These Store-Bought Foods ACTUALLY Taste Better Than Homemade

Amr's bold choice of a maroon hue adds warmth and depth, creating a kitchen that is both sophisticated and inviting. Try Farrow & Ball Preference Red No.297, Benjamin Moore Classic Burgundy, or Clare Paint Vintage to get the look. Always test a sample to make sure the color suits your specific lighting situation.

"The maroon hue does more than complement the natural wood — it elevates the entire space, turning it into a focal point that’s as visually stunning as it is functional. By embracing contrast, we’ve crafted a kitchen that not only looks beautiful but also feels like home," he says.

"I love Sherwin Williams Dark Knight," Lauren Reyes says, principal designer + owner LA-based LVR Studios. "We’ve used this for my own kitchen’s cabinetry – it’s not a typical navy blue like we’re used to seeing as it has rich hues of dark blues and greens."

Another favorite is Farrow & Ball’s Joa White, a light and clean taupe. "It's a nice way to achieve a “white” kitchen, but a lot warmer and very sophisticated feeling," Lauren says.

Sue recommends Sherwin Williams'Thunderous SW 6201 for an earthy nature-inspired look. I think this is my pick too! "Dark yet calming, it is ideal for this space since it complements natural elements like wood and metal very well," she says.

Sue is also a fan of the wine-colored trend. She recommends Carnelian SW 7580. "To add some drama and mystery into a kitchen, this deep saturated violet with warm red undertones is a beautiful choice. Although it might seem like a bolder choice, it’s easy to pair with clean neutrals, thanks to its muted tone."

Amanda Leigh at House of Rolison seconds the redder tones for a warm and stimulating color. Her favorite? Benjamin Moore Nicholson Red. "We love coordinating a cabinet color to the vein of the slab we choose. It helps marry the materials we use without being too coordinated," she says.

Amanda's other favorite is also in the greige family, Farrow and Ball's Drop Cloth.

If you want to lean more green in your greige, Whearley & Co.'s Cooking Apple Green is a lovely neutral with a bit more tint.

Sue adds to her fave list Sherwin Williams Color of the Year for 2024: Upward SW 6239. "This light and breezy blue that creates a beautiful coastal chic vibe to an all-white kitchen. Homeowners can take this aesthetic one step further by adding wooden accents to the space."

Theresa Butler, principal and founder of Theresa Butler Interiors in Atlanta recently refreshed a 15-year-old kitchen with its original cabinets using Benjamin Moore Advance Paint in Marine Blue (on island) and London Fog (in cabinets).

Theresa also used Benjamin Moore White Dove to refresh this traditional kitchen.

Theresa also recommends Benjamin Moore Stratton Blue (a muted blue-green shown above), a soothing Ocean Air, and Peale Green, an earthy forest green, for kitchen cabinets. Love the idea of forest green too!

Something in the Ocean Air family is the Tranquil Waters Tintable Cabinet Paint from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines.

What is the Ninja Espresso Machine?

This Ninja coffee maker is a 3-in-1 machine that allows you to make espresso, classic drip coffee, and cold brews! It goes the extra mile by letting you make the following of each:

• Espresso — double shot or quad shot
• Drip Coffee — classic, rich, or over ice
• Cold Brew — cold pressed expresso or cold brew coffee

Depending on your mood, you can brew anywhere from 6 to 18 oz. drinks. It's like the grandmother of coffee makers IMO — she really can do it all, and then some!

What kind of features does it have?

What features doesn't this Ninja coffee maker have is the better question. My favorite feature so far is the weight-based dosing that helps the machine determine what you'll need for the perfect cup of coffee. What does that mean? It has a built-in scale that does the heavy lifting for you, showing you the recommended setting you need by detecting the weight of the beans before grinding.

It also has a hands-free frothing option that rivals the skills of Starbucks' baristas with its Barista Assist Technology. The four frothing features are:

• Steamed milk
• Thin froth
• Thick froth
• Cold foam

I've tried the steamed milk and cold foam options so far, and they're AMAZING. I think that's the best part of making coffee now!

Is it hard to put the Nina Espresso Maker together?

This is probably the heaviest coffee maker I've ever had, but it doesn't bother me. I bought my fiancé a Nutri Ninja Personal & Countertop Blender last year, so I'm familiar how sturdy their products are.

However, I want to mention how heavy it is so you're not surprised when you're taking it out of the box! It took two people to slide it out in my experience, so make sure you have someone to help you. If you don't care about keeping the box the Ninja Espresso Maker comes in, you can just cut it open to make it easier for you.

Putting this machine together is simpler than it looks, though. It comes with additional pieces like the assisted tamper, a funnel (to ensure you have the right amount of ground coffee), two baskets (to determine what type of coffee you want to make: quad shot espresso, classic, cold brew, or cold-pressed), and the portafilter (AKA the longer piece which serves as the main handle when you're grinding the beans and ready to brew your coffee). Thankfully, comes with the double basket installed already.

How much counter space does it take up?

The Ninja Espresso Machine doesn't take up as much space as I thought it would — and that's great because I live in an apartment, so that real estate is very limited in my kitchen. I was able to place it on the smaller counter by stove and still have room to place my coffee essentials next to it. But if you want to create a coffee corner, I definitely suggest placing it on a longer surface.

Do I need to use pre-ground coffee or whole beans?

This is a great question! I usually skip the instructions when putting something together (that rushed mom life, you know?), but decided to because I didn't want to mess anything up.

It's easy to reach for pre-ground coffee, but this machine specifically requires whole beans because of the grinder feature. If you're worried about added time from the grind, don't — it really doesn't take long for the beans to be ground!

Do I have to use whole milk for the frother, or can I use something plant-based?

You can actually use both! The cool thing about the Nina Espresso Maker is you can change the settings to whole or plant-based milk when you want to use the frothing feature! I just prefer to stick with unsweetened almond milk because it doesn't irritate my digestive system and has 0 grams of sugar in it!

Final Thoughts:

The Ninja Espresso Maker has converted me into a coffee drinker who doesn't have to leave her house for the latest Starbucks fall drinks — or at least not all the time. 😉 The included QR code on top of the machine helped me see step-by-step installation and brewing guides, so that's a welcomed bonus that continues to make regular use so much easier.

I will say that you have to test the hardness of your water and run a pre-cycle before using the machine. A water test strip is included in the box, and this process takes a couple of minutes to do. Once you're ready to run the pre-cycle, fill the water reservoir on the side is place a 10 or 12 oz. cup under the portafilter and press brew. When the cup is full after a few minutes, dump the water in the sink and you'll be ready to brew your first cup of espresso, classic brew, latte, or ice coffee!

Ultimately, while I don't care for drinking espresso, that feature works for my Domincan fiancé — it's perfect for getting him that shot of flavor and energy some he craves in the morning. Otherwise, for all other coffee-making endeavors, I give the Ninja Expresso Maker a 5 out of 5 rating! It really has something for all coffee lovers, and it takes than less than five minutes to have a cup of cold or warm deliciousness! BRB while I brew something for my Gilmore Girls rewatch...

Shop The Ninja Espresso Maker

Ninja Espresso Machine

Watch The 'Southern Charm' Trailer Here!

• The whole trailer starts off with Craig saying, “You can either accept the life that I live now, or not." That DEFINITELY sets the tone for the rest of this first look — and seemingly the rest of season 10.
• Despite whatever drama may come, it's clear that Shep's inner child is alive and well. That "olly olly oxen free" and cannonball moment is soooo extremely him.
• We're getting a group Bahamas trip! You know that can only mean one thing: DRAMA. Nothing changes the dynamic like being outside of Charleston!
• There's a new girl in the group, named Molly! Apparently she "used to sext Craig," but she's " not trying to steal him from Paige or anything." Okay, sure Jan...
• Taylor has a new boyfriend. Color me unsurprised!

• Excuse me, but Venita & JT?!?! IDK how to feel...
• After Craig tells Patricia that JT called her a b--ch, Madison says, “He will be the b--ch when I’m done with him.” I mean, you really just don't go after Patricia — everyone knows that!
• Every time Craig and Austen talk, it's clear they're exasperated with one another. Craig said, “Our friendship will never look like it used to." As much as I'm happy to see Craig setting clear boundaries with his friends, I'd definitely hate to see this bromance die. (Even though IDK if I'll ever forgive Austen for the Ciara of it all...)
• And in another unsurprising update: Shep has a new girlfriend — and she's the former Miss Bahamas! According to Madison, she's a Southern Charm fan, so it seems like some people think she's just using him as pawn to get on the show. All I know is we eventually see Shep walking away dejected and saying, “I shouldn’t have done this.” YIKES.
• And as predictable as the rain, of course there's drama with Shep, Taylor, and another woman — Salley. According to Salley, she and Shep slept together, and Taylor doesn't seem to take this well. She said, "I dated Shep for two years. Y'all just f----d!"

Who's returning for 'Southern Charm' season 10?

Our charmers Venita Aspen, Leva Bonaparte, Craig Conover, Taylor Ann Green, Austen Kroll, Madison LeCroy, Rodrigo Reyes, Shep Rose, and Jarrett “JT” Thomas are all set to return for season 10! Patricia Altschul and her son Whitney Sudler-Smith will also appear throughout the season — because it wouldn't be Southern Charm without this duo, TBH!

One face we're sad to see gone is Olivia Flowers. In regards to leaving the show, she told Scheana Shay on Scheananigans, "It wasn't my choice." Apparently producers told her the decision came because she seemed estranged from the Charleston scene, often traveling, spending time in Texas, and connecting with her new boyfriend. And while that may have bothered her at the time, it's clear that Olivia doesn't have time to worry about all that given her recent engagement to Alex Williams.

Are there any new cast members for 'Southern Charm' season 10?

This season, we're getting a few newcomers to Charleston! Salley Carson is "a bubbly party girl by night and a robotics technician for surgical procedures by day. The debutante is gorgeous, intelligent, and independent, and she shares a curiously parallel romantic past with Taylor." Yeah, that definitely spells trouble in Shep-ville. Outside of the social scene, her bio reads that Salley works in spinal robotics — nothing short of impressive there! I can't wait to see what this brainy beauty adds to the group!

Molly O’Connell also joins season 10 after apparently showing up in the background of previous seasons for years. So while she's new to the show, she's definitely been a friend of the group for a while. Still, this isn't Molly's first foray into TV — she was on America's Next Top Model in 2010 and continued her modeling career for years afterwards. On top of all that? She's also appeared as a charter guest on Below Deck. Clearly, this girl was made for the screen!

Ryan Albert hops on board this season as a friend of Patricia's — because who doesn't this woman know in Charleston?! According to Bravo, he's a stay-at-home-husband who volunteers — and hosts parties — in his free time.

When does 'Southern Charm' season 10 come out?

Southern Charm season 10 premieres Thursday, Dec. 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT! I'll be tuned in with rosé in-hand and mouth agape!