Clodagh McKenna’s clever use of dried lavender has transformed her kitchen into something out of a fairytale – interior experts reveal how to get the look

by Furnishly | Aug 9, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna recently unveiled her new kitchen renovation, and there is one small detail that makes the space ooze rural charm – she’s used bunches of dried lavender to decorate, and I’m obsessed.

Rustic, country kitchens are one kitchen trend I’ll always be a fan of, and Clodagh’s newly redesigned space is a masterclass on how to nail the look. In fact, her herb decorating idea looks so good, I’m itching to try it out in my own kitchen.

But before I start stringing bunches of lavender together, I spoke to kitchen experts to get the lowdown on whether this is a good idea to use in your own kitchen. Spoiler alert: it is, and lavender is not the only plant suitable for this gorgeous decorating idea.

How to get the look

If you need rustic kitchen ideas, then you can’t miss out on seeing Clodagh’s new kitchen on Instagram. Featuring a large Belfast sink, rich dark wood finishes, a flagstone floor and open shelving, I couldn’t help but fall completely in love with it.

But hanging from the beams is my standout feature: the bunches of dried lavender. Opting for hanging her cookware from shelves and ceiling beams, Clodagh has spaced out each pot or pan with a bunch of the gorgeously scented Mediterranean plant. The finished result looks like something out of a fairytale.

‘Dried lavender can be used across the entire home, and we often see it hung up in places such as the bathroom or on doors. However, what most people don’t automatically think of is using it in the kitchen. If you have a rail above the worktop, or at the end of your cabinet or island, then lavender, along with other dried herbs, is great at adding scent as well as visual interest to the space,’ commented Ntola Obazee, creative director for Kutchenhaus.

‘It creates texture and provides a gentle scent, which is great for covering old food smells. It also has the added benefit of being a great low-maintenance alternative to flowers, which can be enjoyed for months to come.’

However, there are a few drawbacks to using lavender in your kitchen that you should be aware of before you hang your own sprigs. Kitchens are hot and humid, which are ideal conditions for mould to grow on natural material. And you should also bear in mind that lavender will lose its colour and scent over time.

‘The main concerns are exactly those you would expect in a kitchen environment. Dust, grease and moisture all affect dried flowers and herbs, and once something begins to look tired, it can detract from an otherwise beautifully designed room,’ says Caroline Montague, interior designer, author and owner of Tuscan retreat Villa Sartiano

‘I have used lavender in a stone urn in Italy, where it works well for a short period because the setting feels right and the arrangement is changed regularly. It is a lovely detail when it is fresh, but it does need attention.’

As Caroline points out, you will need to refresh your lavender semi-regularly if you want it to stay looking fresh. But if you’re looking for something lower-maintenance, she does recommend a few different herbs you can try.

‘I much prefer living herbs in a kitchen. A row of pots containing rosemary, thyme, basil or sage brings colour, texture and scent, but it also has a purpose. They are connected to cooking, which makes them feel natural in that setting,’ she says.

Ntola also points out you can hang dried herbs, too, if you want a similar look to Clodagh. Alternatively, you could even hang fake flowers as an even lower-maintenance look.

‘Sage, rosemary and thyme all dry beautifully. If you want to create a little more texture and personality in your kitchen, you could easily add in alternative bunches to give variation and interest to the space. They each give off their own unique scent, and the different leaves give variation to each bunch,’ she suggests.

While Clodagh’s lavender kitchen may require a little extra maintenance, it is truly beautiful and great inspo for a country kitchen.

Holly Willoughby has confused fans after revealing her clever kitchen feature that makes cooking easier and more efficient – pro chefs swear by it

by Furnishly | Aug 8, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Holly Willoughby’s chilli con carne recipe reel has baffled fans on Instagram, with some asking ‘what’s that thing on the wall?’ in the background of her video in her kitchen.

If you’re one of the confused, don’t worry, you’ve landed in the right place, and Holly’s unusual contraption has actually been a pretty big kitchen trend for the past few years, as celebrities and influencers have hopped on the country kitchen trend.

I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. What Holly has is a pot filler, and while traditionally you spot these in a working professional kitchen, they’re becoming more and more popular in domestic homes. Here’s why.

Holly frequently shares glimpses of her personal life and home across social media, so sharing one of her recipes is not unusual. And eagle-eyed fans were quick to offer their own cooking suggestions and, of course, praise her kitchen. But one comment in particular stood out to us.

‘What’s that thing on the wall?’

While we’ve established it is a pot filler, it’s time to get into exactly what it means and how a pot filler can impact your kitchen. In short, a pot filler is a tap that sits above your oven, so you don’t have to lug heavy pots of water from your sink to your stove, thus making the cooking process easier and more efficient.

‘The pot filler remains a functional kitchen update for anyone who loves to cook from home. Designed to deliver a greater water flow per minute, a pot filler promises a faster fill so you can easily use your larger pots to cook with, as typically, this style of tap is positioned above the cooktop,’ comments Paul Illingworth, design manager at Adobe.

Are pot fillers trending?

‘Pot fillers have definitely become more visible this year, especially as people are putting more focus on making kitchens work better for how they actually cook. It’s a feature lots of people haven’t really seen before either, so videos on social media (like Holly’s) tend to gain a bit of attention,’ says Dean Harper, chef at Harper Fine Dining.

‘It’s one of those things where you wouldn’t think about it until you see it, then you immediately understand the appeal of having a tap directly above the hob. It’s a feature that feels like it belongs in a professional kitchen, but it’s becoming more accessible in high-end home kitchens too.

‘The main reason they’re becoming more popular is that they solve a very specific cooking problem. If you regularly cook things like pasta, soups, stews, sauces, or large batches of food, moving a heavy pot full of water from the sink to the hob can be awkward. A pot filler removes that step by allowing you to fill the pan exactly where you’re going to cook.’

The main reason people invest in pot fillers is that they make cooking easier and more efficient. They also make a kitchen look instantly ‘high-end’ so it’s easy to see how the aesthetics of a pot filler can play into the decision to include one in your kitchen renovation.

Pot fillers have been a fairly US-centric trend, due to the fact that UK kitchens tend to be on the smaller side. But if you’re planning a kitchen renovation, they are a great way to elevate your space and make it look more expensive. It’s also more affordable to fit one during a renovation.

‘If you’re fitting one during a kitchen renovation, it’s much easier because the walls are already being worked on. Retrofitting one into an existing kitchen can cost more because a plumber may need to access pipework behind the wall,’ explains Dean.

‘The tap itself can range from around £100 for a basic model to several hundred pounds or more for higher-end versions. Installation costs vary depending on the complexity, but homeowners should expect to budget several hundred pounds for professional fitting. It’s important to use a qualified plumber because a leak behind a wall can cause significant damage if the fitting isn’t done properly.’

Alternatively, if you don’t have the space or finances to fit a pot filler. Here are some affordable buys to instantly elevate your cooking space.

Shop the luxe look for less

If you were confused by the purpose of Holly’s extra tap, I hope this has cleared it up for you. The question is now: would you fit one in your own kitchen?