Rita Konig’s Favorite Under-$100 Home Items
Design can be prohibitively expensive, but not far from, say, Julianne Moore’s George Nakashima table there might just be a solid, economical Ikea shelf. In this series, we ask designers for their favorite useful, utilitarian home items under a hundred dollars. This week, London-based designer Rita Konig, who just launched Rita Konig Household Goods, her first home-wares collection, shares her essential wicker drink koozie, strawberry huller, and tray for giant ice cubes.
When I moved back to London in 2012 after six years in New York, I bought a small flat on the far edge of Notting Hill and made it the perfect bachelorette pad: a large sitting room, a small bedroom, and a genuine cellar, cobwebs and all (the man I bought it from was a wine dealer). I sketched the layout on the back of an envelope and had no idea how much of a life the place would take on with me. In the nearly 25 years since, it has seen me through marriage and divorce and motherhood. And it’s also grown, as I’ve been lucky to be able to buy the flat next door and the flat upstairs to make a few other small rooms. My daughter and our cockapoo, Eddie, now also call it home.
The whole story is in my new book, Returning Home, which comes out in January. This last renovation was the grown-up one, done properly with an architect, and even so, some of my favourite details came from having to sharpen my pencil. Rooms aren’t decorated with fabric and wallpaper alone; it’s all the stuff that makes the difference, and a lot of the best stuff is small. A beech pepper mill that actually works (and looks good left out on the counter). A tray by the bed for a cup of tea and a biscuit. Bud vases down the middle of the table, and a pair of snips that proved to be my gateway drug into gardening.
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I have a terror of leaving scented candles burning, so I love the instant gratification and very non-burdensome quality of the room sprays by Perfumer H. It is like that spritz of fragrance you give yourself before leaving the house. I often use it just before friends arrive for dinner. Marmalade for winter is one of my favorites because I love the scent of bitter orange in the house.
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This is the kitchen tool you didn’t know you needed — once you use it, you’ll never go back. I love to use fresh strawberries in desserts and have them for bites on trays when I entertain.
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‘The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now,’ by Gil Schafer III
Every house needs books, the more the better. And one of my favorites is my good friend and collaborator Gil Schafer’s first book, The Great American House. Not only are the homes and photos beautiful, but the writing is too. It’s a perfect start for any library or coffee table.
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Tovolo King Cube Ice Tray
I always tease my American friends about loving ice in their drinks, but really, is there anything more refreshing than an iced tea or lemonade out in the garden? These trays make huge cubes that don’t dilute your drink too quickly and look very chic in a glass.
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I can never have too many trays, and neither can you. These from Colefax & Fowler are lovely and so useful for bedsides or using for a cup of tea and a biscuit.
[Editor’s note: The price is converted to USD from pounds.]
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I love putting Maldon salt in pretty receptacles, and nice pepper mills can be quite hard to find. The David Mellor ones combine excellent mechanisms with beautiful design. The beech finish will be in style forever, and it’s worth splurging a little bit on things you use and touch every day.
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You can’t have too many of these around your flat. I like them under the sink, in the laundry room, by the fireplace. The enamel is really smart and the soft brush is ideal for not scratching good floors.
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Houses and Parties is one of my go-to sites, and it has converted me to the necessity of a cocktail napkin. These little napkins are such a nice thing to give a guest when they are holding a very icy, wet glass, and this set, with the charming appliqué mushrooms, definitely say “glamorous hostess.”
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This chopping board is a staple in my kitchen, and it’s very clean looking, so I’m happy to leave it out. I love that it has a lip so it looks like a counter.
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I love having bowls of these in my sitting room. It’s elegant (and indulgent) to have some really delicious, beautiful chocolates on display. But be warned: Get extras to have on hand because they taste delicious and are addictive.
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These charming covers are a genius way to serve a canned drink. They look so pretty and they will save your furniture. A cold, wet can going down on the table can have tragic results.
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I have a great supply of bud vases and decanters in my cupboard, and I love these magic copper balls for cleaning them. They’re perfect for a vase with a smaller opening and also keep harsh chemicals out of the vessel. No one wants to have bleach traces left when they are trying to get a flower arrangement to last.
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I always go to KRB at the end of a project to accessorize, and I always get a handful of these terrific notepads. Historically, they were placed by the telephone. Now I put them beside beds and sofas with a pot of pencils nearby. I especially love “Complaints” and “Blah Blah Blah.”
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These snips have been my gateway drug to gardening. Cutting flowers and deadheading with these beautiful things has definitely given me huge pleasure and joy, allowing me to spend time in my garden getting to know and understand my plants close up. It is amazing how, just doing that, my knowledge and confidence in gardening has grown.
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These little jewels have gotten me out of jail several times when I have needed flowers in an instant. With very little, I have been able to create a cheerful arrangement with stems cut from my garden at the end of the season without much going on. They require very little in terms of flower arranging, so I find they are a trusty friend for tables, mantelpieces, and little trays on vanities.
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The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
