Have been asked to buy a “cool kettle and toaster” for a 20-something. Help

[Delphigirl]

First home. Offered to buy something useful. Was asked for cool toaster and kettle. I am paralysed - I think I remember having views on these sorts of things in my 20s (nobody wanted an eternal beau granny kettle did they) but I’m not up with trends in kettle design now. Have looked and there is a vast range. Please post links of suggestions - assume money no object - obv it is but I’m just interested in aesthetics at the moment. Ta very much!

Has to be dualit. I’m still waiting for someone to be both.
Classic

I recently bought DS the Asda Scandi Kettle. They have toasters in that range too. They look good in real life.

Yes I'd go for the scandi style ones if that was the brief.

The Sage Toast select seems to come in the same range of colours:

https://www.sageappliances.com/uk/en/products/toasters/bta735.html?sku=BTA735BSSUK

Okay as a 20 something I really don’t like SMEG. I think it’s a really retro vibe.

if your recipient likes more contemporary decor there’s so many interesting kettles, I’d highly recommend browsing selfridges website.

If I was buying a non specific kettle and toaster apart from 'cool' I wouldn't expect to lay out £300 or £400 for a first home gift which is what some will end up costing, I would look at some of the nice cheaper models.

Some nice kettles here if you flip the filter to highest price first.

https://www.ehservices.co.uk/small-appliances/kitchen-appliances/kettles.html?product_list_dir=desc

Kitchen aid, Dualit or smeg. X

I have the smeg set, it's gorgeous and gets lots of compliments- but PLEASE go to TK MAXX for it. I paid full price for mine only to find they stock them in a lot of stores and felt sick at how much I'd overpaid by lol. Failing that there is a shop in Edenbridge High Street that does them along with some really cool kitchen bits if you're near Kent.

Dualit, that’s what I wanted at 28 when I got my first home (that was 8 years ago admittedly).

I must be the odd one out as I've never rated dualit toasters... weirdly we had them in halls at uni so I also think they just remind me of the smell of burnt.

My Mum swore by kitchen aid and if you shop around you can often find them on a deal.

I however have terrible luck with expensive kettles and am currently rocking an emergency £10 argos number and it has honestly been an excellent kettle.

Anyone who has a hot water tap and drinks tea - do you find they actually make the hot water hot enough? My experience at work and at other people's homes is that the water is never quite hot enough to make decent tea. Would love to be convinced otherwise and get another thing off our kitchen worktops (because the airfryer takes up all the room!)

Agreed. I also wouldn't expect someone to pay that on a kettle and toaster set for me and I doubt the recipients have in this instance either. That sort of money could pay for something far more helpful for someone starting out in a new home... e.g. when we bought our home we had hideous black, with pee stains, carpet in the bathroom which was ripped out as soon as we got the keys. £400 would have sorted the replacement floor and we'd have happily had a cheapo kettle!

Way back when I was younger we chose a kettle and toaster that was Porsche branded. It looked lovely, it lasted no time at all. Then we embraced the Dualit era. The smaller design of their toasters because we have limited space. Stuck with the Dualit kettles so far as they have lasted well. Recently replaced the toaster with a simple one from an Argos range, it’s more than a match for the expensive Dualit one in looks and everything.

Re Eternal Beau - we had Boots Camargue as our everyday crockery. We are still using it more than 30 years later. We do also have classy white stuff for best.

We are on our second Dualit lite kettle over about 18 years. We are also in hard water area, so it’s been exceptionally good. We also had the matching small toaster, but the price to replace the last one was jaw dropping and I found my self in Sainsburys and bought a Cookworks Argos one. It’s slightly easier to keep clean and crumb tray is more effective. Very neutral, shiny black.

Reminds me of my uncle buying my cousin an expensive dress when she was a young child. Her single mother could have bought so many, much needed, clothes with that money.

No - you weren't unlucky. Have a look on eBay at all the Smeg kettles that are "spares or repairs, need a new hinge"

I'm a sheep for design, and have had the chrome Smeg kettle and toaster for the last 5 years. I say 5 years, we're on the 3rd kettle. All broke their hinge. Toaster? Lightly breathes on one side, and cremates the other.

Do you know why the 20 somethings on Insta all have them? Because everything is for show and they don't use them. Because if you used them you would realise how inconceivably shit they are. We don't eat a lot of toast. If we did, the fecking toaster would most likely be have been lobbed out of the window by now.

They are shite. Utter shite. But they look pretty.

In contrast, my Dualit (chrome and cream) kettle lasted 11yrs prior to stupid Smeg products. And I sold it on for £30 on eBay!

We had this exact dualit toaster. Had it as a wedding present from our friends 26 years ago when I was 23. It's used every day and is still brilliant!

Re the smell of burnt... you do know about the concept of crumb trays? It seems loads of people don't. There's a little handle at the bottom of your Dualit (and some other toasters, it seems). You pull this and a drawer full of crumbs pops out. Do empty this every so often!

Erm yes... but I don't think anyone in my uni halls did.

My point exactly!

Seriously, though, I found out from that font of obviously completely verified knowledge on tinternet that lots of people don't know the crumb tray exists.

I find crumb trays so messy. I just shake the toaster upside down over the sink or outside.

As a strategy for introducing crumbs to new and previously unexplored areas of the innards, this is unrivalled. As a strategy for increased mess, it has potential but is best done over the sofa or bed.

I personally find it easier and less messy.

Was going to suggest Hay too, and they do a toaster as well. More stylish and design savvy than others mentioned, Alessi excluded, and Scandi cool too.

I have a Stelton Emma kettle for 5 years now, and a basic silver Dualit toaster. (Can't bear matchy matchy)

Love a bit of Eternal Beau. It's actually really pretty I think but I love 80s & early 90s styles. I'm weird