Finishing Touches : In the Kitchen

I’ve not written about finishing touches for the home for quite some time, but with spring here, I am making some small changes, that we’ve been wanting to make for a while.  I’ve just finished up the conservatory (which I’ll cover in another post) but the last couple of weeks, I’ve been making some small changes to our kitchen.

Kitchen Bin

Price varies depending on finish and size.

We have used out fitted kitchen bin for around 9 years.  It was actually two very small bins, that were under the sink.  They were a complete after thought, when we did the kitchen.  Can you believe we completely forgot to include a bin.  I was never very happy with them, they were too small, and hard to keep clean.  Also no matter what we tried there were never any bin liners that we could find that actually fitted the bins, they were either too small or large, we ended up doubling up carrier bags as the only solution.

Well, we made some changes under our sink, and that meant we had to get rid of the bins. I knew we needed to find the solution to some of the problems that our old bins had.  With so many bins on the market, I didn’t really know which way to go. Well after lots of research we went for a Brabantia, New Icon pedal bin.  Three weeks of using it, and I know it was the right decision.

We love our planet as much as you do. That’s why we’ve really stepped up our green game with our newIcon pedal bins. These sustainable pedal bins are made of 40% recycled materials, and after use, 98% of the bin and packaging is recyclable.

On top of that, for every newIcon pedal bin you buy, you’ll support The Ocean Cleanup to fulfil its mission – to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. For more information about The Ocean Cleanup: www.theoceancleanup.com

Why I love it :

• Size – 30 litres, so perfect for a busy family.
• Sturdy – When you use the bin it doesn’t move around.  A non-slip base – protects the floor and keeps the bin steady.
• Guarantee – 10 Years.
• Close – The lid is soft close, with a odour proof closure, and you only need a touch the pedal lightly.
• Liners – It has the measurements of the liners on the inside of the bin, so you will never forget them.
• The liners also don’t move, as they are anchored into the inner bin.
• Easy to move around – smart grip in lid hinge
• Sample pack of Brabantia PerfectFit Bags enclosed (code G) – easy to fit without ugly overwrap.

Joseph Joseph – Surface Utensil Pot – £30

This has proved so handy.  I don’t wash by hand many things, but utensils like knives and other utensils I sometimes do, especially if we are cooking a lot of dishes, as I tend to use them more than once, so that what I would use it for. However its also a great and safe way to store utensils and knives too.

Surface Utensil Pot is split into two. One side is perfect for long-handled kitchen tools and the other side contains a series of specially-designed slots to store your knives.   Made in finger-print proof stainless steel it also has a removable spoon rest (I’ve popped a measuring cup on it in the photo above) to keep your surfaces mess-free as you cook.

We’ve also invested in a Joseph Joseph soap pump – £20

Also from the Surface range at Joseph Joseph. I wanted to stream line my surface a little, so buying this keeps it looking neat and tidy.  It features a clever stainless steel soap bar (which is stored at the top of the pump) for removing strong odours like garlic or onion from your hands.

They are great quality, a sign of this I think is that both of these Joseph Joseph products dismantle for easy cleaning.  Sometimes it just takes a bit of a declutter and a few tweaks to a space, to make it run more efficiently, and all three of these have been great for my kitchen.

Next week, I’ll be showing how we turned our dumping ground of the conservatory into a relaxing Scandi inspired space.