With the world seemingly collapsing in on us, chaos reigning supreme, and interconnectivity only making matters worse, sometimes you have to ask yourself if modernity really has made things better. Do you really need your smart home hub to roll up her sleeves and bake you a cake? ‘Alexa, extinguish the fire in my oven’, indeed.
Yep, often older is better, and nowhere is this truer than the kitchen, where traditional recipes respected and spaces kept clean and simple so often produce the best food, and even better conversation. With that in mind, here are 5 IDEAL ways to evoke a traditional kitchen design in 2020.
A NATURAL SOLID OAK DINING TABLE
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and food its lifeblood, but what role does the kitchen table play? Stretching the metaphor a little, it’s the most vital part of all, the left atrium and ventricle, working to pump the good stuff around the body.
As such, you’ll want to take great care of that table, and treat it with pride and respect; it’s going to see a whole lot of action down the years after all. For a dining table with real character and evocative of that ‘traditional’ vibe oh so succinctly, you’ll want one fashioned from natural solid oak; sturdy, satisfying to touch, and worthy of being the focal point of the entire home.
ADD AN AGA
We say ‘add’ as if this is some frivolous purchase, but really, an aga is a massive investment, make no mistake. You’ll be looking at an initial outlay of at least £5000, not to mention the real estate they demand within the kitchen space. And if precision is your thing, then this isn’t for you; there’s no temperature controls, rather spaces designated rather obliquely for ‘boiling’ or ‘simmering’ on top, and ‘roasting’ and ‘slow cooking’.
But you’re not thinking about how they cook food, right? It’s all about the aesthetics here, and damn do they look attractive. If it’s ‘traditional’ you’re looking to evoke, and that sense of homeliness and domesticity which seems to come bundled up with the term, then the introduction of an aga is a surefire way to get there.
That’s not to say they don’t have benefits in practical terms. The aga’s cast iron frame means it conducts heat brilliantly; it’s always on, warm and ready to go. Temperatures inside remain steady and consistent, which leads to reliable cooking. And the famous oven has benefits beyond the realm of food, too; that warmth does a fine job of heating the kitchen, and with the right aga accessories you can even dry clothes above the hot plates.
CHESS BOARD FLOOR TILES
Perhaps it’s the sound of heels hitting off the ceramics, or the cool feel under foot, but if it’s traditional kitchen flooring you’re after, it has to be chessboard tiles. The black and white checkered pattern manages to be expressive of a bygone era – a simpler time – whilst not looking dated. In the right hands, and when pared thoughtfully with strikingly coloured appliances, the look can even be chic and contemporary.
HANG COPPER POTS
Nothing screams tradition, both in the kitchen’s visual appeal, and in the cooking, like carefully deployed hanging copper pots. The warm, autumnal tones fit so succinctly with the natural oak and aga aesthetic we’ve already mentioned, and when on display there’s an implicit suggestion that they’re ready for action and often used.
And used they should be; copper pots are the finest heat conductors out there for stove top cooking, meaning cooking is consistent. It’s nimble, too, and great for delicate work as they’re ideal for heating and cooling super fast. Hang these in your kitchen, and expectations about that dinner you’re preparing will be sky high.
HANG A SHEILA MAID
Yep, we know that Sheila Maid goes out with her mate stella. But if you’re to bring her home, and into the kitchen space, your traditional kitchen look is complete. Remarketed as the ‘eco way to dry each day’, this traditional clothes airer, activated via pulley, might end up smelling of your breakfast’s smoked bacon, but really, we’re just here for channeling those old school aesthetics, right? And Sheila does that job just perfectly.
Now you’ve got the look down, let’s think about practicality. If you want to optimise your workflow and make cooking a great meal as effortless as possible, then feast your eyes on these; our tips on how to improve the functionality of your kitchen.