Not too much romance here, but essential for any functional kitchen. Buy the heaviest pans possible. Also, you should consider buying a non-stick silicon sheet: they make baking very easy!

An absolute must with a million and a half uses. But do not buy just any plastic wrap. Go to a restaurant supply store and buy a large roll of restaurant plastic wrap. It sticks much better than the common grocery store plastic wrap and is much cheaper per foot.

Wipe away any acid spills such as from vinegar or grapefruit straight away. Never clean the bowl or draining board with an abrasive cleaner. Instead use liquid detergent in warm water and wipe with a soft cloth to remove water drop marks. Care for stainless steel appliance fascias and cabinet fronts in the same way. If choosing stainless steel cabinets, a 'brushed' surface is less likely to show grease from finger marks.