Cheese Grater, $14, www.countercouturedesign.com. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
They’re versatile. They’re inexpensive. And they’re often handmade, by local artisans to boot. We scoured stores and websites for a range of designs for this sampling.
Beet, $14, www.countercouturedesign.com. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Mix It Up, $2.95, www.crateandbarrel.com. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Sill, $18, www.huset-shop.com. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Fishing Otters, $18, www.anthropologie.com. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Japanese tenugui, $13 each, www.tortoisegeneralstore.com. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Summer Weeds, $18, skinnylaminx.com or Heath Ceramics (store and online). (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)