The fantastic shop Brookish has added some new items, including these whimsical Mr. Darcy proposal dish towel:

I also love this Dolphin Tea Towel from niceBreeze:

This pair of Flower Trivets is so pretty, I almost wouldn’t want to put anything on them! From Uncommon Eye:

How’s this for a New Year’s resolution? Beat Batter and Bake Stuff spoof print from Queen’s Spoof:

VintageO‘s pair of glazed stoneware bowls is lovely (and I love the photography!):

My Mum has several of these cups, and I never really thought about their charm before now. Vintage tin measuring cup from buppins:

I like this sandwich/snack bag from Country Life Naturals, which is made of a vintage tea towel with a food-safe liner:

CeramicJen has some wonderful items; I especially like her Flying Bird Teabowl:

I love the feeling of this Teapot in Blue print from Studio Lyon- it’s so unique and decorative:

This Colander Pendant Lamp by Purpose ReDesign Studio would be great in an industrial modern kitchen:

I introduced MarianneClare’s Vintage Kitchen in the Vintage edition of my Holiday Gift Guide 2009, and now I want to delve a little deeper into its fab retro offerings. Check out my picks from this adorable shop below.

Retro refrigerator dishes can be so nice, and certainly make a nice change from tupperware. This Pyrex one is pretty:

I love this set of Aluminum Pitcher and Cups Set. Just look at the gorgeous wooden handle:

There isn’t a lot of time left until Christmas, so I’d hurry up and snag these vintage Christmas cookie cutters:

A Vintage Apple Corer would make a great stocking stuffer for a pie enthusiast:

I just adore the whimsical design of this Random Harvest Cream and Sugar Set:

Something I especially took a shine to was her collection of retro kitchenware, specifically a Dansk water jug in a cheerful yellow hue. This American-owned, Danish-designed brand was huge in the 60′s and 70′s, and is still in existence today, though sadly the iconic Kobenstyle line is out of production.

Luckily we can still find it, and other great Dansk pieces, on Etsy. Here are some of my favourite Dansk finds from everyone’s favourite global marketplace.

This red Kobenstyle Paella Pan sold by Uncommon Eye is just lovely, and in great condition:

The classic Casserole in that gorgeous yellow, from modapple:

I love the colour of this Enamelware Percolator, from LemonLimeVintage:

Fondue parties may be lost to the ages, but maybe whoever buys this adorable Fondue Pot and Stand from Bettyninja Finds can bring them back:

These White Teacups and Saucers look more modern to me, but just as covetable. From ravenna Girls Vintage:

Equal Measure is the product that opened my eyes to this brand. At its simplest, it’s just a large glass measuring jug- but it’s also fun, educational, and makes you think:

Another measuring product, M-Cups is based on Russian matryoshka dolls. Not only are they adorable, but the idea is practical and space-saving, too:

I know this looks a little far-out, but trust me: I have a silicone brush, and I use it all the time. Twiggy just looks more fun:

The only thing I don’t like about Snap-a-Party is that it’s a one-time-use item. How fun for a picnic, though- there’s even chopsticks in there!

It might be difficult to clean, but I love the sculptural quality of the Spilt Milk cereal bowl:

Another fun container, Unzipped could work for a lot of things. I can even see it as a lovely vase with some fresh flowers:

So I was happy to see, when browsing Dezeen this morning, that one of my favourite kitchen product companies, Joseph Joseph, has come up with an alternative. Elevate by Gillian Westley is a line of silicone cooking utensils with central pivots and weighted handles, designed to keep mess off your work surface. While I love the idea, I’m not too crazy about the colours, so here’s hoping Joseph Joseph expands this range in the future. 

Check out the full post at Dezeen for more info and photos.

A little research taught me that Royal KVB is a branch of the 200+ year-old Dutch company, Koninklijke Van Kempen & Begeer. They make beautiful and innovative kitchen- and food-related products, so I’m not sure why I’ve overlooked the brand until now. These are my picks from their webshop. 

The product that first caught my eye, this simple Squeeze Bottle would be perfect for storing and serving vinaigrette. Translucent plastic on the bottom, the top half (which twists off) is either coloured polypropylene or chic stainless steel:

This award-winning Slowcooker is defnitely unlike others I’ve seen! I love the terracotta colour and simple lines:

The curved surface of this dual-sided Cutting Board allows for less mess and an easier chopping experience: 

This is clever- a set of various Jar Tops made to fit on standard jar sizes the world over. Use them to turn any jar, plain or decorative, into a jug, shaker or storage:

I like how this streamlined Herb Garden has an integrated pocket for scissors- so practical:

I try not to get too carried away with the cute kiddie products (there are a lot out there!), but I couldn’t resist this fun Puzzle Dinner Tray:

I didn’t make it to the opening, but I have been checking out the Drygoods section of the website, where a variety of fashion and home items (including kitchen stuff!) is sold.

The photos are a bit too small to share here, but I urge anyone interested in textiles to check it out. I especially like the Côté Bastide tea towels, Joanna Kinnersley Taylor Jelly aprons, and the Iris Hantverk horsehair brushes.

Whatever brand you go for, the most mulled-over question when choosing a new piece or set of enameled cast iron is undoubtdebly “What colour should I pick?” Well, Staub is making it even tougher with their new range of colours, including some “vitamin-inspired” shades as well as a chic white option. I saw this over at The Kitchn yesterday and wanted to share my favourites. 

(The Staub website is currently under construction, but check out the whole post at The Kitchn to read more.)

As classic roll-top designs go, I think this matte black version from Brabantia is pretty nice. It won’t fight for attention, and the size seems reasonable for a small kitchen: 

This 30′s number from Etsy seller sixpence & a blue moon might look like some of the knock-offs you see around these days, but it’s the real deal. I love the bright colour for a kitchen counter:

The futuristic Gnam bread bin by Alessi is cute and quirky, comes in several colours, and is reasonably priced, too:

If it wasn’t for the huge size (and price) I’d go for this cream-and-beech ceramic binby Nigella Lawson. The other side of the wooden lid can be used as a cutting board:

I think my favourite might be this steel bread bin by Joseph Joseph. The size, shape and colours are spot-on: