Every well-appointed kitchen needs one: a set of wooden spoons and paddles. When cared for properly (periodic applications of mineral oil), the spoons can last a lifetime.
Above: Canadian inventor and designer Tom Littledeer is known for his beautifully carved kitchen tools with fluid shapes inspired by canoe paddles. The five-piece Littledeer Cooking Utensil Set, handcrafted from solid North American maple, is $99.95 at Williams-Sonoma.
Above: Designed by Johanna Jelinek, the three-piece oiled beech, chrome-tipped Senior set of utensils is $2.99 at Ikea.