Elegant Tools for Handy Women

After seeing the gorgeous hammer below in this month's House Beautiful, I was inspired to track down other practical items that still retained a certain elegance.

Tackling a serious DIY project shouldn't have to mean a home strewn with ugly tools. You'll feel pleased as punch everytime you pull out a smart leather toolbag filled with beautiful, well-designed tools that can one day even be heirlooms.

1. Estwing Claw Hammer, $38 at Kaufmann Mercantile. A solid steel hammer with bound leather grip, this Estwing piece is sure to last, and the leather will become nicely worn in.

2. Antique J.Rabone & Sons Torpedo Level, price varies at Gilai Collectibles. Torpedo levels are designed for one-handed jobs or cramped spaces, and this boxwood level with both horizontal and vertical bubbles has been doing the job for years.

3. Crick Tools 15" Level, $63.18 at Crick Tools. This handcrafted level can be customized with choice of wood (mansonia, beech, cherry, or maple), vial color (green, clear), and engraving (binding or plates).

4. Great Neck Sheffield Lockback Utility Knife, $8.50 on Amazon. The blade housing folds out of a happy blue handle, and the blade itself is retractable and easy to change.

5. Vintage Lufkin Rule Co. Auto-Retractable Tape Measure, $15 at Martin J. Donnelly Antique Tools & Books. This steel tape measure has a much prettier casing than the black and yellow plastic variety you'll find at your local hardware store. Plenty are available on eBay.

6. Wrought Head Black Oxide Nails, $25.95 for 212 at Lehman's. Though these nails aren't for everyday uses like hanging pictures, they'd make a great detail on refurbished furniture or a rough-hewn table.

7. Revolving Leather Punch, $17.95 at Lehman's. I have grand plans to take an upholstery class at The Furniture Joint, and this punch will come in handy. Until then, it can be used to make a six different sized holes in canvas, rubber, cardboard - I can think of endless crafty uses for it.

8. Wilde Wooden Handled Screwdriver Set (Includes 7), $27.95 at Harry J. Epstein Co. This set includes several sizes of Phillips head and slotted (flathead) screwdrivers, and the wooden handles are pretty and durable.

9. Klein Tools Leather Tote, $101 at Amazon. Made of extra-heavy leather and reinforced with riveting and heavy stitching, this tool bag is designed to withstand plenty of wear and tear - plus, it's attractive enough to leave around the house. Klein also makes a deluxe version that comes in several larger sizes and includes a shoulder strap for easy carrying and retainer straps to keep it neatly closed.

I was surprised at how difficult it was to find elegant tools - do you know of any I've missed?