It’s artists like Ingibjorg Hanna (via) who remind me that it’s the little things that matter. I’m sure there are many people out there who think that the design of a hanger is insignificant, but I’m certainly not one of them. Of course, for close to $35 a pop, it wouldn’t make sense to fill out your entire closet with bird hangers, but I’d love to have just one to hang from a hook on my closet door for my bathrobe. I’m certain it would bring a smile to my face every morning. — Erica P.

Love for colorful, practical Fiesta Dinnerware is everlasting, and for good reason — the stuff fits in with every style from Art Deco to kitsch to modern, and it’s been a popular buy since 1936. (It was discontinued in 1973, but brought back in 1986, and has been going strong ever since.) If you love Fiesta, you have a chance to win two place settings in the newest color for 2010 before it’s even in stores. Simply share a story about your family’s love for Fiesta with manufacturer Homer Laughlin by March 20, and you could win. Get the Fiesta Dinnerware contest details here.

And by the way, have you entered Shelterrific’s Twitter giveaway of a Brother P-Touch 1090 labeler yet? Click for details.

Photo by Flickr member spunky5775.

I discovered Tremar when I was shopping for a Christmas present for my sister and her Sears Craftsman Home. Produced in Cornwall from the 1960s through the ’80s, Tremar Pottery mostly appears in unglazed, nature-inspired colors — fitting for today’s Arts and Crafts resurgence. Check eBay to find pottery similar to the 7″ vase I gifted, shown above, like this pair, as well as the tiny wren that I purchased for myself. What can I say? I love birds and it seemed like a long trip to make the vase take by itself. — Sarah L.

P.S. For the curious, yes, the turtle shell in the photo above is real; we frequently see Eastern Box Turtles in our yard. Unfortunately, a predator dispatched the turtle, so we left the shell on a rock to dry out, then gave it four coats of clear poly.

Nothing adds culture to cooking like an Eiffel Tower grater. The good people at Pylones know this and have expanded their line of quirky home items to bring even more fun to the table. Crocodile bread knives, rhino cheese knives, and adorable, freestanding bird butter knives join their bestselling line of dog cake servers in the cutlery menagerie.

For just a touch of color, try on an angel wings mug in a variety of shades, or stick to the minimal with “make my day” milk and sugar set, available in March.

For more nifty finds for all over the house, click here. — Sarah C.

Related:
New York Gift Fair: new arrival from Jonathan Adler

My husband and I were engaging in smalltalk at a party recently, taking turns listing what we do for a living. My husband was asked what exactly he meant when he said he’s currently studying for his actuarial exam. He deadpanned, “It’s sort of like King of the Nerds.” I laughed so hard I nearly choked on my bruschetta. A Pi Dresser by Etsy seller OhClementine would be perfect for the King of the Nerds in your life. The one I spotted sold (there are obviously many nerds of nobility out there) but designer Nicole Haladyna says:

“I could most definitely create another with the same Pi design and would be thrilled to do so for anyone interested. However, the dresser itself would not necessarily be identical, as each furniture piece is salvaged.”

Imagine the possibilities of a dresser branded with the numerical value of pi (not that nerds need a reminder) with plenty of room for calculators, slide rulers, and sweater vests. I hope OhClementine does a whole series of furniture — I’d love a lamp shade painted with the Pythagorean theorem or a coffee table decorated with the quadratic equation. If you do go the custom dresser route, Haladyna says that the price would be in the $250-$350 range plus shipping, depending on the size of the dresser and your location. As of March, she will be located in Brooklyn, where you may be able to pick up for free. — Katie D.

The Athena Book Table has swooping curls that are the perfect fit for your books. The Ofidio Dining Table looks like it might scamper away on its curved legs. They’re items in the Machine 87 bamboo collection from Miami-based designer Facundo Poj, who writes:

“These pieces are 100% bamboo — no nails, no screws, no glue. The assembly is a simple groove joint system and no tools required. …I guess this series might be my own tribute to the great masters of De Stijl. The simple beauty of rectangle & line compositions.”

Whatever it is, we like it! See more here.

My goal was to spend less than $100 redoing our daughter’s room for her birthday. Since we weren’t replacing the bedding (Grandma made her a beautiful quilt with scraps from her mother-in-law’s quilt bag), the bed, or my college dresser, it seemed more than doable. In the end, I spent closer to $150:

- $80 for three gallons of Tinker Bell and Cabbage Green paint
- $45 for two Daisy drapery panels
- $2.39 for lime green grosgrain ribbon to make new ties for the panel
- $15.72 to redo a rescued chair

My daughter’s favorite part? It’s a tie between the quilt rack from her baby room that I repurposed as a curtain rod/shelf to hold my old Breyer horses, and the “Cinderella” storybook art by Fern Bisel Peat. Although the illustrations deserve to be in better frames, right now I’m sticking to my (revised) budget and using what I have. — Sarah L.

See more photos on Shelterrific’s Facebook page!

Related:
Easy DIY canopy bed
Memory pillow from your child’s sleeper
Big-girl bedroom, tiny budget
Cheap house makeover: the dining room

Here at Shelterrific, our love for all things Adler is no secret. It’s only fitting that I made a beeline for his booth at this weekend’s New York International Gift Fair. And while I’m never disappointed, this year I’m especially pleased to introduce the newest arrival to the Jonathan Adler family: Jonathan Adler Junior. The design dynamo has set his sights on style on a smaller scale with his first full collection for children. Created with his signature “happy chic” aesthetic, the new line includes furniture, lighting, pillows and other accessories that feature the menagerie of giraffes, lions, elephants as well as the customizable options we know and love in his current work. Jonathan Adler Junior will be available in stores and at Jonathanadler.com in a few short weeks. — Sarah C.

Related:
The hits just keep on coming
Salt and pepper shakers
Jonathan Adler finds his way into my squirrel-lovin’ heart
Wow: Wallpaper from Jonathan Adler

Remember when you were a kid and bath time was an adventure? When I was little, I used to submerge myself in water and swirl my hair all around pretending I was a mermaid trapped in a bed of seaweed. The grownup half of me now sees bathing as a routine necessity, but the kid in me desperately wants this porthole bath from Water Monopoly to splash around in. Everything about this bathtub makes me smile: the serene color, the adorable portholes, and the witty statement it makes. It’s like a punch line for your bathroom! — Katie D.

I first heard about Decor8’s Interior Styling Pool on Flickr via Paola at mirrormirror. The pool is for people who want to share photos of their own homes and workplaces that are not only beautifully styled but also competently photographed (I might have some trouble with that one). I love the range of styles and the creativity on display by real people, as opposed to a catalog. There’s also a discussion board where you can get help with your own decor issues. — Mary T.

Photos by Flickr members dottie angel and sandiv999