Kitchen accessories are the best way to transform your kitchen from just finished to fabulous. It doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. The transformation in new kitchens is always pretty amazing but it can feel very flat and unfinished until we do a little personalizing. When the dust has settled and the last of the workers have gone home, bring on the kitchen accessories for a little style. Go local, go global or go to the flea market, but make it fun. Roaming a good local vintage shop or flea market is great or you can hit some of the biggies, Brimfield in Massachusetts, Round Top in Texas, The Rose Bowl Flea in Pasadena, CA. and Scotts Corners in Atlanta. If you prefer new Lillian August, Anthropology, Fishes Eddy and Terrain are few favorites.
TIP#1– The perfect mix of accessories is old and new. On a recent shoot of mine the stylist used a favorite old salad bowl that was my grandmothers. Things that are meaningful and useful are always perfect.
TIP#2 –Hire a stylist or designer for a couple hours. It will pay for itself by not buying items you don’t need and using things you already have. Pour over kitchens in magazines and Pinterest for ideas.
Tip #3 – Perfection is not the goal – Stylists spend days sourcing great accessories for a shoot and they work with the best photographers to make the interiors you see in magazines pitch perfect. When styling your own kitchen, personality NOT perfection is the goal.
Tip #4– Buy what you love. Look for things that are beautiful and functional that can add a little personality to your space. Below, Lauren Liess has captured my love for art in the kitchen in a way thats as beautiful as it is simple.
Artwork
Storage Baskets
Baskets can be tricky. My rules… don’t overdo it. Only buy ones that are sturdy and beautiful. Toss old tattered ones or use one to create a new gift collection for a friend with one you that you may have received a gift in. That’s ok in my book.
Dishes/ Collections /Vases
Collecting dishes is one of my kitchen accessory addictions, but as I pack up my home for an impending move, I’m rethinking the necessity of my obsession. Nothing is more beautiful than mixing whites, off-whites and bisques, my favorite. Your food always shines in these neutrals palettes, it allows the beauty of the food to be center stage.
Fresh Flowers, Fruit and Herbs
Fresh flowers or fruit make the simplest of kitchens, tables or islands look happy, smell great and feel very welcoming.
Glass /Domes/ Tiered Cake Plates
The best kitchen accessories can be found at yard and estate sales, but a favorite hangout for many designers is HomeGoods. Under one roof you can transform your kitchen in an afternoon, and remember, it doesn’t have to be finished all at once. “Personal style” is built over time and evolves as our taste changes. My favorite homes have a “collected” look and there are no rules. Buy what you love, be it functional, decorative, a conversation piece, a splash of bold color or the simplicity of a found object.
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For a little insight on accessory obsession and how things look perfect on television see the Martha Stewart Prop Room
Happy Styling
Rebecca
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