Kitchens are the heart of the home, the place where everyone gathers and where life happens. They are one of my favourite rooms to design as they set the tone of the home. I am a firm believer that kitchens should spark joy, and for me that means hiding wall ovens and using integrated appliances which allows the eye to focus on the beautiful over the functional. This kitchen was designed around the existing extra large kitchen island and the rear cabinetry takes inspiration from its' stone colours.
We had the privilege of styling this kitchen for the client who loves texture, earthy tones and a homely vibe. We have put together some interior designer kitchen styling tips below on how you can edit and style your kitchen to bring you joy.
DE-CLUTTER THE BENCH
Keep the bench clear of unnecessary clutter to create an edited look. Only display essential items that are used daily or add to the overall design aesthetic. (For example keep olive oil, salt and pepper, but get rid of the vinegar – that belongs in a drawer or cupboard).
GROUP ITEMS STRATEGICALLY
Group similar items together to create visual cohesion and organisation. Use trays, chopping boards, bowls or baskets to bring together smaller items and prevent them from appearing scattered. Our ‘French Wire basket’ is perfect for eggs or fruit.
ADD GREENERY OR PRODUCE
Incorporate herbs, potted plants, or a bowl of seasonal fruit on the bench to bring life and colour to the space. If you have a shelf then something like our ‘Hanging Hoya Trough’ has a lovely drape and zing (and is one less thing to water!) Our faux ‘Mini Rosemary’ is also an easy addition for effortless styling.
BALANCE HEIGHTS AND SHAPES
Vary the height and shape of items displayed on the countertop to create visual interest and dimension. Mix tall items like vases or pitchers with shorter objects such as bowls or canisters to achieve balance. Our ‘Morrocan Bowls’ add gorgeous texture and glaze – one of our favourites for kitchen styling. The dark ‘Handmade Wooden Bowl’ is also a gorgeous shape and form and is intriguing to the eye – this could be used as a sculptural element unfilled, or filled with seasonal produce.
INCORPORATE TEXTURE AND COLOUR
Experiment with different textures and colours to add warmth and personality to the kitchen. Consider using organic style ceramics, woven baskets, or hand-blown glassware to create visual interest. Our ‘Little Olea’ vase is hand made in the Philippines and has been popped on the shelf for its interesting texture and form.
DISPLAY COOKBOOKS OR ARTWORK
Stack a few cookbooks or prop up a piece of artwork against the backsplash to add personality and charm to the kitchen. Choose books or artwork that ‘add’ to the kitchen, not those that compete with it – look for complementary colours or different tones of existing colours within the space. Also, these should be a reflection of you and what you love.
UTILISE FUNCTIONAL ITEMS
Incorporate decorative items that also serve a practical purpose, such as a beautiful utensil holder or chopping board.
CREATE A FOCAL POINT
Decide where you want the focal point to be – where you want your eye to focus (you may place this strategically away from a fridge or area of the kitchen which doesn’t bring you joy). Style this spot with your favourite things, with the above tips in mind. This draws the eye and adds visual interest to the kitchen. In this kitchen the focal point was the back bench and splashback so we styled it with four different vignettes but all of them work together as a larger visual story. The cordless ‘Pina lamp’ adds some ambience to the space – especially in the evenings.
EDIT AND ROTATE SEASONALLY
Keep things interesting by having a play around every now and again!
KITCHEN STYLING VIDEO
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