’Tis the season! This week, we asked eight designers—Bob Bakes, Kanika Gupta, Harper Halprin, Kristyn Harvey, Parul Jain Ghei, Aaron Leshtz, Jason Saft and Marie Soliman—how their firms spread the cheer this festive time of year.
Gift Guides Galore
“As 2024 comes to a close, we will be sending our clients a thoughtful gift and a heartfelt note to thank them for an incredible year of collaboration. We’re also sharing a curated holiday decor guide to inspire festive touches in their homes, along with a hostess gift guide to help them find the perfect items for their gatherings. These small gestures are our way of extending value beyond design, helping to make their holiday season more beautiful, memorable and stress-free.” —Parul Jain Ghei and Kanika Gupta, Studio Jai, Roslyn Heights, New York and Greenwich, Connecticut
Hostess With the Mostest
“We believe in creating meaningful experiences, so we often host curated festive gatherings where our clients can connect with our team and each other. These events feature delicious food, joyful music and lots of laughter, fostering a warm and inviting atmosphere. This year we are designing and making Christmas wreaths with our beloved team and also sending out personalized candles with an exotic winter scent we designed in 2024. We take the time to share our year’s highlights, celebrating our collaborations and the successful projects we’ve accomplished together. Christmas and this time of global holidays is a time to treasure and enjoy.” —Marie Soliman, Bergman Design House, London
Down the Slopes
“We are incredibly privileged to have strong and meaningful relationships with our clients, built not only through exciting projects but also through personal connections over time. One of our favorite ways to connect has been through epic ski trips, where we’ve enjoyed unforgettable days on the slopes together. We love celebrating our clients throughout the year, from going to Hollywood Bowl shows together to sending thoughtful gifts around the holidays. These moments, big and small, are our way of showing appreciation and highlighting just how much we value the incredible people we’re fortunate to work with.” —Harper Halprin and Aaron Leshtz, AAHA Studio, Los Angeles
Out on the Town
“Just before Thanksgiving, we shot a dining vignette called The Grateful Table. We turn the image into a holiday card and send out chocolate townhouses to all our clients and partners. I love going to shows, events and small dinners as the city is lit up in that magical holiday glow. I’ll invite clients out for a night to enjoy the city. We’re having a larger dinner party for clients in the new warehouse in early 2025 and will finally show people behind the scenes.” —Jason Saft, Staged to Sell Home, New York
Custom Care
“We are all about personalized gifts, so we normally commission custom ornaments for each of our clients that commemorate our time together. We work with a local artist to create ornaments with our favorite part of the design, the family name and the year hand-painted on them. We surprise our clients with them right after Thanksgiving, and it’s always such a joy to see their reactions to the gift!” —Kristyn Harvey, Kristyn Harvey Interiors, San Diego
Fun for Everyone
“We’ve been in business for many years, and one of our favorite traditions is sending thoughtful gifts to our regular clients, as well as to friends and partners within our network. In addition to these personal touches, we’ve also hosted local events centered around the holiday season in the past. These events have been a great way to connect with our community and show appreciation. We’re excited to reintroduce these events next year, with some fresh ideas and new opportunities to engage with both our clients and our staff!” —Bob Bakes, Bakes & Kropp, New York
