Housewarming ideas - help!

Hi

One of my best friends has just moved into a newly built house - they have struggled for so many years and have probably over committed themselves with debt, but they just wanted their own home for their 2 kids - 7 and nearly 2. It is a small-ish house (13 sqs) for 4 people - so any gift needs to be compact and/or meaningful.

Background - we moved into a new house early Jan and they bought us a hamper with salt, bread and wine - so we always have spice in our lives, food on the table, and enjoy the good times. So I want to get her something in return that means something.

Can anyone give me any ideas?? I dont want to get her a garden voucher for plants, or candles or things like that - something that shows our friendship and that she is special. It is a hard one and I am trawling everywhere for ideas.

Thanks again ladies :)

Oh I was going to say bread and salt - but the wine is an excellent addition to that idea! :)

How about a really nice front door mat - or a bell for the front door - and attach a note about it always welcoming friends and loved ones? Handy - plus the nice ones are often on the dear side, kwim?

Have they had the garden done? I know when we moved in I really just wanted nice plants, or Bunnings vouchers...
Quite frankly it would have been ace for someone to buy us some pavers so we could do the crossover from the driveway! lol
Is the inside already painted? (some new houses aren't handed over painted)

I think a really lovely plant or tree would be ace :)

What about a bucket with bits and peices they might need, like extension cords, hooks (maybe the stick on 3M ones), hammer, felt chair pads, torch and batteries etc?

Maybe a framed picture for their new house, or scuplture, vase etc. Or something they will se a lot so every time they use it they think of you

Have they got some artwork that you could frame for them. Or take a great family photo yourself, have it enlarged and framed for them.

Some things i think i would like from friends if i was having a house warming:

* A clock with something written on the back about "time with friends" etc etc
* A tree to plant with a little picket for underneath with their family name and a msg
* Outdoor Wall feature, you can get some gorgeous ones at markets etc and it's something you can all admire when you visit.

One of my friends would definitely bring, wine, chocolates, popcorn and DVD's as thats what we do together, have girls night... maybe you can get them a few of their favourite things along with a disposable camera and get them to take pics of the fun night you can all share eating it all!

Prob no help, hope you find something that means just as much to you as it does to them.

Ladies, thank you - it was all very helpful!!! I forgot to mention that our tastes are quite different in furnishings etc, and I was looking at something yesterday for an outside wall in their garden areas and couldnt make up my mind in case i loved it and she didn't!

MaryDean, I did get a new doormat - a great idea for a new house too.

We don't get to spend much time just us (always kids in tow LOL) so a nice unobtrusive picture of us would be cherised too I think.

I can always trust the BB girls to come through and throw all the ideas out there - I love it!