Thursday 20 January 2011

Jars a go-go

At J and P Towers, we do not hold with kitchens that are "minimalist" in any shape or form.  I mean, take a look at this image of a kitchen which I found on the internet?


It's not natural is it?  Where is anything?  And, more importantly, where is the ridiculous amount of jars that clutter one's worktop?

Take a look at the ridiculous amount of jars currently residing on our worktop.

Here are just some of our Hornsea selection housing useful items such as tea, sugar and rabbit food:



Another Hornsea, currently empty, but still on our work top just waiting for something to store:


A Crown Devon receptacle.  Not entirely convinced that it is a jar, actually, but is very useful for storing one's biscuits and Tunnock tea cakes:


A large Portmeirion jar which also houses biscuits and the like:


A classic T&G blue and white jar - excellent for storing salt:


A modern Habitat jar - for coffee:


A Taunton Vale jar for our fruit tea:

 Close up of the lid:


This lovely jar from the 1960s, made in Sweden by JIE:





A cereal jar which houses the hamster's food:

 A Baretware tin for the guinea pigs' food:


And, although these are not on the worktop, I just had to show you these little jars used for storing herbs and spice.  More Portmeirion, this time the Greek key design:

 More Hornsea:


Well, I think that's enough jars for one day don't you?  Mr J and P wanted me to call this post "Reasons to be Jarful, 1, 2, 3 (4, 5, 6 etc)".  Er, do you get it?  You know, after the Ian Dury song "Reasons to be Cheerful part 2".  I'll just have to break the news to him that I didn't use it as my readers expect a certain standard of post title on this blog.  Aaah bless, he does try.....

33 comments:

  1. I agree! Who the hell lives in a house like that! What is wrong with them! I like a home to have personality - your amazing collection of jars screams personality! Fantastic, I love it that even the hamster has a cool jar!

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  2. I just scrolled down your post looking at each picture and saying, wow, wow, wow, to all your jars. They are so cool!
    I love Hornsea and have few myself although I don't use them as I'm scared of breaking them. My favourite of all of your jars is the Taunton Vale one, that pattern is fabulous.
    x

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  3. What brilliant taste you have and a wonderful collection. There's quite a few of those that I've got, too.
    That top kitchen is horrid. I hate miminal anything. xxx

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  4. I am with you on this completely, when and it's rare my husband watches a "house" programme he drools over a modern kitchen, lamenting my cosy, cheerful, vintage look.I say when he starts cooking we will have a stark, white and black hideous kitchen........... so I know it will never happen.

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  5. I've got the Habitat one - didn't know it was from Habitat - got it from Oxfam! I can't stand minimalism, but I don't like lots and lots of clutter either - I'm about 1/2 way! Much easier now all the kids have left home!

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  6. Love your jars, what a gorgeous mix,also love the fact that you have different pet food in some!Linda xx

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  7. Just popped by to say thanks for your lovely comment and really chuckled at the 'blog post title' bit. No one explained to me there were certain standards in these things...I can feel a harsh repremand coming for my lack of originality !!
    Jenny x

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  8. What a fab collection of jars :)

    I am very much of the non-minimalist school of homestyle - I don't think even when we camp you can describe my style as anything other than cluttered.

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  9. Taunton Vale is one of my favourites i have so many things made by them, chopping board, key rack, jugs, kitchen jars i adore there designs and colours i have the same blue one as you but i have the round version ;-)) What a great hornsea collection you have. Kitchens are made for storage and fun colourful items its cosy and warm. lovely to see your collections ;-)) Dee x

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  10. I love the idea of minimalism, but its just never going to happen - I am a clutterbug. I love Hornsea. xxx

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  11. As much as I love the neat look of display home's kitchens, I must admit I was falsely believed I can have it. It is so not like that in the real world. Btw, your jars are so lovely.

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  12. Wow that's an impressive collection.
    I always think I'd like a clean and clear kitchen like the picture but in reality I'd soon fill it with knick knacks LOL

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  13. Minimalism leaves me utterly cold. Why does anyone want a house that looks like no-one lives in it? I like clutter and mess and reality!

    As you can probably guess, I absolutely love all those jars! We have the world's tiddliest kitchen so I can't indulge my love for random stuff all over the surfaces - they're full of boring stuff like microwave, toaster & kettle :(

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  14. yes that kitchen looks like a laboratory! what a collection of jars you have , they are gorgeous!

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  15. Love the collection of jars - mmmmmm! me thinking - no I mustn't but a nice collection of jars in my kitchen somehow I don't think I'll be allowed to but I could try.........
    I don't like minimalism and any of my friends can vouch for that!!!!
    Julie xxxx

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  16. Yes, I'm not a fan of that kitchen either. I'm tidy but I've got 'stuff' everywhere! Love your jars, especially the Habitat and the fruit tea one.
    x

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  17. I agree too, I don't think I could cope without stuff on the counters, I don't have as many (or as pretty) jars as you do though! I did notice that the Hornsea sugar jar is identical to my MIL's one that they use! Oh, and I love Tunnocks tea cakes too! :) x

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  18. OOh I can't stand minimalist rooms - i'm a chaotic mess type myself!

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  19. Make way for the next jar, my kitchen groans when I come home, oh dear I had Taunton Vale when I was first married but gave it away over the years maybe I should have kept it. I now have lots of glass jars.
    Cate x

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  20. Hello, and thank you for both your comment and your follow! I'm here to reciprocate :) I used to have a Taunton Vale jar very similar to that, but I ended up giving it to my brother as it caught his eye for their incredibly colourful and ecletic flat! x

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  21. Love them all, 'specially the Hornsea set at the end :0)
    Love mr J&P's music taste too ;0)
    I would have cracked up had i read that LOL
    have a great weekend.
    Donna x

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  22. What a fantastic collection of jars! However do you remember which one you need?

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  23. The kitchen looks cold and sterile, not nice.

    Thats a fantastic collection of wonderful jars you have! Just lovely! I've I had them I'd absolutely want them out on display.

    x

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  24. Yuck to the top kitchen.
    Yum to all the jars.
    It's official you can never have too many.
    Lisa x

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  25. My husband always makes fun of how I use jars. I keep my Chai teabag (doncha know!!) in our jar that says Sugar, and the sugar is in a jar that my mother gave me. Just one small example of my jar chaos!!

    I love your blue and white jars. They're so classic, aren't they? I bet they still look great in 100 years time.

    Sxx

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  26. I adore all your jars! They're so useful too... I'm the same way with vintage tea/biscuit tins. They're all over my apartment. It's difficult to find Hornsea pottery items here in the states, let me know if you ever come across any extra ones you'd like to trade!

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  27. Glad you are happy with your award, sorry I should have messaged you straight away, I should have also added that I am a bit disorganised sometimes!Linda x

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  28. How do you remember that the cereal jar has hamster food and not muesli? I know that I'd end up eating rodent food for breakfast... Seriously, they are all very gorgeous those jars. Think I need to get my jarage sorted. And my worktops. And cupboards. Ax

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  29. Has anyone eaten the hamster food,mistaking it for cereal!
    You have a lovely collection of jars..I like the blue Cornishware one best. ;0)

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  30. Fab collection of jars, love them :) xxx

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  31. Wow, you have one huge and awesome collection of jars. As for the picture of the minimalist kitchen - makes me want to leave a cheeseburger wrapper on the counter just to mess around with them.

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  32. All of these are fantastic. I am moving in with my boyfriend next year and cannot wait to start charity shopping for decor! x

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  33. Does anyone know what happened to Taunton Vale?

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