Tan France's kitchen island has a hidden functionality that answers a problem every homeowner faces

The struggle of navigating and concealing electrical sockets is something all modern homeowners are accustomed to – or, rather, all but Tan France, who has found an ingenious solution.

The Queer Eye star, who resides in Salt Lake City, took followers inside his monochrome kitchen by Utah-based designers, The Fox Group, who created the modern space of Tan's dreams. Despite all its qualities, however, one feature, its kitchen island, stands out for reasons we might not initially expect. 

'My favorite hidden little detail in the kitchen is this,' Tan says alongside the white island in question. 'It just looks like the end of an island, which is great, and we wanted to have a South Asian design, which is wonderful, but I really wanted to hide a plug socket. I wanted them to just be gone. So, we’ve hidden it away in this flower, which I think is so chic. I love it.'

Knowing how to hide cords on kitchen counters and atop islands often involves opting for creative solutions, like the discreet trick Tan demonstrates. We can't all replicate Tan's bespoke engraving, but there are other ways to keep unsightly sockets and cords out of sight. Often, this involves strategically decorating with more aesthetic essentials (such as jars, vases, and chopping boards) that keep plug sockets out of sight.  

For those cords we want to store in the kitchen, we can also hide them in wicker storage baskets [(such as these from Amazon) when they're not in use. This won't negatively impact our kitchen's style, and it will ensure they remain untangled and in order. 

Following Tan's lead and keeping our cords (and sockets) out of sight is never a bad idea. However, Steve Warburton, a property expert from Zen Internet, explains that doing so is crucial if we're looking to sell our home. 'Research by Zen has shown that homes full of ugly daisy-chained extension cables to power tech are a no-no,' he says.

Steve Warburton

 Steve Warburton is the managing director and property expert from Zen Internet, a home broadband company that researches how to increase the sell-ability of a home in a post-pandemic world. 

'Even if you need an electrician for a day to tidy up and add new sockets where they're needed, it is a good investment. No one wants a home that's reliant on one plug socket per room when so much of day-to-day life needs power – investing in smart sockets in key areas of your home could significantly increase its appeal.'

Whether we're adding value to our home or simply looking to get more organized for 2024, concealing our sockets and cords is a failsafe, Tan-approved place to start.