Grand Old Timers

Trust Nana or Pap to let you know when the meatloaf is ready or the pie needs to come out of the oven. These little kitchen time keepers can pass their cooking wisdom.
@ Mod Cloth, $13. l

Coastal Curiousity Bottle Stoppers

These nautical themed bottle-stoppers -- a compass and a magnifying glass -- are made of brass and actually work.... useful should you need any help nagivating home.
@ Pottery Barn, $12

Flip & Tumble Reusable Produce Bags

It's almost farmer's market season, and these polyester bags let your produce breathe and keep it fresher for longer. Plus, they mean less plastic bags go into landfills. One swipe with a sponge, the bags are ready to be reused.
@ Target/set of 5

Sagaform Java Creamer & Sugar Set

Simple, clean lines. Heavy stoneware ceramic. Timeless appeal. Reasonable affordable. Wow.
@ Gretel, $24/set

Meet the Greens

The Green Family includes Sid Green, punk rocker dish brush, Joyce Green, a lemon reamer with a beehive hair do, Mayor Green, an apple corer, Josie Green, an ice cream scooper, Squeakie Green, a bottle opener and poor Brandon Green, a veggie peeler who isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. All of eco-friendly (hence, Green) -- made with recycled materials. All are dishwasher safe. And all are likely to put an end to kitchen tedium.
@ Pop Deluxe, $6-$10 each

Cool Beans Ice Tray

Ah, spring. Our thoughts turn to sundresses, flip flops and, of course, ice coffee. Those of us who are passionate about our ice coffee know that freezing coffee into ice cubes puts the flavor over the top. This fun ice cube tray produces cubes shaped like the flavor source itself.... and a great looking warm weather treat.
@ Blue Ribbon General Store, $9

Louise Tripod Glasses

These tripod glasses come from Dutch designer Maarten Baptist for Umbra U+ Collection, which are supposed to be quite stable. They're also delicate, a bit birdlike and sure to start quite a few conversations.
@Velocity, $100/set of 4

Tidal Bounty Dessert Plates

I just love the washed-out colors and marine-inspired designs that are New Orleans artist Shelley Hesse. They'd look pretty amazing as wall decor too.
@ Anthropologie, $14

Dunk Mug

This is the perfect mug for those of who have a compulsion to dunk cookies, toast, biscotti and such into a warm beverage. Plus doesn't it just seem like it would make cookies + milk taste even better.

@ Not on the High Street, £16

Shatter Sugar + Creamer

Designed by sculptor William Harvey, this neo-cubist set is made using fine china and is having some fun breaking a few rules. That said, I think these would probably look perfectly normal to most of us until we've had that first cup of coffee.

@ SF MoMA, $12-$16