Going traditional in the Kitchen

THERE’S a great deal to be said for tradition. It gives us a sense of who we are, where we come from, our own mythology if you will.

But tradition went out of fashion in interiors, and much as I crave the modern, uncluttered, streamlined look with furnishings and accessories in moderation, there is something comforting, if not warming, about objects, textures and finishes that are familiar from our earlier years. They also create a connection with a happy time or someone who was well-loved but now no longer with us.

If there’s one room where we’ve moved perhaps a little too far from tradition, it’s the kitchen. In Ireland it has always been the hub of the home for everything from cooking and eating to socialising and hearing the confessions of troubled friends. Even the weekly bath was performed in front of an open fire in times past, making it a very functional space, but cosy at the same time.