On our radar: Brød & Taylor Sourdough Home

I’ve been waiting a very long time for a gadget like the Brød & Taylor Sourdough Home to be invented.

Some of you may have been following my sourdough journey for the past few years. I’m often bemoaning the chilliness of our kitchen (our current one AND the one in our previous house). The cold temperature causes my sourdough starter to be sluggish and makes my loaves slow to prove.

The Brød & Taylor Sourdough Home is the answer to that problem. It acts like a little tepidarium for my glass jar of starter, keeping it at the optimum temperature for the wild yeast to thrive.

Not only that, when I want a break from baking – and a pause in feeding my starter, it will chill it to allow it to go into a sort of hibernation. This will also suit bakers who have a kitchen that is too warm and makes their starter fizz with overactivity… something that I’ve never experienced!

It currently retails at £129.00.

BUY Brød & Taylor Sourdough Home HERE

Should you include appliances when selling your home?

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When you’re hoping to put your home up for sale, there are a number of different questions you may have running through your head. How much is your property worth? When do you want to move? But also, what are you actually going to include in the listing? Although this may seem like quite a simple question, many sellers are thinking the exact same thing. Technically, you can take anything that isn’t permanently attached to the property, which includes your kitchen appliances. Here’s more information about whether you should or shouldn’t include appliances when you’re selling your home or going live with your property listing.

Repair and maintain your appliances before listing

If you’re thinking about listing your home with your kitchen appliances, it is important to maintain and repair them beforehand. Many buyers will lower their offer or completely lose interest in your home if there are broken appliances. Now would be the perfect opportunity to learn how to use dishwasher cleaner and maintain your washing machine effectively so that you can ensure your appliances are all in good working order.

It would also be wise to get a plumber out to check and service any appliances connected to water lines, such as refrigerators with ice makers and dishwashers, to prevent any issues during home inspections. This proactive step can avoid potential roadblocks to selling your home and might even increase its appeal and value to prospective buyers. Repairs and maintenance can be essential in showcasing your home in the best light.

Washers and dryers can stay or go

In general, it is normal for kitchen appliances to come with the property, which is why it’s important to maintain your dishwasher and keep your fridge freezer in excellent condition. However, laundry appliances fall in the middle when it comes to keeping them or taking them with you. Only around half of sellers take their washers and dryers with them so it’s completely up to you whether it’s beneficial to your new property or not. Many people choose to leave their washers and dryers where they are because appliances like this can become damaged during the moving process. More often than not it’s safer to keep them in the property you are selling.

Matching kitchen appliances

Buyers generally look for certain things when they’re looking to invest in a property. One of the high priorities for home buyers is having stylish and matching kitchen appliances. If you’re due to upgrade your kitchen appliances soon before you sell your property, you should always try and purchase matching equipment whenever possible. Choosing the same type of finish and style will help the kitchen to appear more aesthetically pleasing to the buyer. On a similar note, choosing the same brand for all of your appliances such as your fridge, oven, microwave and cooker will also add a level of consistency which is always extremely appealing to buyers on the property market.

With these points in mind, you can make an individual decision that suits your personal circumstances. On the plus side, new and well-maintained appliances can attract buyers to your home, however you can list your home for a more competitive price if you take your appliances with you. All in all, it’s worth asking for some advice from a local estate agent to see what would be expected in the area you’re looking to sell.

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Best kitchen colour schemes with black appliances

Black appliances are becoming a popular choice among home-owners these days and for good reason. Black is a versatile colour, has a stylish and sleek appearance, and is easier to maintain than white appliances. If you’re planning on buying black appliances, take into account the overall look of your kitchen. The colour of your cabinets and your appliances should match or complement each other to make your kitchen visually coherent.

While a popular consumer choice is black appliances with white cabinets, there are plenty of other options to consider. Would other colours of luxury kitchen cabinets with black appliances look visually appealing? Let’s discuss them below.

What colour kitchen appliances are in style?

Before we get to the nitty-gritty about deciding on the perfect colour for your kitchen and choosing a hue that complements black appliances, let’s first consider what other options are available. Kitchen appliances are available in a few different colours; however, the most common ones we see are white and silver with differing finishes. Let’s take a deeper dive into some of them.

Black stainless steel appliances

Black stainless steel is one of those finishes that remains timeless. This finish is flexible and versatile and can be easily paired with other colours; be it neutral, pastel, bright or beige. Another advantage of black stainless steel appliances is that it’s smudge-proof and very easy to maintain.

Matte black appliances

A matte black finish is also another appliance option that design-conscious home-owners are currently loving. Unlike stainless steel appliances, which are usually shiny and reflective, matte black is the exact opposite. It has a dull and deep appearance which lends it a sleek and masculine look.

Stainless steel appliances

Stainless steel kitchen appliances offer a shiny and stylish look that adds a modern touch to any kitchen. Not only do they look great, but stainless steel is durable and easy to clean and maintain. Stainless steel appliances are corrosion-resistant and very hygienic, making them ideal for sanitary-aware homes.

White appliances

Obviously, white remains the most popular colour choice for appliances – it’s why they’re often referred to as ‘white goods’. White is the preferred option for several reasons. It could be because of the wide availability of appliances in the colour and the overall aesthetic effect it brings to a kitchen’s interior décor. White appliances, however, can easily show any dirt, marks and stains. If you want to avoid a stark, all-white kitchen look, opting for off-white appliances would be a good alternative.

Off-white appliances

If you want a dreamy kitchen look, you can find pastel-coloured kitchen appliances. Off-white kitchen appliances offer a classic look that complements traditional or mid-century kitchen designs. This neutral shade is perfect for creating cohesion among different colours and textures in the kitchen, while also helping to create a light and airy feel. Off-white appliances are available in many styles and mostly are highly durable and easy to maintain.

Tips for choosing a colour that complements black appliances

While kitchens fitted with different colour appliances looks more fun and visually playful, many people prefer to go for a modest and simple kitchen style by incorporating black appliances. If you’ve already opted to go for black appliances, or you already bought black appliances, the next step is to select the best colour for kitchen appliances that will complement black. If you have black kitchen appliances, what colour cabinets should you opt for? Here are a few tips and tricks you can follow.

Black appliances with white cabinets is always a good idea
The most straightforward colour to pair black appliances with is white. You’ll never go wrong with black appliances in a white kitchen. This colour combination is best suited to contemporary and modern kitchens. White cabinets surrounding black appliances create a stark visual contrast. It’s a good design technique to avoid kitchen spaces looking boring.
Try brown cupboards and black appliances
Black stainless steel appliances with brown cabinets is a colour combination you should opt for when designing traditional kitchens. Having dark brown kitchen cabinets with black appliances makes the kitchen look elegant and sophisticated. Interior design trends like modern Victorian, farmhouse and industrial are best achieved if you pair dark stained wood kitchen cabinets with black appliances.
Black appliances with grey cabinetry is an attractive alternative
When choosing a colour to pair with your black appliances, sticking to neutral ones means you can’t go wrong. Grey cabinets with black stainless appliances look good together because it creates visual continuity. Unlike white where it creates contrast, grey is like a supporting backdrop for the black-coloured appliance. It makes your aesthetic cleaner, calmer and more laid back. Experiment with different shades of grey on your cabinets – from slate to Gainsboro – with your black appliances.
Black on black: black kitchen cabinets / black appliances
If you’re obsessed with the colour black, there’s no reason why you can’t create an all-black kitchen. Don’t be afraid to deviate from the norm and opt for black cabinets with black appliances. This combination is rare and not everyone can pull off a perfect interior design composition by pairing black kitchen cabinets with black stainless steel appliances. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible.
Go for beige kitchen cabinets with black appliances for a minimalist look
A kitchen can sometimes appear dull and uninteresting if you stick to neutral or black and white colour schemes. For people who want to avoid the all-white or all-black kitchen aesthetic, incorporate colour in subtle yet significant ways by painting the kitchen cabinets in beige hues.

How to choose the perfect colour for your kitchen

When choosing the perfect colour palette for a kitchen, it’s not just the appliances and cabinets that you should consider. Also think about the counter-tops, splash-backs, walls and flooring of the kitchen. Here are a few tips how you can follow when selecting kitchen colour schemes.

Create a mood board when choosing a kitchen cabinet colour
Choosing a shade to paint your kitchen cabinets with can be a complex task. It includes knowing the basic colour theories and interior design rules. To avoid making costly mistakes, create a mood board beforehand. The mood board will serve as your guide on what paint colour and material to purchase.
Decide on the colour of kitchen appliances
Next, decide what colour kitchen appliances you’d like to go for. Black? White? Multi? Gloss? Matte? Colourful, pastel tones? This choice should also be presented in your mood board.
Choose the counter-top colour
Choose what kind of counter-top will work alongside to your chosen kitchen cabinet and appliance colour. Don’t just consider the colour when choosing counter-tops. Also think about the material and its characteristics and whether it is practical and suitable for your kitchen.
Select the kitchen floor material
In order for everything to be visually coherent, the kitchen flooring should also be taken into account. Popular options include laminate, hardwood, and tile flooring. A general guideline is to choose a second prominent colour. It should be something that is complimentary yet contrasting to better shape your kitchen’s visual appeal.
Pick the kitchen wall colour
Picking the colour of your kitchen walls is a personal decision, but there are a few factors to consider when making this choice. Firstly, you want to select a shade that will complement the overall design style of your kitchen. In addition, you should also take into account the amount of natural light in your kitchen space, as this can affect how the colour appears. Finally, it’s important to consider the mood you want to create; softer shades will make a room feel more serene and airy, while brighter colours can make a room feel more vibrant and energetic. Taking these factors into consideration will help you pick the perfect colour for your kitchen walls.

Price Points: Cream stick blenders

One of the most used gadgets in our kitchen is our trusty orange Billy; we’ve had it for years and years. We use him when making batter, soup, sauces, smoothies, calaloo and loads more.

In our previous house, we used to have a bright orange kitchen. Poor, old, orange Billy doesn’t look right in our new cream kitchen – I’d like to trade him in for one of these new cream stick blenders.

Here are three that I’ve found for sale online – in a range of prices. They’re all very attractive; the £26 option would suit me fine. Much as I love Smeg and KitchenAid appliances, I don’t think I’d use the attachments that come included with the other two cream stick blenders – they’d take up precious storage space that we just don’t have.

Haden stick blender: £26.05, Wayfair
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53: £109.65, KitchenAid
Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender: £149.00, Currys

shop cream stick blenders

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