A kettle is equal parts kitchen workhorse and decorative accessory. So choosing one isn’t just a matter of finding something that can boil water.
“Look at it as art, as well as a functional element,” suggested Sarah Blank, a kitchen designer based in Greenwich, Conn. “When you do a kitchen and have this gorgeous range and hood, it’s nice to have a beautiful kettle on the stove.”
There are lots to choose from, given the number of designers who have tried to build a better kettle — from the classic English copper version that’s been around for a century or more to newer sculptural and electric models.
Whether you go with something traditional or modern, whatever you choose should last for decades. Ms. Blank still uses an Alessi kettle designed by Michael Graves that she has owned since college, she said: “Every home I’ve been in, it’s been there.”
Melior Gooseneck Kettle
Stainless-steel electric kettle with cork handle
About $40 at Bodum: bodum.com
Staub Enameled Cast-Iron Round Tea Kettle
Weighty kettle available in multiple colors
From $190 at Williams Sonoma: 877-812-6235 or williams-sonoma.com
Sowden Kettle
Electric kettle by George Sowden, available in multiple colors
$95 at Hay: 833-849-3025 or hay.com
Kaico Tea Kettle
Enamel-coated steel kettle with maple handle by Makoto Koizumi
$150 at Nalata Nalata: 212-228-1030 or nalatanalata.com
