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[Oznell]

Visually, I tend to like rather "stripped-down" kitchens (even though mine regularly fills up with too many objects, papers, etc., until I periodically go on a mad, slashing purge.)

But I LOVE certain functional accessories-- like cutting boards and fruit bowls.  Gotta have them, right?  So they might as well be something you like to look at daily.

Cutting boards like this round vintage one make nice serving boards too, as long as you're not serving goodies on the same board you cut your raw meat on!  Personally, I do prefer to keep my strictly cutting boards separate from my serving board.

I like mixed 'media ones' too, like this marble and wood.  QVC offers one I wanted to show, but my computer is "hiccupping" today, and for some reason, wouldn't let me post!

The artistic arrangement of shapes is so graphic, and warms up any kitchen, especially white kitchens.

I like big, dramatic fruit bowls, that showcase nature's bounty.  I have a treasured beat-up medium sized vintage dough bowl doing duty for me in my kitchen.  I did a salt-and-lemon-juice treatment on it before trusting my fruit to it.   My preference is for really BIG old wood dough bowls, but one like this would eat up a lot of counter space:

But ceramic ones are pretty also and easier to maintain, like this one (I think it's from Crate and Barrel.)  Having a pedestal is so graceful.

The combo of wood and lustrous, glowing fruit is so dynamic!

I like the whole shebang here--  the brass pepper mill, the art, the tippy fruit bowl (!) and the fabulous midcentury modern candlestick.

QVC has some nice fruit bowls, but you usually have to search under "serving bowls" to get pretty ones.  I was surprised that I liked this earthy Rachael Ray ikat one:

And this Certified International Harvest serving bowl that QVC offers immediately caught my eye, because of the pheasant, natch:

This dramatic kitchen doesn't have to go all crazy with its fruit bowl--  a simple, understated white bowl that they have here is just right.

Another source that sort of surprised me was the Pioneer Woman.  I'm not always drawn to farmhouse-type accessories, but her "Farmhouse Lace" bowl in "Linen" from Walmart is lovely and nostalgic.  It's 10 inches across plus pretty deep, so is big enough. 

The other color it comes in is "Teal"-- isn't that pretty?  And I like that it's not round, but sort of faceted.

Finally, what could be nicer than my two faves together in a simple vignette?

Oh, there is one item that would look great in a grouping with a cutting board and a fruit bowl--  your mortar and pestle!  Like this one, mine is wood, but I would love to have an olive wood one like this:

Even Temp-tations makes a very cute mortar and pestle.  I wanted to show the Floral Lace in Temp-tations' fabulous "taupe" color, but it wouldn't post, grrr.  Here's the festive red:

Do you have certain beloved kitchen accessories that please your eye?

[tansy]

Any chance you know where to get the marble and wood combo in the second pic, @Oznell?  It's appealing.

[Mom2Dogs]

@Oznell   I love cutting boards as well...all kinds.  Most of mine have come from antique shops.  I also like things with a pour spout and I really like old glass jars with lids.  I prefer storing most things glass vs plastic.

[faeriemoon]

@Oznell  I think we love all the same things.

I especially love serving on a cutting board.  When I make a large fritatta (in my 14" frying pan) I serve it on a round cutting board.  So earthy. 

[LindaSal]

I like everything, especially the Rachel Ray fruit bowl.  My favorite accessory is my glass cutting board, they used to sell them on QVC and I've had it for years and love it!  I mostly  use it everyday.  It has wine bottles and corks on it.  I couldn't find them on the website, guess they don't carry them anymore (not mine anyway).........it matches my decor nicely, we have a wine and grapes theme.

[magicmoodz]

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@tansy wrote:

Any chance you know where to get the marble and wood combo in the second pic, @Oznell?  It's appealing.

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@tansy 

You might want to look at the selection at Pottery Barn. I recently purchased one very similar along with lovely marble handled cheese knives.

[Mellyg]

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@magicmoodz wrote:

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@tansy wrote:

Any chance you know where to get the marble and wood combo in the second pic, @Oznell?  It's appealing.

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@tansy 

You might want to look at the selection at Pottery Barn. I recently purchased one very similar along with lovely marble handled cheese knives.

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Crate and Barrel had them recently, as well.

[AuntG]

I don't know if it is age or Covid brain, but I no longer care to put anything decorative on my kitchen counters. My cutting board is in a drawer. I have wooden shelving units in my kitchen and antique glassware and dishes are on display along one wall.

[KaySD]

You outdid yourself, @Oznell. I love everything you said and everything you showed.

Yes, the countertop issue is never done. I want my counters  absolutely clear, AND I also want the things I use to be at hand. Can't do both, so I'm perennially adding and subtracting things according to how much I use them.

I bought an acrylic thing that's made for storing magazines on shelves. It's perfect for holding several cutting boards and keeping them clean and handy. I have a crock of spatulas and tongs and things by the stove. Then there's the little lazy susan holding olive oil, etc. by the stove. Then there is a tide of trivets and pot holders and things that ebbs and flows. No appliances live on the counters--the coffee pot and water pitcher have their own little cart. I try to keep everything else put away. But some apples came to my house, so they had to go in a pretty bowl, like yours...and so it goes.

One good thing is that I always wash up every single dish and utensil before I go to bed at night, so the remaining counterspace is clear in the morning. Good thing, too. My cats TELL me they never get on the counters in the night, but I don't trust them an inch. So the first job is always cleaning them. The counters, not the cats. We love the smell of coffee and disinfectant in the morning.

[Oznell]

@tansy,  that particular marble/wood one came from Alice Lane Home collection, evidently, but I don't know if they still carry it.  That's good to know about C&B and Pottery Barn, @Mellyg and @magicmoodz ,  thanks!  I've also seen combo cutting boards like that at Marshall's, and QVC has one, or at least did.

@LindaSal,  I got a glass one from QVC years ago too!  It's got a sort of pebbly surface, and shows an old English cottage in the country.  We love it to slide pizzas on from the oven and cut.  I like the way your grape one ties in with your decorating theme.

Your post is "kitchen poetry", @KaySD ,  I loved reading it!  What a talent you have for colorful detail!