5 top London kitchen shops
I have both rented and bought property in London, having studied and worked in the city up until last year when I moved back to Kent, where I am from. The idea of moving into a new place is always exciting but for me the idea of making a property my own is really key, and the kitchen is one of my favourite spaces to make my own with personal and quirky touches.
One of my favourite things about our London flat is the kitchen which has bold red tiles, black worktops and a modern round sink with metallic touches. Today I wanted to share my top 5 shops in London which will help you reinvent or reinvigorate your kitchen.
Worktop Express
One of the most impactful design elements of any kitchen is the worktop. If you are re-doing your kitchen but don’t want to throw everything out and start again then a new worktop is a great place to start. There is such an amazing array of surfaces out there from wood to stone to recycled materials!
My mother recently redid her kitchen and has the most stunning granite. I personally really love the idea of a solid wenge worktop, beautiful and durable in a black or dark brown grain, which I spotted in their worktops showroom in Camden. If wenge wood isn’t your thing then Worktop Express offer an enviable array of products including oak worktops, walnut, iroko, beech, bamboo, and much more.
Divertimenti
Now if you’re anything like me you love a good quirky implement in the kitchen and there’s nowhere better to find these fun trinkets than Divertimenti on Brompton Road who carries any item of cooking paraphernalia you will ever need. The impressive range includes an extraordinary selection of Mauviel copper cookware (which is to die for) as well as delicate hand-painted ceramics, table linen and cocktail making apparatus.
If you’ve found yourself the proud owner of a strange cookware instrument and don’t know what to do with it then you will be glad to hear that Divertimenti also offer cooking lessons catering for amateurs, enthusiasts and accomplished cooks with events from hands-on masterclasses to experiencing Michelin-starred menus. Learn more here.
Kitchen Ideas
If you’re looking to expand your knife collection then look no further than Kitchen Ideas, a family business founded in 1985, based in Bayswater who boast one of the best selection of cookware and knives including the Kyocera and Kasumi ranges from Japan. Although the shelves may appear cluttered don’t be put off as the items are top notch.
They stock the best cooking gadgets which make great gift ideas for the foodie in your life, for example, the top selling Egg Topper which cleanly removes the top of a boiled egg and Rice cube for the aspiring sushi master. With pieces for both novice and professional chefs this is a great shop to visit if you prefer supporting independant businesses.
Designers Guild
One of my favourite interior design shops to visit ever Designers Guild, based on King’s Road, is crammed full of stylish homeware including luxury designs, fabrics, wallcoverings and bed and bath collections. I always drool over their amazing tableware collections which are smart and practical, available in dazzling colours and quality materials which would be perfect for adding a touch of elegance to any kitchen.
Why not create a stunning display on your wall with a mix of different sized and coloured plates for an eye-catching upgrade? Designers Guild’s ranges include the bright and bold as well as Scandinavian minimalism which is really refreshing. Check out some top tips on doing this here.
Summerill & Bishop
If traditional elegance is more your style then you can’t go wrong with Summerill & Bishop whose range of vintage linens, charming French white ceramics and wooden chopping boards make a delightful upgrade to any forlorn kitchen. The owners often can be found trawling markets in France looking for second-hand pieces from vintage leg-of-lamb holders to champagne coupes.
As well as offering sumptuous decorations to deck out the heart of your home, Summerill & Bishop are perfect for your practical cooking needs. On offer is a good selection of utensils and cookware including baking goods and preserving apparatus. Pop into their Notting Hill shop for a rummage and you won’t be disappointed.
