Editor’s picks: The Kitchen Wishlist

I’m obsessed with this artwork by BHG Creator Awards Visual Artist winner, Jacklyn Foster, of what is a daily staple in my kitchen. She has a range of iconic kitchen prints available on her online store, starting from as little as $75, and some truly gorgeous original artworks up for grabs, too. Look out for my favourite,

Are these not the cutest mugs you ever did see? While they’re an investment at $310, the set of six are basically like drinking out of adorable, quirky little pieces of art. The brand also makes other glass designs including dogs, cats, flowers and more (all the things I love most!).

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and quality cookware is a real non-negotiable for me. I’ve been in search of a good wok pan to really level up my stir-fries, rice and noodle dishes. Based on all the positive user reviews, I’ve got my sights set on this one.

What kitchen is complete without a stellar cookbook or two? I loved interviewing Yotam Ottolenghi earlier this year. His ethos around family and the simplicity of cooking with love really stuck with me. I cannot wait for his latest cookbook to be released, out on 1 September.

No Aussie kitchen is complete without a fancy coffee maker. I’ve been spending too much on barista coffees lately, but I love the convenience of my Nespresso at home. In the market for something in between, where I can customise a little more without adding hassle, this easy-to-use touchscreen looks convenient with enough flexibility to meet my fussy coffee needs.

When recently shopping for a nice, quality chopping board, I came across this clever product. It’s a chopping board that slots onto the side of your bench, making sliding off chopped items so much easier, and stopping your board from moving. Love it.

If you love a lavender fragrance but want something more edgy, modern and bright, this new scent from Matiere Premiere is the perfect thing. Its almost sharp metallic edge will snap you out of your day and plonk you directly into the summery lavender fields of Provence.

Have you ever judged a restaurant by the quality of the hand soap in the bathroom? No? Just me? I love a well thought out hospitality experience, and having my own Aesop products at home – be they the wash or a balm, delivers an elevated botanical experience at my fingertips.

This cleansing balm, from performance-based beauty brand Aleph, invites an end of day ritual. The instructions are to melt the balm between your palms, then cup them over your nose and take three slow, deep breaths of the subtle neroli essential oil, before massaging it into your skin. It’s a mindful moment I now look forward to daily.

If you like your perfume a little sweeter and more delicate, this softly fragranced combination of jasmine, tuberose and incense is understated and yet still warm and rich.

While I love a candle or diffuser, sometimes a room just needs a quick spritz. The room sprays by Ecoya converted me with their iconic French Pear, but the floral scents available are worth a sniff – especially Lotus Flower, which transports you with lotus, jasmine and ylang ylang.

While my favourite Jo Malone fragrance remains Jasmine Sambac, a recent spritz in store of this Orange Blossom scent had me ready for spring. It’s light and sweet, citrusy with plenty of white florals, and best of all, like many Jo Malone scents, it has real staying power!

When it comes to classic window covers, you just can’t go past plantation shutters. They’re great at letting in the light, easy to clean and just add a Hamptons-esque vibe to the place.

I love that glass blocks are making a comeback. Whether it be a retro olive green or a sunshine-filled amber, they add the most amazing light play to a space. I was obsessed seeing Jordan and Dane’s reno (page 69) where they used glass bricks, and now I just need to find where I can create something with them in my apartment!

You rarely see much of the Art Nouveau style in modern homes, but the flowing nature motifs and deep burgundies, ambers and bottle greens seen in these hearth tiles are iconic. I have similar tiles in a 100-year-old converted washstand I’ve used as a bathroom basin, and I’m thinking of more places I can bring these into my home – be it vintage or carefully crafted modern replicas. Maybe the kitchen next?

Colour is important to me, and so when I learned that Benjamin Moore’s Aura paint range uses specific Colour Lock technology different to other paint brands, it immediately put them to the top of my list. They manufacture their own resins and colourants, resulting in a deeper colour that’s longer lasting. I’ve got my heart set on this beautifully rich Olive Moss colour for my lounge room.

It may be a luxury, but I swear by heated towel rails. And unlike the classic bulky ones, the vertical styles look sleek and are great space savers. After a shower, you’ll be able to wrap yourself in a warm, dry towel every time.

The options are endless when it comes to benchtops now, but I do love the classic warmth of this creamy style by Caesarstone. Being porcelain, it looks fancy and like real stone, but it has the added benefit of being more scratch and stain resistant and lower maintenance – tick!

I recently went on a mission to source soft, fleecy clothing that wasn’t polyester. It’s harder than you’d think! Enter Paire. This ‘scuba’ style hoodie is thick, buttery soft organic cotton. And with 15 per cent off for three items, you bet I bought the matching trackies. My weekend reading sessions have never been comfier!

If you could bottle the scent of cosy warmth, a crackling fire and roasted chestnuts, you would find it in this candle. Rich sandalwood, the sweetness of dried fruits, and Siam benzoin create an evocative scent that is perfect for winding down and snuggling up.

I have a list of ‘weekend rituals’ on my fridge, that remind me to slow down and smell the roses, or in this case, coffee. I’ve always loved the simplicity of a pod coffee maker, and Nespresso’s newest Vertuo Up model is easier than ever. I can grab my favourite flavour (currently the decaf French lavender and vanilla – YUM!) in no time, and enjoy my ‘slow’ coffee rugged up in the back garden.

I was lucky enough to be gifted one of these masks from Shark Beauty, but trust me when I say it’s turned into a daily ritual. Each morning after I shower, I put the skin-clearing setting on, and let the mask cycle through blue, red and infrared lights. The bit I love most though, and what sets this mask apart – is the under-eye chill pads, perfect for refreshing tired eyes. It’s like dunking your face in cold water, but without the pain.

When I was a child, my mum used a bread maker every week. I remember the scent
of freshly baked bread wafting through the house, and the taste of her fresh, piping hot baked loaves. During COVID lockdowns, everyone was making sourdough at home, but I’m calling 2026 the return of the more convenient bread maker. You heard it here first…

A book I read mentioned doing laundry as a ‘cherished ritual’ that weekends allowed time for. It made me look at (some) mundane chores differently, and now I embrace the luxury of having the time to wash and hang clothes. Ecoya laundry liquid’s gentle lavender and chamomile fragrance makes it even more pleasant.

This charming little mug is from a collab between the Robert Gordon pottery firm and watercolourist and illustrator Carolyn Gavin. It’s from a range called “4 Dogs & a Cat”. Collect each mug to have a cupboard full of whimsy.

Known for her exploration of contemporary art, Louise Bourgeois had a huge impact on today’s creative landscape, from sculptures to prints, drawings and fabric work. You can now have a piece of this trailblazer’s art in your home with this bone china plate set.

Bright homewares brand Kip&Co has featured works by Aussie painter and printmaker Margaret Preston in a range of tablecloths, tea towels and even bedlinen. Using Preston’s iconic modernist florals and foodie still-lifes, this range is loud and screams Australia.

You can trust Gorman to have a regular rotation of artist-designed prints and the latest is gorgeously striking. Ukrainian-born folk artist Kira Konoshenko has created bird and nature motifs that glow in sumptuous colours and textures. I’ve got my eye on this velvet jacket.

You’ll find a number of collabs at Tuiss blinds, from partnerships with William Morris and Liberty, through to patterns from print designer Clarissa Hulse or this one with ceramicist Emma Bridgewater.

Aussie artist, illustrator and designer Pete Cromer has put his bold and colourful designs on mugs, coasters and water bottles from Maxwell & Williams. They bring a spark of joy to the day-to-day.

Vikasa is my favourite scent from Melbourne fragrance house Tulita. It has notes of smoky rose with bergamot, jasmine, cedarwood and frankincense. What I love about this brand is that each scent comes with a crystal linked to Ayurvedic wellness – this one, rose quartz.

They also deliver your perfume with a 2ml travel mini to ensure you love it before opening the bottle. If not, you can return it. Perfume refills are also available.

Chocolate is my weakness, and my standout Aussie maker is indisputably Haigh’s.

Their ‘Best of Australia’ collection is one to try, with honey and walnut nougat my favourite. But you need to open these in good company, because you’ll be tempted to finish the bag in one go.

At a recent design market in Sydney I came across a no-plastic beauty brand; Flavedo & Albedo. I tried their Velvet Eyeshadow in hazelnut and have used it every day since.

I discovered Aura Home (all the best design seems to come out of Victoria!) and am hard pressed each time I visit their site to not fill my cart with unnecessary – but no less desirable – items. I’m saving up for this coverlet.

Standing for “luck, art and science” (and of course, wine), L.A.S. Vino is a fun and innovative winery out of Margaret River. My pick is their chenin blanc dynamic blend (CBDB) which is grown on a certified biodynamic site.

Many of my friends tease me for being a wine snob, and I’ll often opt for a Jura white from France and not settle for less – wasted money if it’s not going to be loved in my opinion. This one, however, is one of my top Aussie favourites.

I first came across this brand at my dermatologist, and another time while getting a rare and relaxing facial. I’m a convert, but until recently I had no idea they started out in Australia.

The exfoliating fruit enzyme mask is gentle on my sensitive skin, and the hydrating sheet masks are my go-to when travelling for dried-out skin!

Save: Crockery and serving ware
Why: These items are easier to chip, tarnish, stain and scratch.
Look for: Quality second-hand items at auctions or op shops. Use an affordable set for every day. Supermarket points campaigns are also a great way to furnish your table.

Save: Cushions and throws
Why: With affordable options aplenty, these items can be an easy entry point for refreshing your style.
Look for: Affordable dupes and sale items. You can get a luxe look like linen or velvet fairly affordably, especially at places like Kmart or IKEA. I love these 100 per cent cotton floral covers.

Spend: Cookware
Why: Invest in reliability, durability, and if you buy smart and look after it, you can cook in it for decades.
Look for: Look for: 18/10 stainless steel is a good benchmark. Check for a long warranty, compatibility with your oven and cooktop and a thick base (multi-ply, bonded or copper/aluminium layers can improve heat distribution). Check out our Myer discounts and codes page for even more savings.

Save: Garden pots and planters
Why: Visual impact doesn’t require a big spend.
Look for: Find gems on Facebook Marketplace, at second-hand stores and street collections. Quality planters will be terracotta or similar, but you can also wrap your pots in something that looks luxe with a painted or imitation version. Check out our roundup of Amazon discounts and deals for even more savings.

Spend: Armchair or sofa
Why: A couch or armchair is high-use and worth investing in for comfort, quality and structural integrity
Look for: Opt for hardwood, quality suspension and a classic design that can be styled easily. The Arlo armchair from Castlery is crafted with solid rubber wood. Forget trends, this design is effortless and timeless.

Save: Quilt covers
Why: You don’t need luxury pricing to get a beautiful refresh. Colour, pattern and layering create impact, and if you sleep with a top sheet, then even the thread count and texture doesn’t matter.
Look for: Cotton for affordable breathability and separates that are easy to mix and match rather than full designer sets.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about investing in a singing bowl. Made of hand-hammered metal, it produces resonant, soothing tones when struck and circled around the rim.

I’m curious to connect with its relaxing sound, and hear if it’s like switching from tinny headphones to vinyl!

I’ve started this new thing where I shower at night without the light on. Am I alone here?

Sometimes I even put on calming music. It’s a wonderful decompress. I encourage you to try it! While you’re there, cleanse without stripping your skin of moisture with this luxe oil which lathers under water.

I was lucky enough to be gifted a pack of these sweets from 338°. You could call them caramels, but that wouldn’t do them justice. The soft morsels remind me of Filipino pastillas mixed with a fudgy, soft toffee. They almost dissolve on your tongue.

The inventive flavours are surprising and unique – think citron and finger lime, or macadamia and wattleseed.

As I’m writing this, I’ve just returned from walking my dog. Recently, I’ve been making a point to walk a route where I know I’ll be engulfed in the sweetest fragrance – orange blossom in full bloom.

The little white flowers of Mexican orange blossom (Choisya ternata) carry an intoxicating scent, and I’m determined to grow
my own this year.

If you like to be wrapped in a hug when you step out of the shower, this luxe towel range is for you.

I bought mine almost a year ago and they’re still as soft and as fluffy as new – without any special laundry effort!

A mug is a very personal thing. For me, I want my mug handle on the larger side. The texture and thickness of the rim is important (rounded and not too thin, but also a glaze or stoneware finish, not painted matt – eugh!).

It needs to hold heat well, too, for obvious reasons.

Every living room needs a hero chair! This one brings bold warmth with a rich oak frame and textured, vibrant cushioning.

House your blooms in bright drama, with the ruffled flair of this gorgeous glass vase. Who needs Murano glass when you have this beauty?

Funky, fun and fabulous with fringe, is there anything this maximalist lamp can’t do?

Perfect to start your day with a bit of warmth, these towels add a striking focal point for any bathroom. They may just match your new stone sink (see below)!

Turn function into form, and create a bathroom that makes you ooh and ahh every time you need to wash your hands.

This hand-blown glass coaster is perfect for a splash of personality on your table. Collect the set with teacups, saucers, mugs and a teapot all in the same amber tones.

Designed and made in Italy from 60 per cent bio-based materials, this eco-conscious pitcher is bound to add extra
pizazz to your punch.

Don’t let the sun set on your soirée. These lamps can soak up the summer sun and then provide ambient solar vibes well into the evening.

Keep the conversation going long into the night by the light of these glowing, textured candles. They look stunning paired with an
amber-toned candle holder.

Melamine has never looked so glamorous. These pretty side plates will elevate your table spread by adding a pop of sun-kissed colour. Also available in dinner plates and bowls.

The warm tones of these servers perfectly bridge the balance of sunset and evening. Use them to serve up your salad alongside your summer spritzes.

Create a centrepiece worth celebrating with a floral display housed in this glorious yellow twisting vase. Can’t you just picture it brimming with yellow wattle or vibrant red and pink dahlias?