High/low: Country-style kitchen pantry

Which is high and which is low?

Can you tell the difference?

High: $2,602

1 Iron and brass Tig chair, Crate and Barrel, $249. 2 Linen Rustic Tea towel, Plain & Simple Home, $36. 3 3 Le Parfait glass jars with metal lids, 1 l, $8 each, West Elm, $48. 4 Sue Paraskeva small asymmetrical stoneware and porcelain bowls, $56 each, Herriott Grace, $168. 5 Ateliers des Cent-ans large porcelain White with Blue Paint Strokes serving bowl, Mjölk, $300. 6 Stoneware Forest Walk bowls in Ivory, $16 US each, Anthropologie, $64. 7 7 Large white ceramic Animal canisters, $29 each, West Elm, $87. 8 Masanobu Ando white stoneware soup bowl, Mjölk, $75. 9 De Buyer Prima Matera copper and stainless steel stew pot, 5.5 l, Consiglio’s Kitchenware & Gift, $600. 10 Koizumi Studio Kaico enamelled steel milk pan with wooden handle, 1 l, Plain & Simple Home, $78. 11 Gordon Ramsay for Royal Doulton porcelain Maze casserole, 2 l, Hudson’s Bay, $115. 12 Le Creuset enamelled cast-iron Round Dutch over in Dune, 7 l, Hudson’s Bay, $575. 13 Uashmama cellulose-fibre washable paper Vassoio bags in Olive and Grey, $59 each, Ella & Issa, $89. Aparici Vanguard porcelain Rise Natural Tiles, 12" x 12", The Tile Store. Barn door and hardware, Heritage Harvest Tables. Anchor Hocking glass Heritage Canisters, Kitchen Stuff Plus. Ethiopian Forest Honey, Mjölk. Coarse Sea Salt & Five Pepper Blend Seasoning, Plain & Simple Home.  

Low: $801

1 Antiqued zinc-plated iron Reed Chair, CB2, $179. 2 Cotton tea towel, per pair, HomeSense, $8. 3 Golden Harvest glass jars with metal lids, 1 l, $8 each, Canadian Tire, $48. 4 Stoneware Wilder Bowls, $12 each, Crate and Barrel, $36. 5 Porcelain Como Splash Serving Bowl, Crate and Barrel, $17. 6 Stoneware Kitt Bowls, $7 each, Crate and Barrel, $28. 7 White painted metal canisters with lids, $7 each, HomeSense, $21. 8 Stoneware Costa Nova Soup Bowl, Hudson’s Bay, $24. 9 Le Cuivre copper and stainless steel Stock Pot, 10 l, Consiglio’s Kitchenware & Gift, $250. 10 Dansk Kobenstyle enamelled stainless steel milk pan in White with wooden handle, 0.5 l, Crate and Barrel, $50. 11 Bone china Borderline Casserole, CB2, $19. 12 Enamelled cast-iron Dutch oven in White, 5 l, West Elm, $99. 13 Paper leaf bags, per set of 5, The Home Depot, $2. 14 Canvas and plastic tool bucket, Princess Auto, $20.

Crate on wheels

Spin that vintage crate from stationary to in-service with the easy addition of everyday casters in this easy DIY. What are you waiting for? Get rolling!

Tea up and towel off

When picking tea towels, it’s not all about a pretty pattern – although, yes, that adds to the allure. It’s really about the material you choose. What’s worth the investment? What are the best kitchen towels to have at hand? Here’s what you should know before you buy. Cotton tea towels: While offering that chic country-style look, cotton tea towels are among the most absorbent on the market but are typically less expensive, because their lightweight fibres have a shorter lifespan. Want an option that will take on even more moisture when washing dishes? Opt for terry cloth or a waffle or basket weave. Flat-woven cotton can also pill over time, leaving marks on hand-dried glassware, so save cotton tea towels for counter wiping and heavy-duty hand drying (such as for pots and pans). Linen tea towels: Linen is one of the most durable fabrics out there. While typically more expensive than cotton, linen tea towels will last much longer. Additionally, linen will remain lint-free, so it’s perfect for the more delicate drying (and polishing) required for glassware. Though stiff at first, linen softens over time, making vintage a more desirable option. 1 Spun cotton Wash & Dry, $24 US per set of 4, 21" x 26", Anthropologie. 2 cotton blend, $8 per set of 2, 18" x 18", Home-Sense. 3 vintage linen, from 12" x 24", $30 each, Chair Table Lamp. 4 Irish linen, 22" x 33", $18 each. 5 rustic-look linen, 22" x 26", $36 each, Plain & Simple Home.

Pots a la carte

The days of matching sets of pots and pans are done - so cross them off your registry, because it’s all about the mix and match. Invest in the pieces you’ll use the most and save on the ones you have “just in case” for a collection that’s both visually textured and tailored to your needs. Milk pan: Lightweight enamelled stainless steel and a wooden handle make it easy to take straight from stovetop to table. Saucepan: All-Clad’s high-quality stainless steel is compatible with all types of cooktops, but it’s ideal for induction. Saucepan: A Le Creuset classic, cast iron retains and distributes heat well. Saucepan: Made to match Le Creuset’s cast-iron counterpart, this high-quality stainless steel option is much more affordable. Dutch oven: This large five-litre Dutch oven is perfect for making meals of potluck proportions. Casserole: So-called because it’s not made of cast iron (like a Dutch oven), this one is stainless steel. Casserole: Made of bone china, this lightweight and inexpensive oven-to-table option can handle only limited exposure to heat. Dutch oven: A modest three-litre option is perfect for couples. Milk pan: A wider bottom amplifies the thermal effect, while the lip and spout make it easy to pour, say, a steaming mug of hot cocoa. 1 Dansk Kobenstyle enamelled stainless steel milk pan in White with wooden handle, 0.5 l, Crate and Barrel, $50. 2 All-Clad brushed stainless steel D5 saucepan 2 l, Consiglio’s Kitchenware & Gift, $150. 3 Le Creuset enamelled cast-iron Precision Pour saucepan in Caribbean, 1.5 l, Hudson’s Bay, $280. 4 Le Creuset stainless steel saucepan, 2 l, Consiglio’s Kitchenware & Gift, $125. 5 enamelled cast-iron Dutch oven in White, 5 l, West Elm, $99. 6 Dansk Kobenstyle enamelled stainless steel casserole, 4 l, Crate and Barrel, $120. 7 bone china Borderline casserole, CB2, $19. 8 enamelled cast-iron Dutch oven in White, 3 l, West Elm, $79. 9 Koizumi Studio Kaico enamelled steel milk pan with wooden handle, 1 l, Plain & Simple Home, $78.

A brief history of the mason jar

Nov. 30, 1858, marked a revelation in the world of food preservation with the creation of John Landis Mason’s revolutionary jar, making the all-important act of canning much more simple – (historical) housewives rejoice! Originally made of greenish-blue glass, the Mason jar allowed contents to remain visible post-canning for the first time ever, while the screw-cap contraption meant the jars sealed easily as the hot foods inside cooled. Though the Mason name remains synonymous with all jars of this type, Mason himself passed away in poverty after failing to file his patent on time, and competitors replicated the style (I guess you could say he was in a bit of a pickle!).