This first kitchen is one of my favourites; classic and hip at the same time. The white units and wood floors are beyond pristine, and the marble subway tiled walls are a great finishing touch:

This next space is similar, using many of the same elements. I’m already seeing that white units with black pulls, glass-fronted cabinets and pops of colour are key in a Helgerson kitchen. This one has a more relaxed vibe, with the addition of those awesome vintage chairs:

This kitchen is much more modern, but the general idea (lots of white, streamlined design, a sense of elegance) remains the same:

Helgerson design, on a more modest scale. This sweet and compact kitchen allows the view to take centre stage:

This ranch house kitchen is a great example of adapting an aesthetic to fit your surroundings. The glass-fronted cabinets, subway tile backsplash and wood are all there, looking perfectly at home in their rural surroundings:

The inspiration for this last space was “a Swedish cottage by the sea”, and I can see it in the result. The red and retro accessories (love the 50′s stove- my parents used to have a similar one) add fun and colour to the otherwise white space:

I have a feeling I’ll be featuring a lot of Alvhem properties in the coming weeks, but I wanted to start with this modest, modern flat. The kitchen is small, but perfectly formed. Tiled walls are a recent obsession of mine, and this yellow-and-blue curved one really takes the cake.

The tiles continue to the wall from the backsplash, giving the impression of space and movement. I love how the kitchen accessories pick up on the shades in the tiles, and how the whole thing is reflected in the modern light fixture. Overall, this is a small, modest kitchen that really packs and modern punch.

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?

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?

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)

The first thing I noticed was those chairs- we get so used to seeing an old, worn wooden table surrounded by modern chairs, so this simple inversion of the formula looks fresh. You’ll notice that the wood is the exact shade used on the countertops, an old decorator’s trick for mixing styles while keeping things consistent.

A standing unit, whether antique or modern, means that open storage isn’t so open, and helps add character to the room. I think the black really makes the white dishes pop, don’t you think?

I think my favourite feature is the tiled wall. Regular square tiles are arranged like subway tiles for a look that’s one part modern and one part classic.

Ok, I told you they were subtle differences.

First of all, I love the shade of green on the wall, and how well it sets off the white fridge, chandelier and shelves of crockery. The wooden table, wicker chairs and butcher-block counters are a natural fit with this look. Throwing in the slightly-unusual black cabinets and the retro checkerboard floor keeps the whole thing fresh and fun. Perfect for a creative office, yes- but I’d love it in my own home.

Yup, it’s another oldie-but-goodie today. I was reminded of Ina Garten‘s lovely barn kitchen by my good friend Larissa, when she commented on my post about the Something’s Gotta Give kitchen a few weeks ago.

The celebrated chef and food writer Ina Garten (otherwise known as the Barefoot Contessa) built this “barn” on the grounds of her East Hampton property as an office/guest house/workspace for herself. It’s somewhere to entertain, film her television programs and generally escape to. In design, it’s similar to the Something’s Gotta Give kitchen (white cabinets, dark countertops, stainless steel), but if I’m honest, I prefer Ina’s take on the look. It’s crisper, cleaner, and the whole “modern rustic” vibe is so my style.

All photos from House Beautiful.

This set of two Walk the Line grooved bowls caught my eye immediately. The shape is beautiful and the uses many:

The P-Cup has the most lovely lace-like surface design. Suitable for hot and cold beverages, I think it would be particularly perfect for some hot chocolate:

With the same delicate floral pattern, this Square Bowl would be ideal for fruit or bread:

This Textured Bag could be used just about anywhere, but I’d love to see it on a kitchen windowsill, holding some potted herbs:

Another go-anywhere item, the Tea Light Holders are especially beautiful:

The two-tone tiled floor and the floral wallpaper should fight with each other, but they don’t. The addition of wood and lots of white keeps things bright and airy, and makes for a cheerful kitchen that doesn’t take itself too seriously.