Magnet has been getting in the festive spirit with Anna Ryder Richardson!

Last week we met with the UK media to let them in on the exciting projects that Anna’s been working on…

We set her the ultimate challenge of creating three very different kitchens, to suit very different needs, all using our brand new Savannah kitchen.  We want to show you that a great kitchen catered to your own individual style and uses can be easily achieved by adding some simple touches – and it won’t bust your budget!

Anna started by creating a Rustic Retreat that finds itself perfectly placed at the heart of a family home.  With a simple colour scheme that can be easily updated, the focus here is on practicality – using jars to make your ingredients the key accessory and rustic pots to complement the units and make them a feature in themselves.

The Oriental Zen kitchen was designed for those of you who want to leave the busy working day at the door, and relax with a quick, healthy meal in soothing surroundings.  Turquoise accessories brighten up the slate grey worktop and create a contrast with the cream units.  Vibrant colour pops can also come courtesy of plants and accessories, and can be changed with your mood thanks to the neutral paint scheme.

For a party kitchen take the Savannah and add vibrant colour.  Anna chose Mojito green accessories such as jugs, tumblers and of course plenty of limes!  Colour has even been injected into the worktop with the stunning Aubergine Gloss, and this can be mirrored with matching accessories such as fruit bowls and vases.  Just add people for the party to begin.

Anna created all three of these kitchens and we have the videos to prove that it really is as easy as it sounds to get your own personal style out of this great range.

You May Be Ready For Christmas, But Is Your Kitchen…?

With only a few weeks left before the big day arrives, you may have completed all your Christmas shopping, bought all your key ingredients to get you through the festive season, but have you kitted out your kitchen with all these Christmas kitchen essentials?

Cooking is fun, but as we all know, it can get messy, so make sure you get yourself an over-the-top festive apron – a must-have for getting through the cooking without leaving a spec of flour down your front.

Moving onto the most important guest, the turkey! To keep the turkey as flavoursome and succulent as possible, a glazed terracotta roaster is not to be done without this Christmas Day, and a stainless steel spiked meat dish to display it proudly in the middle of the table.

Although stuffed to the brim with turkey and all the trimmings, no dinner finishes without a freshly made Christmas Pudding, which is where Christmas pudding moulds come in, making it so easy to perfect the rounded Christmas Pudding.

And no house is complete without the smell of mulled wine diffusing throughout the rooms, so if you are not a wine making whizz, investing in a mulled wine Reed Diffusers may be the answer you are looking for.

Gadgets in the kitchen have become a huge trend over the last few years. Most people have very busy lifestyles so they need gadgets to help get jobs done as quickly as possible.

Eco gadgets are very on-trend at the minute. A hot water tap is not only better for the environment, but makes cooking and cleaning much easier, and they are aesthetically desirable.

Pop-up TVs and iPod docking stations are very popular for families entertaining in the kitchen, whilst pop-up plug sockets are a great way of turning something functional into a design feature.

Gadgets sit particularly well in modern kitchens but, if implemented well, can work just as well in traditional kitchens.

We always recommend avoid buying gimmicky gadgets or  kitchen appliances that you will only use a few times. They may look stylish, but your money would be better spent on something that will genuinely make your life more enjoyable or easier.

This week, top TV stylist Anna Ryder Richardson shares with us her vision of how to take design inspiration from the seasons.

‘Autumnal.’ Such a lovely word once you get your mouth round it. We only have to look around us and see the colours, textures and shapes changing as we flow from season to season for styling inspiration.

Trees and flowers generously give us a full show of colour change and seasonal fruit or vegetables are always a great way to change the look of a kitchen or to take colour inspiration from.

Every season comes with it’s own palette.  I am constantly surprised at the shades of colour we have at our fingertips and eyes, an infinite amount of colour shades, so take your blinkers off, take it all in and absorb your surroundings.

Autumn is about browns and all the glorious shades it brings such as oranges burnt and bright, new green leaves to the green leaves turning brown, deep berry reds and aubergine, one of nature’s most sensuous colours. I could go on and on.

Embrace it, look for it, and don’t be surprised! ‘Go with the flow’ has never been more apt, enjoy it while it lasts, that way you’ll be almost sorry to see the seasons change.  But when you see the next selection of colours and textures emerging, there won’t be time to reflect only to refresh. These colour changes should trickle in and out, showing colours, textures in spectacular and surprising combinations.

Then there are the things we touch every day, why shouldn’t they please our eye, create an atmosphere?  Tea towels, linen, cushions and throws can be changed with the seasons. From light, floral designs for spring/summer to rich coloured checks, stripes for the colder months.

In spring, vases and glassware can be grouped, bouncing light off each other and displaying seasonal flowers such as fresh green shoots and huge sunflowers. In winter, try smoky glass or heavy earthenware pots with dried flowers or vegetables.

During the summer months, crockery can be delicate – perhaps drawing inspiration from nature and botanical design. Meanwhile, heavy, thick bowls and plates in earthy tones are perfect for autumn, especially when side by side with rustic wooden chopping boards and fresh, green salads.

Design trends have definitely relaxed towards everything matching, now we can have individual pieces that tell a story or work together really well in a mix. It’s not about the obvious.

If you are having a dinner party then indulge your guests with seasonal layering to create an atmosphere that starts the evening off in the right mood.  Your dining table really is a place to go style and prop crazy.  More is definitely more here. You can have loads of candles, create dramatic centrepieces, or drizzle the table with rose petals or pine needles. The possibilities are truly endless!

We’re really excited about the new recipe book that is being published to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Mrs Beeton’s first publication.

The book is full of classic, British recipes, which have been updated for the twenty-first century kitchen.

Mrs Beeton How to Cook is packed full of modern advice on how to source good food, plus a detailed insight into ingredients and equipment.

Featuring family classics such as Leek and Potato Soup and Steak and Kidney Pudding, to dishes that will be sure to put your culinary skills to the test, such as Grilled Lobster with Parsley and Garlic Butter.

With its timeless appeal and variety of dishes, this very special recipe book belongs in every kitchen.

Mrs Beeton How to Cook will be available from Waterstone’s from 13th October!

If you haven’t already seen our news, we are delighted to announce we are sponsoring Good Food’s new daily show MY KITCHEN, which will feature celebrity chefs inviting viewers into their homes.

You can catch our logo on the 30 minute daily show over the next 10 weeks, which started this week. Have you seen it yet?

So for all you food fanatics, get watching the show and see what celebrity chefs cook when they are out of the media spotlight.

]]> http://blog.magnet.co.uk/news/magnet-sponsors-new-good-food-show-my-kitchen/feed/ 0 http://blog.magnet.co.uk/news/pippa-middleton-enjoys-cooking-in-the-kitchen/ http://blog.magnet.co.uk/news/pippa-middleton-enjoys-cooking-in-the-kitchen/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:59:52 +0000 Magnet http://blog.magnet.co.uk/?p=1037

Not only has Miss Middleton’s derriere stolen the hearts of millions,  breaking news reports that she will melt your heart in the kitchen.

Having successfully completed an intensive four-week stint at a prestigious cookery school, Pippa was described by her tutors as “an asset to any kitchen”.

Cooking up a storm of saffron scallops with spinach and sweet tomato pickle, pan fried red snapper with mashed potato as well as French beans and red pepper relish. Is it any wonder she is considered a new domestic goddess?

So ladies, now you’ve perfected your booty and styled the swish in your hair, it’s time to master the art of performing in the kitchen.

Are you celebrating the launch of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2? Well, why leave the excitement at the cinema when you can bring the magic to your kitchen with the Harry Potter Cookbook.

Featuring over 150 recipes, this book contains every food mentioned in Harry Potter, from Pumpkin Pastries and Treacle Fudge to Mrs Weasley’s Homemade Toffee and Rock Cake.

With the holidays approaching, why not get your whisks at the ready and prepare to add a sprinkle of witchcraft and wizardry to your cooking.

For everyone from Potter fans to keen cooks, these recipes are sure to be a magical addition to any cookbook collection.

In recent years we’ve seen the rebirth of fashion from several decades including the 20s and 30s, even the rise and fall of the 80s-come-back.

In 2011 we’re set to do it all again, but this time it’s the 1970s that are taking the catwalks by storm – from boho style to a more sophisticated 70s look, there’s no escaping this massive trend.

This year Magnet has introduced a new retro 70s kitchen range that uses the latest on-trend greys combined with mellow mustards to create an authentic vintage look.

The Orbitz uses the latest curved wall and floor units combined with the sweeping curves of the Apollo Portland Grey worktop. The retro pattern on the unit frontals uses a subtle grey background which contrasts with the bold coloured globes. Stylish clear acrylic handles ensure this cool, retro pattern can be seen at it’s best along side the Studio White kitchen.

Orbitz units can be used an accent with a number of Magnet ranges including Urban Gloss Noir and Cubista Wenge.

HOW TO GET THE 70s LOOK:

-       Search vintage shops for retro accessories such as teak bar stools

-       Accessorise using crockery with bold, colourful patterns

-       Chunky curved fridges in bright colours are great for recreating past eras

-       Create an feature wall using hippy-inspired wallpaper

-       Invest in 70s-looking appliances, such as food mixers, for an authentic feel

One of the latest colour trends has walked straight off the catwalk and into the kitchen. Fashion’s hottest colour for Autumn/Winter, camel, has hit interiors in the form of Magnet’s Urban Café range.

The Urban Café is as contemporary as it gets, with high gloss doors and a distinctive camel finish. Combined with Urban Crème it creates even more drama and impact.

The kitchen also features a complimentary ‘Coco Bola’ laminate worktop, which completes the overall warm effect, along with stainless steel plinths and matt nickel handles.