Do you happen to remember the Black Forest Vases I posted forever ago? Were you paying attention? Probably not, and that's okay, because I'm going to do you a favor and let you know about the expansion of that particular graphic into dinnerware. I'm excited about it even though I can't afford it. Made in Germany from Fine Bone China. Dishwasher safe. lovely, isn't it?

So, the neat thing about this is that it's made out of acrylic and wood. And it's pretty, but you already can see that. Designer: Matt Gagnon 15"H x 6.5"W x 5"D

To be perfectly honest, when I first saw this, I thought, " why would anybody need a floating-ish shoe rack?" (notice I said need and not want). Then the other night I came very close to tripping over a couple of silly shoes beside the front door. So, now I understand. Available in two sizes; one that holds 6 pairs of shoes and also comes with a moveable mirror, or one that holds 3 pairs. Wall mounted, stainless steel.

This is a last minute sale and it says quantities are limited, but I thought this was a great barstool and it's super cheap!

One of my best friends recently purchased a great 60's home and really modernized it by redoing the kitchen, wall colors and floors without changing the bones of the house (lots of unadorned windows, open floor-plan, etc.) The furnishings are great as well. Each room is layed out perfectly. In her bedroom, she had this great chair with a throw draped over the back. I was sure she dropped about $3000 on it. I asked her where she got it. "Ikea" she said. I was floored. We all know that Ikea furniture is infamous for being identifiable and it's something that we all try to avoid, but in some instances (as long as you don't do your entire house in Ikea) it can totally work. This picture doesn't really do the chair justice. In the right setting, it can fool the snobbiest of furniture snobs.

I've long liked these very appropriate-sized vessels. Such a simple design lends versitility; use them for drinking, cooking (i.e. keeping ingredients handy), or as votive holders.

stoneware, dishwasher/microwave-safe.

flask with 8 cups, gloss white

These vases are made entirely out of recycled newspaper and aluminum. Since they're bound like a book, you can pull apart the pages to see what's on them, and, of course, the aluminum insert is removable for easy filling. Radiator vase measures 6-1/2" wide x 8" high. Pumpkin vase measures 11" wide x 6 1/4" high.

This would be voted "easiest light fixture to install". No directions necessary (except for you read-everything-twice-before-picking-up-the-drill) since you just screw in the curved aluminum piece to the wall, and then clip in the reflective bulb. All that's left is plugging the cord into an outlet. See? Super easy. 7" tall, 2.5" wide, and 8" in depth (8’ white cordset and a 40w bulb are included in the price)

These cafeteria style melamine trays have a striking Victorian gothic theme. Great for serving hors d'oeuvres or sushi or whatever strikes your fancy. Dishwasher safe. Set of three: Dia 12", 14", 16"

I love this chest of drawers. It's made of quickly growing bamboo, so that can make us all feel good about purchasing it. And another cool thing is that the drawers open with a push latch: press and they slide toward you.