Image via Complex Original
kitlead
Setting up your kitchen can be a tough job. There's so much available out there and a lot of it is straight ugly. A home kitchen should be inviting yet utilitarian, but not too industrial-looking.
Quirky pieces can make a statement with their design yet also serve a practical purpose. We found a few things that demonstrate this perfectly. Check out our gallery of 10 Artful Essentials for Your Kitchen.
awaaa
Cast Iron Cookware by AWAA
Handle Me is a new collection of cast iron cookware by Norwegian trio Christoffer Angell, Oyvind Wyller, and Simen Aarseth. They view cast iron as an "immortal" product — able to withstand years of abuse and multifunctional use — and their cookware highlights the raw simplicity of the material. Equipped with an "ergonomic powergrip", the Handle Me collection sexes up the kitchen and promotes cooking as social activity.
paulsmith
Paul Smith for Stelton AddColour Coffee Pot
Legendary fashion designer connected with Stelton on this limited run coffee pot to celebrate the Danish firm's 50th anniversary. Smith reintroduced Arne Jacobson's Cylida-Line designs, bringing classic 1960s modernism into the new millennium by infusing some bold color to the handles.
state
State Series Cutting Board
AHeirloom
Made of plyboo, an architectural plywood made from 100% rapidly renewable bamboo, the State Series cutting boards by Brooklyn-based AHeirloom are a fun way to celebrate regional cuisine. Every state is available, we just happen to be fans of these three.
melon
Kuhn Rikon Watermelon Knife
With microserrated blade and nonstick finish, the Watermelon knife is the best way to prepare summer's greatest fruit. It's got a snappy design too. Seedless, of course, and long enough to handle state fair blue ribbon winning melons.
colander
Folding Colander
Joseph Joseph
With award winning design, Joseph Joseph (a contemporary kitchenware design firm founded by twins Anthony and Richard Joseph) solve the issue of clunky and hard to clean colanders. Their's folds. This means easy storage and smart design. After all, good design is a solution to a problem.
exknife
The Ex Knife Holder
This unfortunate soul includes a chef knife, bread knife, carver, utility knife, and a paring knife. It's made of ABS plastic and the knives are made from stainless steel. These five knives will get you through just about anything. It's certainly more eye-catching than your average block of wood and is also available in chrome and black, if you're feeling that red is a bit too morbid.
geo
Geo Dish Drainer
Royal VKB
Designed by Jorre van Ast, this smart looking dish tray is inspired by topographical maps and is made of seven anamorphic slabs of plastic stacked on one another. A soft slope forces excess water into the tray below, where a corner notch drains it into the sink. All this and less than an inch of thickness? It's definitely worth the $50 price of admission.
pastapot
Pasta Pot, Saucepan, Lid, Spoon, Trivet
Alessi
Designed by Patrick Jouin with consulting from Michelin-starred French chef Alain Ducasse, this pot produces a unique pasta in which the starches are absorbed by both the pasta and the ingredients in the sauce. This method of cooking is meant to emulate the pasta-making methods of ancient olive pickers, who cooked their grains risotto-style.
toucan
Animal House Toucan Can Opener
Follow your nose with this whimsical can opener, part of Boston Warehouse's "Animal House" series of tools and appliances. Other entries in the series include an Angelfish Colander, Bluebird Corkscrew, and Piranha Pizza Cutter.
bull
Kitchen Bull
This interesting-looking knife block/book shelf/cheese board is made from Australian-grown plywood. Of course, the knives, scissors, and books are all sold separately, but at least you'll know where to put them once you've got them all.
