Iittala

I think this milk carton is the most artistic one that I have ever seen. When I discovered it in a grocery store, I had to buy it right away, even though I don’t really like skim milk. It is so different from regular milk cartons! One of my Finnish friends told me that it was designed by Klaus Haapaniemi, who is well-known for his illustrations, advertising art and clothing fabric prints. Haapaniemi also designed mugs and dishware for Iittala. You can even buy a print of this beautiful cat, called Putte The Cat, on Haapaniemi’s website. All the profits will go to the Khanapur School for unprivileged children in India.

Valio milk carton designed by Klaus Haapaniemi

I have recently moved to a new country, so I had to buy many things, and especially those for kitchen. I’ve lately visited the Iittala store, which is one of the most famous Scandinavian design companies, especially for housewares, including ceramic and glass objects. I found two ingenious woodenware pot guards, one elk-shaped and the other with the Aalto design. They are not only fancy but also convenient. They can be placed between a pot and a lid to help steam to come out when boiling. If you cook very often, you know how they can be useful. Here are my new friends, Mr. Aalto and Mr. Elk!