Danny Sinopoli, Amy Verner and Leah McLaren
Published on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 5:02PM EST Last updated on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 5:21PM EST
Limited-edition Swiss Army knife
If I’m ever lost in the Alps, this is the Swiss Army knife I want with me. In addition to housing a blade, a can opener, a screwdriver and a leather punch, the limited-edition Heritage model commemorating the 125th anniversary of the founding of Victorinox Swiss Army is also impossibly beautiful. And it comes in a gorgeous ebony box. $550 through www.swissarmy.com.
Yvonne Berg
Muuto’s RAW dining chair
Is it possible to be both rough and lovely? Angelina Jolie proves that it can be, as does this hand- and machine-carved dining chair by the Edinburgh design team Muuto. Although it comes in yellow, dark grey, green and blue, I love this dove grey. Stools and armchairs round out the RAW line. $1,350 at Hollace Cluny (www.hollacecluny.ca).
Yvonne Berg
Chairs by Judith Miller
You’ve heard of Mao Tse Tung’s Little Red Book? This is British design writer Judith Miller’s big red book devoted to, you guessed it, chairs. Crammed with gorgeous full-page photos, the encyclopedic tome offers insightful entries on every historical chair of note, from the Chinese Chippendale Cockpen to the classics of mid-century modernism. Judith, you had me at Queen Anne. $80 at Chapters and Indigo bookstores (www.chapters.indigo.ca).
Yvonne Berg
Le Soleil hanging lamp
Now that winter is upon us, Foscarini’s new Le Soleil lamp in vibrant red couldn’t be more welcome. Don’t you feel warmer already? Price on request at Eurolite (416-203-1501).
LEGO Fallingwater
Composed of 811 snap-together bricks, this LEGO-block replica of Frank Lloyd Wright’s residential masterpiece straddles the line between toy and art. Besides Fallingwater, the LEGO Architecture series has five other famous buildings, including the Empire State Building and the Seattle Space Needle. I can’t think of a better way to spend a winter weekend with my dad than assembling one together. $129.95 at Swipe (www.swipe.com).
Yvonne Berg
Three by three magnet board
My inspiration board is looking a bit uninspired these days, so I’m hoping to start fresh in the new year with a bright-red magnet board from the ingenious Seattle design company three by three. What a relief it’ll be to do away with fiddly push pins and dorm-room-style cork forever. $19.99 for a 12-square-inch board (comes with magnets)and $16.95 for a pack of TK magnets at Neat in Toronto (416-368-6328) and other retailers (visit www.threebythree.com for sources).
Yvonne Berg
Lavender hand cream
My name is Leah and I’m a hand-cream-aholic. My current addiction: this herbaceous French lotion from L’Occitane en Provence. Rich, non-greasy and delicate in scent, it also comes in an old-fashioned metal tube that makes me feel like a Parisian lady in the 1950s, before the rest of the world discovered moisturizer. $22 through www.loccitane.com.
Yvonne Berg
Anthropologie Christmas ornaments
Whether your fantasy Yule tree includes stars made of buttons, magic acorns, handcrafted pirate ships, beaded fairy slippers or crocheted jellyfish, Anthropologie has something whimsical to tickle your fancy. And not a glass ball or icicle light in sight. $22 each through www.anthropologie.com.
Charla Jones/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
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