Kitchenisms » pattern

Liberty of London for Target

Ele — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:35:33 +0000

As a lover of beautiful prints, posh London department stores and cheap er, affordable homewares, I was thrilled when I first heard of the Liberty of London for Target collaboration. Comprising of clothing, accessories, home decor and more, the collection is currently available in Target stores across the US, and can also be purchased online. UK residents will have to wait a bit longer, but can pre-order from Liberty or hit the Argyll Street shop on March 29th for in-store browsing. I know I’ll be there, hoping to snap up some of these gorgeous goodies:

Clockwise from top left:
Dunclare Black Dining Collection
Maynard Canister
Theberton Prep Bowls
Dunclare Pink Dining Collection
Serving Tray
Maynard/Sixty 2-Tier Tray
Dunclare Black Large Tumbler
Sixty Melamine Platter

Tableware: White or coloured?

Ele — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:00:17 +0000

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:

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:

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

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)

Cool Kitchen: Bright in Brighton

Ele — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:56:21 +0000

I was checking out the new sneak peeks on Design*Sponge yesterday when this bright and quirky space jumped out at me. It’s the Brighton, UK home of illustrator Sanna Annuka and her husband, artist/designer Jasper Goodall. While the whole house is packed with personality, it was the kitchen, with its cheerful café furniture and collection of retro cookware, that caught my eye.

All the colour and pattern speak of Sanna’s work as an illustrator, as well as her Finnish heritage. I love the open shelving by the seating area, perfect for displaying all those fun pieces. Still, it’s hardly cutesy; the exposed beam and professional stainless equipment give the space a serious industrial qualityl. All in, I think this place has a wonderful European vibe that’s fun, laid-back and practical, too.

Be sure to check out the rest of this fab home, too.