The classic English kitchen manages to be warm and cozy—a perfect antidote to the variable weather—and also resolutely practical. From one hour to the next, whatever it's doing outside, there's always tea and toast. Here are 16 essentials to introduce British reliability and charm to your kitchen.
Above: The familiar blue and white stripes of Cornishware, around since 1926, create a very English display. It's shown here at one of our favorite housewares emporiums, the A. G. Hendy Homestore in Hastings, England. Photograph via The Women's Room.
Above: The Aga Hard Anodized Two-Liter Kettle heats water quickly and efficiently; available for $625 at March, in San Francisco.
Above: The Wooden Towel Holder from Ancient Industries, $45, is equally at home in an English kitchen or bathroom. In the UK, a similar Wooden Towel Holder can be found for £24.95 at Pedlars.
Above: Made in the UK since 1862, the Weylux Queen Scale is £85 from Objects of Use.
Above: In production since the 1860s, White Pudding Basins from British potter Mason Cash come in seven graduated sizes, from 4.5 to 8 inches. Several sizes are available in the US through Kitchen Kapers.
Above: Hampson Woods cutting boards are handmade in the UK from trees with a known provenance. Prices range from £35 (US $57.25) to £55 (US $90). See more in British Roots: Hampson Woods' Curvy Handled Serving Boards.
Above: Brewing tea since the Victorian era, Brown Betty Teapots come in a variety of sizes and have been handmade in Stoke-on-Trent for over 200 years; they're available in the US through Ancient Industries for $35.
Above: Technically not in the UK but closely related, our friends at Makers & Brothers grew up outside of Dublin using Wooden Plates for everything from chopping vegetables to serving crab. These examples are turned by Tony Farrell. An eight-inch plate is €22 (US $36) and a 10-inch plate is €25 (US $41). The plates get a great deal of use in my house; see Sleuthing for Space in My Kitchen.
Above: Hunslet tableware was inspired by the utilitarian crockery produced in the 18th century for below the stairs, where a Hunslet Footed Mug was more fitting than a dainty tea cup and saucer; £16.50 (US $27) at Pentreath & Hall.
Above: Handmade by Turner and Harper, a Soft Hog Bristle Broom, £115 (US $188), provides weight and heft for sweeping tile and wood floors.
Above: Felicity Irons, founder of UK company Rush Matters, makes Rush Mats in a variety of sizes using centuries-old methods; prices start at £12 (US $19.63). See more at Walls, Windows, and Floors: Rush Matters in Bedfordshire.
Above: Built by hand for commercial use in the UK, a Dualit Toaster is a classic piece of equipment in the British kitchen. The Dualit New Generation Two-Slice Toaster is $239.95 at Williams-Sonoma.
Above: Worth hauling back from your next trip to London: The Labour & Wait Bread Bin (exclusively available from Labour & Wait) for £65 (US $106.34). Its red-oxide-brown is based on a 1920s shade and the lettering is in a crisp, white Gill Sans. Air holes allow the bread to stay fresh.
Above: Another piece of Hunslet pottery, the Large Jug is perfect for serving water at the table £42 (US $68.70) at Pentreath & Hall.
Above: Spotlighted in the Remodelista book as one of our favorite kitchen tools, Milton Brook Mortar & Pestle is made of nonabsorbent vitrified porcelain and has a beechwood handle. It's $34.99 on Amazon, and it's available on Amazon UK for £33.
Above: Linen tea towels are a stalwart staple. A Morgan Tea Cloth made of Irish Linen is €16 (US $26) from 31 Chapel Lane.
Above: A Kitchen Serving Set from Alessi by Jasper Morrison pares down the overgrown collection of kitchen spoons to three essentials: a multitasking spoon, a risotto spoon, and a spatula. The set is $20.25 from All Modern, and, in the UK, it's £11 from Innes.
Each day this week, we'll be presenting standout kitchen tools and accessories from a different country. Have a look at 11 Scandi Kitchen Essentials. And for more, browse all our Kitchen Accessories posts.
On Gardenista, see At Home with Judy Green in London's Leafiest Suburb.
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