I’ve been shopping with this functional and beautiful criteria for years already and it’s been a great way for me to fill my home with things I really love as well as cut some unsavory spending habits. I no longer find myself buying things from a clearance rack just because it’s on sale. I’d rather pay for something that is both functional, beautiful, and preferably handmade!
All that being said, I’ve been slowly layering in little things I love to help our kitchen feel cozier and more personal ever since we finished our kitchen renovation. I’ve found that the best way to do this has been upgrading generic kitchen essentials and tablewares for handmade goods to elevate everyday items and adding personality without sacrificing function. I put together a list from some of my favorite shops and makers of things that I’ve been eyeing for myself !
A spoon rest may be the most underrated thing in the kitchen. A simple dish that makes cooking and cleaning a little bit easier and always a cute addition to the countertop.
I purchased a pretty salt cellar a couple years ago and it’s made an impactful addition to my dinner table. I’m guilty of always adding a little more salt to almost any meal, and having a cute salt cellar as the center of attention is always a welcome addition to my tables cape.
Keep those hot dishes off the countertop with a stylish trivet. Preferably a beautiful handmade one that you can leave out all the time and show off at the dinner table.
A fruit bowl is a kitchen essential. I also love that these large bowls can have many functions and move easily through the house. Need a catchall in the entryway? A pretty thing for bookshelf styling? A big fruit bowl can do it all.
I always have a bottle of olive oil sitting out and I could definitely use a prettier version. A handmade ceramic or colored glass bottle would be the perfect addition to any countertop.
This post was written for the Collected Eclectic blog.
Collected Eclectic was a passion project focused on recording the process as Grace and Michael van Meurer transformed their builder grade home in to something special.
124 blog posts were published between 2018 and 2021. Explore the complete Collected Eclectic archive here.
Learn more about the project here.