3 Essential elements of the ultimate bachelor kitchen

The kitchen is no longer the exclusive domain of women and those with too much time on their hands. These days, the sophisticated gentleman knows his way around the kitchen, and has a few secret recipes up his sleeve, in case he needs to impress on short notice. With more and more bachelors putting as much effort into their kitchens as they do for their man-caves, we’ve got a list of some of the most important elements in the ultimate bachelor’s kitchen. These tips are the perfect place to start when putting together a kitchen any bachelor would be proud of.

Splashbacks

Nowadays, a modern man is as much a virtuoso in the kitchen as his female counterparts, but still seems to lack the fairer sex’s knack for cleanliness and order, while cooking up a storm. Splashbacks are an essential part of any kitchen, especially those where messes tend to happen. A splashback is essentially an easy-to-clean surface attached to the wall behind two of the kitchen’s messiest spots – the sink and the stovetop, in order to make it easy to wipe off stains without ruining the paintwork. Tiled splashbacks are also a great way to bring a little fun colour into a dull kitchen. For the ultimate bachelor kitchen, subway tiles and smaller mosaic tiles in white, black and greys (or a combination) are masculine, sophisticated and functional.

It’s about the appliances

Men have always been known for their love of gadgets, and now that they’re finding their way into the kitchen too, it seems only logical that they would take as much pride in their appliances. Here are the ones we think no ultimate bachelor’s kitchen should be without:

1. A smoothie-maker or juicer

   Essential for those all-important health shakes and smoothies, these appliances make it easy to whip up something quick, healthy and delicious on the go (remember, being in a rush is no excuse to let the flab build up).

2. A multi-tool blender

   Whether you’re whipping up that famous guacamole for game day, or creating something a little more sophisticated for date night, a good food processor will revolutionise the way you use your kitchen. Most of them have multiple settings for chopping, dicing, grating, liquidising and everything in between.

3. A coffee machine you can’t really afford

   A man’s man takes his coffee seriously, and wouldn’t be caught dead offering instant granules to guests in his home. Invest in a high end coffee machine, or maybe a simple and more affordable plunger system and a few bags of top-quality beans, if espresso isn’t really your thing.

A bar counter or small dining table

The urban gentleman doesn’t eat in front of the TV. It’s important to have a spot in your kitchen specifically designed for meals, even if you’re eating alone. For smaller kitchens, it might be a slim breakfast type bar counter and some sleek bar stools, while if you have more space, you might consider a full dining set.

Once you’ve kitted your kitchen out with all the mod-cons, you’ll be tempted to spend a lot more time using it to hone your culinary skills, and you’ll definitely score points with friends, family and the ladies!

Holding Court in Fashion How to Entertain in 18th Century Style like Marie Antoinette

The 18th century was a time of historic indulgence, with divine décor, grandiose ballrooms and over-the-top gowns. One iconic figure from this time is Marie Antoinette, known for her opulent sense of style and excellent taste in baked goods. Taking a page out of her book is one way to bring elegance into your own home.

While a pastel blue ceiling covered in cotton candy clouds, paintings of Louis XVI and extravagant gold-framed mirrors might not translate well into the overall style of your home, hosting a party in the name of Marie will bring out your creative side. Here are some easy ways to turn your home into an 18th century aristocratic wonderland the next time you have people over for a special occasion or dinner party:

Colour me pretty

If you were to take a tour through the home of Marie Antoinette, the first thing you’d notice are the pretty pastel tones complemented by striking gold trim. When setting up your dining room table, you should focus on layering these soft colours. Think marshmallows, moss, lavender and duckling yellow.

The cutlery and crockery you use is the perfect way to add in the gold elements without overdoing it. Remember, there is nothing subtle about this style, so keeping it classic and elegant is key – don’t overdo it!

Another wonderful way to add a pop of texture throughout your home is to focus on the bathroom, where female guests are sure to powder their noses! Add a giant bunch of pastel roses in a crystal vase below your gold bathroom mirror. If you have black and white tiles, then you’re already bang on point when it comes to this style. If not, we have a wide range of tiles that can give you that classic vintage feel.

Lux to the touch

Texture is everything when it comes to achieving this style! Think huge fluffy feathers, gold foil finishes, plush fabric on cushions and silk covered table tops. Ensuring layers and various textures will add height and depth to your main feature – the table! Use soft material to layer the table, create height with various vases, trinket trays or candles, and add feathers to the flower arrangements.

Applying the finer details

Now that you have the overall décor taken care of, you can focus on the finer details to bring it all together. No Marie Antoinette party was complete without a fabulous dessert table covered in intricate cakes and macaroons. For drinks, anything involving champagne will work wonders. If you are looking for some extra special entertainment, consider a couple of lawn games like croquet or ask your guests to arrive wearing a mask.

If this kind of style is something you’d like to make a permanent part of your home’s décor, we have a wide range of tiles and features you can install to get that vintage romance vibe. Pop across to our products page for some ideas: http://www.tileafrica.co.za/Pages/Products