Today kitchens are more sophisticated than ever, featuring smart appliances, sleek, seamless cabinetry styles and ingenious integrated storage solutions. However, despite all the kitchen tech and innovation, when it comes to kitchen design, it seems there’s a trend for looking back rather than forward.
Increasingly, we’re noticing interior and kitchen designers incorporating freestanding pieces into kitchens to achieve a homely, relaxed look, and, as part of this kitchen trend, there’s a key feature we’re spotting again and again – the pot hanger.
Available ceiling-mounted or wall-pointed this simple, age-old piece of kitchen furniture seems to be making a comeback – although passionate home chefs who want a real cook’s kitchen might argue they never really went away.
To find out why this humble piece of kitchen hardware is becoming the new kitchen must-have we spoke to interior designers for their insights on its enduring appeal.
Why choose a pot hanger?
Pot hangers mounted from beams or ceilings have been gracing kitchens in various guises for centuries. Originally created from wrought iron or wood, today’s pot hangers are more innovative than their forebears and can be tailored to your space with options for integrated lighting and an array of custom finishes available and it’s these bespoke versions we’ve noticed proving particularly popular.
‘The activity and inquiries around the pot racks are the most robust we've ever seen and we’re selling more than ever before,’ says Sam Schinderman, director of New York-based company Ann-Morris which specializes in luxury, bespoke pot racks.
Practically, pot hangers and racks have a number of advantages. Making clever use of the height of a room, they provide ample kitchen storage for large pans, pots and cookware without encroaching on valuable drawer and cupboard space. Hanging large pots and pans not only saves space, it also makes them far easier to access rather than having to bend down and rifle through low cabinets or drawers.
'You're able to use it for pan storage but it also makes a beautiful centerpiece. It's a great fixture for clients who actually cook and utilize their kitchen,' explains Sam Schinderman. And it’s not just cooking pots and saucepans they can be used for, ‘the hooks can hold baskets, bags of vegetables, bags of meats, cookware with large handles, etc,’ he adds. Designs with integrated lighting also provide essential task lighting over a kitchen island for preparing food.
'Pot hangers work especially well in a space with high ceilings, adding a sculptural element to the room,’ adds Neil Fox, director of British kitchen and joinery bespoke company, Artichoke.
1. Free up your cabinet space
One of the key benefits of having a pot hanger or rail is saving on valuable storage space. If you have a small kitchen where cabinet space is at a premium then making use of the height of the room by fitting alternative storage is a clever alternative. Cookware takes up lots of space in cabinets and drawers so hanging these can really free up lots of space for tableware, groceries or appliances which can otherwise end up cluttering worktops. A discreet pan rail is the easiest solution, as used here by Sean Symington.
Not only does the pan rail save space, it also makes a feature of the client's lovely copper pan collection.
2. Use a pot hanger to create a focal point
If you have a kitchen with high ceilings the space can end up feeling a little cold and empty – adding a custom pot rack is a great way to fill the space and make a practical and stylish focal point as done here by interior designer Carolyn Brandwajn, founder of Cbespoke design. 'The kitchen has very high ceilings; I incorporated an Ann-Morris pot rack, not only to showcase the client’s copper cookware collection, but to also add a design element on the ceiling,' explains Carolyn Brandwajn.
Featuring a warm brass finish this design also brings a touch of warmth and glamour to an otherwise neutral scheme.
3. Show off your cookware
Bespoke pot hangers inspired by restaurants and kitchens are perfect for those who really love to cook. 'It creates a feature of the cooking paraphernalia, in particular with copper pans adding warmth and a heritage feel. This bespoke feature is often commissioned by our clients who are passionate about cooking, looking to display their beautiful cooking utensils as part of the design,' explains Neil Fox, director of Artichoke.
'The metal of the pans and the pot hanger are echoed in the materials around the room for an industrial nod in this New England scheme. The rectangular steel hanger mirrors the footprint of the island below along with the shape of the room and the shapes of the cabinetry. These considered, refined details are entirely bespoke to the client and their home, working in complete harmony to create a kitchen that looks like it has always belonged.'
4. Make cookware easy to access
Having your saucepans close at hand whilst cooking cannot be underestimated. While separate pantries can provide great storage, it can be frustrating having to keep going back and forth for what you need. Stacking heavy cookware in low cabinets and drawers can also be laborious, not to mention very noisy.
Be it ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted, a pot hanger allows you to instantly locate and retrieve the pan you're looking for, plus they can be easily and quietly replaced after use. 'The pot rack allows for the pots to be more accessible, and, as the ceiling is pitched, it fills some volume for a more robust look,' explains interior designer Gary McBournie who chose a bespoke Ann-Morris design for this relaxed Nantucket kitchen.
If you're after the practical benefits of a pot rack there's no need to install a large ceiling-hung rack, a simple pot rail hung from a ceiling beam or wall can be just as effective hung from a beam or the wall.
'Hanging rails are a big yes too, I love nothing more than a brass rail and all the storage display options it gives me. Plants on the ceiling, tea towels by the sink, dried chillies above the range. The list is exciting and endless if you pick a subtle understated slim rail,' says Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL Kitchens.
5. Create a rustic country feel
If you're a fan of the rustic unfitted kitchen composed of freestanding and vintage furniture then traditional wrought iron, curved pot hanger designs are a great addition, conjuring scenes of a rustic Tuscan farmhouse kitchen or an English country cottage kitchen.
Perfect in front of a traditional range cooker, over an island or prep table, deVOL's pot hangers are hand-forged to order in the UK by skilled blacksmiths and boast beautiful handcrafted markings and textures which beautifully complement historic homes.
'We love to include hanging storage in the kitchen. A simple pot rack above a cooker, nothing too ornate, a simple utilitarian rack allowing you to easily store and reach your biggest and heaviest pans, they are such a great look, practical and hold way more than you could ever fit easily and accessibly in a cupboard,' explains Helen Parker.
6. Conjure the look and ambiance of a retro French bistro
Pot hangers aren't confined to the rustic country look, they can look stunning as part of luxury and urban kitchens, too. New York-based company Ann-Morris, founded in 1947, create bespoke pot racks with integrated lighting and an array of finishes from polished nickel and brass to the more mellow oil-rubbed bronze which are perfect for glamorous, luxury kitchens. You can even have two-tone finishes and custom finishes.
'Our pot rack is inspired by 20th-century French Bistro-style pot racks. My Father, Herbie Schinderman, who designed the pot rack, was inspired during his buying trips to France. When back in the USA he set up manufacturing of the pot rack as early as the 1980s,' explains Sam Schinderman, director of Ann Morris. 'The Ann-Morris pot rack is completely custom-made and bespoke to the client's kitchen island space. They are made in New York City using the highest quality materials by master metal craftsman. The quality is generally one of a kind and clients want a piece of that in their kitchen.'
Pot hangers don't just have a rustic look to them, there are some beautiful stainless-steel designs that would work if you are after a more contemporary style.
Inexpensive with plenty of rave reviews, this pot rack from Wayfair is simple, chic and effective with multiple ways you can store your pots.
If you want a pot hanger that really makes a style statement, this one is as beautiful as it is functional.
Where should you hang a pot hanger?
Pot hangers are generally hung over kitchen islands. As they are designed to store and display pots and pans, they need to be located near the cooker so that the pans are easy to retrieve when cooking. If you’re thinking of installing a ceiling-mounted pot hanger then you’ll need to check with a professional whether your ceiling can support – sometimes the ceiling will need reinforcement.
‘The installation process needs to be handled by a knowledge contractor or electrician,’ says Sam Schinderman of Ann Morris. ‘The ceiling needs to be reinforced and appropriate steps needs to be taken by the contractor for proper installation.’
The return of the pot hanger might feel like a trend, but this look has been around for centuries and it won't be falling out of fashion anytime soon. A practical solution to storing awkward pots and pans and yet aesthetically pleasing and versatile the pot hanger is an asset to any kitchen.
