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Shopping Guide
Shopping for Carafes
Because even if you’re just drinking tap water, it’s more fun when you pour it out of a carafe.
Whether you’re serving cocktails, wine or water, pouring the drinks out of a striking carafe makes it feel a little more special.
“I keep one on my desk because I like that it brings a little personality,” said Brittney Hart, who founded Husband Wife, a Brooklyn-based architecture and design firm, with her husband, Justin Capuco. “It has a dual purpose of being pretty and reminding me to do my healthful duty and drink some water as the day progresses.”
Ms. Hart’s office carafe, a vintage piece by Gabriella Crespi that she found in Milan, reminds her of her travels. But she and Mr. Capuco also have lots of other carafes at home, which they deploy during dinner parties, when a pandemic doesn’t interfere.
“We’ll just put them all on the table,” she said. “Every two people get one. It’s a nice, informal way of serving water.”
And whether your carafe stands ready on a dining table, desk or night stand, it beats having to dash to the refrigerator or faucet. “It really does make my day a little better,” Ms. Hart said, “every day.”
Is the carafe stable? If it will be used on a desk with computers or a dining table shared with children, look for one with a wide, heavy bottom to protect against accidental spills, Ms. Hart suggested.
Should it coordinate with your drinking glasses? Not necessarily. “It doesn’t have to be part of a suite of glassware,” she said, or even match the other carafes on the table.
Is glass the best material? Sure, glass is nice, Ms. Hart said, “but having a ceramic piece is also wonderful.”
Pale Rose Carafe
Handblown seeded-glass carafe with cup
$68 at Sir/Madam: 718-797-8758 or shopsirmadam.com
Magisso Naturally Cooling Ceramic Carafe
Matte-black ceramic carafe
About $56 at the Home Depot: 800-466-3337 or homedepot.com
Flight Carafe
Fluted borosilicate-glass carafe by Felicia Ferrone
$180 at Fferrone: 310-804-5485 or fferronedesign.com
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