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Here the holidays are, barreling down the road at us whether we like it or not. And I know what you’re thinking, where will you put your fancy cheeses? Actually, that’s probably at the bottom of your list, and understandably so, but don’t forget that presentation is almost as important as the food. A rectangular inlay of stainless steel on this Teak Cheeseboard provides a clean surface for your artisanal cheeses with a fair bit of room left for breads, crackers, and grapes.
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What will you give this holiday season? A bunch of presents, some of which will be successful and wonderful and others of which might just be ho-hum. Newsflash: you’re not perfect. You don’t have a whole workshop full of elves to craft the perfect gift. But how about giving clean drinking water to a village? That’s a stellar idea. For every limited edition Soma Water Filter purchased, $12.50 will be donated to charity: water’s life-changing projects. So, you’ll give clean water to a friend or family member and also to a whole village. Top that, Santa Claus.
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There’s absolutely no reason for fishing around for your charging cord like an idiot. Come on, give in to 2013 and get a charging station. Bluelounge recently released Sanctuary4, a new station that has loads more power (a 4-amp charger) which allows four devices to quickly charge all at once. There’s four USB ports, so simply unplug and replace the cables when you have a new device.
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You can’t see the forest for the… coats and scarves hanging tidily from the four ash tree pegs. Because that’s where coats, scarves, hats, etc. will be hung once you install this set in your entryway, right? Right. Made by designer team Tomas Kral and Stéphane Halmaï-Voisard.
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Sure, you’ve seen concrete desk accessories by Magnus Pettersen before, but have you seen the red and blue tape dispensers? Your life is simply not complete until you consider just how good red tape in a red concrete tape dispenser looks. I’m kidding, of course, but it does look pretty sharp, as does the blue. This version is a little smaller than the original version, fyi.
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Tea, anyone? Look like a grown up with this very proper, polished brass tea set by Tom Dixon. Rounded shapes made from spun brass are polished and then dipped in a warm gold wash to give each piece a subtle matte surface. The six-piece set includes a Tea Caddy, Jug, Milk Jug, Sugar Dish & Spoon and Tray (links & prices below).
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Organize your projects, thoughts, recipes, dreams, or whatever else needs sorting with this set of 4 notebooks shaped with tabs. Nothing particularly fancy about tabs per se, yet when in a stack, labels are easily read and individual notebooks are easily found, meaning you’ll be a little more efficient than before. Inner tabs can also label further subcategories if needed.
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Porcelain paired with cork. It’s such a lovely contrast in materials that makes for a pleasing look as well as a comfortable grip. Should you wish to upgrade your own salt & pepper shakers, note that this pair from Normann Copenhagen is on sale and discontinued, so best act fast if you think they’re a good fit for your tabletop.
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What’s the best gift: a plane ticket to the Caribbean or a hand-stitched Star Chart showing the overhead sky for any date, time, and location? As if you even need to think twice about that answer. Possible jet lag. Sunburn. Getting your wallet stolen, plus that crappy hotel that looked nice on their website. Yeah, that all sounds like a barrel of laughs and lots of warm memories. The Star Chart will last decades, and shows the recipient that you remembered their birthday, anniversary, their first child, etc. You’ll win big points, trust me.
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I rarely open a bottle of wine without finishing it, but that’s because I’ve got someone with a hollow leg to share it with me. However, a nice bottle of wine sometimes deserves to be enjoyed over a few nights, and this Wine Preserver Bottle will provide an air tight seal to lock in flavors for up to a week.

After you pour in your wine, you drop the float on top to create the seal, thus protecting your precious wine from that pesky oxygen. And, when it’s time to pour the wine into your glass, remove the spill-proof lid, tip the bottle and the float automatically adjusts to the pouring angle.
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Just for fun, let’s take a look at the DISH Plate Series by the Patella Brothers. Each trompe l’oei design has a strange sort of narrative, and for that very reason I think most of us would vote to hang these plates on the wall as art rather than use them day in and day out. However, if you’d like your food to be presented alongside insects and other odd things, food-safe ink is used and each plate is dishwasher safe.
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A small, LED light that you put together yourself is just what you need to bolster your construction confidence. A ping pong ball, optical fibers, a battery, and clothespin all come in this Lichtbloem DIY kit, and after a few minutes of assembly, this little light of yours will shine for all to see. Should you feel the need to brag about making it yourself, do limit your chest puffing to those who aren’t particularly handy, as it’s really easy to assemble.
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A quick framing job is just what your drawings need, because, let’s face it, you’re not a famous artist (yet). I’d suggest scattering a few of these around the house for friends and family to play Picasso and possibly leave you some excellent little cartoons that you’ll cherish for years… or throw away as soon as they leave the room, it’s up to you.
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Trivets aren’t necessarily exciting, are they? Charged with the task of protecting our tabletops, they’re meant to be covered up with pots and dishes with little thought to their aesthetic value. However, this walnut trivet does a neat trick of extending from a small area to a rather long length, allowing it to fit your feast from one dish to several. It looks like a stack of chopsticks when closed, which is exactly what I thought it was when I saw it in person.

Designed by Sabine Meyer with SidebySide, a studio partnered with Wendelstein Werkstätten, a workshop for the handicapped.
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If you’re willing to invest in a strong, well-designed coat rack, turn your eyes toward Nendo’s Clip Coat Rack. Note that its steel bars are at various heights, so hooks and hangers may be hung as well as your bags, hats, and coats. This allows for placement in a dressing area or closet as well as the entry hall.
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