1. Lotus Ware Bowl; 2. 4 Finnish Linen Placemats; 3. Catherine Holm Dutch Oven; 4. Rorstrand Sweden Tea Cup; 5. Dru Holland Cast Iron Frying Pan; 6. Copco Enameled Saute Pan.

The kitchen is a slightly different space, though. Oh, it’s still elegant and quirky, but here is where the industrial warehouse aesthetic really shines. I love the (original!) metal door leading into the room, not to mention the vintage rolling ladder along the (cookbook?) wall. I also like the trio of retro pendant lights over the island, which together with some well-placed cast iron cookware, add colour to the room.

Overall, this is a room I’d love to cook in. It just seems so clean, bright, and user-friendly; exactly what a kitchen should be. Be sure to check out the rest of the home, too.

Firstly, I just love this party ball picnic set, sold by modapple. It’s got plates, bowls and cups- everything you need for a stylish lunch al fresco:

If you like something a bit more compact, how about these vintage plastic lunch trays? Sold by Tracelements, they’re perfect for those who don’t like their food “touching”:

For beverages, I like this plastic thermos and soup jar set, by Junk Yard Finds:

These plastic corn on the cob holders just say summer to me- my parents had a set just like this when I was young. Sold by Find me a Memory:

Of course, you’ll need somewhere to lay it all out, and I like the look of this 60′s wool blanket from solartwin vintage:

And to pack it all up, this vintage tin picnic basket, with trompe l’oeil basket weave pattern, from Camp Hobachee:

Not this space, though. Kingswood House from 1st Option has a great kitchen: modern and retro and strong and feminine, all at the same time. The first things I noticed were those fab industrial stools, and how well they go with the retro pistachio-coloured fridge.

I love the two striped rugs in this space, too. Bold and unexpected, they keep all the pastel touches from looking too sweet. The floating units also work well. The whole feeling of this space would be somehow different if they were built-in, don’t you think?

Of course, these photos are styled to perfection- right down to the gumball machine and retro tea towel. Still, I’d have to consider this space if I do in fact win the lottery this week.

What do you think of Kingswood House?

From a home in the small Swedish town of Eskilstuna, this place has that industrial, slightly retro vibe that seems so typical of Swedish interiors (if we’re going by what the design mags tell us, anyway). The tile, wood-framed cabinets, stainless appliances and big wooden table are so tightly designed that the effect borders on austere. But those chairs! The bright green colour and fun shape add a playful edge that makes the room what it is.

I adore the tiled walls, too- so clean-looking! If this was my room I might have been tempted to leave the back one plain for some killer art, which I always love in a kitchen. Still, if someone feels like buying me this home (it’s up for sale-see the rest of the house here), I won’t complain.

It’s not just the recipes that have me captivated, though. Sophie’s kitchen is a vision of rustic femininity: all white tile, weathered wooden countertops, exotic green wallpaper and retro accessories. After a bit of research, I found out that it’s actually the home of UK photographer Paul Massey, and has been featured in Living etc magazine! And what do you know, I’ve featured it here before:

This room is one of my favourites that I’ve ever featured on this site. The bare, minimalist bones are good enough, but check it out all Sophied up:

And in all it’s live-action glory, including wallpaper and art:

Are you swooning yet?

As much as I love my clean white kitchens, this place just puts a smile on my face. The combo of light blue and dark red isn’t so much “Stars and Stripes” to my eyes as reminiscent of Cath Kidston, queen of retro prints. These colours are perfect for this space’s retro theme, carried through by the vintage-style appliances and bright red accessories. I also love the subtle patterns at play here- see how the mini-tile backsplash interacts with the striped tea towel?

See all the kitchen photos here, and the rest of Tim and Sarah’s charming house here.

But while I surely dig wood, I’m not about to start endorsing any 80′s oak cabinet monstrosities. The trick is when and where to use it; nothing looks great in excess, after all. Here are my favourite ways to use wood in the kitchen. (All pics in this post from Living etc.)

Cabinets. This is a given, right? But there are so many options: dark, light, plain, panelled, upper, lower. I love the look of this kitchen, which has cabinets in a rich shade, but only lower ones, so the effect isn’t overwhelming:

Countertops. My hands-down favourite, and what I plan to do in my own space one day. Paired with white cabinets as in this space, the effect is modern classic at its best:

Island or butcher block. In a modern kitchen, this option is almost always a good bet. It can lend a refreshing country feel to even the most urban of spaces, as in this room:

Seating. In this otherwise white and minimal room, wooden stools add a touch of humanity:

Floors. Others can have their tiled, linoleum or concrete floors; nine times out of ten, I’ll take hardwood. The blonde wood in this kitchen fades into the background, while still adding warmth to the space:

Table. An oldie but a goodie. A big, wooden kitchen table works in any style of room, from industrial to retro and back again. This one looks perfectly at home in this bright space:

Well, I’m glad I did this time, because I think this room is gorgeous! It’s in what used to be an old printing factory, and though there’s only the one photo, it’s enough to get an idea of why (I think) it works so well:

Art. No overhead cabinets, not even any open shelving to muck up the flow of this room. Instead, a collection of art creates a gallery-like feeling, making this room just as atmospheric as any other in the house.

Retro touches. That vintage icebox, probably used as a cupboard of some sort, is divine. I love how it breaks up the white cabinets and sits front and centre, rather than off to the side.

Eclectic mix. I like how the table features both classic wooden chairs and industrial-style stools. A soft-glow, vintage-looking lamp sits on the countertop to the left, while a sleeker pendant hangs from the ceiling at the right.

These decorative tiles make for an elegant and retro take on the trend, via Apartment Therapy:

For an austere and timeless look, white subway tiles were used in this kitchen from Living etc:

Which do you prefer?