Happy Monday everybody! Why not warm up to the week with these lovely illustrations from Bridbird. I stumbled across Bridget‘s shop this morning, and found her lovely prints, cards and fridge magnets, all foodie-themed and completely covetable. My favourites are the spices but I wouldn’t say no to any on my kitchen wall.






Posted in Etsy on October 26th, 2009 by Ele | 2 comments
Tags: Art, card, illustration, magnet, print, watercolour
I’m abandoning my usual Friday Flickr update for some lovely food photography today. I’ve never had an American Thanksgiving, and I’ve most definitely never had a Southern one, but these photos from Country Living make me think I might be missing out. I love the colours and the presentation here, which perfectly evoke the elegance and cosiness of the holiday season. Happy Friday, everybody!





Posted in Photography on October 23rd, 2009 by Ele | 4 comments
Tags: country living, food photography, southern, thanksgiving
Though it might surprise you, my dream kitchen doesn’t have a modern, shiny induction worktop, or even a stainless steel gas range. No, my cooking contraption of choice would be a classic British Aga (white or bottle green, please). While actually cooking with it might take some getting used to, I’m already adapted to the look- traditional, cosy country living.
Not that all Aga-bedecked kitchens are cutesy and twee, though. This country classic is also at home in a more modern setting, as some of these photos show.
I love the simplicity and retro feel of this kitchen from Living etc. The massive school clock on the wall is the icing on the cake:

In this room from the same source, the Aga is set into a more traditional nook, though the overall look is still modern. The blue contrast tile and mustard stools add some pops of colour:

This Shaker kitchen, found on house to home, is pure country cute. I like the green tiles, and think that the black range looks modern next to them:

House to home also offers up this space, which at first glance is so not my style. But if you cleared the mantle and subbed another colour tile, I’d be all over this:

The black range doesn’t dominate too harshly in this room, from Coastal Living. Instead, it looks right at home in the modest, rustic space:

There isn’t much not to love in this kitchen from Plain English. The big oak table, farmhouse sink, hanging pot rack- the cream Aga blends in perfectly:

Posted in Inspiration Kitchens on October 22nd, 2009 by Ele | 4 comments
Tags: Aga, British, country, range, traditional
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:

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

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

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

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:

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:

Posted in Products on October 21st, 2009 by Ele | Comments Off
Tags: anthropologie, london, shopping
I’m off on holiday tomorrow; ten days of family, relaxation, and wonderful food. My trip back home covers both Canadian Thanksgiving and a good friend’s wedding, so I’ll be enjoying myself. Don’t despair though- I’ll be back with more Kitchenisms on the 19th.

Posted in Other on October 8th, 2009 by Ele | 2 comments
Tags: holiday
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:

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:

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:

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!

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

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

Posted in Products on October 7th, 2009 by Ele | 1 comment so far
Tags: bowl, fun, measure, Products, quirky, silicone brush, vase
The other day I was browsing through the archives of home-design blog Colour Me Happy when I came across a post on white kitchens. Now we all know I love them, but one photo in particular caught my eye, of a white kitchen the author referred to as the world’s “most-famous, most-copied”. A kitchen from a movie.

Apparently, I’ve been living under a rock for the last six years, because I had no idea that the kitchen from the 2003 film Something’s Gotta Give had been so influential. I’ve seen the film several times (I’m a huge Diane Keaton fan) and always loved the space, but it never occurred to me that everyone else was loving it, too.
Forgetting for a moment that this is Old News, can we just enjoy this room for a moment? I think the reason it captured so many hearts is the relaxed brand of elegance it embodies. The combination of dark floors, white cabinets and dark stone countertops feels modern but timeless, while the white tiled backsplash and brushed chrome fixtures are traditional, but not fussy. It’s the sort of space you can imagine working in your own home, whether you live on a film set or not.
Posted in Kitchens on October 6th, 2009 by Ele | 4 comments
Tags: cool kitchen, film, Inspiration, interiors, something's gotta give
Would you like some salt with your Monday morning? How about some pepper? Everyone needs to season their food at some point, and having a stylish set of salt-and-pepper shakers makes it that much more fun. Check out my favourite seasoning options from Etsy.
I love the smooth, egg-like shape of these porcelain Salt, Pepper and Spice Shakers from RouDesigns:

As vintage goes, I like these Danish Modern salt and pepper shakers from point b- the colour is so fun:

I have a preference for sea salt on my food, so these Folded Salt and Pepper Cellars from Pigeon Toe Ceramics are right up my alley:

If you like grinders rather than shakers, Lokimonkey‘s Black and White Mills have a certain modern charm:

These retro blue and white salt and pepper shakers from yellow dog vintage are so cute, I love the colours and the shape:

Posted in Etsy on October 5th, 2009 by Ele | 4 comments
Tags: modern, retro, salt and pepper
Great minds must think alike, because the space I had planned for this week’s cool kitchen was featured just yesterday on The Kitchn. Originally posted as a Before & After on Design*Sponge a couple weeks ago, Sabrina’s kitchen has been on my mind since then.

Not only was the transformation of this space amazing (be sure to click the link and see the “before”), but the kitchen itself is pretty damn gorgeous, too. I love the different shades used for the upper and lower cupboards, and how they work with the accessories in the space.
You can see more photos of this space at Sabrina’s blog, too.
Posted in Kitchens on September 30th, 2009 by Ele | 2 comments
Tags: before & after, kitchen, painted, transformation
Etsy‘s working woman sells archival-quality prints of her watercolour paintings, as well as original works. Most of the paintings are food-related in some way, and though the style is a little out of my box, they have a lovely quality to them. Check out some of my favourites from her shop.
Sliced Cucumbers:

Sardine Can:

Blender (Margarita Time):

French Fries:

Home Made Pretzels and a Brew:

Posted in Etsy on September 30th, 2009 by Ele | 1 comment so far
Tags: Art, painting, print, watercolour