Ask me how much I love Joan Didion, and I can write for hours. In fact, I did, when I dedicated my entire thesis to her legacy when I graduated from university.
Fast-forward a few years, and I'm still as influenced by this literary great. Alongside her writing talents, Joan's impeccable style has impacted my wardrobe, but never by home – at least, until I saw her retro Malibu kitchen.
Working as a celebrity style editor, peeking inside homes of the world's most famous figures is part of my everyday job. However, recently, I've enjoyed delving back into the archives of style icons (from Audrey Hepburn to Diana Vreeland).
Considering my affection for Joan, it was only a matter of time before I visited the historic images of her home on the Pacific Coast Highway, famously where she resided while writing The White Album in the 1970s.
At first glance, her colorful kitchen storage caught my eye, as it's a solution I can replicate in my tiny apartment.
Shop the look
The smooth orange appearance and simple design of this storage jars makes it the perfect starting point in following Joan's aesthetic. The smooth wooden lid means it can be easily stacked (just like hers), saving you space in your countertops.
Made with BPA-free and lead-free food-grade glass, these jars offers a clear view of contents, preserving the freshness and integrity of stored food. The specially designed lid ensures an airtight seal, keeping contents fresh for longer (and they look great in the process).
The smooth yet vibrant style of these jars are ideal for bringing some retro color to your kitchen, whatever your current style. The bottom of the containers fit well with the lid and can be stacked easily, making them a small-kitchen saviour.
Living in a city apartment, everything in my small kitchen must be functional, but that doesn't mean I want to sacrifice aesthetics. Joan's colorful storage jars are one of my favorite ways to marry these two necessities.
Firstly, these jars have a retro style. Since the photograph was taken in 1972, it naturally has a vintage-style feel, but these accessories bring the look to life in a modern kitchen.
Joan exhibits orange and red storage containers, alongside green-topped glass jars, bringing vibrancy to her otherwise neutral space. Everything on her counters is stackable (minus the beautiful orange Dutch oven), making it perfect for a small space like my own. Tom Howley, the creative design director at the eponymous kitchen company, agrees.
'Why not decant dried goods into stylish containers? This is a great option if you have glass-fronted or open storage, as it keeps everything looking beautiful as well as being easy to find,' he comments. Tom recommends doing this in a small pantry, specifically, but it's just as useful in a small kitchen.
'Storing items in containers allows you to throw out bulky packaging and free up some room. Stackable square containers are the most space-efficient.'
Plus, as well as saving space, this method allows me to keep track of when I need to rebuy essentials, because, thanks to Joan, pasta and ground coffee are now part of my kitchen decor.
Would you ever replicate her storage method? Let me know here in the comments...
