Contrary to popular belief, getting older is pretty fantastic. By now you've moved into a nice crib, have a decent job, and maybe you've even found a life partner to go half on awesome stuff with with whom to settle down. Alternatively, you may have amassed a gaggle of cats and scored a sorbet-colored Smeg fridge that you can finally afford to keep stocked with the finest Chardonnay. (Hey, being grown up means something different to everyone.)
Either way, life is good and whether you care to admit or not, you're entering the next phase of your life -- the nesting phase. Don't fight it; embrace your intensified love for roasting whole chickens, being in bed by ten, and buying furniture that doesn't require a three-day weekend and a Swedish paperclip to assemble.
Just because your inner-Martha is surfacing faster than an Anthony Weiner nudie on Twitter doesn't mean that nesting can't be cool. Take a deep breath, take down that godawful "Live-Laugh-Love" sign from your "kitchen nook" and head to Etsy for some sweet kitchen scores.
Etsy, in case you've been living under a rock for the past eight years, is an online marketplace comprised of thousands of virtual shops that sell vintage and handcrafted items ranging from organic bath products to "upcycled" furniture. Contrary to my last statement, Etsy's sellers are not just a bunch of crusty, twenty-something hippies selling hemp bracelets and hugging it out (though I'm sure that you wouldn't be hard-pressed to find one). Instead, there are cutting-edge designers, burgeoning artists, and other creative types selling unique items that you will inevitably spend a considerable amount of your workday dreaming about. Whether you are a veteran Etsy shopper or a newbie, here are a few new kitchen gems to covet.
5. Bowls by Nicole Porter Design ($185)
Nicole Porter Designs' products are in a word, eye candy. Fun graphics, cool designs, and pops of color can be found in all of her products which range from neon-printed wooden bowls to I "heart" Florida tea towels. Snap these puppies up soon though, Nicole Porter is becoming a hot commodity and has been featured in a variety of design magazines. With all of these Etsy and bricks and mortar, design-store mash-ups it's only a matter of time before West Elm comes knocking at her virtual shop door, starts mass producing her wares and possibly, doubling the price.
4. Activated Bamboo Charcoal Soap by Craftsman Soap Co. ($6.50)
Pretending to be table-flipping, Jersey housewife, Teresa Guidice, while cooking an authentic Italian dinner is loads of fun. Attempting to remove the lingering scent of fifty garlic cloves from your hands is not. Not to worry, the Craftsman Soap Company has got you covered with their Activated Bamboo Charcoal soap. This little black bar is unscented and made from 100 percent natural ingredients including bamboo activated charcoal which helps wash away offensive odors. Craftsman also produces a variety of soaps for shaving, bathing, and exfoliating.
3. Subversive Tea Towels by Crafts Gone Awry ($20)
Crafts Gone Awry's tea towels put bitches in literal stitches with their clever and creative line of hand-stitched tea towels.The towels' slogans are usually a nod to various pop culture references and street vernacular. Sure, in a way they are the Martha Stewart equivalent of hanging rubber testicles to the back of a pick-up truck but hey, live a little-- you're a nester, you're not dead.
2. Sea Glass Blue Prep Bowls by Sheila's Art ($30)
No nester's home would be complete without a set of handcrafted prep bowls. Sure, you could just eyeball the spices as you throw them into a bowl or you could prep all of your items in advance and cook like a boss. These rustic pinch bowls come in a variety of colors from sea glass blue to celadon green. In addition to prep bowls, the shop also sells a variety other kitchen-friendly items like nesting bowls and rustic plates.
1. Porcelain Trays by Laurie G. Ceramics ($60)
Israel-based artist, Laurie Goldstein's ceramic designs range from sleek salad bowls and plates to elaborate, slab-built tea pots. Her white porcelain trays are simple and elegant and like all of her products, they can be used in a variety of creative ways. Her plates and serving dishes could make a good meal look great, perfect if you're one of those people who will snap pics of their culinary work until the steam is no longer visible (no judgement).
These five finds are just the tip of the Etsy iceberg and unfortunately, there aren't enough hours in the day to see everything. What are Etsy kitchen items are on your wish list? Shout 'em out in the comments section below.
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