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Alessi 9093 Kettle - $180.00 [ Link ]
The teakettle's design gives a postmodern wink; it's a sleek mirrored-steel kettle of very careful geometry and proportions, but then it has this functional blue plastic handle letting you know it's OK to touch that part, and a red cartoonish bird that screeches at you when the water is ready. I wonder if these color choices were Graves' way of injecting a little bit of USA into the iconic Italian company's product line.
by ALESSI
This kitchen looks as though it could have been inspired by Graves' kettle, with its stainless steel elements and beautiful use of blue.
by Old World Kitchens & Custom Cabinets  
The kettle is right at home being one of the only decorative objects in a minimalist kitchen.
by a+b kasha designs  
by Mal Corboy Design and Cabinets  
The kettle is composed of 18/10 polished stainless steel and measures 8 1/2 inches in diameter and 9 inches high. The tapered design is efficient for boiling water quickly.
by Holly Marder  
by MN Design by Mauricio Nava  
It also works well in contemporary kitchens full of warm wood accents.
by Ronan Rose Roberts Architects  
A shiny steel backsplash reflects the kettle here. Another new classic we've explored recently are the chairs in this kitchen. They are Hat Trick Chairs by a starchitect and product-designer colleague of Graves, Frank Gehry.
by Kindred Construction Ltd.  
The 9093 also adds a pop of postmodern charm to transitional kitchens.
by Rusk Renovation  
by Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.  
The kettle holds its own in a country-style kitchen — perhaps because it has a tiny critter atop its spout.
by Reico Kitchen & Bath  
by Ike Kligerman Barkley  
The holding-its-own statement is true whether the kettle is in a room with full-on country charm or one with subtle country touches, like this one. Chances are, one of these would work in your kitchen too; at 28 years old, it's the most popular teakettle seen in Houzz kitchen photos.
by Birdseye Design  

Comments

matbooks Love your starting point and the results as well...you can't say enough about a really good kitchen tool!
4 months ago · ·
Christa This is a takeoff on "where's Waldo?".
4 months ago · ·
midmodfan The photos are proof that good design works everywhere!
4 months ago · ·
silrosse There's a unifying theme tying all of these kitchens together (aside from the tea kettle) -- they all feature stainless steel somewhere. Not to say the tea kettle isn't fantastic design, but I wonder how it would look sitting on top of my cheap, cream-colored 1980s stove! (Although I do have a stainless steel sink...maybe it wouldn't be TOO incongruent!)
4 months ago ·
Becky Harris great point silrosse! My feeling is, back when this was first designed, nary a soul had stainless appliances in their homes, so it must work in spite of not having stainless appliances. I think the third-from-last image should give you a good idea about how it works with cream.
4 months ago ·
tsudhonimh It may have been artsy as all get out, but it was NOT a good tea kettle.

You can't pour the water out without risking having the excess come out the lid. It's nearly impossible to clean the sharply angled bottom. It's awkward to pour from and awkward to fill.
4 months ago · ·
Becky Harris tsud i did come across a video of a man complaining about when I did my research that was quite hilarious. I have only tested the cheap knockoff target version which works great but does not have the sleek shape of this one.
4 months ago ·
silrosse You're right, Becky, it does look amazing in that cream-colored kitchen! Really enjoyed this article, by the way!
4 months ago ·
Becky Harris Thank you silrosse!
4 months ago ·
gillianne Though I've always liked that tea kettle's design and cheekiness, for function, I've found that an attached flip-up spout cover beats a pull-off one. It's never lost, it rarely breaks, and fingers don't get burned. Nice continuity of that tea kettle through a host of designs that show its versatility.
4 months ago · ·
White Lotus Interiors I have one of these kettles, purchased in the late 80's. It doesn't look like that anymore : )
4 months ago · ·
Becky Harris white lotus, I wondered if some of the re-design had made it more functional - do you have any of the problems pouring and filling yours that have been mentioned?

My cheap Target version was looking clunky and not-so-stylish to me after looking at all of these, but I still love it.
4 months ago ·
White Lotus Interiors Becky Harris, there should be a contest for most worn Alessi Kettle. My little bird is long lost to the back of a drawer as it's not very practical. The handle is somewhat melted and darkened (it never did really stay entirely cool), and the lid is pretty much fuzed on by calcium so I fill it through the spout. Still, it sits proudly on my stove top...
4 months ago · ·
CAROLE MEYER Always loved it, always will!
4 months ago ·
seashell20 Here's my '80s vintage Alessi. It was an anniversary present from my husband and a huge extravagance at the time but it really has stood the test of time... still shiny, classic and a beautiful accent to my natural maple and black kitchen.
4 months ago · ·
Chelsea McGraw Storybook Murals Got to have the accessories that complete the presentation.
4 months ago · ·
sclawson This tea kettle is really cute, but I've long since sworn off cute stuff in my kitchen that doesn't function well for me. Give me an electric kettle any day! Mine is black plastic over a stainless interior, and it goes in the appliance cupboard when not in use. Love its ease of use and how fast the water heats up. Better than a microwave on that count for brewing a perfect cuppa.
4 months ago · ·
rebelliousraven Can anyone tell me how someone could reach the microwave in the 9th pic down (yellow kitchen)...
4 months ago ·
Becky Harris I'm 5'7" and my microwave is at the same height and I don't have any trouble whatsoever - I think that's a pretty standard placement for a microwave.
4 months ago ·
rebelliousraven my husband is a builder.. I am 5'7 also .. taking into account the dishwasher below, the oven.. the bottom of that microwave is set at about 5'6"... reaching a hot dish over your head and reaching to the back of a deep microwave would be a good reach for me.. and that's the bottom of it.. If that microwave it 12 inches tall that puts the top at 6'5" a little out of my cleaning reach, not to mention the controls near the top....you can tell relative to the ceiling which is at least 9ft...dont' have to worry about the little kids reaching this one...
4 months ago ·
mere bitu great ideas for a kitchen... a nice fresh outlook to a blooming flower outside the door or window and the space...very important..great to know that people out there know....
4 months ago ·
Dana Veach I couldn't believe that collection of Clarice Cliff in the "country" kitchen...or are they knock-off pieces, and if they are, who makes them? I love the Michael Graves tea kettle, by the way. Thanks for showcasing it in such a variety of settings.
4 months ago ·
pmdw My cat chewed off my little bird on the kettle. Anyone know how to get just the bird?
6 weeks ago ·
seashell20 Just Google Alessi tea kettle bird. Amazon's probably the least expensive . . . $11.99
6 weeks ago ·
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