5 Design Ideas to Incorporate into your Kitchen

At Penny Morrison, interior design is all about balance. There needs to be a balance of making a space inspiring and luxurious, whilst remaining practical — especially in the kitchen. But where do you start? Here are 5 design ideas you can begin to incorporate into your kitchen and dining areas that are fun and will allow you to inject your personality into your home.

1. Tablescaping

Tablescaping is the art of dressing a table and something everyone can achieve with their own unique style. There aren’t really any set rules when it comes to tablescaping but if you match the unexpected, you’ll find it much more enjoyable. Sometimes the most unexpected pairings are the best, so don’t be afraid to get a bit playful and creative! Any guests arriving at a well-prepared and welcoming table are instantly in the mood for good conversation and the expectancy of delicious food. Having said that, we love having lots of little vases with a mixture of freshly picked wildflowers (depending on the season!), like sweet peas or hyacinths, in our kitchen. Alternatively, you can place pretty blossom branches in taller glass vases to add height. Another perfect addition is pretty jugs of water— the more you have in your kitchen and dining area, the more people will drink, so it’s up to you what you put in them! For lighting, play with various glass candlesticks and pale-coloured candles mixed in with coloured water glasses for a joyful and fun display.

2. Table Linens

At Penny Morrison, we love to mix and match different tableware to create a tablescape that really helps to set the scene, whether that be a summery, floral tablecloth or a sumptuously patterned green tablecloth and napkins for a festive setting. You can always find an excuse to use table linens when setting your table! If you are hosting a formal dinner, a starched damask tablecloth can be combined with silver accessories, such as silver candlesticks with long white church candles, and lots of small vases of flowers. For less formal dining or an outdoor lunch, patterned tablecloths add a more relaxed and pretty feel – especially when combined with coloured wicker table mats for further opportunities to layer your table. Be bold and if you think a certain tablecloth might not look good paired with certain ceramic plates or glassware give it a go anyway! You never know until you try.

3. Ceramics

You can match your ceramics with other accessories in your kitchen, such as your wall colour palette or table linens. The kitchen is the best room in your home to display vibrant ceramics and porcelain, or to feature bouquets of flowers in ceramic water jugs. Large, pretty bowls are not only fun to collect but are perfect for fresh salads to place on your table – or to hold fresh lemons and limes for your G and T! When tablescaping- depending on the tablecloth, select the set of china that complements the linen best and adorn the table with lots of flowers in tall thin glass vases, but not too tall to restrict cross-table conversation.

4. Colours and Patterns

Feel free to assemble different patterns in your kitchen, with upholstered dining chairs, bold-coloured blinds and artisanal statement pieces. It’s always a good idea to use washable, loose covers for chairs, like red or blue striped cotton, and pre-wash the fabric before making it up to avoid shrinkage. Gloss paint for kitchen units is a current trend, preferably in a dark colour. Attach interesting brass handles as a unique finishing touch. Painted glass splashbacks give a more contemporary look, especially if your worktops are thick and chunky.

5. Accessorising

If you have quirky silver ornaments or fun salt and pepper shakers, load the table with them! We believe that the aesthetics of the dining table are so important to set the tone for the delicious food to follow and can be a great conversation starter.