By Leslie Linsley

January 2026

With the holidays behind us it’s a good time to assess everyday practical things that need replacing. I’m more about decorating tips, so this unfamiliar attitude prompted me to carefully walk the aisles of  Housewares to see what new products I should consider. My cookware is definitely in need of an upgrade to better and safer materials. With a little research I discovered that when nonstick pans are scratched or used at high heat, PFAS, forever chemicals, escape into the air or our food.

Surprisingly I learned that the best pots and pans are made of materials our grandparents used; cast iron and stainless steel. Ceramic and enameled cast iron are good options. When buying new cookware, read the labels and look for PFAS-free products. The Frieling fry pans are made of silicone-free ceramic and stainless and the line of Cuisinart pots and pans are all great looking and PSAS-free. The RIO collection of ceramic nonstick pans is also well designed and clearly marked PSAS-free. These products were inspiring.  The Lodge cast iron, seasoned skillets promise you’ll “taste the natural difference of just iron and oil.” High quality cookware seems like a good investment. The quality of their coatings is better and therefore less likely to leach into the food. And, it will last for a very long time.

When did you last replace your handheld can opener? I found the wall of small cooking gadgets mind-boggling, with things I didn’t know I had to have. I laughed when a friend gave me a hand-held jar opener and said, “This is one item you will wonder how you lived without.” Turns out she was right. I use it almost every day.  Experts say, “Get rid of your plastic spatulas and mixing spoons made of toxic materials. Stainless steel utensils are safe but can scratch ceramic and nonstick surfaces. Wood and bamboo are recommended as better options and the products are good-looking, standing in a crock on my counter.. 

Feed the birds! Repel the deer! Walking through Housewares to the Garden, I was distracted by the variety of bird seed for every species we find on the island and was reminded that my bird feeder has been empty for too long. Right next to these bags was a shelf filled with bottles of spray deer repellent. How had I not known about this product? The label promises that spraying my hydrangea bushes will insure their return in all their splendor next summer. Last year the deer devastated my Arborvitae. Never again and these products are all environmentally friendly. 

A few helpful items to consider for keeping cozy and efficiently warm this winter: a Vernado whole room space heater that’s small, compact, and energy saving. The ceramic Lasko heater is sleek, and provides 1500 watts of warmth with auto thermostat control. Like so many products we don’t think about until we need it, snow shovels have improved since you probably bought the one you own. The new versions are lightweight, made of durable poly, with reinforced edges and a stainless-steel handle. The description promises that it pushes and scoops snow with ease. Now, if they could only invent one that automatically does the job! 

After looking at all these practical products I was yearning to get back to what I call “the fun stuff,” which I found at the end of the pots and pans shelf. Beautifully designed, every-day practical, perfect size, ceramic coffee mugs with chunky handles like you find in an old-fashioned diner-only upscale. The cups, plates, and bowls are a beautiful shade of soft seafoam, perfect for our Nantucket homes. I began to envision them as the inspiration for a beautiful dining table set with the Sferra linen placemats and napkins tied with contrasting ribbons and one perfect white Calla Lily in a bud vase at everyone’s place. Clean, sophisticated and practical. 

This led me to Home Furnishings where Donna and Shamona were quick to point out their favorite furniture and rugs. “Sit down! Donna commanded as she pointed to one of the two large, gray and white striped upholstered, wood-frame chairs. You don’t say “No” to this force of nature who has, for many years, been designing interiors for Nantucket homeowners. I did as I was told and instantly had an “Ahhhh” moment. “See!” she grinned with satisfaction. I could have stayed in that chair for the rest of the day. Good looking, practical and comfortable- – a winning combination. Now that she had my attention, she pointed to the adjacent room where dozens of rug samples were on display. “We now sell bound remnants in all sizes, made from leftover pieces of custom-cut carpeting,” she said. This opens up a whole new area of possibilities for homeowners. 

January is the perfect month to refresh a room with paint. The trend in 2026 is away from neutrals and toward cozy, grounded and nature-inspired. Hot green colors from Farrow & Ball are Dibber, Reduced Green and Sap Green. Benjamin Moore’s color of the new year is Silhouette, described as “refined elegance.”  It’s a nice antidote to yesterday’s neutral look and a great way to embrace the new year. Here’s to making your New Year truly New!