As a busy brand founder, actress, chef, and mom of four, Ayesha Curry's kitchen needs to fulfill many different needs. It needs to be highly functional to accommodate cooking family meals for 6, be beautiful enough to provide a gathering space, and be relaxing enough to offer a calming oasis for Ayesha to find rest. Though these demands are high, they are not uncommon; most of us would hope our kitchen fulfills all of these roles.
Luckily for you, we were able to interview Ayesha and learn the techniques she uses in her kitchen to balance effectiveness with aesthetics. They're surprisingly simple and easy to recreate in any space. 'Calm is not something I'm finding a lot of these days with four kids, but I do find the kitchen to be my happy place in the home and the place where everyone congregates (which I love),' the Sweet July founder tells Homes & Gardens. 'Through the years I have found some things that have worked for me in keeping my kitchen functional but still beautiful and relaxing.'
1. Good Quality Plates and Bowls
Her first tip is to choose the right dishware. Though dishware may feel secondary to things like choosing your cabinet color or countertop material, these accessories can play a huge role in the way your design looks, especially if you have glass cabinets. More importantly, they have a huge impact on how you use your space; the right dishware can make a meal much more enjoyable or compel you to cook more often.
Curry says: 'Good quality plates and bowls for me in the past have either been utilitarian or beautiful (never both). I’ve found that well-made ceramics can be both, like our handmade Telegraph collection from Sweet July, which I have been using in my house (in the gorgeous Nutmeg color that I’m obsessed with).' Her simple designs embody pared-back, ergonomic style in three gorgeous colors. Our editors are especially in love with the rounded pasta bowls.
2. Display Frequently Used Items on the Counter
Moving on from what's in the cabinets, Curry says that what's on your kitchen countertops plays a huge role in the function and style of your space. She states, 'The other thing I highly recommend is to not be afraid to display your frequently used kitchen items on the counter. A calm kitchen for me means not having to rummage around for what I need. I love to keep my most used spices displayed on a tiered rack and my olive oil and salt cellar on a tray that can easily move with me from the stove to the kitchen island.'
The key to recreating this trick is that it's different for everyone. Think about the condiments, spices, and oils you use most frequently when cooking, and then figure out how it might work to display them.
3. Effectively Organize Your Spices
Minimizing clutter is essential for making a kitchen relaxing. Thus, Curry swears by uniformly organized spices. She tells H&G: 'Years ago, I had someone come in and organize my pantry, and they turned my mess of a spice cabinet into a tiered rack display of spices in uniform, labeled jars. It was such a game changer that we created a version of it for Sweet July. I use a lot of spices when I cook, and this makes everything so easy to find. Sometimes, when I don’t know what to cook, I’ll even start with the spice cabinet to inspire me.'
We're in love with the clever spice rack she designed. Like stairs, for your spices. Yet again, it could be used for function in a pantry or featured on the countertops for an instantly stylish look.
This spice rack is highly functional and beautiful enough to be displayed proudly on the countertops.
Effectively accessorizing and organizing a kitchen is a huge part of making it a liveable space. With Ayesha Curry's tips and beautiful homewares from Sweet July, it's never been easier.
