Utilitarian Utensil

Ah, the graceful spoon. Such an elegant, curvaceous tool, primitive, yet refined, and largely under-appreciated.

Jo-Fan Chang and Alexandra Snook, two graduate students at Rhode Island School of Design, have recently highlighted the easy loveliness of this humble utensil, however. As the first assignment in their undergraduate Introduction to Woodworking course, they instructed their students to make a wooden spoon out of simple hand tools. Some of the results are breathtaking.

Spoon by Nicole Kowalski

Our favorite piece is by Hannah Oh, who shaped a refined version of the utility "knife" by adding a fork and pivoting hinge.

We'd love to have one of these beauties with us at all times, to be ready for whatever culinary adventure suddenly arises.

If this is the first assignment, just imagine what their final projects will look like...

See more here

Canadian Made

When we came across Geoffrey Lilge's elegant handmade cutting boards and charcuterie platters, we remembered just why we love our Canadian neighbors to the North: they're understated, woodsy, smooth and reliable.

Lilge, a founder of the Canadian design and manufacturing firm Pure Design, recommends maple for cutting and walnut for charcuterie and cheese service. The boards range from $150-250 and can be ordered custom or purchased from a variety of design and kitchen shops.

We thought we were head-over-heels for the craftsmanship of the boards, and then we saw THE SPICE GRINDERS. Lordy, are they beautiful. Learn more here.

One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor

Except it's Whisky. These floors by McKay in Glasgow are made from reclaimed Whisky barrels. Do you think you get to drink the peaty goodness first? Regardless, they're HOT.