Shovel birdhouse
To Jan Habraken's mind, if you can't add value to an object, don't bother designing. In his hands, an ordinary garden shovel becomes shelter for a sparrow ($133). Find it: Strand West, Oudegracht 114, Utrecht, 011-31/30-230-4305.
Ceramic series
Lara de Greef is breaking the mold with her ceramic art objects. Each piece looks like a stack of saucers but is actually a solid unit (from $42). Find it: Studio Lara de Greef, Lucas Gasselstraat 7A, Eindhoven, 011-31/61-080-2958, by appointment.
Jar tops Jorre van Ast's interchangeable lids convert a glass jelly jar into a multipurpose tool: shaker, sugar pot, milk pitcher, olive oil drizzler ($21 for set of five). Find it: Ook, Haarlemmerdijk 147, Amsterdam, 011-31/20-427-3287.