When it comes to choosing items for your kitchen, it can be hard to find those that are both beautiful and functional.
But it can be done.
Just ask Athena Calderone, interior designer, culinary storyteller, entertaining expert and author of "Live Beautiful."
"I'm always looking to unify aesthetics and function, especially when it comes to utilitarian spaces like the kitchen," she said. "To me, even the most practical items should be worthy of display."
"I truly believe every single surface, object, and wall of your home should feel special, so why should the kitchen be left out of that equation? It is the heart of the home after all."
Calderone explained that the items we choose for our kitchen can be unexpectedly multipurposeful. "Something as simple as a pepper mill can double as a sculptural object when it's hand carved from wood, or a peeler can elevate a typically mundane experience with its thoughtful design," she said. Plus, investing in pieces means living more sustainably.
If you're interested in redecorating your kitchen, Calderone said it can be done at a slower pace. "There's certainly no need to overhaul everything at once," she said. "Instead, replace things as you need them."
The interior designer said she herself keeps a running list of things she loves on her phone for easy access when the time is right.
"Start small with a few things you love, then build upon that collection over time," she said. "The items we choose to surround ourselves with are profoundly intimate, so take your time."
Finally, don't forget to choose what makes you happy.
"View every single part of your home as an opportunity to express yourself, to create vignettes and moments that are personal and evoke beauty (whatever that looks like for you), but above all, make you happy," Calderone said. "Because when you surround yourself with beauty, it shifts your mood, inspires creativity, and injects a little bit of magic into the mundane! And we could all do with some of that."
We've rounded up some small kitchen appliances, tools and décor products you'll want to use and put on display. Continue below for some shopping inspiration!
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