(ARA) - Take some time and give it some thought. That's what designers, furniture makers and color experts are predicting you'll do in 2005.

Functional no longer means boring. Buyers who once recognized design as fashion, coolness and a lifestyle are starting to focus on functionality and value, in addition to expecting good design, particularly when it comes to their home.

"Consumers now look for designs that offer them an easy solution to the sometimes daunting duty of last minute entertaining," notes Denise Dinyon, Dansk entertaining and tabletop expert.

From dishwasher-safe to oven-to-table ready, it is little things like these that make entertaining fun. Your guests will sure enjoy having your company a lot more than sitting in the kitchen watching you prepare. It is with that in mind that Dansk, a leader in creating stylish and functional tabletop items for over 50 years, and the Michael Graves Design Group have introduced "Dansk Graves Studio," a collection of quality home products that are beautiful and design-focused while also functional, perfect for entertaining and easy mealtime preparation.

The new Dansk Graves Studio line, which includes dinnerware, glassware, flatware, cookware, and serving pieces, features Michael Graves' trademark modern lines, understated colors, and subtle touches of whimsy. The collection allows consumers to indulge both their inner design snob and practical self.

The line aims for functional innovation all the way from the pitcher that tilts about 20 degrees from vertical to the cheese cutters, which have removable plastic cutting slots for easy cleaning. And, for the fashionista within, the dinnerware features a soft saturation of colors on each piece evoking the dark-to-light trend in fashion.

"Dansk Graves Studio is unique, yet not 'out there,'" comments Denise Dinyon. "It radiates fun and uniqueness from the product to the packaging, right down to the naming of the collections and the graphics of the lettering."

You can find the Dansk Graves Studio collection online at www.dansk.com, or home specialty and select department stores nationwide.

Courtesy of ARA Content