Photo courtesy of Kitchen Craft
Featured image courtesy of Lime Lace
Looking for inspiration this holiday season? Check out this gift guide with an edge. These concrete-inspired items are perfect for your home or office and will stand the test of time to celebrate for years to come. Concrete is an environmentally friendly material. The fabrication of concrete uses fewer fossil fuels during the whole production process than traditional ceramics, making it an ideal addition for those interested in sustainable living.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tailor
Mensch Made Concrete Vase with Gold-plated Leaves
http://www.thedesigngiftshop.com
The design of this Concrete Vase plays with the contradiction between culture and nature. A bold geometrical shape is combined with a texture of organic ornaments, delicate foliage imprints, some of them gold-plated. Natural grey concrete contrast with genuine gold. A very special object that can be appreciated by itself and of course be used as a vase for flowers or twigs.
Photo courtesy of The Design Gift Shop
Block Concrete Disc Pendant
https://www.blockdesign.co.uk/
This concrete pendant necklace is inspired by iconic British Brutalist architecture.
The hand-cast concrete necklace celebrates the dynamic monoliths of the controversial movement. Statement concrete jewelry embraces the character of concrete, a lively material. Its surface reflects its history, presenting imperfections and changing with you and your environment.
Photo courtesy of Block Design
Concrete Cubic Pendant Light
This eye-catching Concrete Cubic Pendant Light by German label GANTlights combines light gray concrete with silver, gold or copper, resulting in a timeless and elegant designer lamp.
Part of the B series collection, this handmade lamp is ideal for illuminating a long dining table, a sideboard, a desk or a bar and is suitably hung individually or in a group. The high-quality gilding of the insides emits a pleasant warm light. Due to its minimalist design and the contrasting materials, the designer lamp can be combined with any style.
Photo courtesy of Lime Lace
Ava & I Pretty Little Things Concrete Trinket Pot
This trinket pot is from the Ava & I collection, combining influential on-trend elements for a collection that embodies empowerment with modern style and a dash of sass. A real quality design, the pot is made of concrete with gold detail and a sweet Pretty little things motif. A stunning addition to any dressing table or a useful piece generally for the home, the heavy nature and lid of this pot will not be knocked over easily.
In May and June, we take time to show love to Mom and Dad. Thousands of items are marketed to appeal to parents, but for the more impressive, indulgent gifts that go beyond your typical jewelry set or spiffy tie clip, check out these finds!
Picnic Perfect
French brand Les Jardins de la Comtesse combines tradition and exoticism in its successful collection of picnic baskets, called Bel Air.
Designed in natural honey-colored wicker, these baskets are sold completely with tropical-style plates, stemware, wood-effect cutlery and accessories, salt and pepper shakers, a corkscrew/bottle opener and an additional waterproof bag.
With chip/break-resistant dishes, adjustable straps, and a large insulated compartments with inner tabs, this modern take on a classic lunch accessory is ideal for outdoor meals — a perfect addition to any Mother’s Day brunch outside.
Photo courtesy Les Jardins de la Comtesse.
Green Thumbs Up
For the parent who loves to cook or grow his/her own produce, Plantui is a futuristic tool that allows you to have a hydroponic garden directly in your home.
Plantui revolutionizes the idea of agricultural self-production, synthesizing all that is needed in a handful of square centimeters and in a design object, capable of simultaneously growing up to 12 plants with its patented system that works year round.
The growth process, combined with an intelligent irrigation system with nutrients, reproduces the light spectrum of photosynthesis, giving plants the right amount and quality of light necessary for optimal development.
The light and the automatic irrigation system are regulated by Plantui Smart Garden during the different stages of growth from the plant, creating the conditions for obtaining healthy, fresh and tasty herbs and salads.
Plantui Smart Garden 6. Photo courtesy Plantui.
Sets to Impress
Farrar & Tanner’s collection of personalized gifts let you show Mom or Dad how much they mean to you. The brand’s selection includes premium gins and sparkling wines in personalized wood gifts boxes, beautiful gardening tools and stylish coffee accessories.
For Dad – Gins
JJ Whitley have been family distillers for eight generations and still craft their gin in copper pots giving you a smooth and complex flavor. Blended with eight botanicals and hints of juniper, pepper and parma violets this gin is sure to impress any palette. This is the perfect choice for enjoying over ice or with tonic.
For a sweeter palette, Gordon’s delivers a premium gin using all natural flavorings. The sweetness of strawberries and raspberries is balanced with the natural tang of redcurrant for a truly refreshing taste. Gordon’s has produced an exceptional pink gin with an eye-catching color which is delicious served with tonic and fresh strawberries.
For Mom – Gardening
Handcrafted in the UK by Burgon & Ball, this gift set is ideal for aspiring and avid gardeners. The centerpiece of this collection is a traditionally shaped, folding pruning blade, delicately treated for superior edge retention. The subtle curvature of the pronounced hook ensures a fine cut is completed in one swift movement. The robust, wooden handle has a rustic finish to suit larger hands. A miniature sharpening steel is included to keep the blade in superb condition. Endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society and packaged in a unique presentation box, this is a charming, practical gift to inspire green thumbs.
This stunning copper set by Haws has a lustrous finish which is beautiful both in use and on display. The premium watering can is a piece of British gardening history based on the original 100-year-old design. Ideal for watering small plants and pots throughout the home, this lightweight design comes with a brass rose making it suitable for a variety of watering locations. The elegant mist sprayer adds moisture in dry environments which is perfect for helping orchids and succulents to flourish.
Featuring a splendid bronze blade, the Musca Trowel is the perfect way to add a lavish touch to the gardening experience. Practical for working with loose sandy soil or compost, the signature PKS bronze handle glides through the earth with its scoop design and sharp, resilient edge.
Photos courtesy Farrar & Tanner.
Horizon 2.0 light by Humanscale. Photo courtesy Humanscale.
Design-minded individuals can often be hard to shop for, as style plays a key role in completing the perfect aesthetic. For the design-lover in your life, below are some masterfully crafted pieces that are bound to make the perfect gift this holiday season.
For the Night Owl:
The Table Torch from the award-winning lighting brand Stickbulb makes a great gift for a minimally minded individual in need of a desk or bedside lamp.
Available in 2-foot- and 3-foot-tall options, these sleek, linear LED module lights are elegantly held in place by a simplistic yet high-quality steel base.
The wooden component is offered in sustainably sourced maple or walnut, reclaimed heart pine, ebonized oak, or reclaimed water tower redwood. The metal base is available in powder coated white, slate grey or matte black, hand-blackened steel, polished nickel or brass, or brushed nickel or brass.
Photo courtesy Stickbulb.
For the Scholar or Entrepreneur:
A champion of well-being in the workplace, Humanscale’s two new task lights, Nova and Horizon 2.0 utilize advanced LED technology for improved comfort, optimal light output and cost-saving energy efficiency. Now ready to order, Nova and Horizon offer a smarter, healthier choice for offices and the environment.
“As the lines between office and home blur, products need to offer functionality paired with simple, clean aesthetics. Nova and Horizon 2.0 are highly versatile LED task lights that combine industry-leading technology with a contemporary yet timeless design,” says Mesve Vardar, director of industrial design at Humanscale.
Perfect for anyone looking to dress up their desk and enhance their wellbeing at work, the Nova task light offers adaptability and comfort in a striking, sculptural form.
Energy Star 2.0 certified, the inventive, ergonomic design protects the eyes against strain, faithfully renders colors and produces a single shadow on a work surface, so the hard worker in your life need no longer complain about a headache after a long day at work.
Humanscale’s new Horizon 2.0 also checks all the boxes for the eco-conscious individual who loves iconic design and technology. Improving upon the prestigious Red-Dot award-winning Horizon task light from Michael McCoy and Peter Stasis (featured in the MoMA permanent collection), Horizon 2.0 implements the latest LED technology to produce its signature, ultra-thin plane of light with greater efficiency.
Energy Star 2.0 certified, Horizon 2.0 uses only healthy, sustainable materials and is available in five vibrant colors: Bronze Gold, Silver, Jet Black, Arctic White, Twilight Blue and Morning Pink.
Photo courtesy Humanscale.
For the Drink Enthusiast:
True’s Undercounter Beverage Dispenser is ideal for person who appreciates a perfect beer pour. Handcrafted to specifically dispense the perfect draft pour, the company’s advanced airflow technology ensures a consistently frosty, and refreshing flow. The unobtrusive 15-inch stainless-steel dispenser comes with either a single or dual tap and for indoors or out — a true gift that won’t go out of favor or flavor! Also, because of the brand’s TrueFlex® shelving system, the versatile cooler is completely convertible into a wine cabinet.
For the budding sommelier, while a wine cellar might be ideal, True’s Dual Zone Wine Cabinet and storage system is pretty fantastic for wine enthusiasts. Designed to preserve your bottles, independent climate zones allow for separate temperature ranges (from 40°F to 65°F), while glide-out, vibration-dampening racks hold up to 45 bottles and protect that special vintage. TruLumina LED lighting — with 14 different color options — allows for the ambiance to fit your mood.
Left & Bottom Right: True Residential’s Undercounter Beverage Dispenser. Top Right: True’s Dual Zone Wine Cabinet. Photos courtesy True Residential.
For the Wellness Guru:
A stocking stuffer that actually enhances wellness, Hansgrohe‘s newest design, aptly called PowderRain, recently hit the market as the perfect tool to enhance the shower experience while also fitting into any style. Characterized by a “powder-like” micro-fine mist, the eco-efficient spray is designed to completely envelop the body, with thousands of microscopic water droplets cloaking you in a protective oasis of relaxation.
Photos courtesy Hansgrohe.
For the Design Afficionado:
For the most discriminating buyer, Salone del Mobile.Milano is ready for the holidays with the launch of their 6th partnership between SaloneSatellite and the Rinascente Department Store. For 2018, 12 select products, created by 9 international designers, will be on sale through the holiday season at the famed department store.
The selected products place huge importance on the quest for new solutions, both tangible and intangible, always intelligent and sometimes poetic, inspired by traditional craftsmanship and ancient materials that can inform a better future. A plethora of chairs, tables, lamps, trays and vases, fitness equipment and everyday and decorative objects will be on display, all deriving from simple intuition and actions and marrying technology, craftsmanship and emotion.