These eye-catching homeware will get conversations started.
Christmas is just a few weeks away and that means it’s time to start thinking of the perfect gift for everyone on your list, including the home design enthusiasts in your life. Whether they are certified interior designers or they get style inspo from the pretty houses on Pinterest, shopping gifts for these creative folks can be a treat, especially when you know that the items are ones they can enjoy any time of the day in their homes.
The POST curates a list of useful and stylish home accessories that will thrill anyone who loves designing beautiful spaces. We won’t blame you if you find many of them too charming and want them for your own home too.
Decorative vases
There are many ways that vases and vessels can elevate a house’s interior design, that’s why it’s only fitting to give it as a gift to home enthusiasts of any type. According to Australia-based interior design studio Kira and Kira, vases “bring attention to certain areas” in a room. They can also be “a great topic of conversation” as they reflect the homeowner’s personal style and sometimes have stories behind them.
For a friend or family member who delights in having a pop of color and a touch of luxury in their home, opt for the contemporary Versailles Maze Vases by Jonathan Adler. The renowned potter and interior decorator crafted these vessels inspired by patterns from the 21st century and added flair with gobs of gold.
They are designed to “add a futuristic spin to formal decor,” and will really stand out in a living room or tablescape. Adler’s vases, with a starting price of $325 (P13,140), are available on the Jonathan Adler website and Opulence Design Concept at Podium Mall and Greenhills.
If Adler’s vases are way too expensive to give away, there’s Anko’s tiered glass vase, one of the items Anko Living Home Design manager Sirri Tharrisorn recommended to The POST when we interviewed her at Anko’s Philippine launch in Glorietta 2, Makati earlier this month.
The vase is only priced at P660 but Thanissorn believes “it makes a beautiful statement— especially for that price.”
Standing at 27.6 cm (10.9 inches) tall, the transparent vase is not only functional but also pretty in its tiered design. “It is perfect on your coffee table or mantle, beautifully complementing your interior,” the brand boasts on its website.
Another vase that could double as a conversation starter is the Long Neck Vase in Green by Dutch home interior and design brand Polspotten. Its slender silhouette and vibrant hue will surely add a touch of sophistication to any room, available at Opulence Design Concept stores.
Related story: 20 local homeware we love from Manila FAME 2024
Edgy dinnerware
You’ll never go wrong with giving dinnerware as a gift not only because is it used every day, but it also spices up one’s interior home decor. These plates, bowls, mugs, and teacups set the tone for meals and are an important factor that homeowners consider when holding events at their homes.
“Dinnerware is utterly noticeable and makes a strong and lasting impression on your house guests,” New York-based interior design firm Julie Paulino Design wrote on its blog. “Every household desires a fine dining experience. Sharing a meal with your loved ones is among our most cherished memories.”
Dinnerware with lively colors and intricate patterns can make the mood of every meal vibrant. The Dolce & Gabbana Casa dinnerware collection is designed to do just that with its psychedelic designs and bold personality combined with quality Italian craftsmanship. Each piece in the collection adds a touch of Italian flair to the receiver’s routine. Price starts at P13,000.
There’s also the Versace Holiday Collection and the luxury brand’s Medusa plates designed to bring glamour and sophistication with the iconic Medusa medallion logo. Price starts at P5,700.
Both the Dolce & Gabbana and Versace dinnerware collections are available at Opulence Design Concept’s website and stores in Manila.
Meanwhile, your friends who are fond of style and local talent will be delighted when you surprise them with the Ito Kish x Rajo Laurel Tablescape Collaboration (P5,995). This tabelscape exclusive marries home and fashion to create beautiful dining settings for the Filipino home. The set of placemats, napkins, and coasters comes in two colors: blue and gold.
If your friend loves holding tea parties, then Ito Kish’s Tea Set from Japan (P25,000) will make their Christmas this year truly memorable. The tea set boasts exquisite details depicting scenic views of Japan. Its saucers are also sizeable enough for extra servings of your teatime biscuits.
Both the Ito Kish x Rajo Laurel Collaboration and Tea Set from Japan are available on the Ito Kish website.
Jonathan Adler’s Gala Bowl will get everyone talking with its ability to “bring a kiss of cool to the table.” The porcelain bowl features a collection of moody mouths inspired by Gala, wife and muse of surrealist painter Salvador Dali.
It is part of the Jonathan Adler Muse Collection, which includes eye-catching vases, mugs, and candle holders that all have body parts like faces, breasts, and lips sculpted into them. The Gala Bowl is available for $225 (P13,200) on the Jonathan Adler website and at Opulence Design Concept in Manila.
Accent pillows
Another gift that is useful when your friends simply want to lounge around and relax, and yet can elevate the look of any room, is an accent pillow. Tharrisorn explained, “Your friends can change the look of their home with these. Nobody really changes their couch so often but you can easily refresh the look of your room by simply adding a new color in cushions.”
For that, we recommend quirky ones like Fornasetti’s Tema e Variazioni cushions. The collection was designed by renowned Italian artist Piero Fonrasetti, inspired by the enigmatic face of opera singer Lina Cavalieri. The set is considered a collector’s item for art lovers and can instantly add oomph to a sofa with the beautiful singer’s varying facial expressions.
The cushions are available for P16,000 a piece on Opulence Designs Concept’s website and its Manila stores.
Meanwhile, Anko’s Thanissorn suggests getting the green Velvet Fern Cushion (P440) and the white Boucle Cushion (P790) to upgrade the look of any room. “Green is a very popular color. Green speaks wellness; it’s unisex, and just really calming,” Thanissorn began. “And as you know, stripes are really big right now. So, all you need is one of these striped pillows and pair it up with a neutral.”
If your friend or family member loves to channel their fun, vibrant personality into their home decor, then Jonathan Adler’s Handcrafted Pillows will help do the trick. These pillows are designed to bring some groove into your friends’ rooms with their psychedelic colors and statements like “Right on,” “Take it easy,” and “Disco fever.”
These cool pillows are available for a starting price of $98 (P5,800) at Jonathan Adler stores in the UK and US and at Opulence Design Concept in Manila.
Bed covers
Give the gift of comfort, relaxation, and aesthetics with a set of soft bed covers. Thanissorn recommends Anko’s Gingham Ruffle Cotton Quilt Cover Set which comes with a gingham print and a ruffle edge detail on both the pillowcases and quilt cover—particularly for those who love cottage core.
“Gingham and ruffles are really on trend,” the brand designer told The POST. “When seen on the bed, they look amazing. Full cover is a good way to refresh your bedroom.” The set is available in single (P1,540) and queen (P1,760) sizes at the Anko store in Glorietta.
Feel like splurging for your loved one? Pottery Barn offers several bed linens that surely suit your receiver’s exquisite taste. The Heirloom Scallop Quilt adds elegance to a room with its intricately stitched channels and scalloped edges which pays homage to the French tradition of boutis quilts. It is available for P14,500, along with other Pottery Barn products, on Rustan’s Trunc.ph.
