Dosa designer Christina Kim has an affinity for fuzzy pink sponges that she picks up at bodegas in Mexico. She's the one who taught us this lesson: Humble kitchen accessories in bright colors can make your heart sing.
Happiness from a scrub brush? More than you can imagine. The Scandinavians have clearly been onto this for some time: Nearly all of our favorite tools for use in and around the sink come from Sweden and Denmark.
Above: A longtime Remodelista favorite, the Normann Copenhagen Washing Up Bowl & Brush is newly available in mint; $87.50.
Above: From Flotsam + Fork, Iris Hantverk's Mexican-style Washing Up Whisks are made in Sweden by visually impaired craftspeople; $11.99 each.
Above: Absorbent, quick-drying Växbo Linen Dishcloths from Sweden come in 22 colors and are pretty enough to leave lying around; 103 KR ($11.91). This one is in Michelle's kitchen—read about her remodel in The Death of the Dining Room.
Above: Hay of Denmark's Porter Paper Towel Holders are made of ash and come in four finishes; $48 each from Huset.
Above: Clear the crumbs with the Mr and Mrs Clynk Epousette + Ramasse, a brush and pan from Andrée Jardin of France, €28 ($30.66). Also see the company's New Must-Have Chopping Block and Vegetable Brush Set.
Above: For mop day: Xala's Drop Bucket comes in pale green, navy, yellow, and red with contrasting metal handles; $25 each from Neo-Utility and $59 NZD ($38.57) from Everyday Needs in Auckland, New Zealand. See more of the Antwerp design company's everyday goods in our post Belgian Basics with a Fairytale Twist. Photograph via Everyday Needs.
Above: Pine meets pink: Pantry Design's Scrubbing Brush is £3.95 ($6.17) from the DotComGiftShop.
Above: Christina Kim alert: The Casabella Green Scrub Sponge is $1.95 at Crate & Barrel. To see the sponge at Dosa headquarters that started our obsession, go to page 69 of the Remodelista book.
Above: Wooden Washing Up Brushes by Rice of Denmark come in three color combos; £1.99 ($3.11) each at Trosta Home.
Above: Scholten & Baijing's Tea Towels from Danish design firm Hay are available in a range of patterns and bright colors. Made of a cotton mix, they're $32 for a set of two at A+R.
Find more kitchen essentials in our Domestic Science archive, including Precision Trash Bins, Display-Worthy Brooms, and 10 Favorites from the French Scullery.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on July 30, 2015, as part of our Global Color issue.
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