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The Coolest Fridges

Like many appliances, fridges can sometimes get overlooked in the design process. Too often they fall into “boring, big and white” territory, doing their job but acting as the proverbial (and sometimes physical) elephant in the room. But if you think of them as an opportunity to inject some style into your kitchen, it can be a whole other story. Check out some of my favourite picks for the coolest fridges around.

First up, my all-time favourite. Smeg is an Italian brand that pioneered the fun-look, serious-performance fridge. With different lines to choose from, you can go for a sleek and modern locker-style number or the trademark 50’s-look model. I’m a fan of the latter, in white or cream.

smeg

An industrial-style fridge is always going to be a classic, and with good reason. Stainless steel works with many different interior styles, and adds a professional touch to a kitchen. I like the styles offered by German brand Miele, particularly the Grand Froid style, which would work for a large family.

miele

Futuristic styles can be fun, too. The new Samsung by Gro fridge can be used horizontally or vertically, and the space-age styling would complement a super-modern, minimalist kitchen.

samsung

Probably the gold standard for designer refrigerators, Italian brand Meneghini makes unique models inspired by vintage iceboxes. Nigella Lawson has the cream one shown below, though I’ve got a soft spot for the tall, slim red model. Available to purchase at Robeys, the price (over 36K for the deluxe model) may make you think twice.

meneghini

Tableware: White or coloured?

Let’s turn our attention away from pretty kitchens for a minute (hard, I know), and look to something that you inevitably find in those rooms: tableware. Available in a mind-boggling array of materials, styles, sizes and colours, choosing it can be almost as taxing as choosing a backsplash or cabinets. One question will always pop up, though.

White or coloured?

Traditional wisdom says that white is the only way to go. It’s clean, minimalist and shows off food to its best advantage. It certainly can be beautiful, as in the Sophie Conran for Portmeiron collection, used by my own stylish sister:

Sophie Conran Portmeiron

Sophie Conran Portmeiron

But white tableware can also scuff, scratch and stain easily. Luckily there are alternatives if colour (or practicality) is your thing. A beautiful neutral, as in this Vera Wang for Wedgewood Naturals range, can look lovely:

Vera Wang Wedgewood

As can a fun or bold print. I like the graphic-yet-natural feeling of Rachel Barker’s range:

Rachel Barker

So, where do you fall on this debate? What do you look for in a set of tableware?

(All images in this post from John Lewis)

Of Type and Cookies

These Helvetica Cookie Cutters by designer Beverly Hsu were making the blog rounds a few weeks ago. I first saw them at Swiss Miss and then over at MadeByGirl, so resisted redundantly posting them here. I’m giving in now because really, who doesn’t like Helvetica? Design cliché though it might be, it’s the still the first typeface I (figuratively) reach for. If I had some of these cookie cutters (not available commercially yet, but here’s hoping!), I might be reaching for it literally, as well.

Helvetica cookie cutters

Helvetica cookie cutters

Helvetica cookie cutters

Virginia Graham

The work of UK-based ceramacist Virginia Graham is insane, not to mention insanely beautiful. I’m loving the whimsical patchwork feeling and all the happy florals. I’ll definitely be looking out for her at Ceramic Art London 2010 at the end of the month.

Virginia Graham

Virginia Graham

Virginia Graham

Virginia Graham

Virginia Graham

Virginia Graham

The bowls especially kill me- aren’t they lovely? Be sure to check out the rest of Virginia’s work in her inspirational gallery.

Look! Ekocook

Longtime readers will know that my favourite er, not so practical kitchen ideas tend to come from Dezeen. This UK-based online mag covers the architecture, art and design worlds, so their content is an inspiring mix of practical, playful, and plain weird. I’m always on the lookout for kitchen- and food-related items, which pop up from time to time and tend to be pretty cool.

Ekocook

Take this conceptual kitchen, designed to recycle waste as close as possible to where it’s produced. Called Ekocook, it’s been dreamed up by Victor Massip and Laurent Lebot of Faltazi. As well as the usual things you’d expect to find in a kitchen, Ekocook includes an under-sink reservoir for collecting reusable water, a collection of super-organized recycling bins, pendant lights which double as herb pots and even a container of earthworms to turn food waste into compost.

Ekocook

I’m all for reducing waste and recycling more, but even I can’t imagine keeping worms in my kitchen. What do you think?

Look: Toast Products

Last Friday, I featured some photos from Toast’s Autumn ‘09 catalogue, and promised to share some of my product picks this week. True to my word, here are some of my favourite finds from this beloved UK mail-order company.

Pam’s Recipe Book was written by the cook on the Toast Autumn/Winter ‘09 photoshoot. Full of traditional Irish recipes, all profits go toward a medical charity:

Toast Products

I adore these handblown Moroccan tea glasses. They come in a set of six, each a different colour:

Toast Products

This old-fashioned apple rack is useful for storing fruit (obviously), but would also make wonderful under-sink storage, stacked to collect odds and ends:

Toast Products

This Greek pot jumped out at me in the catalogue images. I love the colours- it would certainly make a chic cookie jar:

Toast Products

I love all of Toast’s rustic tableware, but this large salad bowl, with its yellow inside, is particularly nice:

Toast Products

The French bistro cutlery is traditional and timeless, and the resin handles come in two different colours:

Toast Products

Pedlars

Several weeks ago, I was browsing in Selfridges when I came across an small area, near the kitchen shop, which was laden with cool housewares, accessories and vintage pieces. It turns out to be a Pedlars concession, which opened in July of this year. Pedlars is a family-owned interiors company based in Scotland, with shops in London, Birmingham and Wales. They carry a mix of new items and vintage, all with a quirky charm and trendy feel.

I urge you to check our their online shop, which is full to bursting with great products for you and your home. Here are some of my favourites, all from the kitchen section (naturally) of the site.

I like the retro kitsch factor of oil cloth tablecloths, and this one is made perfectly modern with a trendy deer print:

Pedlars

There’s something utterly fabulous about this Gold Ice Cream Bowl and Spoon. I’d love to eat anything out of it, to be honest:

Pedlars

I like that these Coloured Knives come with guards, always useful for those of us who store such things in a drawer:

Pedlars

This porcelain Flour Bag Container would look great next to the stove, holding wooden spoons and other utensils:

Pedlars

I like the look of this retro Wall Mounted Bottle Opener. I’d like to have one outside (if I had an outside) for barbeques and such:

Pedlars

My favourite item might just be this traditional Oak Roller Towel Holder. What a great accessory for a modern-retro kitchen:

Pedlars

Finally! Anthropologie in London

I arrived home from my vacation yesterday, exhausted and freezing, to some wonderful news: London’s first Anthropologie shop is finally opening. The Regent Street flagship is set to open its doors on Oct. 23rd (tomorrow!), meaning the American brand’s boho-chic clothing, accessories and home decor will at long last be available on this side of the pond.

Anthropologie is one of my first ports of call on my yearly trips to the States, so I can’t wait to check it out here in London. I’m not sure I’ll be brave enough for the shop until the fever dies down, but luckily the website is already up and running. Check out my favourite kitchen-related products.

I love pretty rolling pins, and this Bird-In-Hand one is super pretty:

Anthropologie

This trio of handmade Olivewood Spoons looks lovely. I’d like a small one for my salt pig:

Anthropologie

There’s a great selection of dishtowels, and I like this Sweet Stack one:

Anthropologie

The Digit Spice Jar is cute and practical. I’d love it for bay leaves, cinnamon sticks or other irregularly-shaped spices:

Anthropologie

It was difficult to settle on a favourite coaster (the Slate ones are really fun), but I just fell for the designs on the Mallorca set:

Anthropologie

Crochet Collage Tablecloths have such a pretty, vintage quality to them. I’d try to DIY this, if only I had an abundance of doilies:

Anthropologie

Look: Fred & Friends Products

A friend tipped me off to the Fred & Friends brand last week. I’ve seen some of their products in shops, but never paid close attention to them before now. Unique, quirky and often ridiculous (in a good way), this company makes home products that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Check out some of my favourites from their website.

Equal Measure is the product that opened my eyes to this brand. At its simplest, it’s just a large glass measuring jug- but it’s also fun, educational, and makes you think:

Fred & Friends Products

Another measuring product, M-Cups is based on Russian matryoshka dolls. Not only are they adorable, but the idea is practical and space-saving, too:

Fred & Friends Products

I know this looks a little far-out, but trust me: I have a silicone brush, and I use it all the time. Twiggy just looks more fun:

Fred & Friends Products

The only thing I don’t like about Snap-a-Party is that it’s a one-time-use item. How fun for a picnic, though- there’s even chopsticks in there!

Fred & Friends Products

It might be difficult to clean, but I love the sculptural quality of the Spilt Milk cereal bowl:

Fred & Friends Products

Another fun container, Unzipped could work for a lot of things. I can even see it as a lovely vase with some fresh flowers:

Fred & Friends Products

Sabre

A post on my food blog Kitchenist had me thinking about Sabre, a French brand that makes brightly coloured, charming and modern kitchen products. I’ve never actually been to one of their shops, but have been lucky enough to receive gifts from there, and of course love browsing the selection online. Read on to see why I like this company’s look so much.

Sabre makes an incredible selection of flatware, including the colourful Natura range. I have this cake cutter in pea green:

Sabre

All the porcelain tableware is great, but my pick is the Rick Rack pattern. Maybe it’s the designer in me coming out, but this retro throwback is just so covetable:

Sabre

While there’s a range of tablecloths and other fabric items in the Textile section of the site, I like the White Dots tablecloth best:

Sabre

I love the look of the Gustave napkin ring, available in 12 colours:

Sabre

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