We love French cookware company Le Creuset because its cast iron wares are indestructible and oh-so-pretty.

It boasts over 70 cool colours like Elysee yellow, Cherry red and its just-launched Cassis, a regal shade of purple that’s right on point with fall fashion. Collect the entire enameled set including the Round French Oven (from $255) and Iron Handle Skillet ($175), or mix and match with classic hues like Kiwi or Dijon.

Now our kitchen will be aflame with colour (as opposed to actual flames, we hope).

At Arthur Quentin, 3960 St-Denis St., Montreal, 514-843-7513, www.arthurquentin.com

Montreal’s reputation as a design capital is now set in stone with the opening of Canada’s first Alessi boutique.

The ubiquitous Italian design lab adds touches of whimsy to everyday objects. Here you’ll find black nesting dishes from edgy architect Zaha Hadid ($237) and Matali Crasset and Pierre Hermé’s Essential de patisserie tools (pictured) with dual-purpose whisk ($76), stainless steel bowl ($201) and orange cake plates ($161). Big spending gourmets will covet the copper fish poacher ($1601), but we fell for Ron Arad’s bright blue Chiringuito wine cooler ($78) that hangs off the edge of a table.

Toss the tchochkes, dig the design.

Alessi, 2085 Crescent St., Montreal, 514-316-4560, www.alessi.com

Ever since the city began curbside compost collection, your house is stinky and the fruit flies are having their own kitchen party.

Stick your unsightly green roly-bin outside and invest in a polished mini compost pail (from $59.95). Perfect for collecting scraps, it’s small enough to fit into the dishwasher, has a sturdy lid, and comes with charcoal filters that studiously control odors. Choose a black or white stoneware model or the sleek stainless steel and it will look fetching on the counter.

Now if only there was a robot to roll out the green bin each week…

At Wilfrid & Adrienne, 4919B Sherbrooke St. W., Westmount, 514-481-5850.

We love a weekend fry-up, but the lingering smell of eggs and onions leaves a guilt-ridden stink all day long.

No need to ditch your morning ritual with some olfactory help in a bottle. Made in Quebec, Lotus Aroma’s chemical-free home fragrance sprays ($16) are formulated from 100 per cent natural essential oils with nose-worthy scents like geranium and rosewood. With notes of orange and bergamot, the citrusy Uno Agrumi blend is perfect for hiding the evidence of a heavy breakfast. 

Now if anyone asks what you ate this morning, just wink and say, “half a grapefruit, of course.”

At Jean Coutu stores, www.jeancoutu.com

Our kitchen parties are legendary, and so is our aversion to washing up.

Those piles of dirty dishes have become far more tolerable since we discovered über-stylish stainless-steel cloth holders ($59.95) from Finnish line Magisso. It attaches magnetically to the inside of your kitchen sink so the washcloth stays dry and out of sight. Like old adage says, “a place for everything and everything in its place." 

Now we're practically volunteering for dish duty.

At www.urban-butik.com

Water bottles are an eco-don’t and clunky coolers besmirch our designer kitchen. So what’s a thirsty gal to do?

Rehydrate with the sleek porcelain water-filtration system that had tongues wagging at last month’s Interior Design Show. Designed in Quebec, the egg-shaped Ovopur ($689) sits sculpturally on the counter and filters water through a reusable cartridge that removes pollutants and absorbs chemicals from tap water.

Hosting a soirée? Remove the cartridge, fill the top with ice and use to serve sangria.

Six to eight glasses of water per day—no problemo.

At Les Touilleurs, 152 Laurier Ave. W., Montreal, 514-278-0008, www.lestouilleurs.com or 1-888-704-1308, www.aquaovo.com

White is right for fine dining, but when you’re having friends over for nibbles, you want something more bold for the spinach dip.

These copper bowls and plates by Victoria’s mimiBe have enameled insides, and come in 20 different, bright and shiny shades ($25-$65).

Inspired by vintage wallpaper and mid-century décor, the colours range from celery green to Tiffany blue to mandarin orange, all with copper outsides. Mix it up with several different shades on the table—everything will look more appetizing…especially that spinach dip.

Find retailers and view housewares at www.mimibe.com