The Colourful Kitchen range recently launched by Marks and Spencer means the most important part of baking is no longer the cake, it’s all about what you use to make it!

So don’t continue to use boring metal cake tins and wooden rolling pins that look better shoved to the back of the cupboard - instead you can now use these beautiful hand painted and hand-finished ceramic products that will instantly brighten up your baking.

Perfect for either an avid baker or for just a novice endeavour; the Colourful Kitchen products are extremely durable and have a high rate for withstanding really high temperatures, which is extremely important for oven wear.

The range covers all of your baking needs; there’s a heart roaster/cake tray, muffin tray, butter dish, measuring spoons, measuring cups, and a rolling pin.

These vintage style pieces are definitely too pretty to simply sit in the cutlery drawer, so make a feature out of the product and really brighten up the room or use them to serve your delicious homemade treats.

These items are also great gift ideas which is perfect during the run up to Christmas, but the retro trend keeps it current for all year round.

The main focal point of these pieces is the bright colour used throughout; red, pinks, yellows and greens are hand painted onto the stoneware body and then finished with a hand applied glaze.

So make a feature out of your baking utensils as well as the finished product with these unusual and vibrant pieces that also offer longevity through much use.

The Colourful Kitchen range is both decorative and functional; the perfect recipe for all bakers.

The new Indigo serve ware range was launched in Sainsbury’s stores just weeks ago, making this the perfect time to get on trend with the textured and Aztec style that is taking the autumn/winter season by storm.

It has been designed for accessorising and dressing up your everyday dinnerware set, with pieces ideal for serving, hosting, and entertaining.

The collection is really on trend for this season as it combines the popular textured ceramic theme with Aztec and oriental inspired patterns.

Indigo has a glazed finish on the white ceramic body, with the predominant colour of the range being a deep navy blue which is produced by using cobalt in the decal. 

Despite the range being built on only two colours, the diversity of the patterns creates individuality for every single item, with foreign influences prominent in the designs.

It may be comprised of contrasting patterns, but the collection maintains unanimity through the consistent use of colour and texture found on every piece.

The smooth shapes of the products are contrasted with these designs, which makes for eye catching results; the decal of the serving platter in particular creating optical illusions.    

These products have been designed to complement your existing pieces and are purposely created for serving, making them the perfect additions to your practical everyday dinner set.

The collection contains a serving platter, serving bowl, large jug, tea plates, pasta bowl, and nibble bowls; perfect for treating your guests during the upcoming Christmas season.

The range comes from Indonesia and is made from an extremely strong and durable stoneware body, with an absorption rate of only 0.02% - the same as bone china yet it remains extremely inexpensive!

The textured surface of these products is created from an on-glaze decal; the result being a tactile surface that is raised and dimpled to the touch.

Overall the Indigo collection looks expensive and exotic, as though direct from the Far East. The authenticity of this range gives the impression you’ve travelled far and wide to bring these pieces back home, when in fact they can be sourced from your local Sainsbury’s store.

Textured ceramics are really on trend this autumn/winter season, so if you want to adopt a more sophisticated version of this style then the new Calico dinnerware range at Marks & Spencer is the perfect choice. 

The elegant white Fine China body of this collection is finished with a clear glaze to make a feature ceramic body underneath. The true focal point of this range comes from the textured surface of the product.

The design of Calico has been inspired by the shapes and lines of traditional hand-thrown ceramic normally produced on a potter’s wheel, giving the range a rustic and authentic with more character than the average plain coloured dinner set; perfect for creating the feel of a country kitchen in your home. 

Not only is this range aesthetically pleasing and bang on trend, it’s also exceptionally strong and durable due to the fact that the body has been fired at an extremely high temperature.

This refined and durable collection is one of the most sophisticated textured dinnerware ranges out there, and is perfectly suited to any style home and occasion.

The plain white colour keeps the product from looking cluttered, while the smooth lines running throughout the surface makes it stand out from other white dinner sets in the market.

However if bright colours and patterns are more your style, then Calico is the perfect range for combining with other styles to form the base of your table top, as it gives you space to chop and change your theme and be as versatile as you like.

Combine this collection with other textured items as well as colours to really make the most of this trend. The simple colour of this range allows you to work your table top with any other colour scheme, so it fits in with any style you have in your home.

Calico is available in an extensive range of items including dinner plate, side plate, cereal bowl, large cup, and cup and saucer, along with statement pieces such as a creamer and large jug to really set off the whole collection.

These elegant and sophisticated pieces steer away from garish colour and patterns and instead focus on texture, perfect for when you want an understated look on your dining table.

By Claire Stevens, ITTC UK, 02/10/2014