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Nothing spectacular here, just a set of three textured brass chopstick rests that look oh-so-perfect when nestled together in the small package. Could they be a good gift? Maybe. Or something to add to your utensil drawer? That’s more likely, especially if your chopsticks are feeling a little lonely. Designed by Masanori Oji in collaboration with one of Japans oldest metalware manufacturers, Futagami.
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These look a little similar to Food Huggers, don’t they? (Note to self: try out Food Huggers as coasters.) They do to me, and I wonder if condensation gets caught by the coaster or if the coasters are such a tight fit that condensation simply runs off the side. In any case, a coaster that stays with your drink (and possibly catches condensation) is a good fix for all those cold, drippy beverages that you’ll have this summer.
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A while ago someone wrote in enquiring after modern Lazy Susans, and here we are, months after the initial request with a smacker of an option. I doubt most of us will want to spend five Benjamins on something that passes the food around with minimal effort, but, hey, more power to you if you’re in love with the optical effects. See the Lazy Suzi in action or read more about Lazy Susans in general over at SUITE New York.

Designed by interior designer Kelly Behun for SUITE New York.

Custom wood and laminate spinnning trays.
Available in three optical patterns in black and white.
23.75″ dia
Made in the USA by Kelly Behun / STUDIO.

You’ve got guests coming over for dinner, but your dining table is looking oh-so-sad and very unadorned, and you’ve not much money to dress it up with a fancy tablecloth. Tablecloths are a bother, anyway, as they need to be laundered and pressed after each use. So, what to do? How about adding some ‘flourish’ with a paper table runner? An ornate black scroll will dress up your tabletop while the kraft paper says ‘Hey, I’m not trying too hard.’ It’s long enough for around 4 separate lengths of an average sized table.
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We could play the ‘what is it’ game, but let’s just skip straight to the item at hand. It’s a Champagne Sabre, a blade intended to separate the collar and cork from the champagne bottle at its weakest spot above the neck. Now, you’ll notice I mentioned it’s a blade, albeit a curved, blunt blade; does this strike a little fear into anyone else? I’m sure it’s dramatic to slice off the neck of a bottle, but I’m not sure I’d want anyone attempting that particular feat when they’ve already had a few drinks. You know what I mean?
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You’re not likely to part with your coffee press, especially if you use it everyday, but just in case the one you have isn’t operating to the best of its abilities, you’ll want to know about the Core Coffee Press. Designed by Rivers of Japan, it consists of a heat-resistant glass beaker and stainless steel mesh press (no paper filter needed). The outer holder protects your hands from the hot glass/water and minimizes the visual mess often found in more traditional coffee making paraphernalia.
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Let’s play the guessing game: what the heck is the item shown above? Despite looking like some sort of futuristic alien egg, it serves a useful purpose when it comes to oenology. If that word is unfamiliar to you, oenology is “the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking” (-wikipedia). Looky there, you just learned something, and now you probably have a good idea of the item’s purpose. Yes? No? If not, the pictures below will give it away.
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Is it a magnet? Nope, it’s a trivet, a solid aluminium (or aluminum, as us Americans say) trivet, to be exact. Heat proof paint in either yellow or matte black finishes off this simple device to protect your tabletop in the most minimal fashion. By Daniel Emma.

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I know keeping your wine chilled at the perfect temperature is the least of your worries, but, hey, if you can eliminate that worry altogether, why not do it? This Wine (or Champagne) Thermal is made from concrete and will keep wine at the perfect temperature no matter how hot it gets this summer. That seems a long way away from the cold, dreary weather outside our doors today, but it won’t hurt to be prepared. Oh, and if you’re fond of your company logo, engraving is an option. Available from Angle33. (They also offer concrete coasters and Wine Bottle Coasters to keep those drips and spills from spoiling your tabletop.)
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You can’t have this now, no matter how much you want a bottle opener in the shape of a hexagon. You’ll have to wait until May, as it’s a new item from Ferm Living, and should you possess the patience, you should know it’s made of solid brass with a matte polish. It could also double as an excellent weapon, if you have a good aim and strong throwing arm, but you already knew that, didn’t you?
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Need a new home for your happy juice? How about a handcrafted, pure solid copper flask? It will patina with use, so as you age, it will too. And if that makes you sad, don’t you worry: if you prefer to keep it polished, just use a mixture of ketchup (yes, ketchup) and coarse salt to bring back the shine. I see this as a perfect gift for a special event like the birth of a newborn (for the parents), a big promotion, or a silver or golden anniversary- be sure to attach an applicable quote, of course, so that your gift is received in the right light.
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This tea strainer has a flexible silicone body that fits any cup, mug or teapot. The hat-like funnel top retains heat and flavor while your tea is brewing; simply remove the strainer with a built-in handle (no burnt fingers) and fold the silicone top down/up like the brim of a hat to prevent spills or errant drops. Smart!
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With the weather being so damn cold, there’s never too many mentions of anything that will keep you warm. And, goodness, a lukewarm cup of coffee or tea is just not acceptable when your fingers or toes are freezing, especially when an appropriate receptacle can keep liquids piping hot for hours. This Menu Kettle Thermo Jug by Norm Architects keeps contents hot for very long period of time: “a beverage at a temperature of 203°F will, after 6 hours in a full jug in a 75°F room, still be 172°F hot.” Impressive, yes? (Especially in a very long/boring meeting, when all that’s keeping you awake is caffiene.)
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It’s coooold out, so how about a hot cup of tea? You might have seen several cast-iron teapots, as they aren’t too hard to find, especially considering all the variations on the traditional Japanese cast-iron pot. However, this Ciacapo fella is something surprising with its bold silhouette. Yep, it’s cast iron, so it will keep your team warm for hours (multiple cups at your desk, anyone?) and, for bonus points, it’s heavy enough to use as a door stop- if for some reason you need to use it as such. Expertly crafted, it’s more than fit for a modern kitchen and will last through years of casual, everyday use.
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Think you can’t afford an Arne Jacobsen piece? Sure, maybe not the furniture, but you can now own… (drum roll) a cup. Who doesn’t want some Bauhaus-inspired typography on their cup of coffee/tea/pencils/pens/miscellany? The letters were originally created by Jacobsen in 1937 for Aarhus City Hall, and now they’ve been revived (with permission) on these porcelain cups. Need I point out this could be a good gift for Jacobsen fans? (No need to go broke- just get two cups with the recipient’s initials if their name is prohibitively long.)

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