Cocktail shakers with recipes printed on them are excellent space savers for your bar or tabletop. With these, there's no need to store and fumble with recipes. The best of the bunch is the shaker featured in the main photo by Kikkerland. It is printed with pour markings so don't need a measuring cup or jigger either.

Michael Shaikin, owner of Ottawa-based The Modern Shop, wants to bring a fresh take on modern design to Canada. As the former owner of a vintage resell shop, Michael certainly has the retail chops for this venture. And with an eye for great designs from Europe and the US, he has style covered, too.

IKEA may be the brand most associated with Sweden but of course there's more to the country than flat pack furniture from the big blue box. As a Swede living in Canada, Annika Ek wanted to bring products from small to medium sized Scandinavian companies to North America. Her shop, Truly Swedish Design, has the cosy minimalism of Swedish design sans big box. More

In November, as we neared the end of our year long editorial calendar, our focus shifted toward the ways we share our homes with others, during the holidays and beyond. Hosting parties, dinners and gatherings is enjoyable on many levels, not least of which (for design lovers like us) is the opportunity to dress up a table beautifully. Check out what our wonderful writers came up with as ideas for well-styled settings circa 2012...

• Entertaining Elements: Setting a Simple Chic Table
• Entertaining Elements: Setting an Organic Black & White Table
• Entertaining Elements: Setting a Happy Modern Table
• Entertaining Elements: Setting a Warm Industrial Table
• Entertaining Elements: Setting An Eclectic Collector Table
• Entertaining Elements: Setting an Elegant Yet Quirky Table in Black and White
• Entertaining Elements: Setting a Cocktail Party Table
• Entertaining Elements: Setting a New Traditional Table
• Entertaining Elements: Setting a Green & Gold Table
• Entertaining Elements: Setting a Monochromatic Table in Red/a> More

Warning: This roundup of barware posts from 2012 may inspire you to pour yourself a little tipple. But, hey, it's the end of the year so that's perfectly fine, right? Cheers!

• Celebrate in Style: 10 Contemporary Champagne Flutes
• Simple & Beautiful: Pitchers
• Cocktail Chic: Aperitif Glasses
• Celebrate in Style: 10 Simple and Beautiful Champagne Flutes
• Best Ice Buckets 2012
• Basic Bar Essential: Cocktail Shakers
• Best Corkscrews & Wine Openers 2012
• 15 Round Bar Carts: Serving in Style
• Everyday Good Design: Wine Glasses
• Easy Summertime Entertaining: Drink Tubs More

Don't know what to get your friends this holiday? Well, if they drink at all (or even if they don't, but love those Cokes in the old-school bottles), they could probably use one of these bottle openers. I have one, but it seems that whenever I have a hankering for a cold one, I can never find the darn thing. Plus, using one of these beautiful, design-y bottle openers will make popping the top off your favorite beverage that much more satisfying. More

Between holiday parties and special dinners, 'tis the season for drinking wine. Naturally, wine can be drank out of any just about anything (except maybe directly from the bottle) but if you want to start doing things right, there are better options. Over the years Maxwell has been keeping a running list of the best wine glasses and I've come back around this year for another update. Check out our list, and also see what readers have to say, after the jump… More

If you prefer a manhattan to a margarita, then this is the table for you: stylish but restrained with rich colors, classic shapes and plenty of organic elements to create the sultry vibe every cocktail party needs. More