When it comes to high end dining, most consider the food, rather than the tableware. At Berkeley's Chez Panisse, chef/owner Alice Waters worked with Heath Ceramics to design custom place settings. Her reasoning was that since her food was locally sourced, her tableware should be, too. While you can buy the full range of Thomas Keller's tableware, Heath Ceramics has only released a 4-piece set, along with some serving dishes, for home use from their Chez Panisse Collection. The set is available in a neutral almond/ginger color. Price: $146.

Conphorm is a design company based in Berkeley, California that is dedicated "to revealing the inherent relationships between structure and function." In other words, they want the use to be built into the material - a trait that I cannot say that the majority of the handbags we like share. With the Conphorm Bags, there is no wasted or purposeless space. In fact, all of their bags unzip to be completely flat. The Um Tote, like the rest of Conphorm's product line, is made from industrial felt, utilizing the scraps of excess factory material that might otherwise be wasted. It measures 12.5 x 9.5 x 5 inches and has an appealing flow to it, in addition to a utilitarian practicality. You can choose the zipper color from blue, grey, green or orange. Price: $115.

[via Cool Hunting]