Review | The ‘Mesmerine’ breakfast collection from Kenwood

[Advertisement – this is a paid collaboration with Kenwood, but all words and opinions are my own]

Small kitchen appliances such as toasters and kettles are so often an afterthought – something we choose based purely on functionality, with little regard to aesthetics. I always think it’s such a shame, as they’re items that are normally left out on display for all to see. And, now that we’ve finally finished renovating our kitchen, I don’t want to spoil it with ugly gadgetry!

Luckily it is possible to find ranges that balance form and function, and I was happy to be offered the chance to test one out: Kenwood’s brand-new ‘Mesmerine’ breakfast collection.

Launched this summer, it’s already been awarded a Red Dot Design Award for 2019 and includes a 1.6L kettle and a four-slot toaster. Both have an eye-catching diamond-pattern surface which looks 3D yet is smooth to touch, making them very easy to keep clean. There’s a hint of classic British heritage about the overall look, but it’s also very sleek and contemporary.

There are six colours to choose from, ranging from sophisticated ‘Stardust Black’ to vibrant ‘Marine Blue’ and ‘Burned Orange’, so finding one that suits your style is a doddle. Me being me, I opted for understated ‘Pearl White’, and I’m really pleased with the way the toaster and kettle look on the worktop. The pattern adds a bit of interest to the simple scheme, but it doesn’t overpower the space or look out of place.

What’s more, both appliances are great to use (and in the name of research, I’ve tested them out to the full with numerous cups of coffee and rounds of toast over the last few weeks!). The kettle has a limescale filter and a pull-off lid that makes it easy to clean – both essential for me, as I live in an area with very hard water. It also has an internal water-level indicator and a 360-degree power base with a cord tidy.

The toaster, meanwhile, has adjustable browning levels, together with bespoke settings for defrosting bread and toasting bagels. It toasts pretty evenly, and I like the fact there are controls on both sides so my husband and I can each make toast to our own (surprisingly exacting!) specifications. It’s also good at handling chunky artisan bread – something our previous toaster constantly struggled with – and it doesn’t take up too much worktop space in our small galley kitchen.

Finally, being the minimalist that I am, I was pleased to discover that neither the toaster nor the kettle have any flashing lights or ostentatious knobs – just subtle switches, and a pale-blue light-up indicator to show when they’re on or off. It sounds like a minor thing, I know, but having saved up for years to make-over the kitchen, I want to get every last detail right!

You can shop the ‘Mesmerine’ collection, which is available exclusively from Currys, here. The toaster and kettle cost £129 each.

All photography by Abi Dare