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Cat Blue
Jonathan Adler, the guru of organic shapes and earthy matte glazes, has a secret – a passion for shiny blue-green ceramics from the sixties. He’s haunted flea markets, unable to resist the desire for turquoisey cats, bulls, and horses for his mantel. Imagine his surprise to discover that a small workshop in Tuscany is still manufacturing the hand-glazed Rimini Blue collection. Now an ecstatic Adler is selling the animals and vases alongside his more muted wares (from $65 to $200).
JONATHAN ADLER/465 Broome Street/212-941-8950
Bug Off
Forget creams and lotions. The only guaranteed protection against mosquitoes and ticks is to stay covered up. EMS Skeeter Pants let you garden, hike, or play outdoors without getting eaten up. The easy-fit pants have Velcro closures at the ankles, and they’re made of super-lightweight nylon. They’re also machine-washable – unlike some other gardening pants around ($34; in women’s small, medium, and large).
EMS/20 West 61st Street/212-397-4860; and 611 Broadway, at Houston Street/212-505-9860
Retro Active
The name Radio Flyer has been synonymous with little red wagons since 1917; less well-known are the company’s little red trikes. Though it’s been manufacturing tricycles since the fifties, this is actually a new version, but with a cool, retro look. Like the wagon, it’s made of steel with real rubber tires, and it has double-decker
CHILDREN’S GENERAL STORE/2473 Broadway, near 92nd Street/212-580-2723; and GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, LEXINGTON PASSAGE/212-682-0004
Putting It All Together
Think patchwork and you think Granny’s quilts. The folks at Anthropologie thought differently. They turned patchwork into a more today bed covering – a duvet. It’s made in India from French fabrics and arrives just in time for those fall nights ahead ($120, queen-size; $140, king).
ANTHROPOLOGIE/375 West Broadway/ 212-343-7070; and 85 Fifth Avenue, at 16th Street/212-627-5885
Cutting Edge
Tools Design, a small Danish company, has come up with a knife stand that’s not only handsome to look at, it’s one of the most intelligent around. The aluminum body is angled for easy access, yet what makes this holder so nifty is a plastic accordion-fold insert that accommodates fifteen knives of different sizes and shapes (from a thin paring blade to a thick cleaver). The insert is removable, which means you can pull it out, wash it, and get rid of accumulated crumbs ($68).
MOMA DESIGN STORE/44 West 53rd Street/212-767-1050