Message boards can be made of various materials and in different shapes, but they usually share one common feature: ugliness. However this one, spotted in Australian gourmet store Simon Johnson (181 Harris St, Pyrmont, Sydney), breaks the mould. Using the horizontal slats of an old pair of louvred window shutters, the wall-mounted board holds cards, hand cloths and other odds and ends attached to large Shooks.

Look for second-hand shutters the next time you visit a flea market overseas. Or, if you prefer them to curtains or blinds, have them custom made in Hong Kong for your windows and keep a pair for the wall. Expect carpenters to charge about $1,500 for a basic set.