Two years after moving into my house, it’s still very much a work in progress. I live and breathe furniture and accessories, hoarding inspiration like it’s a competitive sport. Pinterest boards? Ruthlessly curated. Instagram Explore page? A trained algorithmic beast, feeding me one beautiful (usually unattainable) object after another. Screenshots and saves? A digital shrine to covetable treasures. Here, I offer a glimpse into that world: a curation of homeware gifts ranging from the eccentric (leather-fringed armchair, anyone?) to the exquisite (I can’t explain why I must have a sugar bowl made out of a shell, but I must). Each piece is imagined for a home where every corner is considered and every detail sparks conversation.
Great Expectations-style mysterious benefactor, take note.
I’m by no means above jumping on a bandwagon, and I’ve loved the ‘girlhood’ trend that has been circulating for the last couple of years. This candleholder from Completedworks captures the spirit perfectly, adorned with whimsical charms, bows and hearts. Irreverent and adorable.
I’m obsessed with Maria Szakats’ fluffy artworks, which combine her background in fashion with art and regularly draw on medieval and Renaissance fables. This piece, Agnes with Spider, is inspired by a portrait of Agnes Sorel, mistress to King Charles VII of France, rendered in sumptuous mohair.
Is it practical? Probably not. Do I still want it? Absolutely. I’m a firm believer in the ‘surprise and delight’ theory when it comes to interiors – the idea that placing the occasional unexpected or arguably ‘unsafe’ object can make a space feel intentional and curated without ever tipping into maximalism. Æquo, founded in 2019 to showcase collectible Indian design, understands this well.
I love these weird, malformed glasses – their wonky stems and bulbous bowls proving, once and for all, that perfection is overrated. Studio Szkło treats glassblowing as an experiment, using moulds made from natural materials like bricks, wood and stone. Sometimes, traces of these materials get caught between the layers of glass, only adding to the charm.
I’ve been after one of these romantic lampshades from Maud Vaughn’s own collection for ages. The cotton-linen folds, cream lining and black grosgrain ribbon recall the puffed skirts of 1950s haute couture designers like Christian Dior and Guy Laroche.
I consider lighting a candle to be the solution to most of my problems. Christmas is usually an excuse to stockpile The White Company’s Sea Salt edition, but this Bois Vert candle raises the bar. Housed in an elegant porcelain vessel, its mint-green wax and bronze medallion elevate it to art object status.
A beautiful candle deserves an equally whimsical matchbox. MG&Co.’s embossed sleeve embodies the art of romanticising the everyday.
I’m endlessly charmed by Sophie Lou Jacobsen’s homeware, as evidenced by her double appearance on this list. I love the simple, clean fun of these aluminum coasters.
Shell motifs are having a moment, and Portuguese goldsmithing house Tavares 1922 has long been ahead of the curve, crafting jewellery and homeware rooted in Lisbon’s maritime heritage. This salt cellar-slash-sugar bowl is elegance epitomised.
I’ve been secretly scheming to swap out one of our perfectly good rugs for a Nordic Knots model for some time now. I’m a long-time admirer of the brand’s quiet, thoughtful designs – and am particularly drawn to the simple geometry and calming palette of the Park series, pictured here in the shade Sunrise.
This side table is inspired by fusilli pasta (the Florence-based Burgio team’s favourite shape). Enough said.
The work of German product designer Tina Bobbe walks the line between the fantastical (sadly her terrazzo espresso martini dispenser is only a concept) and the actual – like this exquisite hand-brew coffee maker in natural stone, resin and glass.
Colombian designer Natalia Criado’s metal and glass creations are divine, and this Perla mug feels like jewelry for the table: sleek, minimal, yet elevated with patinated brass details and a creamy stone handle in lava rock.
More wiggly, wobbly tableware for party season. I'm personally not a fan of hosting (the pressure is too great), but this ‘Spirale’ serving set from L’Objet is perfect for enjoying solo salads in style.
Sophie Lou Jacobsen’s vases, particularly her Giardino Segreto series, are nothing short of ethereal. First released in October 2023 during Paris Art Week, they capture the delicate, diaphanous quality of a flower through expert hand-blown craftsmanship.
If you’re going to send me a Christmas card, please do so in this lace envelope from Gohar World.