Charles & Marie

If coffee-to-go is part of your morning routine, go green with one of these one-size-fits all soft sleeves made from 100% recycled fabric, which are far more eco-friendly than the ubiquitous cardboard sleeve from the coffee shop. They were once clothing items, but now they’ve been washed, cleaned, recycled and given new life. All of them are individually sewn with a double layer of fabric by artist Michelle Czulada. Wash them in the machine and pop them in the dryer without worry.

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Made of sturdy stoneware, these microwave- and dishwasher-safe ice cream bowls make dessert time even more fab. Twenty-five of our all-time favorite ice cream flavors decorate these cute bowls, which come in four summer-friendly sherbet shades. They’re packaged by the pint in a matching gift box to keep up appearances. Now about your plastic spoon habit, perhaps it’s time to invest in some grown up utensils to complement these kid-friendly designs?

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People who prefer to sip alone in silence, surrounded only by the morning paper, don’t need a huge tea pot to call their own. This elegant design, with pot, cup and saucer, is made of the finest white porcelain and the pieces fit together neatly like a puzzle. Whole leaves can be infused inside, the tea poured into the matching cup and the loose leaves left in the pot for a second and third infusion (its best to give them as much space as possible to unfurl).

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You don’t have to be a child to love to play with food. Big kids with a preference for breakfast will love The Tic Tac Toast stamper, which combines the old fashioned fun of tic-tac-toe with the tradition of morning toast. Hey, what can we say, it may be the best thing to happen to sliced bread. Simply press it into a piece of bread (opt for wheat, not white for your waistline) to create a stamp of the tic-tac-toe grid. Remove the tool, pop the bread in the toaster on a dark setting and the result will be branded and begging for a jam “x” or honey “o”. Blueberries, cinnamon, peanut butter and jelly (in no particular combination) make the game even more fun.

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If you’ve been using the same table cloth for years, not only is it probably stained, but also outdated. Feast your eyes on Héritage table linens, which set a decidedly exotic mood for entertaining with their sumptuous jewel colors and sophisticated patterns. This jacquard-woven design features swirling plumes with ribbons of smaller ornamental motifs. It’s fancy without stealing attention away from your artfully prepared meal, and the inevitable stains will go virtually undetected.

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Plain wooden salad bowls can be so boring. Well, not Oregon-based Raw Design’s fine bowls. They’re handcrafted from natural birch and come in a wide assortment of sizes and vibrant colors. All of them are food-safe and ideal for showcasing your famous fruit or crab salads or fancy cut veggies and dip. As for care tips? You’ll need to wash and dry them by hand and store at moderate temperatures to retain their beauty for years to come.

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Check out this lovely bowl shaped as an apple – perfect as fruitbowl or just as decoration on your table. A large and generous stoneware bowl from Swedish design company Rotor from Borås. All their products are both desined and produced in Sweden.

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Susie Gelbron, the Carrot, and Julie Walker, the Stick, founded Carrot & Stick Press in 2000. After earning MFAs from the California College of Arts and Crafts, the gals started their company using a borrowed press in a drafty barn behind their professor’s Berkeley home. Now they produce cheerful paper goods out of their Oakland, California studio. The collection mixes form and function, old-fashioned sensibility and newfangled design. We’re fans of the lobster themed paper place mats, which dress up outdoor or television-side dining.

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When sipping tea becomes a bore you know it’s because you aren’t sipping from proper cups. These unconventional porcelain designs by James & Tilla Waters will rouse you out of the doldrums. The beautiful, refined and highly functional ceramics are made in rural Carmarthenshire. The delicate, decadent look is achieved with a traditional wheel and each cup is unique and custom-made to order. Adorable!

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This fantastic and original apple cup and leaf plate in clean and sober Scandinavian design is made of porcelain. Cup and plate are parts of defyras own porcelain series Sushi-Zara. The series also include plates with different patterns. The cup and the plate is made in Japan and has very high quality. Designed by Lena Thak Karlsson, Sanna Haverinen, Anna Hjert and Anna Lång.The Swedish design group has also made beautiful, original plates for serving sushi, cookies or small dishes. The plates have different shapes and patterns that can be combined. The plates are part of defyras own porcelain series Sushi-Zara.

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