Housewares

Though it's made in Sheboygan, Wis., this is the pan that Vicki Fan and the crew at Beacon use for stir-frying rather than a Chinese (or Japanese) wok. Smaller and easier to handle than many traditional woks, the Vollrath pan has a single long handle with a "Gatorgrip" coating -- which means the handle won't get hot and you can maneuver it much like a saute pan. The flat bottom sits level on the stove and doesn't require a separate base like many older-style woks do.

JEREMY PETTY and Thomas Hayes are over the hill and loving it. After selling 20th century design and vintage California paintings and sculptures at NoHo Modern in North Hollywood, the dealers have moved south to La Cienega Boulevard. "We consider ourselves more of a decorative and fine arts gallery," says Petty (above left, with Hayes), who is showing work by Northern California sculptor Don Potts and planning an exhibition of Southern California Hard Edge painter John Barbour.

We've had our flings with one-handed spring-loaded peppermills and push-button peppermills with built-in flashlights. But in the end, there's nothing like a Peugeot. If anyone makes a better pepper grinder, we've never found it. The 196-year-old French firm has some experience with mills: It began life as a grain mill in eastern France and made its name as a manufacturer of hand-cranked coffee mills. And yes, it's the same company that makes cars. Why is this peppermill so good?

Attention, procrastinators! It's not too late to pick up some terrific gifts for the food lovers on your list. A gorgeous Parmesan cellar, a cunning hot chocolate pot, a reissue of a classic cookbook -- here are some terrific ideas to suit any budget. --- 1. BOWL 'EM OVER Our lady of the ladle: Revisit Julia Child's groundbreaking "French Chef" TV series with these two DVDs, each of which contains 18 episodes of her first PBS cooking show.

AT Growing Wild, a go-to destination in Manhattan Beach for unusual flower arrangements, customers clamor for seashell wreaths this time of year. Intricately woven pine and maple branches are decorated with beautiful tropical shells. Owners (and twins) Lee, above left, and Lisa Hoven, say the pieces lend a breezy, beachy, distinctly Southern Californian air to the holiday home. "Because of our proximity to the water," adds saleswoman Scottie Wells, "the seashell wreaths just make sense."

HAND-chopped chocolate, freshly roasted nuts, fragrant, just-grated ginger: These are some of the top-quality ingredients that go into this issue's winning cookie recipes. And when friends and family bite into one of these babies, those are the flavors you want them to taste. What's the best way to prepare baking sheets to give your holiday cookies the best send-off: the old-fashioned way (i.e.

It's amazing what they can do with Plynyl these days. These woven vinyl, easy-cleanup place mats created by New York designer Sandy Chilewich come in ever more colors and patterns. "Engineered squares" are produced with complex gradations of color -- green, orange, turquoise. A "spun" vinyl has swirled strands that conjure some kind of industrial lace. Other textures evoke sewn-together ribbons or bamboo or cool steel mesh. About $15 each.

SOMETHING is happening to the house. It's vanishing. First it was the paneled dishwasher and refrigerator, which seamlessly concealed themselves amid the kitchen cabinetry. Then pantry shelves began hiding in pullout walls, and knife blocks took cover in carefully camouflaged compartments. Now, the humble microwave oven has been banished to an under-the-counter drawer.

"PEOPLE who are coming of age now completely missed out on the vintage vibe of cocktail culture," says Joe Keeper, owner of Bar Keeper in Silver Lake. His tonic? A cool blend of furniture, stemware and party accessories with a twist. Along with contemporary items including Mexican hand-blown double old-fashioneds, plates emblazoned with skulls and shatter-resistant crystal Tritan wineglasses from Schott Zwiesel, vintage wares fill Keeper's shelves.