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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.

Never underestimate a good bottle opener; the same goes for a corkscrew. If you use it often, a well designed opener can make the experience of removing the lid of your beer or beverage even better, while using a poorly designed one can be quite irritating, and even dangerous (if and when inebriated). This bottle opener was originally designed in 1960 by Achille Castiglioni for the Splugen Brau bar project in Milan. Also, note that this is tagged in our gift guide, for your future reference.

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Chances are if you’re near a wooded lot and own a saw, you could make something similar to these coasters pretty easily. However, they probably wouldn’t be teak and you’d spend a few hours replicating 4 coasters that cost $12.

4.25″ approx diameter.
Set of 4.

If you have a need for coasters, at least make them decent to look at, for goodness sake. After all, we’re not barbarians, are we? You can leave them clustered together or break them apart for separate drinks. They, of course, can be rearranged like a puzzle for a trivet type of arrangement.

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Coasters might not be forefront in your design wants and needs, but these by simbiotekdesignlab on Etsy are worth bookmarking. Inspired by “triangulated arrangements” in geometric patterns, the coasters can be clustered together to make shapes (sort of like tangrams, maybe) or broken apart for smaller combinations.
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I’m a big fan of honey. A little bit in chai tea, on bread, with plain yogurt, etc… I go through a small jar so fast it’s silly. Now, I’m thinking this set from BioDidactic Designs might just outperform the plastic squeeze bottle that’s near its end, plus it’ll look a lot nicer on the counter or tabletop.

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Whether you have breadcrumbs on your table or eraser shavings on your desk, this brush and dustpan set will make short work of cleaning up. Made by the Iris Hantverk company (they employ visually impaired craftsmen in Sweden).

Small oiled beech wood dustpan and horsehair brush.

From our archives (originally published October 2, 2007), for your gift list consideration…

I think the best thing about this nutcracker is that out of context, on first glance one may not recognize the intended function. I say this is a good thing because usually, nutcrackers are generally quiet gaudy and holiday themed–but one like this could be used year round.

“Two cubes made out of beech, 3″ x 3″ x 3″ (7,5 x 7,5 x 7,5 cm), one with different sized indentations, the other without. How does it work? Simple, place a nut in one of the indentations so it isn’t entirely gone but pokes out a wee bit. Place the other – smooth – cube on top of it. And gently, ever so subtly, give it a good whacking. And voilá, the issue is resolved, the nut is open, not in a million pieces, but just a few, the actual kernel is safe and in one piece, and there is no mess…”

These cork trivets are made to look just like toast, which is a cute thing for the breakfast table (unless you have really bad eyesight). Right now it looks like the ‘side order’ of 2 pieces is out of stock, but the ‘half loaf’ of 6 pieces is available.

Approximately 4″ x 4″ x 3/8″

These colorful bowls remind me a bit of Loyal Loot’s Log Bowls, except made in sustainably harvested mango trees. I can’t imagine any room or tabletop these would look bad in. Each measures 6” in diameter and are available in white, blue, or green.

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This pretty little napkin ring is “giving me”, as they say, Viktor & Rolf Spring Summer 2010. Both are at once: feminine, delicate, bold, and surreal. The inspiration behind Viktor & Rolf’s cut-out tulle creations? “With the credit crunch and everybody cutting back, we decided to cut [holes into] tulle ball gowns,” says Rolf. The inspiration behind Urquiola’s napkin ring? Maybe the rolling hills of her native Oviedo, Spain.

Manufacturer: Rosenthal, Germany
Material: Porcelain

[via goodnight cruel world]

For your cyclist friends (as long as they own a bike, they count)…

Materials: Compressed wood with a high gloss melamine finish
Dimensions: H9.5cm x D0.4cm

[via Cool Material]

Personally, I think the Mustache Napkin Rings have a bit more flair to them, but these chalkboard(ish) rings are simple enough to grace a streamlined tabletop. Might be a fun gift for a someone that loves throwing dinner parties.

set of 4 wood napkin rings with black matte surface, white pencil and sponge included.

Oh, the fun to be had with these Rorschach coasters. They actually look sort of beautiful in a way…don’t you think? Or are they slightly disturbing for you, and if so, what does that say about each of our mental states…hmm.

Set of 10 coasters

This might quickly become a favorite amongst you add-sugar-to-coffee types…I’d say it’s much more dignified (and possibly less wasteful) than those tiny paper packets every day.

Made of double-walled glass, this stylish sugar dispenser has a wide hole in the top for pouring and a hole with a rubber stopper in the bottom for refilling. Made by Alessi. Hand-wash only. Sugar not included.

Designed by Lisa Vincitorio, 2008.
Size: 3.75h x 3.25″diam., 4.5oz.

$50.00 ($45.00 Members), Buy it here.