Mug dilemma

by beautifulkitchens • November 3, 2012 • Favourite things, Finishing touches • 1 Comment

I collect mugs… not deliberately, I just seem to have amassed a huge number in my life as a kitchen editor. Now him indoors has had enough and demanded that the growing collection be trimmed down to my 20 favourites. I can see why, there are only two of us and a cupboard full of mismatched china does seem a poor use of storage space. I’ve been given some lovely ones over the years, though, and as I’m not a slave to matchy, matchy it’s never bothered me before.

Now, though, as I pile mug on top of mug and can’t seem to close the tambour door I fear he might be right. The time has come for a cull. What to choose, though, for my top 20?

My Captain Haddock mug, obviously…

Blistering blue barnacles, it’s my favourite

by beautifulkitchens • October 23, 2011 • Appliances, Favourite things, Finishing touches, Gadgets • 0 Comments

Buying new cabinetry is often just the start of your kitchen journey. I know that once my lovely new units were in place I started to look very closely at my kitchen accessories and how they fitted in – or not – with my new scheme. Suddenly, things I’ve had for years looked out of place, faded or just plain wrong. That’s when I started buying in earnest…

Apart from a Tintin collection inspired by a childhood obsession with the young Belgian detective, I’ve never really been a collector of ‘things’. My china was from an ancient plain white Habitat starter set, glasses were bought cheap and piled high because of a heavy handed husband, and a succession of cheap kettles and toasters came and went. I think I might actually be very good at this collecting lark now I’ve put my mind to it!

I even have a list for birthdays and Christmas of items from sets I’ve started collecting. Emma Bridgewater, Cath Kidston, Dualit and Le Creuset are all favourites. On the odd occasion I’m feeling flush, I’ll also treat myself to something on the grounds that it’s an investment!

My current favourites, in no particular order are: