Sure, your kitchen probably works just fine, but how does it look? Kitchens, more than any other room, have to carefully balance form and function—you want to be able to whip up a top-notch dinner with state-of-the-art appliances here, of course, but you also don’t want the place to look too utilitarian. To help remedy this conundrum, we canvassed some of our favorite interior designers and asked them which kitchen tools they rely on—ones that both look great and will help you prepare restaurant-worthy cuisine. From hardworking electric kettles to wood bowls that get better with age, here’s what they shared.
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Levo II Oil Infusion Machine
Image Credit: Levo “We are in love with the Levo II oil infusion machine. This premium kitchen appliance is used to easily prepare herbal infused oil, butter, honey and glycerine. With its thoughtful compact minimalist aesthetic, it easily blends into a contemporary kitchen. This is a must-have for any kitchen with many fun colors to choose from. You can even pair the Levo app to program your infusion wirelessly. We’ve infused olive oil with garlic for sauces, avocado oil with citrus, and can also use root vegetables like ginger, rosemary, thyme and basil.” — General Judd and Cristina Casanas-Judd, Me and General Design
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The Dutchess Dutch Oven
Image Credit: Great Jones “The product is simple and elegant, and I love its size. It’s a great pot for a meal for two or for a whole dinner party (my go-to is roasted striped bass), and besides the functionality, its aesthetic works beautifully in just about any kitchen.” — Robert McKinley, Studio Robert McKinley
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MacKenzie-Childs Tea Kettle
Image Credit: Neiman Marcus “I’m the king of black and white, so it’s no surprise that I love this Mackenzie-Childs tea kettle. It is so chic and adds such a layer of style to any kitchen.” — Ryan Saghian
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Five Two Over-the-Sink Drying Rack
Image Credit: Ty Mecham/Food52 “Banish the ugly countertop dish-rack and get one of these fantastic over-the-sink drying racks. When not in use just roll it up and store. They’re simple and super-efficient, without the messy water pooling in the tray under the old style rack.” — David Scott, David Scott Interiors
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Mepra Chopsticks
Image Credit: Amazon “As an avid sushi lover, I’m impressed with the look, weight and feel of the metal Mepra chopsticks! They are user friendly and represent an LLI aesthetic… classic with a twist!” — Lucinda Loya, Lucinda Loya Interiors
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Aarke Carbonator II
Image Credit: Amazon “I couldn’t be happier that the Aarke Carbonator has recently made its way to my kitchen counter. I particularly love the brass finish for that extra bit of warm reflective metal, and the sleek industrial design of this small appliance is effortless to use. It’s become essential as we roll into the holidays, when we could all use some sparkling bubbles to get us through.” — Kevin Dumais
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Hawkins New York Solid Oak Bowls
Image Credit: Hawkins New York “I use this kind of solid turned bowl at home and in the studio kitchen for holding fresh fruit, big salads—anything, really. I love the weight to them. The bigger the better, and they will get better with age and washing. I like a darker, more rustic kitchen, but these will also warm up a lighter or sleeker space.” — Gray Davis, Meyer Davis
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Mauviel Copper Butter Warmer
Image Credit: Williams Sonoma “This petite copper pot measures only 3 1/2″ wide, making for limited use, but that’s why it’s a total luxury item for your kitchen! It’s perfect for melting butter, hello summer lobster! Or, you can warm maple syrup for your Saturday morning pancakes. And with a copper finish that will patina beautifully, you can proudly display it on your stovetop.” — Marika Meyer, Marika Meyer Interiors
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KitchenAid Nespresso Espresso Maker
Image Credit: Saks Fifth Avenue “Several years ago I bought a KitchenAid-designed Nespresso coffee maker, and it’s probably one of the most used items in our kitchen. I’m generally not a big fan of lots of visible appliances on countertops, but I like the look of this piece with its echoes of the KitchenAid mixer that’s been a fixture of so many kitchens for generations. And in black, as ours is, it manages to look both comfortingly classic and sleekly modern.” — Alfredo Paredes, Alfredo Paredes Studio
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Philips Turbostar AirFryer
Image Credit: Amazon “This Philips air fryer is super sleek with its all-black exterior and uses superheated air rather than oil submersion to crisp up foods and remove up to 90 percent of fat compared to regular frying. It’s a great healthy way to get those extra crispy foods without all the guilt, and the three-pound capacity allows you to make delicious meals for up to six people.” — Nina Magon, Contour Interior Design
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Smeg Electric Kettle
Image Credit: Amazon “One of my favorite and essential items to use in the kitchen is my Smeg electric kettle. It’s relatively affordable, easily available and adds an element of color that goes with most designs and aesthetics.” — Alexander Doherty, Alexander Doherty
