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Archive for March 2010

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)

Etsy finds: Roosting with Bonnie

The blogging class I’ve been taking has certainly been eating up my time of late, but good things are coming of it. Not just ideas and inspiration for Kitchenist et al, but also new connections, friendships and blogs to explore.

Today’s Etsy shops are those of one of my classmates, the multi-talented Bonnie of Going Home to Roost. Bonnie has an incredible three shops to her name:  Home to Roost, The Kitchen Roost, and Old Renewed. The latter offers lovely re-worked vintage prints in crisp white frames, but the first two are pure textile gorgossity (and right up my alley). Check out some of my favourite pieces from these fab shops.

I love the appliqué on this free bird reusable bag:

Roosting

The tall tree organic tea towel is lovely, too:

Roosting

I like reusable bags of all kinds, and this small produce bag with bird decal is no exception:

Roosting

Another organic tea towel, there’s something so lovely about this carrots motif:

Roosting

Not necessarily for the kitchen (perhaps in a breakfast nook?), I’m still loving the sentiment behind the felt-appliquéd water your garden cushion:

Roosting

I’m a sucker for nice aprons, and with this adorable deer reversible apron, you get two for the price of one:

Roosting

Roosting