Essential 10 - Home Sweet (First) Home

You have your very own mailbox with just your name on it. No more roommates, no more solo cup and cheese ball parties, no more cooking in Aunt Linda's grotty old stew pot. You work hard for your money, and deserve to come home to a place that is both cozy and sophisticated. Set your fine self up with these crucial items and you'll be sitting pretty in your new place.

1. Chef's Knife: Forget the $16.99 8-knife set at T.J. Maxx. This Victorinox 8-inch chef's knife ($30) will slice and dice everything from tomatoes to a whole chicken.

2. Cutting Board: This Chicago Cutlery Hardwood Cutting Board ($16) is sturdy and will last through thousands of choppings.

3. Quality Pot and Pan: There almost isn't anything you can't cook in a good, seasoned Cast Iron Skillet ($10). And in a pinch it makes a great weapon. You can boil pasta in any old pot, but to make a rich meat sauce or killer vegetable soup you need a nice, solid pot that will cook evenly and clean easily. The Simply Calphalon Nonstick 5-Quart Pot ($31) is just the thing.

4. Down Comforter/Duvet: A quality down or down-alternative comforter ($150) is key. It's warm, cozy, machine washable, and you can change your duvet/update your bedroom style as often as you like. The Regency Havana Reversible Floral/Stripe Duvet Set ($40) is in rich brown and blue hues. If you're after a bit of a different look - just flip it over.

5. High Thread-count Cotton Sheets: Grandmas's hand-me-down sheets were great for college, but you deserve pristine 300+ thread count cotton sheets ($50) for your first place. When you crawl into bed with freshly shaved legs - oh it's like buttah!

6. House Plant: Get a cute little aloe or spider plant (easy to take care of, hard to kill) to green up your new space.

7. Full-length Mirror ($40): When you're getting ready for a big meeting or hot date you should be able to check out your ensemble in all its glory.

8. Bose Speaker: The Bose iPod Speaker Dock ($300) is an investment well worth the price. It's sleek but powerful you'll love blasting Lady GaGa while you get ready for a night out (or getting randy to Stevie Wonder for a night in...wink).

9. Plate Set: Your table will look chic set with this funky Sango Nova 16-Piece Dinnerware set ($42) has 4 place settings.

10. Wine Glasses: Oh wine - that sweet elixer. Now that you're on your own in this great big world treat yourself to some classy goblets. These Lenox Butterfly Meadow Glasses ($26) are fun and girlie (and big).

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Comments

Rache

Posted on 10.31.09 at 10:06 AM

Amen to all of those. I am moving into a new place soon and was thinking of what I can buy to treat myself to something new. New sheets and new pots were on the list.