You can’t buy love. But you sure can surround yourself with beauty that is good for the heart and soul. That notion would seem to be the organizing principle behind the eclectic offerings at Rian Rae Interiors & Gifts, which specializes in unique but comfy home décor pieces that make use of elements found in nature and are, quite simply, beautiful to behold. They’re also so sensually and texturally alluring that you might just long to reach out and touch them, like these geometrically shaped hand-crocheted pendant lamps ($224; pictured) or this French crinkle pendant made of white glass ($379). The Bamboo Cloud chandelier was designed by a Thai artist using traditional bamboo-weaving techniques in a nontraditional way ($690). The roof of this handcrafted lantern ($1,898) is covered with oyster shells. Cuddle up on the couch with this crocheted wool throw ($148), and put a cup of hot tea on this coffee table made from an antique Fench pigeon basket ($1,385). (more…)

Scientists report that burning frankincense can activate “poorly understood ion channels in the brain to alleviate anxiety or depression.” Incensemania’s fragrance info page describes the scent as a stimulant used to aid in meditation and prayer and contends it can reduce anxiety and stress. You can buy 20 frankincense sticks made in India for a mere $1.50. But don’t stop there. An amazing variety of incense designed to relax, excite, and transport awaits. Nag Champa’s Satya Sai Baba is one of the most popular fragrance blends on the market ($2 for a 40-gram box). Handmade in India, it gives off a powerful, aromatic blend of resins, gums, spices, flowers and oils, with the red box said to be of highest quality/purity. Coils are great for summer evenings and PaulaWalla has the NK Blend Tea and Tree incense coil set ($25) with scents like green tea, bamboo, and jasmine. Or buy a five-pack of Thai incense coils in “flavors” like freesia, vanilla or cinnamon. Available in sticks, cones, coils, and other shapes, incense can even be disguised as matches ($1). Light one, blow it out and it continues to release a burst of purifying sandalwood or patchouli all the way to the base. These make great alternatives to a can of air freshener in the bathroom. Hari Om Incense has a large selection of Tibetan incense, such as this handmade Himalayan nirvana natural incense ($4.25). And then there’s traditional incense, the purest form you can buy, made of the actual resins, woods, herbs and saps. Want to burn some amber solid resin? It smells warm and sweet ($4 for a six-ounce pack). To burn traditional incense, you’ll need charcoal tablets ($2 per roll) and perhaps an antiqued brass and copper hanging burner with lucky signs ($29; pictured). Incense Warehouse has some of the prettiest burners we’ve seen, like this cobalt-blue raku-fired lotus flower burner ($19), which can be used for cones or sticks, or the celadon burner from Bali with the Sanskrit symbol for “om” ($7).

Thank goodness for the Web. How else would you be able to score handmade home goods from around the world? (Unless of course you’re going to pull a Phileas Fogg?) Enter Poppytalk Handmade, an online “street market” showcasing handmade goods from artisans worldwide. The key differentiator from other craft sites like Etsy.com is that Poppytalk Handmade features a monthly theme. July’s market is themed “Home Sweet Home!” and features goods to make a house a home. August’s theme is “School Days!” appropriately enough. Much like an antiques emporium, the site features a limited number of screened “sellers,” who rent their space by the month. We were drawn to artist Michelle Brusegaard’s unique take on formalwear, which includes striking, signed digital prints of gowns hanging on clotheslines ($15 each). Also nifty: Domestic Construction’s pendant lighting made entirely of tea cups ($58). Beehive Kitchenware’s bird measuring spoons ($88; pictured) and other kitchen goods are the antithesis of standard issue culinary wares. The same can be said for Flappergirl Creations’ sexy aprons and coffee cup cozys ($28, $12).

Skulls aren’t just for bikers and pirates anymore. If you thought skulls and crossbones were morbid, menacing, or just plain silly, it’s time to bone up on your fashion sense. Anyone with a pulse has to have noticed the proliferation of skeleton craniums on everything from aprons ($30) and maternity skirts ($70) to this pink skull T-shirt dress ($21) for toddlers. Skulls are about as hip as you can get, as evidenced by these Christian Audigier Charmed Skull men’s board shorts in black ($128) or these Juicy Couture men’s skull-print board shorts ($78). Girls like empty heads, too. Check out this black and white sundress (on sale for $37) or this pink bandanna halter dress ($59; pictured). Both would look mordantly good with a pair of flip skull sandals ($23). For boys, a pair of Vans Ferris skulls skate shoes ($45) might revive a fading fashion reputation. Skulls can even be cute, as on this pink skull denim handbag ($29) and this sterling silver skull and crossbones bracelet ($68). The trend is more than a bit of skullduggery. It appears to be serious business.

Office organizers with style and a green streak should take a look at a new line of goods from design giant Herman Miller: The Teneo storage system was designed by Ayse Birsel and Bibi Seck (Birsel was just honored by the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design) and has earned the Silver “Cradle to Cradle” eco-certification, partly thanks to the recyclability of most of its components. Designed in modules that can be combined to fit the storage needs of workspaces both large and small, Teneo lets users decide how many shelves, drawers and mini-closets they want. It also offers a pleasing array of surface materials — from metal and wood veneer to felt and cork — and encourages customers to mix and match using an online Color Tool to visualize choices. Pricing varies, depending on finishes and options; a thorough price breakdown can be downloaded here. Teneo is availabe through Herman Milller dealers; to find a dealer in your area, enter your state or Zip code here.

It’s a garden of wonders at home decorating stores lately, as the classic theme of fruit has been revived with enthusiasm and now inhabits a wide range of home items. Fruit-themed pieces are fun, and an easy way to give your home a summery look. The pineapple has long been a popular motif in home decor. The pineapple hearth candelabra (pictured) is a graceful way to dress up the fireplace during the off season($55); it supports six pillar candles and is crowned with sculptural pineapple votive cover. The wrought-iron pineapple wall frieze ($80) is a striking adornment for any doorway. These lifelike porcelain pears and apricots will fool any guest reaching into a fruit bowl. Created by artists Lorraine Taylor and Nicky Smart, the sculptures are molded from real fruit and meticulously tinted and glazed ($72 to $400). Top off that mantle or sofa table with this handsome Belcaro pear box made of wood and decorated with bronzed leaves ($136). A & I Home Décor specializes in fruit decor, including grape, mixed fruit, strawberry and the pineapple (again!) kitchen wear, yet the perfect fruit for any country kitchen has to be the apple. We like the kitschy table clock ($30), the audacious big apple bread box ($32) or the cheerful ceramic three-piece tabletop set ($11). Finally, the Dale Tiffany fruit ceiling pendant lamp would look gorgeous over any dining table, with its warm fruity glow (on sale for $203).

It started with the latest e-mail from CB2 with this photo of a bedroom with the words “so boho” to describe it. I liked the room, so I decided to investigate other boho furnishings and home décor to see what the term actually means from a visual standpoint. The original Bohemians were travelers or refugees from central Europe; the French word bohémien means “gypsy.” DMI India describes boho as “a fashion look with fringing, patchwork, homespun and raw-edged fabrics, paisley and floral prints, embroidery, tassels, studding, tooled leather.” The lovely Women of Hope sandstone statue ($78) and tropical bamboo lounge chair ($74), both from Ten Thousand Villages, qualify as boho décor. So does the Tommy Hilfiger Bohemian Luxe bedding collection at Boscovs, which features a symphony of ruffles, paisley and stripes in fanciful designs. To see enough boho items to fill a room, visit Polyvore. I couldn’t find the featured ruby metallic vases at the U.K. Store The Pier, but I’m pretty sure this autumn gold vase ($138) and small bowl ($50) and this amber Sundance mosaic vase ($40) are equally boho in character. Both would look perfect with the Sofagarden’s Moroccan sunburst pillow in maroon and gold brocade ($100). I’m not so sure about this boho iron bed ($1,800 to $2,100) at Sundance, but what do I know? Described as a “bohemian rhapsody that evokes a fortuitous attic find,” the bed might pass with the right items piled up around it.

Holy credit card, Batman! The Dark Knight sure does make you want to shop. The film, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, scored the biggest opening in Hollywood history with $155 million. And while you may have already spent $10 on a movie ticket, there are superhero-sized amounts of Batman-inspired goods to keep the spirit of the movie alive. The official Warner Brothers Batman Store is a good place to begin. The general consensus is that Ledger steals the show as the Joker, so no doubt the black Joker T-shirt ($20) or the white “Why so serious?” Joker T ($20) is a good addition to any collection. A lunchbox with a Batman emblem is the perfect accessory for back to school ($14), while The Dark Knight limited-edition Batman bust ($66) or Joker statue ($165; pictured) could adorn the mantle of any comic-loving fan . At Target.com, fans can purchase The Dark Knight, a book featuring character sketches, director Christopher Nolan’s original shooting script and personal behind-the-scenes material created during filming ($27). Buzz is already growing for a possible Oscar nomination for the film’s music; pick up the movie’s soundtrack at Amazon ($13). Kmart offers fun Batman decor for youngsters. The Warner Brothers Batman rough bat valance ($12) goes perfectly with the Batman dark bat comforter ($25). Sweet superhero dreams!