When we first began Remodelista, one of our earliest discoveries was Labour and Wait, a small British shop that sells sensible utilitarian goods for the home. Established in 2000, the shop was one of the first to glamorize practical, utilitarian household implements that had been around forever but had become neglected in an era of plastic-handled brooms and dustpans.
Just a few years ago, these goods were hard to come by in the States, so on trips home to the UK I would fill my suitcase with natural bristle brushes and scrubbers until it was bursting at the seams. Luckily, with the renaissance of the general store, these goods are now appearing Stateside and are becoming part of the domestic landscape. To wit, Crate & Barrel's Clean Slate collection. Here's a sample of their domestic goods that have caught our eye:
Above: Tookies Cleaning Cloths are hand knit in India from cotton and jute; a set of three is $16.95.
Above: Large Wood Drying Rack; $79.95.
Above: Stainless Steel Bucket with wood handle; $19.95.
Above: Goat Hair Round Dust Brush by Redecker made in Germany by a family of brushmakers; $34.95.
Above: Red Dust Pan with loop hanging handle; $9.95.
Above: Redecker Natural Dust Pan Brush with horse hair bristles; $14.95.
Above: A favorite, the US-made Steele Divided Canvas Sorter on wheels; $134.95.
Check out our post on 10 Wardrobe Maintenance Essentials for advice on how to combat moths and store and hang clothes.
A devotee of domestic science? Browse our Gallery of products.