Kitchen Innovations from Magnet Part II

Time to show you the second part of my filming with Magnet kitchens on four of their most innovative kitchen products. This is another very simple idea with a twist which makes it work all the better.

You can probably see what I’m talking about from the shot above. I had to cut the head off, I was doing the most ridiculous rictus grin and I couldn’t have that staring out at you over your cornflakes. Trust me, it’s better this way.

Anyway, yes it’s a waste bin. But look at the position. In fact this shot tells you all you need to know. In recent years, with the move towards a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, the insistence that we recycle more and the councils’ refusal to collect the waste as often as they used to, we seem to need a lot more bin space in the kitchen.

Most of us now have a recycling bin, a normal bin and often a food waste bin as well. That one often sits on the worktop where it is unsightly and takes up space. And also, who wants food waste sitting near all the fresh ingredients?

So this is a bin in a drawer. So far so normal. I already have one of those under my kitchen sink. But this one is high up and sits directly under the worktop. Which means that you can peel the potatoes, spiralise the courgettes and cut the carrots and then sweep the rubbish straight into the bin. No more scooping up the peelings and trying to open the bin with your foot or your elbow, or dropping half of them on the floor on the way to bin. No more thinking you were clever peeling into an carrier bag and then realising you have to separate one from the other as that now involves two separate bins. And, crucially, no more food bin on the worktop.

It doesn’t have to be just for food waste either. At this height this is ideal for anyone who has back problems or trouble bending down. I like the fact that it’s small too. I have never liked those large free-standing bins. They take up floor space and who wants to keep rubbish in the house when you could keep it in the large bin outside?

I have always had a small bin that I empty every day. This is perfect for that. Especially, as I mentioned at the top of the post: once you have put the recycling in one place and the food in another, the remaining bin can be quite small. This would work.

So, if you’re remodelling your kitchen anytime soon then don’t forget one of my top ten interior design tips: consider the unexpected. Which, in this case, might mean putting the bin somewhere slightly unusual but definitely more usable.

For those of you who like a laugh (at my expense) you can see the video of the waste bin in action here. Now there’s an offer you don’t get everyday.