Shown from top to bottom:

T-table by Patricia Urquiola

Made of shatterproof injection-molded plastic, this table features a 20-inch-diameter top with a delicate cutout design. It’s available in three heights.
To Buy: $239, www.kartell.it for stores.

The Backstory

Spanish designer Urquiola had a hit with this table at the 2005 Milan International Furniture Fair, and in 2006 it went into mass production.

What the Design Pros Say

“In 30 years, the table will look just as fresh,” says industrial designer Anthony Di Bitonto. “It’s simple and modern.”

“It’s a higher calling to make a table that a thousand people can buy rather than one that only a hedge-fund guy can buy,” says Richard Wright of the Wright Auction House.

“O” Wineglasses by Riedel

Happily liberated from the stem — or what Sclaroff calls the “problematic appendage” — these tumbler-style glasses are lead-free and dishwasher-safe. They take up minimal cabinet space and reflect the trend toward casual wine drinking.
To Buy: $20 for two, www.bedbathandbeyond.com.

The Backstory

Frustrated that his stemmed glasses wouldn’t fit in his cupboard, Maximilian Riedel, chief executive officer of Riedel Crystal USA, introduced his design for the company’s first stemless wineglasses in 2004.

What the Design Pros Say

“Dining has become less formal,” says industrial designer Anthony Di Bitonto. “These will be around in years to come — they’re down-to-earth and fit with people’s lifestyles.”

“These will become classics because functionally, they’re superior to stemmed glasses,” says interior designer Steven Sclaroff. “They’re comfortable and harder to break.”