$50-$100
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Dramm Garden Hose
Come on, hose, don’t blend in with the grass. Stand out while you’re watering the lawn, refreshing the flowers or lubing up the slip-n-slide. Dramm hoses are kink-free, too, and easy to coil.
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Aloe Vera Jewelry Holder
What a succulent way to display and organize your jewelry. (A ha, a ha.) This white porcelain jewelry holder is shaped like everyone’s favorite sunburn remedy plant, aloe vera, and will keep your rings, earrings, and the like neatly corralled on your dresser.
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Scoop, Stab & Spread
These beech wood appetizer tools distill their forms down to their most basic functions: Scooping food up, stabbing pieces of food, and spreading it on crackers or bread. The sleek, modern design is sure to please the most minimalist of homeowners.
$58 at MOMA Store | Buy
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Recycled Leather & Hand Screen Printed Pillow
Distressed, recycled leather: Check. Metallic ink-printed leaf: Check check. Totally unique and ready to serve as a conversation piece and naptime friend on your favorite sofa: Check, check, check. Need we say more?
$60 at Little Jazz Bird | Buy
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Kahler Mano Jar
Cool glazed ceramic marries with earthy bamboo in one sleek and modern vessel. Whether given as a wedding gift, used as a snack stash, or just enjoyed as a beautiful object, this jar by Mano adds simplistic beauty to any space.
$90 at Urban Butik | Buy
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Cuisinart Stainless Steel Classic 4-Slice Toaster
Can’t afford a cool retro-styled Big Chill refrigerator? Us, either. This jazzy little red and stainless steel vintage-y toaster, however, is going straight into our virtual shopping carts. It features slots wide enough to crisp two full bagels at once, plus customizable browning settings for each half of the machine.
$70 at Sur La Table | Buy
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Jack Wills Faverley Cushion
Still have British royal fever after the Will & Kate wedding and the summer Olympics? Show your love for Queen Elizabeth with this patriotic pillow, emblazoned with “God Save the Queen” on the front and a Union Jack print on the back. Then go grab a cuppa tea and settle down to re-watch your DVD of the royal wedding. (We know you have one.)
$99 at Jack Wills | Buy
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Autumn Veg Seeds Starter Pack
What’s more “autumn decor” than a delicious veggie harvest bounty piled on your dining table? Not much! This nifty kit includes seeds of multiple fall lettuce varieties, salad onions, pak choi and chard, along with a mini propagator, compost discs, plant markers, biodegradable pots and instructions. Start plotting your plantings now!
$55 at Not on the High Street | Buy
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LL Bean Fall Wheat Wreath
Simple yet eye catching, this all-natural wreath boasts a cornucopia of wheat stalks, avena, and lotus pods for a low key nod to the harvest season. Hang it on your front door to greet visitors, or in any room of your home to create a warm, welcoming autumn atmosphere.
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Vivaterra Earthtone Balloon Vases
Place these recycled glass vases ($79 each, or $139 for both) in a sunny window and add some faux autumn leaf branches or fresh flowers or grasses. Then all you have to do is relax on the couch and bask in the warmth of a perfect fall afternoon reflected into your home.
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Reyna Throw
Grab a mug of cocoa, your fuzziest socks, a good book, and this decadently soft throw blanket and curl up on the sofa on a rainy fall afternoon. Knit from plush wool and acrylic, the warm hues of red, orange, yellow and pink evokes splendid autumn sunsets and fall flowers.
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Pumpkin Gourd Candy Dish
We’re drawn to this hand painted, hand carved sweets dispenser for one big reason: It looks like the head of a creature from The Nightmare Before Christmas, one of our all-time favorite Halloween and Christmas movies. Some might call it kitschy, we call it a family-friendly pumpkin version of the Mister Oogie Boogie Man. Muahahaha!
$50 at Sturbridge Yankee Workshop | Buy
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Circle Pot
Upgrade those sad looking plastic pots on your porch. Place your perennials in a few Circle Pots and feel proud about your excellent taste and green thumb.
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Alessi Kiwi Watering Can
The coolest can out there. Water your plants with true modern style thanks to Alessi. Available in other cool colors, we’re partial to the striking kelly green.
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Badminton Set
Set up a badminton set in your yard and people will attempt to play, regardless if they know the rules or not. This is an easy all-in-one set sure to get the party started.
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Chalk By Numbers
Just like paint-by-numbers, only far more attractive and for adults. If you don’t love your completed masterpiece, wash the chalk away and start fresh with a new pallette.
$65 at Dirtsa Studio | Buy
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Duo Modern Hanging Bird Feeder
Take your love of mid-century modern design outdoors and give your feathered friends a deluxe spot to dine. This sleek feeder will be all the talk of the backyard.
$95 at Joe Papandick | Buy
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Flourish Bird Duvet Cover
For a charming update in the bedroom, just add birds of the vibrant green variety. Snuggle up under this cozy bird duvet while actual birds sing outside your window in the wee hours of the morning.
$60 at Urban Outfitters | Buy
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Grassy Rug
Green up your patio, or bring the outside in with this shag rug. Either way, you’ll enjoy this cozy alternative to actual grass, minus the maintenance.
$98 at Grandinroad | Buy
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Jadeite Cake Stand
A cake stand adds instant fancy to any party or gathering. Jadeite is the perfect spring green to elevate sandwiches, cheese, or anything else you’re serving. Of course, you can also use it for serving cake.
$65 at Fishs Eddy | Buy
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Tempaper Alto Temporary Wallpaper
A classic deco-inspired print is yanked into the 21st century, courtesy of an adhesive backing. When you mood changes, so can your wallpaper- not that we expect you to fall out of love with the Alto anytime soon.
$75 at Design Public | Buy
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Viva By Barbara Hulanicki Wallpaper
Go big or go home! This large scale pattern by Barbara Hulanicki will certainly add drama to your walls. The Viva is blue and gold and unabashed in its fabulousness.
$85 at Graham & Brown | Buy
(Price per roll)
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Damask Me For Crystal Removable Wallpaper
This bold damask wallpaper is actually a giant sticker panel- peel off the backing and apply to your walls. Should you grow tired of the rich, retro-inspired vibe, simply blast it with your hair dryer to remove.
$90 at Wallpaper Dolls | Buy
(Price per panel)
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Archictectural Blocks
Create your own abstract centerpiece with this set of teak architectural building blocks for grownups. Permission to play, granted! Comes with a drawstring bag for clean-up time.
$78 at Jayson Home | Buy
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Zebra Sky Papier-Mache Head
Go on a crafty safari. This papier-mache take on a trophy head is colorful, playful, and animal-friendly. Who knows, maybe turquoise stripes are the way to go.
$76 at DwellStudio | Buy
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Ruffled Laundry Bag
Tote your dirties to the laundromat in ruffly style. This oversized canvas laundry bag is cute enough to hang where it can be seen so your wash will be more likely to make it into the bag, not on the floor.
$58 at Layla Grayce | Buy
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Ballo Toilet Brush
The most gorgeously futuristic toilet brush out there. No need to hide the Ballo away- place it out in plain sight for everyone to admire (and attempt to guess what it actually is.)
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Vintage King And Queen Playing Card Prints
These gorgeous photo prints of vintage playing cards help illustrate who belongs on which side of the bed. And won’t you feel grand snoozing under a noble queen and king?
$84 at Petek Design | Buy
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Kissing Candleholders
Sleek, crystal-clear candlesticks lean in to each other as if to sneak a kiss- a great anniversary or wedding gift.
$50 at MOMA Store | Buy
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Pool Ball Candle Holder
So, not technically candlesticks, but this tea light holder is a very cool way to reuse a set of pool balls. A great gift for a game-loving family or a swinging bachelor who likes to entertain.
$59 at At West End | Buy
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Titled Wine Decanter
With a nifty built-in ice chamber, your summer vino will stay cool-and tilted- all cookout long.
$75 at At West End | Buy
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Rustic Glass Dryer Rack
Use this attractive iron drying rack as it is intended- to drip dry glasses that won’t fit in the dishwasher- or use it as a casual display for a favorite collection of glassware.
$50 at Farmhouse Wares | Buy
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Maldives Occasional Chair
Short and stout with a roomy seat just begging to be sat on, the Maldives chair is made from eucalyptus and will add some ethnic flair (not to mention comfort) to your patio parties.
$89 at World Market | Buy
(On sale)
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Vine Tufted Wool Rug
Mmm, chocolately goodness. Cream vines pop against a chocolate brown background, making this rug almost too pretty for the floor.
$98 at Dash & Albert Rug Company | Buy
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DwellStudio Baby Skyline Shower Curtain
Cute enough for a kids’ bathroom but still funky enough for the grown-ups, DwellStudio’s fun city skyline print will energize any dull tub.
$66 at Design Public | Buy
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Tube Top Colors Table Lamp
A lamp that provides light and color is win-win. The acrylic base of this modern table topper comes in a plethora of bold colors, but the grass green stands out as fresh and energizing.
$93 at Room and Board | Buy
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Crochet Floor Cushion
Scatter these comfy cushions around the living room when you’re having a party or toss a few in the playroom for your kids. Handy extra seating that is washable, durable and good looking.
$63 at La Casa de Coto | Buy
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Manhattan Poster
The Big Apple as depicted in a charming 50’s throwback poster.
$60 at Three Potato Four | Buy
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Classic Century Teapot
The coolest teapot on the shelf, this classic design adds infinite style to any tea party.
$60 at Crate and Barrel | Buy
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Metal Birdcage Mirror
This clever metal-framed wall mirror will make you look twice, and not just as your reflection.
$79 at Rain Collection | Buy
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Bird Measuring Spoons
These adorable birds rest on a copper display rack, perfect for both decorating and measuring the right amount of brown sugar.
$96 at Beehive Kitchenware | Buy
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Birds On A Wire Roller Blind
Even with the blinds closed she’ll still drift off to sleep watching the birds.
$65 at Bodie and Fou | Buy
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Leg Lamp
It’s Christmas time! What better decoration than the infamous leg lamp?
$50 at Urban Outfitters | Buy
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Rose Landscape Shade
A modern take on the floral lampshade that won’t have you reminiscing over Grandma’s house.
$98 at Anthropologie | Buy
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Welcome Home Doormat
A double-wide mat makes a big, welcoming impression.
$69 at Pottery Barn | Buy
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Disco Doormat
A whimsical design adds some coolness to your stoop.
$99 at Grandin Road | Buy
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Serena Antique Mercury Glass Lamp
The filtered light through this antique mercury glass lamp is not just unique, but breathtaking.
$89 at Pottery Barn | Buy
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Chocolate Ice Shoulder Diaper Bag
Finally, a diaper bag that Dad wouldn’t mind carrying around the playground.
$68 at Mommy Couture Designs | Buy
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Personalized Infused Olive Oil
Personalized olive oil flavored with black pepper, chili pepper, rosemary or garlic.
$96 at My Wedding Favors | Buy
(Set of 24)
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Fall Abundance Wreath
Give your front door some color and get ready for autumn with this fall wreath.
$90 at Williams Sonoma | Buy
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Waterfall Wine Chiller
A table top wine chiller to keep every bottle at the perfect temperature.
$70 at Sur La Table | Buy
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Ladder Picture Frame Trio
A rugged take on a photo-classic, this hanging trio picture frame is perfect for that warm, cabin-style in any abode.
$59 at Rocky Mountain Cabin Decor | Buy
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Village Throw Pillow
The bright and busy pattern on this throw pillow that will cheer up any beige sofa.
$50 at Lena Corwin | Buy
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Elephant Bookend/Doorstop
Weighted leather cuteness will keep your bookshelf tidy.
$67 at The Lollipop Shoppe | Buy
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Chalk-it-to-me Piggy Bank 2.0
You finally cleaned your house and found a mountain of change. The only logical use for it is to hoard it in this chalk-adorned pig. You can even write your worth on any part of of the pig you choose.
$60 at Ladies and Gentlemen | Buy
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Button Cushion (Rectangle/Grey)
The colored buttons on this long, felt pillow make it super charming. This pillow would look perfect on a couch, or a bed, or pretty much anywhere you want to leave it where you can stare at it in adoration.
$82 at Ferm Living | Buy
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Bird Ball Peanut Feeder
The small, slotted opening is well suited for wee beaks and useless to bigger, louder birds.
$52 at niel's eco store | Buy
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Hippo Wall Hanger Set
Oh look! It’s the only way you ever want to hang something.
$55 at Sprout Home | Buy
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21 Inch Pioneer Picnic Basket With Blanket
Dear, will you fetch the picnic hamper?
(Color Canvas )
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Red Retro Metal Lawn Chair
It’s a little too shiny now, but wait until you put a few cigarettes out on the seat.
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Folding Yard Cart
It’s about the size of a standard wheelbarrow, except you can lay it flat on the ground and rake leaves or weeds directly into it. Plus, it’s lightweight for lifting and folds up for easy storage.
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LittleHouse Bird House
This? This is the little birdhouse in my soul.
$63 at MacPdesign | Buy
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Bamboo Compost Pail
Because a non-eco compost pail is too ironic.
$52 at The Field Museum Online | Buy
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In-Motion Clock
Now how can you hook up one of those classroom bells?
$90 at Anthropologie | Buy
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Customizable Time Zone Clock
Finally, a clock that reflects your international lifestyle.
$71 at Crispin Finn | Buy
(converted from the Pound)
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Corkboard
For inspiration boards, receipt storage, or pretty thumbtack display.
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Laptop Locker
Mount it under your desk and lock your laptop away for the night.
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Ash Desk Tray Set
A catchall for the odds and ends that otherwise end up scattered all over your desk – your keys, the mail, the 22 USB keys.
$80 at Tortoise General Store | Buy
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Classic Kitchen Phone
Gossiping on an iPhone lacks vitality.
$55 at Urban Outfitters | Buy
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3–pc. Metal Bistro Set
Take a small corner of your kitchen and turn it into a breakfast nook. Also comes in blue or white.
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6 Cup Rhone Ribbed French Press
Even your coffee press has a little je ne sais quoi.
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Henri
Henri is a ground squirrel. Presumably a French ground squirrel, but it’s hard to tell.
$65 at Melissa the Taxidermist | Buy
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‘Graffiti’ Dog Bowl Set Small
It’s a testimony to good design that something can look this good with dog slobber and blades of grass floating in it.
$54 at Mungo and Maud | Buy
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Anthony Burrill Print
“It’s OK for me to have everything I want.”
Man. This would make a good tattoo. Maybe on my forehead.
via always-in-the-know Notcot
$51 at Concrete Hermit | Buy
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Fringed Beach Towel
They don’t have a photo, but get the bright red stripes. Those will go so much better with your classic beach ball.
$64 at REMO General Store | Buy
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Raymond Pettibon Towel
Contemporary artist works printed on giant beach towels. This one features a work by Raymond Pettibon, with text across the top that reads, “Later he could be seen in the beach parking lot, behind his van, a towel wrapped around his middle, changing out of his wet summer suit.”
I love the idea of hanging these from your towel racks in an all-white bathroom.
$95 at Opening Ceremony | Buy
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20 Inch Grain Sack Pillow
Leslie Janson uses vintage flour, sugar, and grain sacks to fashion these unique throw pillows. If you’re weary of animal silhouettes, these are a nice change.
$55 at Leslie Janson | Buy
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Canvas Picnic Bag for Four
We received this as a gift recently, and suddenly we’re having picnics twice a week. Inside is everything you need for a comfortable meal outdoors, except the food. Great to stash in your trunk.
$80 at Scandinavian Details | Buy
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Verso Kori Felt Boxes
You’re already thinking about all the things you could store in these, aren’t you? They have you right where they want you.
$59 at Finn Style | Buy
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Hang Out Hooks
I’m pleased with the structural, almost masculine vibe of these hooks, meant for hanging coats and bags. They’d look amazing in a long, neutral hallway with polished concrete floors.
$60 at David Zachary | Buy
(For a set of five.)
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Buttercase
In a post-Atkins world, your morning toast has suddenly become a luxury item.
$82 at The Future Perfect | Buy
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Fusionwood Mini Chopper
A gorgeous hand-crafted cheese knife with a unique handle that comes in several shades of dyed wood.
Makes the supermarket cheddar you had in the fridge seem so much more impressive.
$79 at New West Knifeworks | Buy
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Stain Teacup
A teacup that starts out white, then stains according to your drinking habits. Sort of like your teeth.
(Price converted from British pounds.)
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Space-Saving Laundry Airer
The natural evolution of a shower curtain rod.
$85 at Nigel's Eco Friendly Store | Buy
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Bark Serving Board
A rustic cheese board with the bark still attached.
$87 at Jamie Oliver | Buy
(Price converted from British pounds.)
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Glass Sake Bottle
Cool or warm your sake by filling the hollow with ice or hot water.
via design crush
$60 at Uncommon Goods | Buy
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Instant Wine Chiller
Instead of cooling the bottle, this chiller cools the wine as it is poured.
$50 at Uncommon Goods | Buy
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Whale Butter Dish
And while we’re at it, where can you get your hands on a Jonah-shaped butter mold?
$68 at Jonathan Adler | Buy
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Sten Bottle Opener and Paper Weight
Can’t find the bottle opener? It’s on top of that stack of bills. Makes personal accounting slightly more appealing, no?
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Little Whirl Serving Dish
I love it when the serving dish is so cute that you could put anything out and it would still look cool. Skittles, anyone?
$60 at Kim Westad | Buy
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Hand Built Porcelain Lace Dish
Everything tastes better on the special-occasion plate.
$55 at Raquel Masri | Buy
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Red Pomegranate Bud Vase
A vase that makes a backyard weed look elegant.
$64 at Whitney Smith Pottery | Buy
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Magical Air Plant
Does your apartment have air? Great. If you kill these, house plants are officially allergic to you.
$80 at Viva Terra | Buy
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Snoozer Cozy Dog Bed
He’ll still want to climb into bed with you, but at least you won’t feel like such a jerk for kicking him out.
$91 at A+ Quality Pet Supplies | Buy
(For the large.)
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Vintage Bathroom Scale
$71 at H is for Home | Buy
(Price converted from British pounds)
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Halo Teapot
A Jetsons teapot to go with your new jetpack.
$65 at Crate and Barrel | Buy
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Steckling Planter
The neighbor’s cat keeps knocking your pots off the ledge. Of your eigth-floor walk up. You’re worried about the doorman.
$55 at Rephorm Haus | Buy
(Price converted from Euros.)
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Vertical Garden Planting Panel
Plant a wall of ferns in your bathroom.
$60 at Smith And Hawken | Buy
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Herb Window Planter
Why are you paying $5 for a bunch of basil that rots in your fridge before you even get a chance to use it?
$98 at Rephorm Haus | Buy
(Price converted from Euros.)
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Rhino Original Chrome Vending Machine
Forty bucks a month in M&Ms buys you all the dorm gossip.
$59 at Gumballs.com | Buy
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Ironing Ladder
Will you ever use the ironing board part? Maybe on graduation day.
$99 at Tiny Living | Buy
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Sandstone Kitchen Tool
Works as a pestle, garlic crusher and knife sharpener. Also wards off evil and sweeps the floor while you sleep.
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Stream Plate
Remember when your parents used to glue corks together to use as trivets? Awesome.
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Bamboo Chopping Block
A nice, thick chopping block made of bacteria-resistant bamboo.
$59 at Green Feet | Buy
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Recycled Glass Dishes
Hand painted dishes made of recycled glass. There are butter dishes, soap dishes, and serving platters. Hang them on a dark wall, or put them to work.
$79 at Fox and Clover | Buy
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Subway Tile Pattern Baby Blanket
Made from old sweaters, 100% recycled wool. This means you can feel 10% less guilty about all those disposable diapers.
$79 at Ply Textiles | Buy
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Ceramic Cheese Platter
A small hollow on top lets you drizzle honey or keep soft cheese from oozing over into its neighbor.
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Pewter Ornament Making Kit
$65 at F is for Frank | Buy
(To make four ornaments.)
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Nest 8 Multicolored Measuring Cup Set
For the fifteen minutes you can locate every piece, it will be gorgeous.
via Black Eiffel.
$55 at Joseph Joseph | Buy
(Price converted from British pounds.)
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Fallen Acorn Jar
Try filling a cookie jar and using it as the centerpiece for the kids’ table.
$56 at Alina Hayes | Buy
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Al Fresco Folding Teak Collection
50% OFF
The dead of winter is the very best time to buy patio furniture.
$94 at Viva Terra | Buy
(Regularly $189-$749.)
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Wine Cooler
The Romans sure knew how to party, first vomitoriums, now chilling your wine with water-soaked terracotta.
$87 at Twentieth Art & Design | Buy
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Glass Dome
Apparently, these things are excellent for watermelon storage.
$74 at Bodie and Fou | Buy
(Price converted from British pounds.)
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White Orba Adhesive Film
Dress your windows without sewing or collecting dust.
$76 at Design Public | Buy
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Air Mail Postal Scale
Post-1958 Triner Air Mail Accuracy postal scale, with rate card.
Great place to set your outgoing mail, good book end or door stop. Or use it to weigh your drugs.
$70 at Mighty Goods Finds | Buy
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Super Soft Robe
You don’t want to see Aunt Rose’s pajamas.
$70 at Give Simple | Buy
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Bistro Matchstrike
This heavy iron matchstrike is the fireplace tool you didn’t know you needed.
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Brilliant Fire Extinguisher
The only fire extinguisher I’ve ever wanted to keep out on my counter. Safety first!
$78 at Cox and Cox | Buy
(Price converted from British pounds.)
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Voluminous Camilla Canisters
Use candy as a centerpiece at the grown-ups’ table for a change.
$59 at Pottery Barn | Buy
(For the medium.)
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Halloween Glitter Wreath
Share your Halloween spirit with the neighbors, but maybe take down the Jack-O-Lantern flag.
$55 at Pottery Barn | Buy
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Spooky Candelabra
Perfect to light the keys of your pipe organ, or to illuminate your spooky meatloaf.
$60 at Ballard Designs | Buy
(For the large.)
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Lounge Watering Can
Designed by Metz & Kindler, this utilitarian design object makes plant care a pleasure.
$98 at MOMA Store | Buy
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Bedside Table
Brilliant little spot to put a glass of water and your book next to your bed. This gadget attaches to your bed’s frame so it’s perfect for small spaces where there’s no room for a nightstand.
My husband needs to know if it can hold 30-40 magazines.
(Price converted from Euros.)
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Pin-Tuck Duvet Cover
Dreamy Pleats in Organic Cotton, Just like that one at Anthropologie you wanted but couldn’t afford.
(For Full/Queen.)
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Tear Drop Water Resistant Shower Speaker
“Eye Of The Tiger” has been missing from your morning.
$58 at Molla Space | Buy
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Itch with Bracket
Cat throne. Now head over to Etsy and see if you can find a tiny pet scepter. Man, someone totally makes that.
$69 at Supermarket | Buy
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Grating Bucket
Grate everything directly into the bucket of this grater, then remove the cover and dump.
$52 at Made In Design | Buy
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Square Cat Itch
I’m allergic to “Cat Furniture” but this framed square of textile will look stunning on the wall. It’s like art until your cat takes its claws to it.
$55 at Square Cat | Buy
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Wine Tray
A more stable way to transport everyone’s glasses once you’ve already polished off the first bottle of wine.
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Duraclear Martini Glasses
According to the manufacturer, Duraclear plastic glasses won’t crack or discolor over time. We like them because they still look classy in your summer snapshots, but won’t leave those irritating glass shards all over the deck when the crowd gets tipsy enough to start dropping them.
$50 at Williams Sonoma | Buy
(For a set of six)
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Cast Iron Doormat
Keeps dirt and tortilla chips off your feet and on the deck, where they belong.
$89 at Smith And Hawken | Buy
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Colorful Garden Hoses
You really only “need” one garden hose, but when there’s potential for a rainbow of garden hoses on your patio? I think that’s a rule changer.
$65 at Gardener's Supply Company | Buy
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Boa Chopping Board
This cutting board lets you easily sweep all your cut up vegetables, fruits, and nuts into the dishwasher-safe removable drawer underneath. No more grapes rolling off the counter and under the refrigerator.
On Sale Reg. $129
$70 at Total Home Store | Buy
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Tiffin Lunch Box
My husband won’t let me order a pizza with half my favorite toppings because, “You know they always end up touching.” I’m thinking the Tiffin box would be a nice way to carry our food away from home, without my pickles in any way contaminating his edibles.
$85 at Design Within Reach | Buy
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Outdoor Solar String Lights
We like having strings of lights over our patio for ambiance, but making sure there’s a plug for them is always a heavy middle-class challenge.
These lights can go anywhere, because they use the sun during the day to recharge. Now I can get back to worrying about the weeds in my lawn.
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Contact Box
This box holds a power strip and all your chargers. Well, at least about six of them. If you need more, maybe it’s time to unplug.
$93 at Scandinavian Design Center | Buy
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Owl Umbrella Stand
Excellent for keeping your umbrellas or wrapping paper wisely stored.
$96 at Burke Decor | Buy
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“Lawton” Monogrammed Sheets
Four-hundred thread count, monogrammed sheets from Ralph Lauren. Price is for a queen flat sheet with monogram, but I’d go with a set in white that includes the fitted sheet and two monogrammed pillowcases as well.
Also, a butler bell for the bedside table.
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Quote/Unquote Bookends
These would be cheesy, but they’re so well designed that it takes a minute to get the wink. That pause makes these clever instead of irritating. And that’s a fine line.
$89 at Unica Home | Buy
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Handmade Copper Pepper Mill
The Atlas mill is hand made in Greece using the same production methods that have been in place for the last 300 years. The mill actually grinds pepper instead of just crushing it, and is practically indestructible. Excellent gift for couples who like to cook.
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Newspaper Collector
You have every intention of recycling your newspapers, but every time you look at that messy pile your will to love the planet dies a little. This collector holds all your papers neatly until you’re ready to tie them up and put them in the recycling bin.
$59 at Hip and Tickle | Buy
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Glass Water Kettle
This unusual, heat-proof kettle has no lid, but the silicone stopper keeps the top from heating up, so you can use it as a handle.
$69 at Canoe Online | Buy
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Door Stop Elephant
This cheerful elephant will always remember to hold your door, or keep your books in place.
$57 at JoJo Maman Bébé | Buy
(Price converted from British pounds.)
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Jumbo Wall Clock
Put this oversized clock on a wall in your kid’s room and they’ll never be late again. It’s worth a shot anyway.
$79 at Pottery Barn Kids | Buy
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Ornate Wall Sconce Set
New to the Mighty Goods Store:
Add a feminine touch to your spare interior. These dramatic wood and metal sconces elevate any mirror or vanity. Suddenly you’re all fancy.
$76 at Mighty Goods Finds | Buy
(No Longer Available.)
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Cookie Display Stand
ON SALE
Can you imagine the amazing sugar-cookie or oreo centerpieces made possible by this hilarious cookie stand? You bring out the hot chocolate and let the table dig in. A great gift for bakers and cookie afficionados.
$98 at Scandanavian Details | Buy
(no longer available)
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U Bend
Bookshelf bar.
(no longer available)
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Rakku Shoe Storage
Storage unit or display case? Either way, it’s working for me.
$65 at Rakku Designs | Buy
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Snap Cups with Handles
Playful handmade ceramic cups that snap to one another or the included handles. They save you on cabinet space by doing double-duty as sculpture on a living room shelf. You choose the glaze colors for your three-ounce cup. Use one for your perfect morning espresso, or buy a set to hold chocolates and candied ginger on your cheese plate. Thanks, Caterina!
$50 at Invalt Design | Buy
(per cup with snap-on handle)
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Cuisinart RK-17 Traditional Cordless Electric Kettle
You can finally have convenience of an electric kettle without giving up the nostalgia of your stove kettle. (via Not Martha)
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Full Bloom Teaset
Ship your mom a little peace and quiet. Full Bloom Tea makes gorgeous floral teas that “blossom” in hot water. This beautifully appointed gift box contains twelve assorted blooms, a glass teapot, and two glass teacups.
$59 at Full Bloom Tea | Buy
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Apron Red Floral
A short apron meant to hold gardening or camera gear. Step awaaaay from the fanny pack. (via Heather)
$55 at Super Fantastico | Buy
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Mushroom Shelves
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Jensen Steel Elephant Bottle Opener
Bottle openers are like scissors, you can never find them when you need them. Perhaps the clever elephant shape of this bottle opener will help you remember where you put it. Even after three beers.
(1.5" T x 2" W)
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Classic Keepsake Box
A music box that plays voice messages instead of Brahms. Have friends and loved ones call in to a special number to leave the voice messages. Then you select which ones you’d like your keepsake box to play, and in what order.
$80 at Voice Quilt | Buy
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Boxed Tea Towels
Do you have a stained white bar mop slung through your refrigerator door handle? Toss that, please. Instead, choose four favorite tea towels from among dozens of colorful, high-quality options, and they box them up and ship them. A great gift for anyone starting a new home, or a nice host gift for the couple who let you borrow their beach house for a week.
$78 at Quel Objet | Buy
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Ex Voodoo Knife Set
Your kitchen just doesn’t feel aggressive enough. This was all over the design blogs a while ago, a couple of you even sent it in (thanks!), but I couldn’t find anywhere to buy the darn thing. Finally, the Voodoo Knife Set is available for purchase.
$70 at Perpetual Kid | Buy
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Mr. and Mrs. Jones Juicer Set
A set of two vaguely unnerving juicers with tiny heads in the center. I love them.
$90 at Pure Modern | Buy
(For a set of two, Mr.: 4 1/2" D x 2 3/4" H Mrs.: 3" D x 2" H)
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Akto Filing Tray
It’s a stainless steel, stackable paper tray. It’s expensive, which will perhaps motivate you to spend more quality time with your inbox.
$52 at Room and Company | Buy
(no longer available)
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“Split” Art Print
Binth’s entire product line so closely mirrors my tastes that it’s a little uncomfortable. I feel like I should politely request that they stay out of my brain. They’ve just started a line of reasonably priced, gorgeous prints that are perfect for the nursery or your office.
(16" x20")
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Tissue Case
This tissue box is made of plywood and lets you place either a cardboard box or a stack of tissues inside. It’s surprisingly tough to find an attractive tissue box, so snap it up if you’ve been looking.
$55 at Tortoise Life | Buy
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Condiment Set
So lovely it’s an everyday centerpiece. This porcelain, dishwasher-safe condiment set corrals your salt, pepper, and soy sauce in a nesting dish.
$69 at Relish Style | Buy
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Halo Teapot
I love the giant, St. Louis arch handle on this teapot. I also love how the spout actually hooks downward, unlike most modern teapots with the straight-ahead spout. Those are mostly good for people who like a lap full of tea.
$55 at Crate and Barrel | Buy
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Terradome Terrarium
ON SALE Landscaping for your living room. Bonus points if you throw in a few plastic dinosaurs.
$50 at Design Within Reach | Buy
(No longer available.)
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Hide-Away Guest Bed Frame Full
You have neither a guest room nor a lot of excess storage space, but the folks are coming to town. Pop your air mattress into this expandable bed frame that folds up into a cylinder when it’s not being used. Nylon webbing supports the bed, and the frame has a little ledge that keeps the mattress from sliding around.
$60 at Hammacher Schlemmer | Buy
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Big Dreams Quilt
ON SALE I’m so sick of $400 duvet covers. If I’m throwing down some serious cash, I want something with heft, you know? This quilt is hand-stitched with red thread. It would work equally well in a chic modern loft or a kitschy mountain cabin. When it gets dirty, you can throw it in the machine, so you can let the kids drag it wherever. (Unlike the $400 duvet.)
$95 at Pillows and Throws | Buy
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Paradise Lamp
A hanging lamp crafted from cocktail umbrellas.
$85 at Bright Lights Little City | Buy
(13.5" W, 40.5" C, and 10" T)
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Hybrid-Home Secret Service Pillow
A grown-up version of the security blanket. Also comes in orange.
$70 at Design Public | Buy
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Poppy Cotton Home Accessories
All of us know someone whose taste we envy, and for me that friend is New York designer Melissa Cotton Womack. When she told me she was launching Poppy Cotton, I could hardly wait to see her ideas unfold. True to form, her line of home accessories–fashioned from vintage textiles–is unlike anything else out there. The colorful pillows, lamp shades, and wall hangings really make a room pop. If you have someone on your list who’s so unique that you never know what to get her, get her a gift certificate, and let her pick a little bit of happy for herself.
$50 at Poppy Cotton | Buy
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Chunky Knit Throws
A hand-knitted throw for the couch. Good for hot coco and winter naps.
$80 at Linens n’ Things | Buy
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Nate Berkus Wooden Cube Lamp
The Nate Berkus collection at Linens n’ Things has such a high-end look for the price. This wooden lamp with its linen shade, for example, is a steal.
$50 at Linens N Things | Buy
(No longer available.)
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Round Cannisters
BY REQUEST A while ago, one of you sent a note saying that you were looking for something like the vintage food-storage canisters with labels for flour, sugar, and so on. However, you wanted a modern version. I saw these, and thought of you, though now I can’t find your email anywhere. Anyway, these cannisters let you write your own labels on them in dry-erase marker, so you can change them to suit your needs. They’re earthenware and airtight. Comes with the pen.
$89 at Pottery Barn | Buy
(No longer available.)
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Embroidered Cutwork Silk Pillow
I’m often blown away by how expensive decorative pillows are, but these have so much hand-work involved that it makes sense. The fronts of these pillows are hand-embroidered, then hand-cut to show the contrasting silk beneath. They’re filled with feather and down.
(No longer available.)
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Small Round Bowl
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Large Rock Jar
Dinosaur Designs is one of my favorite finds from a recent trip to Sydney. They do a lot of work with resins, and this jar is a fine example. If your tastes run to the Jurassic, peruse the rest of their collection.
$60 at Dinosaur Designs | Buy
(No longer available.)
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Bella Bed
Pet bed. Cotton cover slips off for easy machine washing.
$88 at Puppies and Babies | Buy
(22" x 22")
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Candela
I know you’ve seen these babies everywhere, but a friend of mine mentioned that they’re terrific for homes with kiddos. All the romance of candlelight, none of the open flame. Good point. They turn on when you lift them from the charging base, and last for about for five hours. They also turn on instantly during a power failure.
If you prefer the look of votives, they make those too.
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Scarlet Poppy Rug
Lately you’ve been thinking to yourself, “How can I make my living room look more like a 1920s movie theater?”
$50 at Anthropologie | Buy
(No longer available.)
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Asian Serving Tray
You don’t have breakfast in bed enough. Sunday mornings should be all about pajamas, The New York Times, and buttery toast. Maybe the problem is that you don’t have a dreamy breakfast tray. This one is made of solid wood and has hand-carved legs. Live the dream.
(No longer available.)
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Claw Tongs
Finally, the perfect servingware for your Thanksgiving turkey platter. Actually, they’d look swell in a bucket of ice too. Made of silverplated bronze, the claw tongs are designed by–who else?–Michael Aram. I may very well love this man. Michael? Call me.
$50 at Tabula Tua | Buy
(8" L)
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Perch Bird Feeder
Amy Adams’s ceramic bird feeder is sleek, functional, and easy to hang. Fill it with seed, and the finches will flock to admire your good taste.
$96 at Velocity Art and Design | Buy
( W 7.5" x D 6.5" x H 5.0")
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Classic Century Teapot
I’ve spent way too much time on eBay looking for the perfect teapot. This honey is a reissue of a 1952 design by Eva Zeisel. It’s dishwasher and microwave safe, totally usable, and worthy of display. Several pieces in the collection have the same utilitarian, yet sculptural feel to them. Click around and see if you fall for one too.
$70 at Crate and Barrel | Buy
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Bent Ply Feeder
Is your discerning kitty turning up her nose at mealtime? Maybe it’s not the Fancy Feast, maybe it’s the plastic bowl. This chow bowl has a frame made of bent plywood. It elevates your pet’s water and food, which is supposedly more comfortable and especially good for animals with arthritis. The feeder comes in small, medium, or large, and the site offers instructions on how to figure out which one will work best for your pet. When you get it, you can have in encrusted with jewels. (Thanks for the tip, Maggi!)
(For medium-sized feeder.)
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File
Throw away the ugly plastic rolodex that you snuck out of the office supply cabinet. It’s convenient, but not exactly a display piece. This lovely maple wood rolodex, on the other hand, is a work of art. It comes stocked 1,000 pretty found-paper cards in an array of colors and patterns. Now all you have to do is go out and meet enough friends to fill them up.
$75 at Lovely Design | Buy
( 7x5x3")
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Nelson Relief Aorta Teapot
If you like your serving pieces modeled on internal organs–and who doesn’t!–you’ll love this cozy aorta teapot by Jonathan Adler. I like it because it’s modern, but it still looks like a teapot. As opposed to the endlessly irritating novelty teapots that have become the norm: It’s the Chrysler Building! It’s an elephant! It’s Kermit the Frog! Just pour me a damn cup of tea. Comes in white and white.
$90 at Velocity Art and Design | Buy
(No longer available.)
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Leaf Coaster Set
When you’re not using these leaf coasters by Michael Aram, you can scatter them across the coffee table to decorate for fall. Made of polished aluminum, they’re several steps up from the cardboard ones you brought home from the bar.
$50 at Bloomingdale's | Buy
(No longer available.)
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Blue Ceramic Mixing Bowls by Nigella
ON SALE These modern mixing bowls look like oversized robins’ eggs. Lovely, no? Set includes for sturdy bowls that nest sweetly in the crook of your arm. The pointy end lets you pour batter without getting it everywhere. They make holiday baking all the more palatable.
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A Christmas Story: 40” Leg Lamp
Ha! Lance sent me this suggestion, and as he says, “It’s indescribably beautiful.” That’s right folks, an exact replica of the major-award lamp from A Christmas Story. Not that you have to be a fan of the movie to admire a life-sized leg lamp that lights up in two places: the bulb, and the leg itself. Whoa, mama.
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Echo Mantel Clock
ON SALE I can’t resist the Brady-Bunch vibe of this clock. It’s about 8 x8 inches, and the design makes it look as though the concentric rings aren’t connected. Rec-room-tastic.
$50 at Wishing Fish | Buy
(regularly $78)
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Coral Beaded Pillows
ON SALE Tell you what, next time I have $155 to spend on a pillow, these are the pillows for me. They’re hand-beaded on cotton and have tie-back openings. Can you imagine how long it takes to make one of these? Breathtaking. As you can see, they come in cream or red with reverse-color beading. Try not to lick them when they arrive.
(No longer available.)
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Babydoll Lamp
This is creepy at its finest. I know they’re not right for everyone, but they’re great for Halloween and for artistic sorts. They’re made by a French doll company, which uses the molds for dolls made in the 1920s. The lamps have moveable heads, arms, and legs, and at night, they come to life and try to suck the breath from your mouth as you sleep. Also comes in pink or orange.
$99 at Genius Jones | Buy
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Watering Can
Instead of shoving your ugly plastic watering can under the kitchen sink, why not treat yourself to one that you can display alongside the plants? This brushed stainless-steel watering can is by German designer Zack. The slim spout allows for good water control when you’re caring for houseplants, but it’s the clean modern lines that make it worth the price.
$97 at Quest to Design | Buy
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Personalized Paint By Number
Here’s your chance to commission a work of art. You send in the photo of your choice, and they send you a kit by mail. The kit includes a paint-by-number replica of your photo, a set of paints, two paintbrushes, and a numbered reference guide. You can send in a picture of your sweetie, your pet, or something more subversive. The vaguely unsettling options are endless.
$50 at Easy 1-2-3 Art | Buy
(11x14 textured paper)
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Summer Eggshell Bowl
Wouldn’t it be pleasant if all of your everyday objects could be small works of art? The fantastic crackle effect on these Vietnamese bowls is comprised of meticulously hand-applied eggshells. The large size (11.5 inches wide) makes an ample salad bowl, or fill a smaller one with fruit for display on the breakfast table.
$95 at Saigoniste | Buy
(No longer available.)






































































































































































































































































































































