1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                        Applica Incorporated [letterhead]

Lisa R. Carstarphen
Vice President - Legal Affairs


                                             June 4, 2001


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C.  20549

         Re:      Opinion of Counsel for Registration Statement on Form S-8 of
                  1998 Stock Options for Applica Incorporated

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

         On the date hereof, Applica Incorporated, a Florida corporation (the
"Company"), sent for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). The
Registration Statement relates to the offering and sale by the Company of up to
205,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.10 per share (the
"Common Stock"), which will be issued upon the exercise of stock options
("Options") granted in 1998 outside its stock option plans to persons not
previously employed by the Company or its subsidiaries, as a material inducement
to such persons to enter into employment agreements (the "1998 Options").

         A.       Basis of Opinion

         As the basis for the opinions expressed herein, I have relied upon
originals or copies of the following documents:

         1.       The Company's Second Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, Second Amended and Restated Bylaws and corporate minute books.

         2.       The option agreements evidencing the 1998 Options.

         3.       The Registration Statement.

         4.       Such other documents, instruments, certificates and matters of
law as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the expression of the
opinions contained herein.

         For purposes of this opinion letter, the documents and information
referred to above are herein collectively referred to as the "Documents".

         B.       Opinions

         Based upon my examination and consideration of the Documents and in
reliance thereon, and subject to the comments, assumptions, limitations,
qualifications and exceptions set forth below, I am of the opinion that:


   2

                  1.       The Company presently has available shares of
authorized and unissued Common Stock from which the 205,000 shares of Common
Stock proposed to be sold pursuant to the exercise of the 1998 Options may be
issued; and

                  2.       Assuming that the Company maintains an adequate
number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock available for issuance
to those persons who exercise their 1998 Options, and that the consideration for
the underlying shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the 1998 Options is
actually received by the Company as provided in the agreements evidencing the
1998 Options, the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of 1998
Options will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

             I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not admit that I come
within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Act
or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

         C.       Comments, Assumptions, Limitations, Qualifications and
Exceptions

         The opinions expressed above are based upon and subject to, the further
comments, assumptions, limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth
below:

                  1.       I am licensed to practice law only in the State of
Florida and do not hold myself out to be an expert on the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Florida and the United States of America.
Accordingly, the opinions expressed herein are specifically limited to the laws
of the State of Florida and the federal law of the United States.

                  2.       This opinion letter is limited to the matters stated
herein and no opinions may be implied or inferred beyond the matters expressly
stated herein.

                  3.       I am an employee of the Company and am executing and
delivering this opinion letter only in such capacity and I shall not have any
personal liability for the opinions expressed herein.


                                            Sincerely,

                                            /s/ Lisa R. Carstarphen

                                            Lisa R. Carstarphen
                                            Vice President - Legal Affairs