Chicago - September 17, 2007

Creature Comforts

Kitchen Gadgets for a Lifetime

You’re a far cry from a homemaker (maybe in your next life). But you can appreciate good design. These form-meets-functional kitchen toys will help you fake it till you make it.

Milk your day for all it’s worth with the Bialetti Mukka Express cappuccino maker. The spotty cow print combines a stove-top coffee maker with a carafe for frothing milk. Follow the simple instructions to make a creamy capp — and ditch your Starbucks card for good (Sur la Table, 52 East Walton Street, between Michigan Avenue and Rush Street; 312-337-0600).

Sweeten your morning with a pour from Pylones’s tumble sugar pots. Way cuter than any sugar substitute package and available in four candy-colored designs (Art Effect, 934 West Armitage Avenue, at Bissell Street; 773-929-3600).

The ceramic Mr. and Mrs. Jones juicer set, handmade in England, can double as a sea salt or olive oil vessel once juicing duties are fulfilled (Sprout Home, 745 North Damen Avenue, at Lee Place; 312-226-5950).

You’ve fished your tea strainer out of boiling water one too many times. Te O tea strainer’s helpful hands attach to the edge of your mug and prevent drinking and dunking incidents (Fly Bird, 719 Lake Street, between Oak Park and Euclid Avenues, Oak Park; 708-383-3330).

Up next: oven usage 101.