’ll make doing the dishes a little more fun.

And if you have a dishwasher, framed it will make the perfect wall decoration for your kitchen wall.

Shop the Room: Bright Kitchen

Our pick of bright kitchen goodies.

Put some colour in your cooking with our pick of the best accessories for a bright kitchen.

Put some life and fun into your kitchen, with these bright accessories, perfect for any colour scheme.

The Mini Metal Colanders from The Contemporary Home are a bold and simple way of injecting some colour into your culinary haven. Or maybe you fancy a subtle hint of rainbow goodness, such as the Joseph Joseph Nest Measuring Cups Set from Heal’s; great for baking as well as giving your kitchen shelf a bright and colourful vibe.

(Clockwise from top) Mini Metal Colanders – 5 Assorted Colours, £4.99, from The Contemporary Home, Jug, £20, from Habitat, Donna Strainer Spoon by Koziol, £10, from Pelican Pear, Joseph Joseph Nest Measuring Cups Set of 5, £10, from Heal’s, Snack and Stack Utensils, £12.99, from Mocha, Vegetable Peeler, £4, from Habitat.

Russian Dolls Measuring Spoons Set from Rockett St George

Russian Dolls Measuring Spoons Set, £5.50, from Rockett St George

Measure your ingredients the fun way with these Russian Dolls Measuring Spoons from Rockett St George. £5.50

I’m that obsessed with Russian dolls that every time I come across new ones I get just a tad excited.

I even have a nativity set of Russian dolls which granted is probably a bit blasphemous when you think the Baby Jesus fits inside the donkey.

So, I was delighted to come across these Russian Dolls Measuring Spoons from Rockett St George.

Made from hardwearing plastic they are neatly strung together and divided into handy spoon sizes to make sure you never get a measurement wrong again.

Now all I need is a Russian-doll-shaped cake tin and I’ll be happy!

Paisley Jug from Brissi

Paisley Jug, £16, from Brissi

Display the first blooms of spring in style with one of these Paisley Jugs from Brissi. £16

While I would never call myself a collector (well that’s until I can afford to start collecting Rothko’s and then will shout it from the rooftops) I do seem to have accumulated a number of ceramic jugs.

They come in all shapes and sizes and textures but the one thing they’ve all got in common is they’re white.

Which is why I love this Paisley Jug from Brissi.

Perfect for displaying the first blooms of spring (my collection of jugs are currently holding an abundance of daffodils) you can also use it for kitchen utensils.

And for those of you who aren’t as obsessed with white ceramics, it also comes in a rather delightful blue hue.

Quick Shop: Jugs

Our pick of stylish jugs.

Give your breakfast table a boost with our pick of these fabulous jugs. Give your breakfast table a boost with our pick of these fabulous jugs.

There’s no need to cry over spilt milk once you have one of these gorgeously designed jugs on your table!

If you fancy something quirky, the Blaue Blume Milk Jug from Found Home Store is a funky little milk jug that’s perfect for any fashionista. Or if you’d prefer something more traditional to pour your morning fruit juice, the Portmeirion Sophie Conran Glass Jug from John Lewis will keep your table looking fresh and simple.

(Clockwise from top) Blaue Blume Milk Jug, £35, from Found Home Store, Portmeirion Sophie Conran Glass Jug, £31, from John Lewis, Jan Constantine Union Jack Large Jug, £31, from Heal’s, Galvanised Jug with Heart Detail – Small, £12.99, from The Contemporary Home, Georg Jensen Quack Black Serving Jug by Maria Bernsten, £65, from Heal’s, Orla Kiely Milk Jug Abacus, £18, from Heal’s.

Quick Shop: Oven Gloves

Our selection of stylishly chic oven gloves

Bake in style this season with our fantastic range of oven gloves

Kitchen essentials tend to be more about practicality then style, but this needn’t be the case!

Choose from our range of our trendy and chic oven gloves that are sure to add a bit of colour and style to any bland kitchen. The gorgeous Marimekko Gardeners Best Oven Mitt from Heal’s with its retro design is perfect for pattern lovers while the Baker Street Oven Mitt from Lifestyle Bazaar is just the ticket for those that want to add some capital style.

Glove & Cake Oven Gloves, £25, from Hunky Dory Home, Dandelion Double Oven Glove, £10, from Heal’s, London 2012 Olympic Games Union Jack Oven Gloves, £12, from John Lewis, Endeavour Oven Glove, £11.40, from 95% Danish, Marimekko Gardeners Best Oven Mitt, £20, from Heal’s, Baker Street Oven Mitt, £16.95, from Lifestyle Bazaar.

Cattelan Italia Drop Wine Rack from A White Room

Cattelan Italia Drop Wine Rack, £936, from A White Room

Stash your wine in style with this Cattelan Italia Drop Wine Rack from A White Room. £936

To be perfectly honest, a bottle of wine never lasts long enough in my house to be put in a rack.

However, this Cattelan Italia Drop Wine Rack from A White Room might convince me to change my mind.

Made from steel it has a sturdy rack to hold your finest bottles of wine and two shelves to store glasses, corkscrews and other wine paraphernalia.

Spice Boxes from Plumo

Spice Box, £15, from Plumo

Keep your spices close at hand in one of these stylish Spice Boxes from Plumo. £15

For me spice racks fall into two categories; really stylish and therefore very expensive and cheap and consequently not very nice.

With spice racks, it would appear to me at least, there is no middle ground.

That was until I stumbled across these gorgeous carved Spice Boxes from Plumo.

Made from solid wood, the intricate carved lids reveal compartments to hold an array of spices.

They’re also perfect for holding tea lights or even small items of jewellery.

Kitchen Bin & Mini Bin from Garden Trading

Kitchen Bin & Mini Bin, £54, from Garden Trading

Take care of rubbish in style with this Kitchen Bin & Mini Bin Set from Garden Trading. £54

I know bins aren’t the most exciting of objects but as they are rather necessary, you might as well make them stylish.

And it just so happens that I’m on the hunt for a new kitchen bin after my own gave up the ghost over Christmas – probably in protest about all that uneaten food.

Top of my list is this practical but stylish Kitchen Bin & Mini Bin set from Garden Trading.

Both made from galvanized steel and available in three colours, the smaller bin in perfect for composting or as a worktop bin when you’e preparing vegetables.

Vintage Bird Measuring Spoons from Oliver Bonas

Vintage Bird Measuring Spoons, £26, from Oliver Bonas

Get your measurements right in style with these Vintage Bird Measuring Spoons from Oliver Bonas. £26

One of my new years resolutions is to bake more, another is to get fitter and while those might seem a bit contradictory, they are, nonetheless, my resolutions.

One of the things I always struggle with when baking is my measurements.

So to make sure I never get them wrong again, I’m going to invest in a set of these gorgeous Vintage Bird Measuring Spoons from Oliver Bonas.

And if I end up breaking my resolution then they can sit on my worktop looking pretty – sure beats a set of your bog standard scales!

Christmas Gift Guide: Gifts for tea lovers

Our pick of the best gifts for tea-lovers

Give your tea-loving friends and family something they’ll adore with our round up of gifts.

Whether they enjoy a classic cup of builders, a fragrant Earl Grey or an exotic Lasang Souchong, you’re sure to give them a warming Christmas gift this year with these fabulous tea-inspired gifts.
The Alessi Tea Matter Tea Strainer from Utility is a creative and beautiful way to strain loose leaf tea in style. And if they’re entertaining, the Cath Kidston Strawberry Teapot from John Lewis is perfect for those afternoon tea parties.

(Clockwise from top) ECO re-usable coffee and tea lover cup – pretty blue floral, from Rockett St George £12, Cath Kidston strawberry teapot, from John Lewis £19.50, Cuppa Tea cosy, from Hunkydory Home £8, Set of 2 red spotty tea cup and saucer, from Lovers Lounge £15, ALESSI tea matter tea strainer, from Utility £18.90, Chelseaware tea for one set purple and pink, from The Orchard £16.50.

Guzzini Latina Mixing Bowl from Red Candy

Guzzini Latina Mixing Bowl, £18.40, from Red Candy

Make baking easy this Christmas with this Guzzini Latina Mixing Bowl from Red Candy. £18.40

Putting aside the religious aspect and Christmas being a time for being with family, to a lot of people it’s about eating!

When else can you justify scoffing a chocolate orange before breakfast than on Christmas morning or despite pleading that you’re full always having room for just one more mince pie?

If you’re in the mood for baking this festive period, then this Guzzini Latina Mixing Bowl from Red Candy is one piece of kitchen equipment you can’t be without.

Not only is it generous in size making whisking up batches of treats a breeze but it also has a handy measuring panel so you get your measurements just right and a pouring spout so your kitchen floor doesn’t get covered in Christmas cake mixture.

Now, what are you waiting for, go, on get baking and make sure you send us some treats!

Quick Shop: Kitchen Scales

Our range of stylish and colourful Kitchen Scales

Brighten up your kitchen and create maximum impact with a set of colourful kitchen scales

Everyday kitchen accessories are both essential and practical, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring.

If you’re looking to add a splash of cheerfulness to your kitchen, these kitchen scales are a great way to introduce colour. To add instant vividness and style opt for the colourful Typhoon kitchen scales, a wonderful take on the classic retro style in a vibrant red, it’s sure to add liven up any kitchen.

Typhoon Vintage Kitchen Scales, £27, from Red Candy, Joseph Joseph Easy Pour Kitchen Scale, from £38.40, from John Lewis, Bugatti Uma Kitchen Scale, £117.44, from WhereDidYouBuyThat, Typhoon Electronic Kitchen Scales, £36, from Heal’s, Salter Orb Mechanical Kitchen Scale, £10, from John Lewis, Guzzini Sefra Mechanical Scales, £41.40, from Red Candy.

Jonathan Adler Dachshund Butter Dish from Heal's

Jonathan Adler Dachshund Butter Dish, £68, from Heal's

Add some humour to your breakfast table with this Jonathan Adler Dachshund Butter Dish from Heal's. £68

Regular readers will know that I rather like dogs. Ok, ok, not so much like as adore.

This means I get very excited when I come across dog-shaped or inspired and have to share them with your immediately.

Which is why I’m writing about about this delightful Jonathan Adler Dachshund Butter Dish from Heal’s.

Yes, yes, I know butter is bad for you but who can resist a piece of hot, buttered toast on a autumn morning?

Yup, thought so – and if you don’t want your butter to be rock hard then you’ll have to invest in a butter dish.

And I can’t think of one better than this.