Interior designers spend their days designing, remodeling, and decorating homes for other people. But have you ever thought about the ways in which they design their own homes? And in particular, the home decor products that they buy for themselves?
It's a question I always have on my mind, and one I wanted to ask designers in relation to one of the most important rooms of the home – the kitchen. Of course, we trust interior designers for their expertise on kitchen ideas and kitchen trends, so it only makes sense to listen to their opinions on the best products they've bought for their own kitchens this year. After all, no one knows better than the experts themselves, and we can trust that they'd choose only the best for their own homes.
So below, find the nine designer-approved and owned kitchen products – from countertop appliances to cookware – that promise utmost function within the kitchen and don't sacrifice on style.
For interior designer Sarah Storms, the best thing she's bought this year for her kitchen was a countertop ice machine. 'As someone who needs ice in all my drinks, I finally invested in a countertop ice machine that makes perfect texture nuggets of ice,' Sarah says. 'It’s a tiny bit of luxury that makes me happy every day.' This model by Frigidaire might be in the running for best ice maker – it can make up to 26lbs of ice every day, and you can choose between two different cube sizes, depending on your preference. Plus, its compact design makes it ideal for small kitchens.
'In the spirit of sustainability and leaning into the low-tox living trend, my favorite kitchen purchase this year is the Reencle Prime indoor food composter,' interior designer Kim Dee tells me. 'It’s sleek, compact, and tucks effortlessly under the counter – as long as you’ve got an outlet nearby. It makes repurposing food waste feel less like a chore and more like a quiet luxury.' If you're new to composting, this model is a great pick. It's odor-free, mess-free, and comes with all the necessities for a first-time composter.
With 11 cooking techniques to choose between, it's no wonder this Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is a hot commodity. It also happens to be designer Caroline Kopp's favorite product that she's bought for her kitchen this year. 'It is so easy, fast, and has tons of capacity to feed the whole family,' Caroline says. Not only is it highly practical, but this air fryer is also a stylish kitchen appliance. 'It comes in lots of fun colors as well as stainless steel,' Caroline continues. 'This replaced a prior model that lasted for YEARS – I seriously can’t live without one of these in my kitchen.'
'As a designer, I shamelessly swoon over a beautifully organized drawer system,' Amanda Sinistaj of Elwood Interiors tells me. 'My splurge this year, albeit a little on the controlling side, was outfitting each drawer with clear acrylic trays tailored to exactly what’s going inside; utensils, flatware, measuring cups, oven mitts, the works.' As a kitchen storage idea that ensures order, drawer organizers like this set from The Container Store are beyond helpful, in more ways than one. 'Yes, it keeps the household running smoothly but the real thrill? It's the look on my guests' faces when they open a drawer and audibly gasp – that's the moment I humbly live for!'
'The Container Store has become my secret weapon for streamlining the chaos and turning everyday moments into mini design wins,' Amanda continues. That's why she considers the brand's organization products to be some of the best things she's bought for her kitchen all year. Amanda's ultra-organized kitchen features a coffee drawer outfitted with proper storage for everything from k-cups to tea bags. To get a similar look for your kitchen drawers, incorporate this coffee organizer that can conveniently hold up to 30 coffee pods.
'Most people never think to protect that narrow strip of cabinetry they grab every time they pull out the trash or recycling. The one that takes the brunt of your daily mess – the drips, the splatters, the unholy cocktail of coffee grounds and wilted lettuce juice,' interior designer Judi Cooper points out. That's why, for Judi, the best product she's bought for her kitchen this year is a bin drip guard. 'Metal or plastic, it slips over that top edge like a shield. Suddenly, you’re not scrubbing away sticky grime with the corner of a sponge. You're wiping down a smooth, removable surface in seconds. Your cabinetry stays clean. The finish stays pristine. And you stop quietly resenting your trash cabinet every time you cook.'
Another favorite buy from designer Kim Dee is a product that just so happens to be one of her most-used and most-styled kitchen items – that is, a wood cutting board. 'I found mine at Crate & Barrel, and it now lives permanently on my countertop,' Kim tells me. 'It brings in that warm, layered look while doubling as the perfect perch for my olive oil, salt and pepper shakers, and the occasional candle. Functional? Absolutely. But it also makes the whole space feel a little more pulled together.' This model, with its round shape and slightly elevated design, is a prime example.
'Hands down, the best thing I bought for my kitchen this year is Le Creuset cookware in the Brioche colorway,' interior designer Gabriela Eisenhart tells me. 'You can't go wrong with enamel-coated cast iron; they'll last a lifetime.' In general, you can't go wrong with any Le Creuset products – the brand has become a Homes & Gardens favorite, and clearly, an interior designer favorite, too. This Dutch oven in Gabriela's suggested Brioche colorway is one of those pieces you'd be happy to leave on your stovetop – it delivers high functionality and elegant style.
'They're great for the stovetop and oven, and they hold heat beautifully,' Gabriela continues about Le Creuset cookware. 'I love how functional they are, but also how good they look sitting on the stove.' If you want long-lasting, reliable, and toxic-free cookware, cast-iron is the way to go. And Le Creuset can deliver not only the best cast-iron cookware, but also stylish models, like this skillet in Gabriela's favorite colorway. It's a kitchen product that everyone needs, just made ten times more stylishly than the rest.
Lesson learned: designers don't just like aesthetic buys for their own kitchens, just like us, the products they swear by are ones that make their lives easier (and also happen to look good too).
