The Stelton Emma Pitcher In My Urban Kitchen

Hello friends! Do you want to see a room in my house that I never, ever show? MY KITCHEN. And even now, I'm just giving you a behind-the-curtains peek. Maybe I'll show more on my Instagram soon... But for now, this is my blue, Nordic-inspired, kitchen. And the best part? I've filled it with things that I love like the new Emma Pitcher from Stelton along with their glasses and concave vases, all linked at the bottom of this post.

I love combining budget pieces with nicer, well-made ones to create a space that works for me and my family. Take for instance my kitchen. I have affordable cabinets from a big box store, a custom counter from a local kitchen store, inexpensive shelves and paint on the walls from a very exclusive paint brand. I think the paint was more expensive than the countertop! And the countertop was more expensive than the shelves. While it may seem my priorities are whack, I know what I want. I can get white cabinets from anywhere but I can't always find the perfect paint color that speaks to my heart. My heart leads when I'm decorating, always.

Maybe you are the same? Even when it comes to my wallet, I don't mind spending a little more on things that make me happy, even if it means saving up for them. That is why my next investment will be a home that I own so I can build the kitchen of my dreams. Fingers crossed. But until that day, I take pride in what I have and make my urban rental my own. One way I do this is to only purchase what I plan to use and love, but also things that I can see loving a year or two from now. I'm trying hard to be less wasteful when it comes to everything in my life, especially with material possessions. I don't need 20 bottles of perfume and 200 vases stored in my home, do I? But I do need functional objects in my kitchen that I use each day and enjoy, and if they are not cheap, even better - because then I will keep them for longer and they won't break and end up in the trash can.

This is why I love Danish design and always go back to it, even after periods when I get a little tired of seeing it, I return again and again. It seems the Danes have a keen eye for detail, beauty, all things natural, craftsmanship, simplicity, and functional.

If you've not heard of Copenhagen-based brand Stelton, then you have to check out their website and see for yourself how right the Danish do it. I have many Stelton products in my kitchen and enjoy them year after year. I given Stelton as gifts to friends for special occasions, my friend who recently bought her first home was gifted a copper Stelton copper EM77, for instance. I know she will love it for many years and use it. I know it won't break in a month or even a year from now.

If you notice in this post, you will see my current favorite product from them - the Stelton Emma Pitcher. It was designed by Sebastian Holmbäck and Ulrik Nordentoft, who met while attending the Danish Design School. A decade after school, they founded their own design studio, HolmbäckNordentoft, and collaborated with Stelton to create products like the Emma Pitcher, available in gray and blue. The Emma Pitcher has a 50s Danish vibe but incorporates modern materials like stainless steel and a coated beechwood handle. I love how these designers have made this classic design fresh and new.

When I use the Pitcher at home, I like to place the optional top on it (made for refrigerator-use) and store herb-infused or fruit-infused water. My goal is to drink one pitcher per day now that I have Emma in my life. Today, I have mint in my water with some fresh ginger and lemon. Tomorrow, I may opt for raspberries and mint. This Pitcher if perfect for me to meet my goal to drink more water each day.

You can see in my kitchen, complete with my generic inexpensive cabinets, what happens when you mix in well-crafted and beautiful things to your interiors like Stelton products, the overall look goes from budget to personal and even a bit classy. Plus, these iconic brands make an impression on you and your guests each time you use them. They just feel better. People notice them when they visit, and you can tell them a little about them. In some ways, it's the difference between owning a fancy car and very inexpensive, no-frills car - the fancy car gives you a lot more to talk about - not brag, just to discuss. I like that about owning nice things.

It's not about showing off, because my friends know me better than that anyway... But it is about showing that you care about having a few good pieces because they make you happy to just own them and share them with guests, too. I also like having some things that not everyone else has. If it sounds pretentious, well fair enough. But being pretentious is to pretend you have something better than you really do. But if you DO have good things and you're not pretending, then you are not pretentious are you? You just like what you like and quality, long-lasting pieces come with a price. They don't have to be expensive, but they also won't be from the dollar store. The older I get, the more I require good products in my life. I don't want to be surrounded by things that break easily or end up in the trash in six months. Quality over quantity wins.

 Shown above from Stelton:

• Emma Pitcher, in gray (on counter)
• Concave vase, large (on shelf)
• Concave vase, medium (on counter)
• Simple glass, gray (on counter/shelf)

On my wishlist from Stelton:

More glasses because 4 isn't enough, a press coffee maker and the coffee grinder - would love to start making coffee at home like this vs. using the Nepresso.

For a limited time, you can WIN the #EmmaPitcher by signing up for the Stelton newsletter here (wait for the pop-up in the lower right).

I hope you have enjoyed seeing a view of my kitchen and these products that I love so much.

Psst: Need some Kitchen inspiration? Here you go: IKEA Kitchen Hack, 8 Design Tips For a Modern Country Kitchen, A Kitchen I Designed At IMM Cologne.

(Note: This post has been sponsored by Stelton, a friend of mine for several years who is very supportive of decor8 and the work that I do. It's through occasional sponsors like Stelton that I can keep working full-time in a creative profession that I love, support my family, and keep decor8 ad-free. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. I only review what I own, use and love.)