Spruce up your counter space
These easy updates look good, feel good and will help your kitchen become the hub of the home once again
It’s that in between time when thoughts turn to little things you can do to dial up the décor, be a bit more organised and pay some love and attention to the hardest working room in the house. Especially with thoughts turning to lighter, longer days, spring socials, family entertaining, and those little extras that make coffee mornings or mealtimes more tasty (or restful), thanks to a new gadget or gizmo.
Here’s what’s on our quick kitchen fix list for a taste of the good life, without too much faff or huge outlay…
1. Edulis Sky Wallpaper, £65 per roll, Graham & Brown
An exciting new wallpaper collection particularly suited to kitchens – durable, washable and specially formulated to withstand humidity, moisture and spillages – Graham & Brown’s Edulis (one of three designs) is inspired by the biophilic trend, incorporating nature into our interiors. Think feature wall(s) decorated in edible foraged plants – it’s deliciously dazzling and will look gorgeous in both modern and traditional settings.
2. Br evil le Bijou Espresso Machine, Automatic and Manual Espresso, Cappuccino& Latte Maker in Silver (V C F 149),£148, Amazon
Budding baristas can use a mix of techniques to create their favourite speciality coffee with Breville’s new espresso machine. The supercar of coffee machines, it can brew, steam and froth, and comes with a manual shot function for total control.
3. Slimline Kitchen Trolley – Wood Topped ,£119.50, A Place for Everything
Sometimes, it’s all about the big squeeze when organising your condiments, dressings and spices. This stylish three-tier trolley is topped with a wooden shelf and comes on casters, so easy to slot into the tiniest of spaces at 13cm wide.
4.2 x Wall Mounted Fruit Bowls ,£25, A Place for Everything
A super clever idea for fresh fruit when you’re short on space, these clear plastic spheres can be hung exactly where you want them and can double up for holding coffee pods or tea towels. Genius.
5. Sherbourne Kitchen Island, £103.99 (was £129.99), Studio
A foodie and stylist’s favourite, a kitchen island can be relied upon to enhance your productivity, plus it makes a stylish statement. With two drawers, cupboard area, mounted towel rail and hooks for hanging utensils, it can be wheeled out to take centre stage, and even double up as a room divider.
6. Russell Hobbs 20 Bottle Lockable Wine Cooler Stainless Steel, £189.99, Russell Hobbs
We know… we’d all love a kitchen with an integrated wine cooler, but for the next best thing, wine enthusiasts can’t go wrong with this freestanding option, which has space for 20 bottles of vino. With a temperature range of 5-18°C, your reds won’t be too warm or jammy, and whites will taste crisp and pristine.
With reversible door, adjustable feet, slide-out shelves, LED light, low noise level and a lock, it’s perfect for small collections and tight spaces.
7. Roll able Chop ping Board in Coral ,£22, A Place for Everything
Did someone say rollable chopping board? Lightweight and flexible with a magnetic closure cap, it rolls out flat for dicing and chopping. An added bonus, it’s dishwasher safe.
8. Cu is in art Precision Stand Mixer in Black ( SM 5 OBU), £275, Cuisin art
Whether you’re a Bake Off fan or not, Cuisinart’s mixer uses cutting edge technology. Perfect for kneading bread dough or whisking and mixing cakes and sauces, it’s a good looking gadget which will boost your baking skills.
9. Winnie The Pooh Tea Towels Set ,£8, Direct. asda
So sweet, you’re never too old for Winnie-the-Pooh and we love this new Disney collection at Asda. Whimsy and lots of fun, in the words of Pooh Bear: “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart,” such as these cute tea towels, which come with an oven glove. The range also includes a 12-piece Winnie The Pooh Dinner Set, £35.
10. Cork Pots with Lid, available in Mint, Sage& Watermelon ,£25 each, Not Just a Shop
Enjoying a revival thanks to the biophilia trend, we’re connecting with cork again and appreciating this durable, sustainable material for its natural qualities and versatility. These eco-friendly storage jars combine function and form.
11. Organic Cotton Food Bag, Ginkgo, £10.50, Not Just a Shop
A lovely edition to lunchtime routines, organic food bags are a sustainable way to take homemade sarnies to school or work. Made from waterproof cotton, this one’s hand-printed in Sicily and will add some Italian flair to lunchtime snacks.