So, I want to write a blog about some brands I love and use regularly—brands that sometimes get put in the “luxury” bucket. But honestly? They’ve earned their spot. And in honor of Meghan Sussex (yes, that Duchess we all love and know), I figured it was the perfect time to share a few brands that have a permanent place in my kitchen and my heart.
Let’s Start with Color: Le Creuset & YETI
First up—and I’m never sure if I’m saying it quite right—is Le Creuset. This brand is one of my absolute favorites. One of the biggest reasons? The colors. I love color in the kitchen. Even though if you walked into my house, you’d see a lot of glass, wood, and neutrals. White? Sure. But I lean more toward off-whites, khakis, and tans—earthy tones that feel grounded and timeless. That kind of backdrop makes any pop of color feel intentional and beautiful.
So when I’m working with a space that’s warm woods, soft grays, or those sea-glass cool tones—think Jekyll Island vibes—brands like Le Creuset bring that spark of color I crave. That’s part of the magic. I’ll get into the specific pieces I have, the ones I recommend, and the colors I’m currently obsessed with in the rest of the post. But just know: I’m a fan.
Another brand I love for the same reason? And I know this might be controversial because y’all love your Stanley cups… but I’ve never been a Stanley girl. I’ve been a YETI girl for 15 years—maybe longer. That’s my brand. My husband and I are a full-blown Yeti household. I’ll do a couple videos soon showing off my favorite pieces and favorite colors, but let me just say: the colors?! Ugh. I love them.
Right now, I’m sipping hot chocolate out of a Yeti mug in Wild Vine, a limited edition color from last year. It’s stunning. And between us? I have just about everything: bags, coolers, ramblers, mugs, tumblers, shot glasses, the ice thing (you know what I mean), blankets… you name it. The only reason we don’t have the pet bowl is because we don’t have a dog. That’s it. Otherwise, it’d be in the house too.
But it’s not just about the colors. Yeti does what they say they’re going to do. My hot chocolate stays hot all day. My tea stays piping hot. And when we go camping, we can throw ice in one of our coolers and still have solid ice five days later. Five. Days. I’m a fan through and through. Plus, they drop new colors the same way Le Creuset does and I love a seasonal drop. It just gets me.
The Other Cookware in My Kitchen
Of course, Le Creuset isn’t the only cookware brand I use. I also have quite a few pieces from Cuisinart and Calphalon. I use them for different things, and they’ve held up well. Cuisinart also makes some great small appliances. Between that and my KitchenAid stand mixer, I’ve got my bases covered.
Funny thing is, I don’t even bake that much. But I got my KitchenAid mixer as a wedding gift 21 years ago, and it still works like a charm. I got it in white because I knew I’d probably change my kitchen vibe a million times over the years—and I was right. My husband works for a retailer (we’ll just leave it at that), and sometimes he’ll call and say, “Hey, we got this thing in. Do you want one?” That’s how I ended up trading our original mixer (it was a color I didn’t love) for the white one I still have today.
That said… that matte green color they have now? The one that looks like an Eagles green with the wooden bowl? Whew.She’s calling my name. That one and the glass bowl.
Affordable Everyday Basics
Now, obviously, I like pretty things. I don’t mind spending money on those pretty things either. But I’m also not afraid to save where it makes sense.
Take our everyday plates—they’re from IKEA. Years ago, they had a plain white set that I absolutely loved. Sadly, they don’t sell it anymore, and as pieces break (because, you know, life), I can’t replace them. I originally bought a bunch thinking it would be great for casual entertaining. Just simple, clean dishes for when the girls come over or we’re hanging outside around the fire pit.
At home, it’s just me, my husband (21 years married!), and our daughter—who’s about to turn 13. So, I didn’t think I needed to go overboard. But had I known they were going to change the shape and stop selling them, I would’ve grabbed so many more.
They also had these glasses I loved—and I’m down to my last one. I’m not even kidding. And yes, I’ve made it clear to my husband and my daughter: if this last glass breaks and I didn’t do it… somebody’s gonna owe me a replacement and a foot rub. It’s a weird thing to be sad about, but I am sad.
So yeah—plates, glasses, silverware—I like switching it up. I get bored easily and I like finding pieces that look good but won’t break the bank. And when it comes to entertaining? I’m always trying to find items that are easy to clean, reusable, or recyclable and won’t take up every inch of my cabinet space. Because believe me—I’ve filled up my cabinets.
Cast Iron Love
Now let’s talk about cast iron. I’m a huge cast iron girl. I have tons of Lodge pieces—made in the USA, super durable, no complaints. I don’t know much about the company behind it and, if I’m being honest, I’m not digging around too hard. I have a feeling I might not like what I find. So… we’re leaving it alone.
Outside of Lodge, I’ve backed a Kickstarter brand from the UK that makes cast iron with enamel coating on the outside and bare cast iron on the inside. It’s fantastic. I also have some non-Lodge cast iron pieces, including one from Finex, which is a luxury cast iron brand and absolutely gorgeous.
That one, though? She stays home. We do a lot of camping and while I love cast iron for the outdoors, I’m not taking my Finex into the wild. If I forget it or leave it behind? I’m not about to cry over it. That’s what my more everyday pieces are for.
Serving It Up
When it comes to serving pieces, I go a little more upscale. I love Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, and Williams-Sonoma for my entertaining ware. I have big serving bowls, pasta bowls, platters—you name it. These are the pieces that last. And if you live near one of their outlet stores? Go. It’s so worth it.
My favorite mirror in my house actually came from the Pottery Barn outlet. I saw it first in the Pottery Barn at Lenox Mall in Atlanta. It was $1,200 or $1,500—somewhere in that range. I couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger. My friend was like, “Get it! You’ll love it!” So instead, we went to the outlet… and there it was. Same mirror. For way less. I won’t say how much I still paid, because it was a splurge—but worth every penny. I’ll share a pic of that too.
A Few More Favorites
Another luxe brand I love? Staub. Their color combinations are just chef’s kiss. I don’t have as many Staub pieces as Le Creuset, but when they drop a color that speaks to me? I grab it. I probably have four or five pieces at this point.
I also love the Shun Blonde line of knives. When you watch With Love, Meghan on Netflix, you might spot them. I’m 99% sure that’s what she uses—and it just so happens to be my everyday knife set too. I didn’t buy a whole set at once. I built it piece by piece, starting with the bread knife, then the chef’s knife, then the paring knife. That’s usually how I like to shop: slow, thoughtful, and based on what I actually use.
Now let’s talk small appliances that earn their keep: my Hurom Slow Juicer and my Vitamix Blender. Yes, they’re an investment. But they’ve both lasted for years, and the ease of cleaning? Worth it alone. I’ve never once regretted spending money on either. The Vitamix blends everything (soups, sauces, smoothies, compound butters) with ease. And the Hurom? IT’s a slow juicer, so the juice should retain more of the good stuff and isn’t affected by the heat that regular juicers may create. Both are beautiful enough to live on the counter and strong enough to work hard every day. That’s the kind of luxury I like. Pretty and practical.
Final Thoughts (For Now)
So yes—I love a little luxury. But I’m also practical. My pops of color (hello, Yeti and Le Creuset) make me happy. My everyday basics from IKEA keep things affordable. And my entertaining pieces from Pottery Barn and the like bring that casual elegance vibe that I love.
I’ll be sharing pictures and quick videos of some of these favorites soon so you can see what I’m talking about. Whether you’re building your kitchen from scratch or just love being nosy like me and seeing what other people use—I got you.
Stay Spicy!
