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A Procrastinators Gift Guide: Six Last Minute Ideas

Published by designy things

Better late than never, folks. If you are desperate for a late minute gift for family, friends, or the office Secret Santa, maybe one of these cool ideas will do the trick. And look, you are probably going to have to pay for express shipping at this point, but whose fault is that?

Happy Holidays!

For the Stylish Art Lover

Capella Design’s Grab Bar Picture Frame

This unique assistive product integrates seamlessly into a living space to provide discreet support with style. The grab bar is made in North American from solid ash (in light, dark, and white finishes), white coated powder coated steel, and acrylic art protection. A hidden, flexible mounting system allows for easy installation in hallways, landings, and thresholds. $279.00 USD

For the Minimal Table Dresser

Mud Australia’s Porcelain Dishwater

Handcrafted in Sydney, the expansive range of Mud Australia’s porcelain homewares are dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe for seamless prep and simple cleanup. Shown here are the brand’s 8”-wide serving platter, a Fish Platter for medium sized fish, snacks, or dips, and a Water Jug designed with a narrow opening to keep seltzers and carbonated water fresh. Mud Australia is not only a carbon neutral business, but has also been climate neutral since 2020. $99.00, serving platter; $145.00, fish platter; $157.00, water jug/bud vase.

For the Coffee Table Connoisseur

The Design Book from Phaidon

Discover more than 500 of the most innovative, influential, and enduring products from the last five centuries in this fully revised and expanded edition from Phaidon. The book reviews objects that have improved our environments and functionality, and shaped society and culture, and includes iconic pieces by such masters as Le Corbusier, Philippe Starck, and the Eames, alongside classic objects such as the paper clip, the hurricane lantern, and the martini glass. $19.95

For the One with Dry Hands

Obakki Soap Set

Sourced in Africa and handmade in Canada, this box set features three of Obakki’s most hydrating soaps:

Argan & Rhassoul soap (Lavender, Lemongrass and Rosemary)

Marula & Black Clay soap (Clary Sage, Lavender, Himalayan Cedar, and Copaiba)

Baobab Oil & Activated Charcoal soap (Bergamot, White Grapefruit, Frankincense, Lavender, Cedar Atlas and Vetiver).

Free from harmful chemicals, artificial fragrances, and animal products, all three soaps offer deep moisturizing benefits and use ingredients that create sustainable income for women entrepreneurs in Africa. All packaging is 100% compostable millboard, a by-product of paper production. $49.00

For the Fairy Hunter

The Rattan Mushroom Basket Bag

An adorable way for kids to carry around their toys and other items, this Mushroom Basket is handwoven from natural rattan and colored used water-based paints. Designed to look like a mushroom house from a fairytale, this roomy bag has a top handle and opens with the mushroom top. It also has a little door on the side that opens and shuts—so kids can engage in imaginative play. $54.00 MoMA Member; $60.00 nonmember.

For the Birder

Copper Bird Feeder

The large, bell-shaped roof of this elegant copper bird feeder keeps large birds from accessing the rim below, where small birds can perch and feast away. The gleaming copper will slowly acquire a gorgeous green patina—or you may choose to polish it regularly with standard copper polish to maintain its sheen. The central feeding reservoir is made of borosilicate glass for durability and easy cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher. Available through the MoMA Design Store and the Finnish Desigh Shop. $106.00

All images courtesy of the manufacturers.

NYC Trash Can Accessories from MoMA Design Store

Published by designy things

Being able to squeeze just one more piece of garbage on top of an already overflowing green bin was a classic NYC right of passage. If you are feeling nostalgic for the days of playing trash Jenga, you can now buy a compact reproduction of the iconic green metal NYC trash cans that have since been replaced by newer models on the streets of NYC.

Made from enamel-coated stainless steel metal with mesh panels, this “Keep New York City Clean” NYC Trash Can can be used as a wastepaper basket or for other forms of household trash — without getting that pesky $100 fine. It measures 15”-high x 11.5”-diameter.

MoMA also sells a coordinating pencil holder to help keep your desk neat and tidy. Made from sturdy aluminum alloy that’s spray-coated the can’s official green, the DSNY Trash Can pencil holder measures 4.25”-high x 2.5″ diameter, and can store a multitude of desktop tools. The makers of this design will donate a portion of proceeds that directly benefit the City of New York.

Trash Can: $148.00 (non-member), $133.20 (member); Pencil Holder: $48.00 (non-member), $43.20 (member)

All images courtesy of MoMA Design Store.

Elements Scented Candles

Published by designy things

The ancient Greek mathematician Plato believed the world was made of four elements — Earth, Air, Fire, and Water — and that four geometric shapes (now called Platonic Solids) were the building blocks of these elements. Inspired by this, the Celsius54 Candle company created the ELEMENTS candle collection in four shapes: Icosahedron, Octahedron, Tetrahedron, and Cube, each imbued with a different scent and color. $30. Available at: https://54celsius.com/

Earth is a cedar wood and moss scented candle in a cube shape.

Water is a white lily and ocean breeze scented candle in an octahedron shape.

The collection includes Air (second from left) a flower and fresh linen scented candle in a octahedron shape.

Fire is a smoked birch, clove, and vetiver scented candle in a Tetrahedron shape.

Valentine’s Day Gift Idea: Pieces of Time Flower Objet d’Art

Published by designy things

If you are looking for a different way to give flowers this Valentine’s Day, consider gifting your loved one the MoMA Design Store’s Pieces of Time Flower Objet d’Art. Designed by Soojeong Shin and Jiseon Park from Korean Studio Style Jieum, these sculptures feature fresh flowers that have been encased in domes of hand-blown glass and filled with preservation fluid. When viewed through sunlight, the object seems to contain a calm forest of plants that feels like a real landscape.

Green Summer Berry: This objet contains pink pepper berries and green bamboo.

Purple Lavender: Dark purple hue of lavender sprigs are contrasted with light purple hydrangea blossoms.

Yellow Jeju: Inspired by springtime on the Korean island of Jeju, this object features combinations of forest green and grapeseed yellow. This objet contains baby’s breath, stoebe, billy button, and hydrangea.

Each Pieces of Time Objet d’Art is handmade by specialists in floral design, and its design will vary slightly. The handcrafted glass may contain small bubbles that are a natural part of the creation process. They can be displayed individually or as a group.

Choose from three styles of Piece of Time Objet d’Art.

To care for your objet d’art, store indoors in a cool place and do not open its silicone plug. Each measures 2.8”w x 5.1”h.

$80 each at the MoMA Design Store.

Images courtesy MoMA Design Store.

Designy Things Holiday Gift Guide

Published by designy things

Here are some designy gift ideas for your holiday season, from a snowflake you can cuddle to pencils you can plant in the garden.

Jellycat Holiday Soft Toys

Jellycat arguably makes some of the most adorable plushies in the world, combining the softest materials with a small smiling face that brings personality to all types of everyday objects and animals.

Designed in London, this snowflake ($30.00), Christmas Tree ($40.00), or potted Poinsettia ($48.00) can adorn a mantle or work as a festive table centerpiece. Available through the MoMA Design Store.

Embroidered Holiday Ornaments

Designed in London and handmade in India by a team of master embroiderers, these ethically sourced fabric holiday ornaments are made through the traditional technique of “zardosi” (sewing with gold), historically used to decorate the most luxurious of courtly finery.

Ornaments in the collection include Claude Monet, Alma Woodsey Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Frida Kahlo, and Vincent van Gogh. $16.95- $18.95. Available through the MoMA Design Store.

Taste Collection by Paola Navone

The Glass House design store offers an exclusive design collaboration with Italian architect and designer Paola Navone and the porcelain manufacturer Reichenbach in Germany. The trays in the collection features graceful baroque lines in fine white porcelain and pearl rim relief.

Cake Plate ($125.00), Biscuit Tray ($75.00) and Coffee Cup + Tray ($68.00). Every purchase made supports The Glass House.

bFriends Collection from Bene

The new bFRIENDS series of the sustainable, 3D printed accessories are manufactured using a 3D printing process with petroleum-free bioplastic PLA, which eliminates the use of fossil raw materials in all phases of production.

Designed by Pearson Lloyd, the new collection of decorative accessories features whimsical animals from land, air, and sea, available in 13 standard shades. https://www.batch.works/collections/bfriends

**The Town Musicians**
A donkey, dog, cat, and rooster stacked on top of each other hark back to a well-known fairytale.

**Wildlife Collection**
Decorative pieces, featuring creatures from the animal kingdom including a giraffe, hippo, elephant, bird, and crocodile.

Plantable Pencil by Sprout World

When a Sprout pencil becomes too short to write with you can plant it in the ground, giving new life to an end-of-life product that you would otherwise throw in the bin.

Sprout World’s pencils are available with different seeds that grow into vegetables, flowers and herbs, as well as a tree. https://www.amazon.com/Sprout-Bee-friendly-Eco-Friendly-Sustainable-Inspirational/dp/B095WR87L9?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

Swedish Dishcloth Greeting Cards

Brightly has fused the principles of a classic Swedish Dishcloth with the timeless whimsy of a greeting card. Simply write your message with a permanent marker on the inside/back, and after your friend has read it, they can use it as a dishcloth. With just one of these, you get the same use you would out of 17 rolls of paper towels. ($35 for a set of six) https://brightly.eco/

Ukraine Twist Candle

Published by designy things

For every Ukraine Twist candle sold, the Celsius54 Candle Co. is donating $25.00 to Sunflower of Peace, a Boston-based charity directly helping victims of the war.

Sunflower of Peace is a nonprofit organization with a mission to mobilize support and aid for Ukrainian orphans, internally displaced persons, and those most affected by the current situation by providing medical assistance and other necessities.

Due to the current crisis, Sunflower of Peace started a new fundraiser to provide medical and humanitarian aid that will be used by the paramedics and doctors in the areas that are most affected by the violence in Ukraine. They are acquiring and distributing first-aid backpacks, medicine, medical instruments, and other items that are saving hundreds of lives.

Celsius54’s twist candle for Ukraine combines the country’s flag colors of blue and gold in a sleek modern design. Made in the Netherlands, the candle costs $40. Available at: https://54celsius.com/.