Look, I get it: the last thing you need is someone telling you to “transform your kitchen.” I know that a kitchen is built piece by piece – some things you inherit, some things you splurge on, some you replace out of necessity. Together, they’re what makes the room work. Every kitchen tool has its lore – the skillet that lasts a century, the knife you buy for yourself, a cutting board fit for a butcher. But hear me out: sometimes the right pan, board, or appliance does actually make life easier. And sometimes? It’s on sale for up to 70% off.
Enter: Wayfair’s Labor Day Clearance sale. I scanned ALL of the clearance deals – seriously – and below, EHD has compiled the best of the best. (I’m talking deeply-discounted Le Crueset ovens, Boos butcher blocks, stainless steel Viking cookware, and more. This sale is good.) If you’re looking to upgrade your setup, now is the time – can I show you what I found?
This post was sponsored by Wayfair, but all words are my own. I think you’ll be able to tell.
Cast Iron Cookware
Girls gotta eat, as they say. And what better than a delicious meal that’s been prepared in some keep-forever enameled cast iron cookware? You can’t go wrong with any of the above, but we particularly love these 8-quart ovens from Le Creuset, which can go from slow braises to sourdough bread to a whole roast chicken. It’s one pot that can tackle weeknight pasta sauce and a centerpiece holiday roast. (And because enamel is non-reactive, you can simmer acidic ingredients without any metallic taste leaching in. YES, CHEF!) I wouldn’t turn my nose up at this 65% off Staub version either, especially in the punchy citron hue.
Stainless Cookware
Okay, okay – I hear you. Stainless steel is less romantic than cast iron. I get it! But there’s a reason professional kitchens lean so heavily on this tried-and-true classic: they’re workhorses, plain and simple. They’re ultra-durable (scratches or dings won’t affect their performance), perfect for developing food (sorry, non-sticks, but you’ll never deliver a world-class pan sauce!, and they’re often dishwasher safe. You can’t go wrong with a set of these steel Viking cooking sheets or this budget-friendly 24 qt. stockpot. (Full disclosure: I actually grabbed the aforementioned pot for dying fabric! Anyone who says that size is easy to find in a thrift store has better luck than I do.)
Knives
Knives: the one kitchen essential you should really buy for yourself. I can’t be the only one who grew up with that old superstition around this, right? In Norse and Germanic traditions, a blade given freely could “sever” bonds of friendship. In Chinese superstition, sharp objects as gifts symbolize conflict or the cutting of ties. In some Mediterranean folklore, the idea is the same – the blade doesn’t just cut food, it cuts luck or love. WHY RISK IT?
Treat yourself to some sweet, sleek knives – like the ones Velinda has hanging above – or grab a world-class set from Henckels (the real deal, for those of us amateur chefs) for only $199, reduced from over $700. (PS. If someone buys you a knife, you can dodge the bad luck by tossing them a penny or nickel in return. It’s a common practice amongst chefs and collectors, I swear.)
Griddles
Let me set the scene: it’s winter. The holidays are around the corner. The house is clean; the family is asleep; and you rise early in the morning. It’s quiet. The birds are chirping. You walk into the kitchen – it’s being warmed by the early beams of morning light. You pull the griddle out of the cabinet, toss it on your burners, and spin up a pancake breakfast that would put your local diner to shame. That’s the dream, isn’t it? And it’s within reach, thanks to these budget-friendly griddles!
It’s not just pancakes, though – a griddle basically turns your stovetop into a mini flat-top grill. It’s ideal for cooking multiple items at once (think: smashburgers for a crowd, bacon strips lined up, grilled cheese sandwiches assembly-line style). And in the winter, they can scratch your grill itch without firing up a bunch of charcoal or propane. It’s a totally transformative piece of cookware, I swear. I’d go for this half-priced Viking edition because it’s reversible – ridged on one side, smooth on the other.
Sweet Crocks And Vessels
The humble utensil crock: or, as I call it, kitchen jewelry. (I lied. This is the first time I’ve called it that. Do you get the vision, or is it giving “stop trying to make ‘fetch’ happen?”) Anyway – there’s nothing that kills the kitchen vibe faster than digging through a likely-jammed door while your dinner is threatening to boil over. Enter: the crock. Sturdy enough to hold your ladles, whisks, and spatulas; pretty enough to admire on the counter; budget-friendly enough to swap when you’re ready for a refreshed look. I love a classic stoneware version, like the timeless piece Jess used above, but you really can’t go wrong here.
Simple, Pretty Serveware
Hop in your time machine: we’re going to trace the origins of white serveware all the way back to the Tang dynasty. (Years 618–907, FYI. Saved you a Google!) Around this time, white porcelain was prized for its refinement and durability. By the time it reached Europe (1300s-1500s), it was called “white gold.” Royal courts collected it obsessively because it signified wealth and sophistication. AND NOW, WE CAN ALL JUST HAVE IT IN OUR HOUSES! White serveware is practical and functional – it works across formal dinners, casual lunches, rustic kitchens, sleek modern tables. It’s never “out of style.” And man, does it look good styled in a kitchen. You can never go wrong with a simple, sleek platter like the fruit-bearing piece above, but I’m currently hearing the siren song of this beautiful, $72 Lenox cake plate. Imagine her styled with your favorite breakfast pastries – what a treat to wake up to every morning!
Decanters
Here’s a surprising fact: for the bulk of human history, decanted goods have been the norm. Romans kept their dry goods in giant terracotta vats called dolia (thank you, 4 years of Latin!). Middle Agers kept their bread in bins and their grain in chests. Victorian pantries boasted shelves of glass jars with handwritten labels (this sounds pretty dreamy, TBH).
But with the rise of branded packaging, food could finally be left in its store-bought box or tin, yet early 20th-century housewives were often encouraged to decant staples into matching containers for neatness and “domestic pride.” I’m not crazy about that particular line of reasoning, but I still find myself drawn to our human tradition and history of decanted food. If you fall into the same boat (welcome aboard, our ship is filled with people who romanticize everything!), then a clean, pretty set of glass decanters can make mealtime prep a little more beautiful and enjoyable.
Countertop Appliances
As it turns out, kitchens often need to be stocked with – gasp! – appliances. I know that interior designers will have you convinced that every electronic must be stashed out of eyesight (I see you, purveyors of appliance garages, who have left me with lingering insecurity re: my countertop microwave), but sometimes…we just gotta have stuff on the counter, you know? It’s food. It’s life. It’s nice to have things that are easily accessible.
But it also helps when those frequently-used kitchen tools are stunners, like Sara’s KitchenAid mixer. (Fun fact: KitchenAid hired Egmont Arens – also the editor of Creative Arts and Vanity Fair – to redesign their bulky mixer in 1937. The basic profile you see above hasn’t changed since! It’s considered one of the few “perfected” industrial forms, like the Coca-Cola bottle.) And you guessed it – you can grab it on sale this weekend. (If you’re an amateur, go for an entry-level model like this. Long-time bakers, you might consider splurging on a model with a bit more power!)
Cutting Boards
One thing about us EHD folk? We’ll never turn down a good cutting board. Use them to slice your breads and veggies! (Groundbreaking reporting coming out of stylebyemilyhenderson.com today.) Gussy them up as a charcuterie board! Lean them against your backsplash! Create your own cutting board gallery wall! If you’re a serious chef, I’d highly recommend an investment in a Boos Block, like this – the company was founded in the 1800s; their boards are made from the highest quality materials and are still used in professional kitchens across the country. But if you’re just looking for a little decor spruce up, a mix-and-match set in this vein would be a great, budget-friendly jumping-off point. (PS. This tiny, 10×10″ sub-$40 cutie would make a really nice gift for your friendly neighborhood blogger. Hint hint!)
Major Appliances
Remember when “adulting” meant buying paper towels before you ran out? Major appliances are the real deal. A dishwasher that doesn’t sound like a jet engine, a fridge big enough to hold more than LaCroix, a washer/dryer that isn’t coin-op? That’s when you know you’ve arrived. And the kicker? You can grab allllllll the major appliances above for up to 40% off this weekend. (Anyone else eyeing this sub-$1,500 French door refrigerator? I mean – just think of what you can do with the savings!)
Whether you’re here for the folklore, the function, or just the discounts, the deals don’t last long – Wayfair’s Labor Day Clearance sale ends on 9/2. So go ahead, stock your kitchen. We’ll be right there with you, spatula in hand. Any thoughts? I’ll be here… xx
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Zeke Ruelas | from: Modern Art Deco Kitchen Reveal