Simple yet practical, the Shaker ethos has informed furniture design for generations. That’s evident in Areaware’s Little Big Trivet, whose dowels are easily adjusted to accommodate everything from a teapot to a large casserole dish.

The Brooklyn company’s products are available here through Let Liv, a Wellington-based, family-run online store. A few others in a similar vein include:

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The Sphere – a smooth, ergonomic bottle opener that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. 

The Prism – an octagonal hardwood enclosure reveals a corkscrew when the magnetic halves are pulled apart with a simple twist.

The Horseshoe – a powerful magnet with twice the lifting strength of a bar magnet (and of course, the horseshoe is a symbol of good fortune and fertility).

And amping up the nostalgia factor, we’re quite taken with the Radio Dock – an iconic piece for your nightstand or countertop. Your iPhone connector can be pulled through the dock, allowing the device to recharge (it’s not, however, a docking speaker).