Tea up, swing on a chandelier, and keep calm

A New Leaf
Any tea drinker knows there’s no comparison between the leafy loose stuff and the dregs that get crammed into tiny mesh bags. Trouble is, indulging in a cuppa when on the run often means sacrificing quality for convenience. Enter Libre, a small company out of Gibsons, B.C., that’s created an ingenious (and stylish) portable loose-tea glass. Its clever double-walled design ensures your infusion remains piping hot, while the removable filter keeps the leaves off your lips. Ahhh. Available with a glass ($25) or polycarbonate ($24) exterior from www.libretea.com or Murchie’s Tea & Coffee (various locations).

> Jessica Werb

In The Round
Angular modernist sofas are everywhere these days, but how about a circular one? Upholstery Arts’ Len Laycock has just introduced Saturna, his first round sofa, and it’s futuristic in more than just its swivelling, sculptural design: made from FSC–certified wood, 100-percent wool, and latex, this curvy customer is biodegradable except for its recyclable base. Added bonus: it’s so multidirectional that one person can watch the tube while the other gazes out the window. (The limited-edition piece runs about $6,000, at 2430 Burrard Street.)

> Janet Smith

Tiny Tool Kit
A hundred and twenty-five years ago, a man named Karl Elsener designed a handy little pocketknife for the Swiss army. To mark the anniversary of the ultimate multitasking pocket tool, Victorinox is releasing some classic and new styles of Swiss Army Knife, all emblazoned with the 125th-anniversary logo in gold on red. You’ll get lots of use out of the CyberTool around your house and yard: this baby has 34 functions, including a bit wrench with multiple heads, pliers, and a wire stripper, on top of the usual large and small blades and scissors. Best of all, there’s a corkscrew to use after you’ve finished all your hard work. The CyberTool costs about $175 at stores including House of Knives (various locations), Wanderlust (1929 West 4th Avenue), and Charals (757 West Hastings Street).

> Janet Smith

Poster Poise
Steel your nerves in these times of economic hardship with the grandfather of modern motivational posters. According to a BBC News article, the iconic Keep Calm and Carry On posters were designed by an unknown artist for the British government during the Second World War, and were only to be circulated in case of “a national catastrophe” (as in, a Nazi invasion of Great Britain). Artrageous (1256 Commercial Drive) carries silk-screened nine-inch by 12-inch versions in a variety of colours. At $21 (framed versions start at $65), they’re inexpensive enough to keep you calm until your house gets repossessed.

> Miranda Nelson

Saltwater Style
Bring the beach inside with lighting from West Vancouver’s Da Vinci’s Home (1461 Bellevue Avenue), which features elegant, one-of-a-kind floor and tabletop lamps and chandeliers ($450 to $600) adorned with several varieties of seashells. Owner Christine Fernandes carries a limited stock, ensuring that customers get a truly unique item. The store also has shell-shaped mirrors with similar detailing ($475), adding a little seaside style to bedrooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, or just about any part of the house.

> Miranda Nelson

Beanbag Bliss
The phrase “beanbag chair” usually conjures up images of musty rec rooms with rust-coloured shag carpeting. But Brooklyn-based company Yak Pak has given these 1960s staples a 21st-century update. The square-shaped bags are made of rip-proof, water-resistant nylon fabric and, with nearly 100 colours and patterns available (check out the camo, argyle, and cityscape prints), there’s a chair to complement almost every décor—rec room or otherwise. The chairs are about $150 (plus $27 shipping) through Canadian-based Neon Clothing.

> Miranda Nelson