I bought these jars for my husband’s birthday party. I needed them for setting the dessert table. They were, and still are, on clearance at Pier 1 Imports. The chalkboard band is very practical. I really like them. They are a good size. I can fit 1 kg of nuts in the medium sizes (I have three of those). If you are looking for glass canisters, check out if they are some left at a store near you.

+ Chalkboard Canisters $10 & $14 USD

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This is one of the best Ikea hack I have seen. It was an idea of Andy from Show and Tell. His project involved laser cut performed on the acacia wood caps to write the words salty and sweet. I like that typographic style.

+ Celeber Spice Jars $7.99 USD for pack of 2
+ via Show and Tell

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Everyday items can look awesome in the right setting. I love how Toast’s stylist team repurposed old newspaper as wallpaper and transformed old wooden boxes as storage on the wall. Keeping in mind that these angles were selected for their photographic value, it still shows that creativity and good design ideas, more than money, are essentials for any project.

Toast carries carefully selected food, tableware and kitchenware. But the range is deep enough to make it a must shopping for easy entertaining.

The autumn edition of Toast catalog is filled with amazing shots like those. I am sure you will enjoy them. if you wander what they sell on those pictures, I listed the shown products.

For entertaining and organizing your kitchen:

+ toast jams and marmalades £4.95
+ linen herringbone napkin £7.50
+ coloured handblown glasses £25
+ duralex picardie glasses £9.50
+ handblown glasses £15.50
+ greek pot £39

To make you feel good when you are sick:

+ flannel hottie cover £22
+ sloppy joe hottie cover £35
+ silk velvet hottie cover £35
+ satin quilted hottie £25
+ velvet lined slipper £59

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Founded by Mark Bedford and Marianne Lumholdt, Mar Mar Co. proposes many items for the home and the kitchen that I adore. The two owners put emphasis on independent designers, without ignoring established design companies.

We all need elegant trivets to protect your dining table when you serve a buffet that you serve hot. For food storage and serving your meal when you have guests over, I recommend:

1. Weck Storage jars 4 assorted jars for £15 – Weck Carafe £7

2. Extensible Walnut Wood Trivets small £15.50 large £25.50

3. Adonde white Stoneware teapot £79

By the way, I first spotted the Weck jars and the water pitcher at Heath Ceramics last January when I was in Los Angeles. I wanted to bring them home but I did not feel like bringing them on the plane. Maybe this year, Santa Claus will put them on my stocking.

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Whenever a colleague or a acquaintance gets a new home, we may be tempted to give  a small housewarming gift. If you know where to look, it is possible to give something that look great on a tight budget.

One brand that delivers years after years fun, modern and well-designed products is Umbra. I selected things for the kitchen or for entertaining that would make simple housewarming gifts.

1. Splat trivet $10.50 CAD
2. Perf trivet $10.50 CAD
3. Splat spoon rest $6.50 CAD
4. Paddle spoon rest $7.50 CAD
5. Grapevine wine rack $23.50 CAD

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When everything has its place, you do not lose time looking for it. There is a therapeutic effect of living and working in an uncluttered space. We also need a few storage solutions and organizers to be on display to be practical. For that, you need items that feel more unique than the utilitarian objects.

It does not have to cost a fortune. You transform an everyday item or repurpose flea market finds. A quick solution is to stencil numbers or letters on Mason jars. The numbered Mason jars available at Pottery Barn have a charming distressed look. Mason jars are great to store anything, not just food.

No one wants to bring home the corporate office look. Opt for cool desk accessories, like this giant sharpener pencil holder, to infuse a sense of casual style. Old drawers and wood boxes easy replace the desktop sorter.

Old-fashioned front-desk organizers used in hotels inspired the Cubby Organizer. This distressed solid mahogany display unit would complement a modern country interior. Each of the 25 cubbies is detailed with a hand-painted number. The design will nicely highlight a few collections of small items built around an overall theme.

GET THE LOOK:
+ Numbered Mason Jars at Pottery Barn $39 USD for set of 3
+ Cubby Organizer at Pottery Barn$129 USD
+ Giant sharpener desk tidy at WhippetGrey £14.50
+ Hardware Store Drawers – No.2 at Three Potato Four $18 USD
+ Foundry Mold – Type B at Three Potato Four $65 USD

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I am French Canadian, not Italian. I used to make a bowl of latte every morning topped with cinnamon. Then, my old espresso machine broke. That was a few years ago and I never sent my espresso machine to the repair shop. The main reason was that it was white, which did not work well with my red and blonde wood kitchen decor.

When I want an espresso at home, I use the basic stovetop moka pot but it is not the same. Looking at the red Francis Francis X7 iperEspresso machine is tempting. It is so cute. The  X7 and X8 iperEspresso machines are part of a new generation of espresso capsules developed by Illy. The two-stage brewing process intensifies the flavor to create an aromatic, full-bodied espresso with rich, velvety crema that lasts and lasts.

The appeal of these automated espresso machines is that you do not train to become a good barista. I might had more control on the taste of the espresso with my old machine but it was also harder to operate. Let’s face it, if your 12 guests desire an espresso, an automated machine comes handy. Watch this video to see how it works.

Some Facts You Need to Know Before You Buy It

Notice that the X7 iperEspresso machine makes regular espresso, cappuccino and latte (2 shots of espresso). The X7 iperEspresso machine works exclusively with the Illy ipercapsules. It has an auto-stop feature to control cup volume. It is an important fact because you will not be able to control the taste through the coffee grind or the amount of water. If you wish more flexibility with the red retro-futurist look, go for an espresso machine that supports ground coffee and pods like the more powerful Francis Francis X1 Ground Coffee or the Francis Francis X7 for E.S.E and Ground Espresso Machine Kit.

Another determinant factor for taste is the coffee beans. For the moment, the iperEspresso capsules selection is limited to 100% Arabica dark roast, medium roast and decaffeinated. On that point, the Nespresso wins with a vast selection of coffee. Plus several models of Nespresso will let you make espresso and longo. I prefer the Francis Francis look to the Nespresso machines. Therefore, which machine to get depends of your needs.

Francis Francis X8

I do not like the design of the X8 machine but it is important that you are aware of this limited time offer.  You can purchase the Francis Francis X8 iperEspresso machine for $175 (a $445 value) if you purchase 3 cans of iperEspresso capsules with your machine and subscribe to Illy’s iperEspresso membership program. You can cancel your coffee deliveries any time after your first shipment.

SOURCING:
+ Francis Francis X7 iperEspresso Machine in red or black $399 USD
+ Illy USA

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I like the motto of Sillycone. This shows again that silicone has revolutionized the way we cook. You can use silicone trays to shape any food or liquid.

You can perfectly shaped Jell-O, butter, chocolate, cheese, bite cakes, brownies, Rice Crispy treats and so much more! It opens a world of possibilities for entertaining like this Jell-O wish on a birthday cake.

Sillycone specialized in letter, number, symbol and the Greek alphabet. Their trays are made from high-gloss FDA tested silicone. Each tray is oven-safe to 550ºF and (-50ºF) is cool to the touch within minutes after baking.

For more shapes, look at Lékué. This Spanish high end brand makes silicone ice cube trays in form of a star, heart, dolphin, penguin and shell. Look at the cool colored ice cubes that Better Homes and Gardens did for the Fourth of July last year.

SOURCING:
+ Silicone Alphabet Letter Ice / Bake Tray Set $14.95 USD for 3 trays
+ Silicone Number Ice / Bake Tray $7.49 USD
+ Sillycone Single Number Ice / Bake Tray $10.13 USD
+ Silicone Symbol Ice / Bake Tray $14.99 USD
+ Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Star $2.95 USD

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A Spanish name for a Swedish retailer is a good clue that you are dealing with a creative crew. Cosas sell their own products or products manufactured in cooperation with designers and craftsmen.

I like to browse their catalogue from time to time to discover what I consider to be the most interesting items. Bengt Ek Design designed a superb aluminum kitchen scale that show a clock on one side and a graduated dial on the other.

The red shelf edge paper would deliver a charming old-fashioned look for an apple pie station or a bake sale. Then, the stainless steel salt and pepper set from Define has modern line. They stand on their own outside the rosewood tray.

SOURCING:
+ Kitchen scale with clock from Bengt Ek Design 170.43 EUR
+ Red Shelf edge paper 5.83 EUR
+ Stainless Steel Salt & pepper set with a wooden tray 29.54 EUR

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I guess that a lot of college students will ask this toaster as a housewarming gift. I totally understand the appeal. You know by now that I love bringing color into my home. It is not the first time that Bodum introduced color in an unusual but tasteful way.

The Bistro Toasters is not just a pretty thing. It has nice features that would be appreciated by moms and dads. The 900-watt Bistro 2-slice Toaster is made of stainless steel that is cover with a heat-resistant rubber exterior. It is safer. The little fingers cannot be burned by touching the toaster. It is also easier to clean. No more worries about finger marks on the toaster. Cool features are a defrost mode and a cancel button.

Writing this post makes me want to change my 15-year old toaster. I would like a red one to repeat the bright red center of my kitchen cabinets.

Bistro Flatbed Toasters by Bodum

The Flatbed toaster is something that I never seen before. It will be soon available. I read that it is:

• Great for Bagels, Croissants, Baguettes & More
• Toasts one side and defrosts four traditional slices of bread at once
• Comes with an adjustable Timer
• Toast larger breads without crushing them

I am curious to know how well it performs. If you have ever tried something similar, I would like to get your input. The Flatbed toaster is available in the same 8 colors.

SOURCING:
+ Bistro 2-slice Toaster by Bodum choice of 8 colors $79.99 USD at Amazon.com
+ Black Bistro Flatbed Toaster by Bodum $79.99 USD
+ Bodum Toaster Collection

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I love the ingenuity of the design behind every Royal VKB products. Their motto, Thought for Food says it all. This Dutch housewares company always succeed to grab my attention. If only, I could find a Canadian retailer who carries the entire range of Royal VKB.

A new product, Table Bin would appreciate by students who live with roommates. Designed with outdoor dining in mind, it can be practical for a small family. The concept is that you can filled the bin with food waste, place the utensils in the side pocket, stack dirty dishes on top on the lid and clean up the table in one batch.

Royal VKB developed clever double-duty measuring products that come in an array of colors. They have look and function. I told you before about Mix and Measure, a series of bowls with a graduated scale inside the bowl. You can get an air-tight lid that features a spoon rest on the reverse side.

The Cup and Store canisters come in aluminum and glass. The canister integrates a measuring cup, the lid, for easy pouring. Plus you save space since the jars can stacked into another.

No more need of a scale with the Balancing Bowls. Fill one half of the bowl and the bowl will tilt when you reach the indicated weight. This is not all, you can use the bowl for servings chips and other snacks.

As you can see, Royal VKB imagined stylish practical products that can save you time and space. For that, I gave them a 10.

SOURCING:
1. Mix & Measure by Jan Hoekstra € 9,95 to € 24,95 per bowl
2. Cup & Store Aluminium by Arian Brekveld € 9,95 to € 14,95 per jar
2. Cup & Store Glass by Arian Brekveld € 7,95 to € 9,95 per jar
3. Table Bin by Officeoriginair € 29,95
4. Balancing Bowl set by Jan Hoekstra € 14,95 for set of 2 bowls

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If you are looking for a unique gifts for a foodie with a love of modern design, browse through the catalogue of Eva Solo. They give unique shape to everyday housewares. Eva Solo products are not cheap. There are an indulgence. Therefore, they are perfect gift ideas.

Salad Sinner by Eva Solo

The Salad Spinner reinvent the old technique of washing salad. Your grand mothers used to do that with a tea towel. Now you can do it more efficiently and more stylishly with their salad spinner. I really like the look.

After you rinse the leaves with your hands (which you must always do whichever method you use), squeeze the top of the bucket together to form a spout and pour off the water. The lettuce is now ready for spinning. You need a little bit of vertical space. Swing the bucket around in the air – this you can do either indoors or outdoors. In the process, any surplus water and dirt collects under the drainage plate.

The bucket is made of soft TPE rubber, which is approved for foods, and has a nylon cord handle. The drainage plate is made of stainless steel. The bucket is available in creamy sand, spring green and steel grey.

Other Gift Ideas

The Eva Solo’s silicone potholders are available in new colors. I like it because you simply rinse them to remove small spills or put them in the dishwasher for a thorough wash. The flexibility of silicone means that they follow the form of the pots and pans your need to carry. If you want, you can place the potholders on a hook near the stove to have them close whenever you need.

You will be the stylish camper with the thermo picnic flask. In fact, they look as amazing that you can walk the city with the half-liter water flask.

SOURCING:
+ Salad Spinner by Eva Solo $118 USD
+ Eva Solo Flexible Potholders $45 USD for a pair
+ Mat or polished Thermo Water Flask 0.5 litter $99 USD 1L $188

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