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product preview | Dec 6, 2024 |
51 designer-recommended holiday gifts for every client

There’s no better time than the holidays to surprise a client with the perfect present. To help you spread some seasonal cheer, we asked an array of designers to share their favorite gift ideas, and they definitely delivered. From bejeweled salt and pepper shakers to Murano glass cocktail stirrers, Business of Home presents more than four dozen designs your clients will cherish all year long.

For the Maximalist

51 designer-recommended holiday gifts for every client
Clockwise from left: Pentagon Spice Jewels salt and pepper shakers by L’Objet; Menkaure cushion in Forest by The Vale Home; “The Secret Lives of Color” by Kassia St. Clair; Large vase by Laguna B for Sasha Bikoff; Chapter 2 Tenet place-card holder set by FoundRae; Mano con Anelli ashtray by Fornasetti; Chapter 1 Tenet dessert plate set by Laboratorio Paravacini for FoundRaeCourtesy of brands

LARGE VASE BY LAGUNA B FOR SASHA BIKOFF

“The ultimate collection to gift this holiday season is my new Murano glassware collaboration with Laguna B. I love gifting tabletop that is versatile and unique. These pieces are meant to be for service, but also for florals! Each piece is individually handmade and has a festive luminescence.” —Sasha Bikoff, New York

MENKAURE CUSHION BY THE VALE HOME

“When we believe in a piece [like this printed linen throw pillow], we sometimes gift it to the client at the end of the project. It’s our way of showing how much we value their trust in us, while also ensuring we have the right styling elements for the photo shoot.” —Kendall Wilkinson, San Francisco

CHAPTER 2 TENET PLACE-CARD HOLDER SET BY FOUNDRAE

“These place-card holders are like little pieces of jewelry for your dining table, with each one showcasing intricate details that tell a unique story. Beautifully presented in a book-like box, they’re not just a gift—they’re an experience.” —Monica Santayana and Ronald Alvarez, Moniomi Design, Miami

THE SECRET LIVES OF COLOR BY KASSIA ST. CLAIR

“I love giving books as presents, as they are something one can never have too many of, and this particular one speaks to my passion for and fascination with color.” —Nicola Harding, London

PENTAGON SPICE JEWELS SET BY L’OBJET

“This year, I’m gifting all of my clients these gorgeous salt and pepper shakers from L’Objet. They’re like a little piece of jewelry for the home! Not only do they look great on the table, but they’re practical and a conversation starter!” —Michelle Gerson, New York

CHAPTER 1 TENET DESSERT PLATE SET BY LABORATORIO PARAVACINI FOR FOUNDRAE

“When selecting a gift, I endeavor to choose ones that enhance the experience our clients have in their homes, and tableware is very often the perfect vehicle.” —Judy Dunne, Butter and Eggs, New York

MANO CON ANELLI ASHTRAY BY FORNASETTI

“One of my favorite items to gift my clients is a Fornasetti catchall for rings and things to be used on a bedside table. Each piece is handcrafted, making no two pieces alike, and are often limited-edition pieces.” —Jennifer Cohler Mason, New York

For the Minimalist

51 designer-recommended holiday gifts for every client
Clockwise from left: oak coupe by Michaël Verheyden at March; Motli lighter/flashlight in gold by USB Lighter Co.; Walnut-handled butter blade by Microplane at Food52; The Salt Sphere by Material; clear sake carafe and Kohiki Guinomi sake cups set by Masa Designs at Gagosian Shop; stone diffuser in Terracotta by Vitruvi; Simple oil and vinegar cruets by Hawkins New York at Food52 Courtesy of brands

CLEAR SAKE CARAFE AND KOHIKI GUINOMI SAKE CUPS SET BY MASA DESIGNS AT GAGOSIAN SHOP

“This sake carafe set by chef Masayoshi Takayama is such a thoughtful and versatile gift for the holidays. Whether your client enjoys sake or uses it as a stylish bedside carafe, it’s one of those pieces that feels both special and practical.” —Nicole Fuller, New York, Los Angeles, London

MOTLI LIGHTER/FLASHLIGHT BY USB LIGHTER CO.

“Last year, one of our favorite client gifts was a sleek electronic lighter with a built-in flashlight. These multipurpose tools were a hit, especially here in Florida, where power outages can be a reality.” —Nicole Roe, R. Nickson Interiors, Lakeland, Florida

OAK COUPE BY MICHAËL VERHEYDEN AT MARCH

“I have been gifting this wood bowl to be used as a fruit holder on the client’s kitchen counter or island. It is so beautiful and simple, and typically goes with everyone’s style.” —Heather Hilliard, San Francisco

STONE DIFFUSER BY VITRUVI

“A sleek, organic stone finish and minimalist design make this diffuser the perfect gift. It complements any decor while elevating the space with timeless scents, adding a sculptural, textural touch that completes a room beautifully all year round.” —Miriam Silver Verga and Hillary Kaplan, Mimi & Hill, Westfield, New Jersey

SIMPLE OIL AND VINEGAR CRUETS BY HAWKINS NEW YORK AT FOOD52

“A lot of clients need help with countertop styling. I love beautiful and simple oil cruets, because you can decant your olive oil into one and it looks great sitting in a tray next to the stove.” —Jessica Davis, Atlanta

THE SALT SPHERE BY MATERIAL

“This salt sphere makes the perfect gift for the kitchen. It is beautifully designed and functional. I love giving gifts that someone can really get use out of, and this is a go-to.” —Justin DiPiero, New York

WALNUT-HANDLED BUTTER BLADE BY MICROPLANE AT FOOD52

“This butter knife is for cold butter—you scrape it across the top, and can make a ribbon of butter depending on which side you use. It doesn't take up much space but makes spreading butter a fun experience.” —Alicia Cheung, San Francisco

For the New Traditionalist

51 designer-recommended holiday gifts for every client
Clockwise from left: Sizzle extra-virgin olive oil by Graza; Leather dominoes set in green by Rabitti 1969 at Abask; “Rockaway” by Christy Joehl; Moda Domus martini glass set in red by Lauren “Santa” Domingo for Moda Operandi; Mosaique au 24 platinum tray by Hermès; Spotted bud vase in Seafoam/Transparent by Paul Arnhold Glass; Overserved cocktail napkins in red, white and blue by August MorganCourtesy of brands

LEATHER DOMINOES SET BY RABITTI 1969 AT ABASK

“I love to browse Abask to shop for accessories. Rabitti’s leather dominos offer a modern twist on a classic game, and the storage box itself is beautifully crafted and looks great sitting on a shelf.” —Ashley Nath, Marmol Radziner, Los Angeles

OVERSERVED COCKTAIL NAPKINS BY AUGUST MORGAN

“I love August Morgan’s cocktail napkins for a fun, quirky gift. All of the designs are hilarious conversation starters.” —Sara Malek Barney, Bandd/Design, Austin

SIZZLE EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL BY GRAZA

“Graza’s olive oils are not only top-tier in flavor but also make a beautiful addition to any kitchen. These bottles are the perfect blend of style and substance, and we can’t wait to share them with our clients.” —Danielle Chiprut, Danielle Rose Design, Rockville Centre, New York

MOSAIQUE AU 24 PLATINUM TRAY BY HERMÈS

“This Hermès tray is timeless and stunning and sends a clear message: Thank you for trusting us to make your home amazing.” —Kevie Murphy, New York

WATERCOLOR PAINTING BY CHRISTY JOEHL

“We like to gift clients a framed watercolor that gives us all a happy focal point to dream about while we work hard to build something together.” —Lynn Kloythanomsup and Heather Menegat, Landed Interiors, Berkeley, California, and New York

MODA DOMUS MARTINI GLASS SET BY LAUREN “SANTA” DOMINGO FOR MODA OPERANDI

“This classic martini glass with a cute bow has the perfect touch of style and flair, and is sure to bring a smile to the recipient.” —Linette Dai, Belmont Shore, California

SPOTTED BUD VASE IN SEAFOAM/TRANSPARENT BY PAUL ARNHOLD GLASS

“Paul Arnhold Glass has a beautiful collection of bud vases. Every piece is handblown and shaped in Brooklyn. Each one looks great empty but of course even better filled with flowers.” —Janice Parker, New York

For the Modernist

51 designer-recommended holiday gifts for every client
Clockwise from left: “New York III” by Trevor Parker; Zoraida coasters by Molly M Designs; Glossy Gold mini lamp by Lucy Interiors; White Grapefruit soap set by Umé; Walberswick blanket by Eleanor Pritchard; Thumbprint dish in cobalt by Elsa Peretti at Tiffany & Co.; vintage glassware by Georges Briard at Dixon RyeCourtesy of brands

GLOSSY GOLD MINI LAMP BY LUCY INTERIORS

“I love the Glossy Gold mini table lantern to doll up a dining table. This is elegant, adding a twinkle of luxury to any tablescape, offering three light levels to perfectly set the mood. Rechargeable and portable—it has it all!” —Lucy Penfield, Lucy Interiors, Wayzata, Minnesota

ZORAIDA COASTERS BY MOLLY M DESIGNS

“Everyone is always in need of coasters—these are fun and decorative, and I love the use of leather versus more traditional coaster materials.” —Elizabeth Sesser, Kligerman Architecture & Design, New York

NEW YORK III BY TREVOR PARKER

Trevor Parker has an incredible collection of photos of New York. His abstract views of familiar buildings make for great additions to our clients’ homes.” —Patrick Fox, Crafted Interiors, New York

THUMBPRINT DISH BY ELSA PERETTI AT TIFFANY & CO.

“I love the Elsa Peretti dish, as it is such an iconic statement piece. It can be functional for serving nuts or other nibbles at a cocktail party, or sit comfortably atop a stack of books as a piece of decor. I call this an elegant win-win.” —Prudence Bailey, Prudence Home & Design, New Canaan, Connecticut

VINTAGE GLASSWARE BY GEORGES BRIARD AT DIXON RYE

“A foolproof gift every year is a set of vintage barware. It’s always such a hit—who doesn’t want a set of beautiful, well-made glassware from the 1960s that no one else can get? I’m particularly fond of this almost Mondrian-esque set from Georges Briard, a midcentury designer whose wares used to line the shelves of Neiman Marcus. Pair with a fabulous bottle of their choice libation, and you have the perfect gift.” —Bradley Odom, Atlanta

WHITE GRAPEFRUIT SOAP SET BY UMÉ

“Last year, I discovered this beautifully crafted hand-cast soap, complete with its own soap dish, and I instantly fell in love. What sets it apart from other hand soaps is its ergonomic shape, making it not only easy to use but also a pleasure. The soap dishes are perfectly sized and shaped to complement the soap, creating a stunning, sculptural piece that transforms your sink into a mini art display.” —Tina Ramchandani, New York

WALBERSWICK BLANKET BY ELEANOR PRITCHARD

Eleanor Pritchard’s most recent collection of blankets, including the Walberswick, are testament to her ability to create woven designs that are imbued with modernity yet are timeless and adaptable to a range of interior settings.” —Elliott Koehler, JPA Design, London

For the Earthy Eclectic

51 designer-recommended holiday gifts for every client
Clockwise from left: Recycled wool blanket in Navy Waffle Block Check by TBCo; Medium Pomegranate Seeds by Jason Stropko Glass & Art; Holiday Clean Up set by Flamingo Estate; Larp Jelly Beans by Montana Labelle; The Foolproof Salad Dressing Bundle by Brightland; serving bowl in Winter Mesa by Sarah Kersten Studio; Botanical notecard set by Maresca TextilesCourtesy of brands

RECYCLED WOOL BLANKET BY TBCO

“I love gifting throw blankets to my clients during the holidays. With families gathering together more than ever this time of year, a cozy throw creates the perfect setting for warmth and connection.” —Meghan Jay, Evanston, IL

MEDIUM POMEGRANATE SEEDS BY JASON STROPKO GLASS & ART

“We love collaborating on custom pieces with local creatives and use the holiday gifting season as an opportunity to showcase and share their work with our clients. Also, people don’t always buy artful objects for themselves, so it’s something they can feel excited to receive and remember us by.” —Regan Baker, San Francisco

LARP JELLY BEAN BY MONTANA LABELLE

Montana Labelle makes the most beautiful and quirky marble catchalls, ceramics and accessories that are very retro modern and make gorgeous gifts.” —Ryan Austin Hagood, R.A.D. Interiors, Atlanta

BOTANICAL NOTECARD SET BY MARESCA TEXTILES

“This holiday season I’m gifting Kathryn Faull’s stationery sets of five letterpress cards in a deep plum colorway. They feature her original Harwick Botanical floral artwork. I love their handmade nature, and that they’re from a local textile designer. Plus, they make for beautiful thank-you notes, which comes in handy this time of year.” —Claire Staszak, Centered by Design, Chicago

HOLIDAY CLEAN UP SET BY FLAMINGO ESTATE

“This is the most divine-smelling cleaning duo. We renovate a ton of kitchens and bathrooms, so not only is it a practical gift for our clients, it’s also something luxurious that they might not buy for themselves.” —Hema Persad, Sagrada Studio, Los Angeles

SERVING BOWL IN WINTER MESA BY SARAH KERSTEN STUDIO

“We always try to support local women-owned businesses for our client gifts. Last year, we gave a salad bowl by the talented Sarah Kersten, which was perfect because it is true to our values of buying handmade pieces made out of natural materials.” —Kristen Peña, San Francisco

THE FOOLPROOF SALAD DRESSING BUNDLE BY BRIGHTLAND

“I love finding gifts that feel thoughtful, festive and totally useful—Brightland’s Salad Dressing Bundle hits the mark perfectly. The packaging is beautiful, which is always a plus, but the flavors are absolutely amazing.” —Laura Lubin, Ellerslie Interiors, Nashville

For the Entertainer

51 designer-recommended holiday gifts for every client
Clockwise from left: Martinique linen table runner in green by CW Stockwell; Primavera cocktail stirrers by Yali; Niamey Rust springbok tray by Keia McSwain for Ngala Trading; Leon bottle opener by Aerin; driftwood and gold salad servers by Foundation Goods; champagne coupe set by Estelle Colored Glass; custom Came for the Family, Stayed for the Cat matches by For Your PartyCourtesy of brands

CUSTOM MATCHBOXES BY FOR YOUR PARTY

“We have recently been gifting custom matches to clients that reflect the color palette of their home and their personal style and that create a little whimsy. It’s been so fun creating and gifting these. We think receiving a custom gift that’s a little bit of a surprise is the best.” —Jennie Bishop, Studio Gild, Chicago

NIAMEY RUST SPRINGBOK TRAY BY KEIA MCSWAIN FOR NGALA TRADING

“Every client wants a phenomenally designed space that they can host in. And what better way to serve guests than on a leather-wrapped springbok tray?” —Keia McSwain, Denver

CHAMPAGNE COUPE SET BY ESTELLE COLORED GLASS

“This set of colored glassware makes an unforgettable client gift! The lively hues evoke joy at every toast, making it a lasting reminder of your appreciation.” —Glenna Stone, Philadelphia

MARTINIQUE LINEN TABLE RUNNER BY CW STOCKWELL

“I love the CW Stockwell table runner in the iconic Martinique pattern as a holiday gift because it’s such a beautiful way to bring style and joy into someone’s home. It’s perfect for festive gatherings or everyday use—one of those gifts I’d be thrilled to give or receive.” —Eva Bradley, San Francisco and Charleston, South Carolina

PRIMAVERA COCKTAIL STIRRERS BY YALI

“Festive accessories are a great go-to holiday gift for clients, and these Murano glass cocktail stirrers will surely delight! Perfect to liven up a holiday drink with a little sparkle of glass.” —Christine Markatos Lowe, Santa Monica

SPALTED MAPLE SALAD BOWL BY SPENCER PETERMAN AND DRIFTWOOD AND GOLD SALAD SERVERS BY FOUNDATION GOODS

“I love gifting the classic and beautifully made Spencer Peterman Salad Bowl with a lovely set of salad tongs—something almost everyone has a use for and will keep for years to come.” —Caitlin Creer, Salt Lake City

LEON BOTTLE OPENER BY AERIN

“Aerin’s Leon bottle opener is a luxurious yet practical gift that combines sophisticated design with everyday utility, making it a memorable and versatile choice for clients.” —Mark Schubert, Phillip Harrison Interiors, Chicago

For the Client Who Has Everything

51 designer-recommended holiday gifts for every client
Clockwise from left: Latest & Greatest cupcakes by Baked by Melissa; Supersonic Nural hair dryer by Dyson; Advent calendar by Dandelion Chocolate; Yosemite United Airlines puzzle by Liberty Puzzles; “Sacro: Visions” by Dolce & Gabbana; Polaroid Now+ Instant Film camera at Best Buy; Mover Max kit by Judy Courtesy of brands

DONATION TO THE HOLLYWOOD FOOD COALITION

“For the past few years, in lieu of a more classic gift, I make a donation in my client’s honor to the Hollywood Food Coalition, an amazing organization that focuses on combating hunger in our local community.” —Peter Dunham, Los Angeles

MOVER MAX KIT BY JUDY

“Post-Covid, we gave our clients Judy’s household survival kits. Super practical and also tongue-in-cheek given the times.” —Emilie Munroe, Studio Munroe, San Francisco

SUPERSONIC NURAL HAIR DRYER BY DYSON

“This was the perfect gift for a client we had recently designed a hair drying station for.” —Peter Sandel, New York

LATEST & GREATEST CUPCAKES BY BAKED BY MELISSA

“I absolutely love gifting Baked by Melissa mini cupcakes—they’re always a hit! I make it a point to consider dietary restrictions when choosing food gifts, and these cupcakes, being both vegan and gluten-free, are as inclusive as they are delicious.” —Kristin Harrison, Bungalow 10 Interiors, Great Falls, Virginia

POLAROID NOW+ INSTANT FILM CAMERA AT BEST BUY

“A gift for all ages and an instant activity for any gathering. Who doesn’t love some instant gratification and a keepsake from a good time?” —Jennifer Morris, JMorris Design, New York

SACRO: VISIONS BY DOLCE & GABBANA

“I love to give and receive a ‘wow’ coffee table book as a gift. It is typically not something you would buy yourself, and I find that you can amass quite a collection over the years.” —Melanie Calder Russo, Calder Design Group, New York

ADVENT CALENDAR BY DANDELION CHOCOLATE

“Let’s face it: Our clients have everything they could want or need, so when we look for a memorable client gift, we look for things that are beautifully crafted, and feel a bit luxurious or even indulgent. Small-batch chocolates are a nice way to treat them and say thank you for the trust they place in our team.” —Paloma Contreras, Houston

YOSEMITE UNITED AIRLINES PUZZLE BY LIBERTY PUZZLES

“I’ve given these puzzles to multiple clients over the years since people rarely buy them for themselves. The shapes of the pieces can be random, but there are also shapes that relate to the type of puzzle. My mother is getting a custom one of our dogs for Christmas!” —John Cialone, Tom Stringer Design Partners, Chicago

AN EXPERIENCE

“Consider gifts that are experiences. Box seats at games or concerts, a hot air balloon ride for the family, or a private chef to cater a dinner party. These gifts last much longer than a bottle of wine.” —Summer Jensen, Hawk & Co., Laguna Beach, California

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