I have this one and love it:

http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-984609/Simplex-Copper-Teakettle;jsessionid=3297AE8B841B0BA4747A232B4087A517

If this is to look pretty on top of the stove: Chantal (although find out which color the giftee would prefer!)
If this is to boil water: electric kettle, for reasons already mentioned above. There are some gorgeous electric kettles as well, if you want looks AND utility. Ours is probably our most used kitchen small appliance, so I don't begrudge it the counter space.

We really like our OXO enameled stovetop kettle. Use it almost daily, had it for about 3 years.

Anonymous wrote:Op here, thanks for the great advice! I had never even thought of the electric tea kettle and its great to hear good things about chantal as well!

I never thought I'd want an electric kettle but we have a large capacity Bodum one with multiple temp settings (nice if they brew different varieties of tea) and it gets used more than once a day. It was was hard to give up the counter space but it's so fast and comes in handy for many things. I do miss hearing the Chantal whistle sometimes (husband and pets do not!) so haven't parted with it yet, though it is packed away.

Op here, thanks for the great advice! I had never even thought of the electric tea kettle and its great to hear good things about chantal as well!

We have a Le Creuset, it's lovely!

Had a great Chantal for several years before we received an electric kettle as a gift.

Le Creuset. Pretty.

Ours is Chantal, coated enamel I think? We had a previous Chantal one in brushed stainless that was a nightmare to clean and this one is much better. I love the whistle and it boils water efficiently. I bought it at Marshall's for about $25.

I wouldn't want a countertop one because we don't have that much countertop space and if I can avoid something occupying valuable countertop real estate, I will.

Forget stovetop. Get them a Cuisinart countertop electric tea kettle. Much faster, doesn't take up stove space, and has five different temperature settings, from 160 for green tea, to 200 for french press, to regular boil. They'll love it.

Someone on our gift list has requested this. Since we don't really use one at home, I would love recommendations. My first thought was Le Crueset?