Tea for Two | Give the gift of quiet conversation and shared memories with this delightful tea set – includes a Ribbon Box sampler, two porcelain cups and two white ceramic tea trays. $75, DianeJamesHome.com
Family Night | Bring people together for good, clean fun with Vintage Giant Scrabble. It is a full 50 percent larger than the standard set and crafted to endure. $279, RestorationHardware.com
Bit of Bubbly | The portable Le Fridge Rosé from Veuve Clicquot is the perfect place to chill your rose this Mother’s Day and on spring and summer picnics. $40, veuveclicquot.com.
Posh Picnic | This luxe leather picnic tote brings equestrian style to any outdoor affair. Designed in collaboration with esteemed Virginia saddle maker Tad Coffin, the bag has a compartment for all of your dining-out needs. $560, Moore & Giles, 800-737-0169, mooreandgiles.com.
Coffee Talk | To meet all of your coffee needs, look no further than Miele’s new countertop espresso machine. Making everything from a single cup of coffee to macchiatos, this one has it covered. $2,199, Williams-Sonoma, Westport, 203-221-8667, White Plains, NY, 914-644-8360, mieleusa.com.
Green Garbage | The Houseware Design Awards “Green House” winner is the Fresh Air Kitchen Compost Collector. It allows oxygen to flow through organic kitchen waste to cut down on mess and odor. $29.99, fullcirclehome.com.
Eco Friendly Errand Bags | Inspired by an article noting a ban on plastic bags in certain U.S. cities, Run Run Run aimed at solving the problem in a stylish way as few companies combine true design with eco-consideration. These covet-able totes are made of waterproof material, fold-up for easy travel and hold the equivalent of three supermarket plastic bags. They’re sturdy and the double stitching makes them nearly indestructible, www.runrunrun.com.
Spice of Life | Grow tasty salad additions and enhance windowsill décor with the MICROgreens Grow Box. This spice kit includes Japanese Mibuna mustard, Shungiku chrysanthemum and Daikon radish. Grow Box, $40, Potting Shed Creations, Ltd., available through Dirt, Cos Cob, 203-661-4143, dirtfloral.com, pottingshedcreations.com.
Wine and Cheese | Cheese is even more crowd-pleasing when it’s served on this recycled oak winebarrel top with wrought-iron handles. $350, Loaves & Fishes Cookshop, 2422 Main St., Bridgehampton, 631-537-6066, LandFCookShop.com
Agate Bookends | These gorgeous agate bookends will do even the most downtrodden dust jackets proud. $375 a set, available in October at Comerford Collection, 2442 Main St., Bridgehampton, 631-537-6200.
Outdoor Dishwasher | With this outdoor dishwasher from Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet™, you’ll never have to leave the party to bring dirty dishes inside. $4,990, Albano Appliance, Pound Ridge, NY, (914) 764-4051, kalamazoogourmet.com.
Special Salt | This isn’t your ordinary salt cellar. Made of sterling silver, the tiny wheelbarrow and shovel combo will add sparkle to any table.$525, Asprey, 45 Main St., Southampton, 631-488-4016.
Wearable Art | Luxury jeweler Sorab & Roshi is excited to be moving its Cross River store to Fairfield County. Designer Sorab Bouzarjomehri and co-owner Roshi Ameri say the new location will continue to focus on one-of-a-kind pieces that act as wearable art, like this Coral Chrysanthemum flower pin set in 18K gold, $23,000. Opening early May, 30 West Putnam Ave., Greenwich, sorabandroshi.com.
This article appears in the May 2012 issue of Cottages & Gardens.