One of the things I delighted in when I moved into my very first apartment was the process of picking out a set of dishes. Of course, my budget was considerably lower than I would have liked, so I ended up settling for a modern table setting from Target. At the time, I thought the plates and bowls were well-designed and unique. The well-designed part remained true, but I later found out that half of my girlfriends had selected the very same set. Unique, they were not.

But for truly unique dishes, you should shop at Little Flower Designs. The online retailer sells teapots, tea cups, sushi sets, vases and bowls that feature hand-painted pictures of nature. I love the simple, almost childish way these dishes are decorated. The pieces kind of remind me of the pottery I used to make when I was a kid, except with much better executed. Ranging in price from $20-$40, these would make great housewarming gifts.