Kitchen Wishlist

Editor Sarah Rich: "I'm an enthusiastic collector of kitchen tools and cookbooks from decades past. Whether it's a brightly colored enamel corkscrew or a recipe compilation from Gold Rush-era California, I will always find a place for vintage cookery in my kitchen. The holidays tend to be the primary time when I turn my attention from foraging for cast-off treasures to checking out what's new on the market. Here are a few picks I wouldn't mind giving (or receiving) this year."

vintage typewriter flour sack towels square

Vintage Diagram Flour Sack Towels

Made by: Girls Can Tell
Price: $20

Kitchen towels are a great medium for screen printing and the diagram series by Girls Can Tell is one of my current favorites. It's a tough pick but I'm favoring the Underwood Typewriter and the Airplane, and if I could throw in the Broken Heart felt coasters, I'd be complete.

More info: shop.girlscantell.com

Silo Votives

Available at: Up In The Air Somewhere
Price: $78

My dining table is hardly big enough to even be called a dining table, so putting candles in the middle takes up critical dish real estate. I like that these small ceramic votives are a modest bit of tabletop illumination, and the neutral palette is beautiful.

More info: upintheairsomewhere.com

Enameled Cast Iron French Oven

Made by: Le Creuset
Price: $399

What home cook doesn't long for a set of Le Creuset pots? An enameled cast iron saucepan and French oven in bright yellow or orange would be welcome on my stovetop, even between meals.

More info: lecreuset.co.uk

Espresso Set

Made by: Heath Ceramics
Price: $105

If I could somehow transform all my dishes into Heath dishware, I'd do it in an instant. I don't make espresso at home much so this isn't a practical selection, per se, but I love the color on these little cups and the shape of the handles (and simply the fact that they're so tiny).

More info: velocityartanddesign.com

Jutsu Tea Towels

Designed by: Sanna Annukka
Made by: Marimekko
Price: $25

Granted these wouldn't really match my other towel pick, but I do like these graphic towels by Sanna Annukka, as I love most everything from the classic Finnish company.

More info: finnstyle.com

Magnetic Spice Jars

Made by: Chiasso
Price: $98

I already have a few of these but I love them and would always use more. They are a great dual-function product, keeping dried herbs and spices fresh and visible, while simultaneously holding up all the art and photos on the front of my fridge.

More info: chiasso.com

Kitchen Compost Bin

Available at: RSVP International

In San Francisco we have the great benefit of curbside compost pickup by the city, so composting at home is a no-brainer. Nevertheless, fruit flies will have their way with your organic matter if you don't have a good system. So far I don't. I'd love one of these to help keep my compost tidy before it heads to the municipal pile.

More info: rsvp-intl.com

Home Composting Unit

Made by: NatureMill
Price: $299-399

Better yet, I'd have one of these, which actually turns your waste into compost in your kitchen, rather than just storing the material for a while before you send it away. I currently [and sadly] don't have my own garden but if I did, this would be the ticket to DIY organic fertilizer.

More info: naturemill.com

City plate notneutral rios clementi hale

City Plates

Designed by: Rios Clementi Hale Studios
Available at: notNeutral
Price: $50.00

I will probably never stop coveting these plates. While I suppose it's possible that such a busy pattern could lose interest after a while, I've been after these for years. Somehow the complexity and edginess is still elegant.

More info: notneutral.com