great design under $180  

Eames Wire
Base Table, 179 USD at Design Within Reach. It's very low, but I have one next to a low scoop lounge chair and it works perfectly for your coffee or a book.

Another one
Magazine rack by Giotto Stoppino for Kartell. Available many places, but here in Switzerland it's at Pfister for the equivalent of about 165 USD.

any toasters?
Any toasters that might fit the bill?

eclisse
I nominate the eclisse lamp (in white). It's an absolute classic, and marked at about your price limit

Bathroom
A) A large Missoni towel (colorful stripey art for the bathroom)
B) Vipp 9 dispenser
Both are under your price mark

Seating
A) a set of six flottoto chairs = 175 GBP total(Ebay 220451208065)
Per chair that's quite affordable ! and absolutely under your price limit
OR
B) a classic Eames shell chair on a non fancy base, should be possible to get one on the Ebay for under your price limit to.

Re: great design under $180
Really fanastic designs and great types of models...
Russel,

Pendant lighting
A vintage Fog & Morup semi lamp

Toasters
As for "design" toasters, I believe there are at least three ranges that are often quoted as 'classics'
1.) Dualit (naturally).
The least expensive models should fall within your price range. But I heard not quite so good things about their functionality (perhaps best check out some customer reviews first, - perhaps it's a Tizio in toaster form ;o)
2.) Jasper Morrison for Rowenta.
(sleek, all white, Dieter Rams would have approved).
3.)Porsche toaster. Gorgeous, but over your price limit (and I'd refuse to pay that much money for a toaster). But absolutely gorgeous, did I mention that ? Perhaps you could justify forking out that much cash if you 'd call it a functional sculpture ?
BTW, if you are including electronics, how can you NOT include an Apple iPOD ? It's design, it's functional, it makes music ? :o)

Lytegem
Lightolier Lytegem desk lamp, Michael Lax, 1965. Perfectly timeless. At the link below, and many other sources.
http://www.designwarehousesantafe.com/product/440/

Perfect design
.. and thé most perfect design: nature !
Fresh seasonal fruit
(wonderful color, perfect shape to look at, seriously delicious & perfectly healty)
&
Green plants
(relaxing color, great shapes, filtering air quality)
Classic designs by the greatest designer ever !
(Hell, what's the point on spending all your cash on designer seats if you have no more money left for fresh fruit & vegs ?) And most designs of this sort all fall within your price range ;oP

Ite--
I don't mean to hijack this thread but I am leaving for Brussels in about 15 minutes for three days and I see you are writing from Belgium. Any recommendations about must-see things while I'm there?

Hi Riki :o)
What are you i...
Hi Riki :o)
What are you into ? I mean, what would you like to do ? Which cities will you visit ?
Personally, I really like "Gent". It's charming and very pitoresk. You can visit the Gravensteen (a sort of reconstructed castle), sit by the water and visit the art museum in the Jan Breydelstraat.
If you are in "Brussels", the Zavel is a classic browsing ground for MCM and art (pricey, but nice selection). Also a lot of shops selling chocolats. + The Dansaertstraat is one of the hip streets. If are there at lunch or in the evening, def. go eat in the Kasbah, and order the tajine with lamb, almonds and prunes. Delicious ! Further visiting: the instrumental museum is quite known. ANd you can tour underground brussels (i'll have to dig for specifics..)
http://www.thalys.com/be/nl/bestemmingen/Belgie/Brussel/restaurants/3255...

.
.
http://design.museum.gent.be/