Put your hand up if you’ve finished your Christmas shopping. No, me neither. While I do love the holidays it’s also a busy time of year for designers and shopping seems to take a back seat. I always love seeing a good gift guide to help inspire me to get started.
Last year I created a holiday guide based on local (to me) gifts which you can read here. This year I’m doing something different and I’ve created a guide that will allow you to purchase online so that regardless of your location, you can take advantage of the suggestions.
This guide is filled with some of the things I would personally love to receive but also that I love to give.
HOLIDAY ROUNDUP FOR THE DESIGN LOVER
1/ GLASSWARE
Is there a time of year when we don’t need beautiful glassware? I don’t think so. And let’s face it, we often don’t spend money upgrading our own collection so this is a perfect gift for the person in your life that likes to entertain. I love cut crystal because it’s timeless and will never go out of style.
2/ CHEESE BOARD
This is another decadent splurge for the entertainer in your life. This lovely acacia wood board can be used for any cheese or charcuterie board and it’ll lend an air of sophistication to your table. And the best part is that when it’s not being used it looks great on display in your kitchen. Just lean it up against your backsplash and create a small grouping of interesting shapes and you have an instant vignette.
As the winter starts to make an appearance I’m always grabbing for a blanket to keep me warm. And if you have a family, you know there are never enough blankets to go around. This lovely basket weave design is simple and understated and will go with any design style. Any design lover will be thrilled to receive this as a gift.
This is another item that I never have enough of. I would be delighted if someone gave me a beautiful serving set like this. This set is made from stainless steel and mango wood. It would be a lovely hostess gift to take to your holiday party hostess or a gift for anytime of the year.
5/ PILLOW
Yes, most of us have pillows but are they handmade in Canada using luxurious fabrics? This is one of my go-to sites when shopping for clients and I can guarantee that the quality is unlike any other you’ll find in a regular retail store. Tonic Living works with an in-house workroom to ensure that the quality of their products always meet their high standards. You can buy this as just the cover or include an insert as well. It’ll be a well appreciated gift!
6/ VASE
Yes, you can buy a vase anywhere but for a design lover not any old vase will work. This one has a sculptural element that allows it to stand on its own when there are no flowers involved. This is a combination of simplicity and geometry that come together to create the perfect item. And if you really want to step up your game you can fill it with their favourite fresh flowers.
This is another one of those items that can be misunderstood. A candle can be simple and ordinary or it can be something that becomes a statement all on its own. This candle has all the best elements rolled into one. Its tapered shape is eye-catching and and topped off by the ribbed pattern to make it truly unique. This is made in Canada and can be ordered in 5 different colours.
8/ ICE BUCKET
If you’ve ever thrown a cocktail party you know just how crucial ice is. I can’t think of anything more useful than gifting your host or hostess with a beautiful ice bucket filled to the brim with extra ice. It’s a thoughtful gift that can ease some of the concern around ice that inevitably occurs at some point during every party. And after the party this is good looking enough to be left out on a buffet or bar cart to add sparkle and shine to a space.
9/ OIL DIFFUSER
An oil diffuser is basically giving the gift of great scent. I love how sleek and minimal this one is because let’s face it, while we enjoy the scent they provide we don’t need the piece to be attention grabbing. Just stick this on a bookshelf or a counter and let it fade into the background while providing all the wonderful scents that will enhance your design lover’s space.
10/ PEPPERMINT BARK
If you know, you know. This is the Williams Sonoma famous holiday bark that peppermint lovers consider a must-have every holiday season. This bark is a once-a-year favourite and when it’s gone, it’s gone so don’t hesitate. Bring it to your next get together or consider it a perfect teacher gift. And be sure to grab one for yourself.
Amber Lewis took the design world by storm as a designer but has gone on to create so much more. She has branched out into a retail store and most recently has her own furniture line. If your design lover is into a laid back west coast style, this book will be a treasured gift. And while it provides hours of fun perusing the pages, it also looks great left out on display.
I hope this gift guide helps you get that difficult, design lover on your list checked off.
Happy holidays to all of you and I look forward to sharing much more design inspiration with you in 2024. If you have a project beginning next year that you need help with, contact me. I’m booking for next year so let’s chat.
