Hi friends!
I love this time of year! And even though most weekends are filled with family events and picnics, especially during Fourth of July, the pace of life is a little more casual, some might even say forgiving!
With Independence Day just in front of us, I wanted to share some ways to add some festive and practical items into your home, all with products made in the USA! To help keep our focus, I have pulled together ideas and products that can be incorporated into your kitchen!
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First, let’s talk inspiration! Here is the mood board I put together with the products I want to share with you!
There are plenty of times when I share a full kitchen design with you, and I love featuring our kitchen makeovers! But today, I want to spend time looking at kitchen elements that help surround your design and help support it. You might think of it as your kitchen getting the starring role but it is these elements that are the support cast and really serve to complete the design. With that in mind, let’s dive into the products I have featured on my mood board! And the best part is that I have everything linked up for you, so if you see something you like, go ahead, click and shop! Note some of the the links provided are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases.
#1 ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS FOR ANY KITCHEN: Utensils, Skillets, and Linens
These cooking utensils come as a pack and are made of beautiful teak. The towels come in a set of six and have a really handy loop for hanging. And I am actually featuring this cast iron skillet handle cover made of leather – I just love the graining on it!
#2 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ITEMS TO ADD: Storage Solutions and a Small Rug or Runner
Okay, so here’s the deal, I would say these things would actually be considered more essential to a kitchen design, but I understand that not everyone may share my perspective. However, I think it is worth pointing out that having practical (oh, and cute, coordinating) storage solutions for your kitchen drawers or for dry goods is not only helpful, it sets a sort of clean vibe even when tucked behind pantry doors. Take these clear acrylic drawer organizers (which are stackable and could actually be used on a shelf or these glass canisters cute enough to live on your counter or lined up in a pantry, both keep things tidy while helping unify an overall design. That can often be a challenge in a kitchen!
Next, I always suggest a rug for kitchens. Whether you have a small kitchen or one that opens into another area in your home, adding a rug grounds the space and is a great way to introduce visual interest and color to your kitchen! Plus, having this extra cushion beneath your feet while cooking or washing dishes can sometimes feel lifesaving to your back!
#3 ELEMENTS THAT PERSONALIZE YOUR KITCHEN: Make it Inviting and Make it Your Own!
For this section, you may find my choices interesting or even confusing, but I have put them here as a means of inspiring us! First, I suggest a clock (and I do mean analog) in your kitchen. This is because too many times, at least in my experience, something gets bumped and the time on kitchen appliances is interrupted! Plus, I just like the nostalgia of a kitchen clock, eliciting images of family gathered together without the constant glance at smart watches and phones ever at our fingertips! I like this one here. Its retro vibe is so fun and even though I have featured the red color, this company offers other colors that will create that same blast from the past feeling!
Secondly, I am featuring this beautiful tote bag. You might be wondering what this has to do with kitchen design, but I want to suggest a few uses and ideas for you: 1) it could be used to store snips and garden tools for your herb garden (I know you have considered this before) or 2) if you are short on drawer storage and need another place for hand towels, roll and store them in this beautifully crafted satchel and then hang it on a decorative hook on a blank section of wall.
Next, I suggest having a supply of candles on hand. The right kind of scent will not only help with lingering odors (imagine the smell after cutting an onion!) but it is also a way of adding a welcoming touch for guests to your home!
And finally, I have added this product that I think will resignate with a lot of us: reusable food storage made from beeswax. Don’t be fooled by its cute pattern, what you see is not wallpaper! This roll is designed to wrap over food just as you would plastic wrap, but in this case you can use it over and over again! I love supporting companies and ideas that are sustainable and earth conscious!
Well there you have it! Made in the USA kitchen essentials list. I hope you have found this blog helpful and inspiring. It was really fun to put together, and I challenge you (and myself) to think a little more carefully and thoughtfully about the items we add to support the overall design in our homes!
If you are not sure where to get started, I would love to help! You may want to consider our design services or would like a quote for painting your kitchen. You can use our Contact Us form to set up an appointment or to get a quote. Please check out other kitchen projects on our Kitchen Cabinet Painting page. We’ll need to see a picture of your kitchen, a list of how many doors and drawers there are, and where you are located to email you an estimate. This change ups the value of your home and gives you a whole new look at a fraction of the cost of new kitchen cabinets!
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Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ; )