Steve Cordony’s must-have monochrome kitchen essentials

As a room that sets the tone for the entire home, monochrome felt like the obvious choice when it came to styling my kitchen. There are so many ways to style a monochrome kitchen, but I love to hero utilitarian pieces that pride function, as well as aesthetics. Rather than hiding kitchen essentials away in cupboards, bring them into the foreground to style your benchtop or kitchen island. Small vignette clusters not only look great, but also create an ease of function every day.

Must-have items to achieve a simple, contemporary kitchen with a monochrome tone

Whenever I am styling in a monochrome palette, it’s all about layering lots of texture. Think a cast iron pan, a chrome coffee plunger, a timber chopping board or white cannisters – this contrast of materials allows your interior to be layered and encourages your eye to travel through the space without being one-dimensional.

How to soften the high contrast of black and white

Black and white can sometimes be jarring, but used as a blank canvas for your background, it allows you to layer and soften materials and textures over the top. Think about one soft, subtle colour - this could be a tea towel in a soft sage colourway or even a vase of fresh flowers. Introducing hints of colour not only brings the outdoors in, but softens the space to create a warm and soulful kitchen interior.

Styling the kitchen for entertaining

I love stacking all of the elements for entertaining on the table or benchtop to create a sense of community and interaction for guests. Fresh flowers or greenery are a must, and always having a scented item sets the mood, as well as using dim lighting.

My top tips for a well-styled kitchen

I love to have at least two areas of the kitchen that are thoughtfully styled, incorporating kitchen essentials. This could be a stack of chopping boards leaning against the splash back, a vase of flowers sitting next to a coffee machine or a ceramic bowl of fresh eggs on the benchtop. Try using everyday items, and even food items, styled in small clusters just as you would on a coffee table or hallway table. This creates a space that is not only thoughtfully styled, but also practical.

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