Last week The New York Times magazine took a peek inside chef Rick Bayless‘ Chicago home. He and his wife and daughter live in a 3,600-square-foot converted tavern that dates back to 1916. Can you imagine?! Among the collectibles you’ll find in his place — including lots of Mexican folk art to go with his spicy cuisine — is an enviable 27-piece Frankoma serving set. Frankoma is a type of ceramic that comes from Oklahoma, made from locally found red clay and glazed in greens and browns. It’s the kind of thing you can find quite easily in thrift stores, and on eBay once you know what you’re looking for. Its earthy hues and hefty weight have a rustic beauty you can enjoy every day — though certainly fans of the style hunt down and treasure its more rare pieces. Read more on collecting Frankoma at this link at about.com.

We spotted this fun entertaining idea in the new issue of Met Home and just had to investigate for ourselves. It’s Bord Bar — revamped, customized airline trollies from days gone by. Each one has traveled the globe, and tells its own story through dents and dings. You can select a pattern and design for your trolley, and then add drawers and boxes within to your liking. They’d be perfect for a groovy home office, or perhaps your own swish drinks trolly (mini bar bottles, not included). About $1400 each. Click here to see more.

I just love the deadpan expressions of the animals in British artist Kay McDonagh’s original etchings. Lambchop (above), for instance, absolutely kills me. I’d totally hang these in a spot normally reserved for more serious portraits, like the dining room or along a grand stairway, where they’d elicit a smile every time you passed.– Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

I swear I’d cook more if I had kitchenware this great-looking. I mean, who could help but be inspired to start something yummy bubbling on the stove if you got to look at it in this French-made red enamel pot by Dansk? The vintage, like-new pot was part of Dansk’s classic “Kobenstyle” line and holds two quarts. Of what — well, that’s entirely up to you. Current bid: $22. — Leah H.

(P.S. Don’t miss the matching 5.5-quart red Dansk Dutch oven currently up for auction from another eBay seller.)

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

One of the things I like about eBay — and that not everyone realizes — is that you can find a lot more than just used and vintage items there. In fact, there are thousands of eBay sellers unloading brand-new, name-brand products, often at a fraction of the original retail prices. (Many live near outlet stores and make a living selling their finds on eBay; others seem to have some sort of inside track on company overstock.)

Take this melamine Matryoshka platter and matching dessert plates from designer Thomas Paul’s popular Folk collection. With “Buy It Now,” the platter is $15 and the plate set is $24. (Psst — the seller also has a bunch of Jonathan Adler stuff.) — Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

Granted, the faded Eighties-era fabric is beyond fugly — but these classic midcentury modern chairs have potential written all over them.The bentwood clamshell chairs, which retain their original “Kodawood of Miami” tags, were designed by Danish icon Finn Juhl, whose furniture regularly fetches hundreds and even thousands of dollars at auction and from high-end dealers. With the seats and backrests recovered in a poppy graphic print, you’ll have some super-stylish — not to mention valuable — seating on your hands. Current bid: $10 for the pair — Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

I really like these colorful streetscapes by Hampshire, England illustrator Nina Clough (aka Etsy seller artquirk). Clough employs a variety of mediums in her work: Pen and ink, charcoal, collage, digital coloring, watercolor, and gouache. As the artist herself says, the mood of her creations alternates between “dark and miserable and bright and childish.” One of my favorites, above: Rooftops in Prague, $25. — Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

Yesterday we wrote about a striking similarity between Pottery Barn’s new nursery banks and Jonathan Adler’s ceramic sculptures. Well, Leah H. has found what could be Jonathan’s original inspiration: This jaunty circa-1966 ceramic horse figurine features intricate and oh-so-groovy detailing and measures a pert six and a half inches from hooves to mane. C’mon — you know you want it. Current bid: $80 and rising! Click here to try to nab this real deal yourself. Auction ends Jan 6th.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

When it comes to Utilitarian Chic, you can’t beat a vintage Swiss Army blanket. There’s that graphic red stripe and white cross, and the earthy gray-brown nubby wool. These circa-1930s to -1950s military-issue throws are perfect for draping across the back of a sofa or folding at the foot of your bed to add a shot of color and texture to the room and to help ward off the winter chill. Robert Redford’s Sundance catalog is hawking Swiss Army blankets for (a shocking) $289 a pop — but you can snag one for a tenth of that price on eBay. The one at above measures 56″ X 77″ and is currently at $23.50. Click here to bid now.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

Never mind Christmas — are you ready for your New Year’s Eve festivities? Just think how great those cocktail nuts will look in this midcentury silver-and-enamel bowl, made by MEKA of Denmark. Current bid: $10 (hurry — the auction ends Wednesday evening).

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.