New year, new you, new…home? While that’s not really how I personally operate, there is something about the start of a fresh January that makes you assess *something* about yourself. For today’s article, and because this is a design blog, let’s imagine it is, in fact, your home you’re sprucing up. And if you’re anything like me, when it comes time to zhuzh, you find that your go-to sources might feel as tired as the parent of a newborn. Stale as a bag of Cheerios left open for a week.
Where do you go? Where do you find inspiration? What new-to-you shops might offer the chance to reinvent a little slice of your life (or find a whole new look for all of it, if that’s what you want)? Boy oh boy do I have a treat for you if you’re of this mind currently. Because yes, strolling through the home goods section at Target is fun, but when you’ve seen one neutral Hearth & Hand vase, you’ve kind of seen them all.
I’ve been sitting on a list of housewares and decor shops that I don’t hear being talked about nearly enough, and it’s time to share them. Sure, this gathering could be nearly endless because there are so many wonderful style purveyors out there, but these are a handful that are speaking to me as of late. Some are pipe-dream price points (like Gubi) and fun to imagine shopping at, but others are great spots to hit up for that one or two special little things you feel your room could use. Maybe it’s a splurgy wooden hook for your entryway to finally have a spot to hang your bags or coats when you get home (you know, instead of draping over the back of your sofa), or a ceramic catch-all that might be just as perfect as a salt cellar in your kitchen.
Sometimes, even one small, special addition can make you feel like an entirely different person living in your home in a whole new way. A new set of scalloped dinner plates or those ramen bowls you’ve been eyeing could open the door to feeling the itch to *finally* having friends over for a proper dinner party.
Let’s take a look.
Prices: $$
I’ve made no secret of my love for all things design hailing from Australia and New Zealand. Città comes from our stylish Kiwi friends. I first found it advertised to me on Facebook (ugh), and I was instantly drawn to all their beautiful throws and pillows in great colors. Everything ships from NZ, so keep that in mind as you wait for your order (this isn’t next-day delivery on Amazon, after all), but good things come to those who wait on DHL…that’s the saying, right?
Top: The Design Chaser x Città Terrace Vase, $149 | Solis Waffle Picnic Blanket, $219 | Flex Wall Hook, $70
Bottom: Anni Tea Towel, $35 | Cascade Tealight Holder, $29 | Barragán Cushion Cover, $155
I’m especially smitten with the minimal patchwork vibe of that cushion cover and those crescent-shaped wall hooks. And while the throw says “picnic blanket” in the name, it can definitely be used inside on your couch (and it might end up there in my home). And for anyone who doesn’t really love overly fussy dining room centerpieces, a smattering of these pretty colored glass tealight holders might be just the thing.
Prices: $$$$
File this one under “It’s nice to dream” or “I’m willing to save up for that one splurge every now and then.” Gubi is known both for carrying archive designs from the 20th century (think Bill Curry, Gianfranco Frattini, and Gio Ponti), and high-end contemporary designs. It’s very Italian modern vibes, and pricey, but this is legacy stuff. Collector pieces you have forever, not decor you picked up to satisfy the need of trying out a trend.
Top: Matégot Bowl By Mathieu Matégot, $299 | Vanity Wall Mirror 2 By GamFratesi, $1,299 | Aspide Table Lamp By Gianfranco Frattini, $799
Bottom: Multi-Lite Portable Lamp By Louis Weisdorf, $499 | Matégot Flower Pot By Mathieu Matégot, $179 | MR01 Initial Lounge Chair By Mathias Rasmussen, $2,999
Prices: $$$
Cedar & Hyde has a (gorgeous) storefront in Boulder, Colorado, but thankfully, you can access their posh home goods online, too. They sell some of Emily and EHD’s favorite ceramicists (BZippy, MQuan, Virginia Sin, Matthew Ward Studio) as well as other sought-after design brands like Lostine, Fort Standard, Skagerak, and way more. It’s kind of like the who’s who of artisans every designer and stylist I know taps to make their projects beautiful and well-curated.
Top: Trio Coat Rack in Speckled White, $140 | Large Standing Bowl in Moss, $230 | Medium Stash Jar in Charcoal, $140
Bottom: 16″ X 24″ Washed Linen Vice Versa Cushion in Cobalt, $153 | Peggy Hook, $36 | Mini Face Planter in Dreamy, $165
The roster of Cedar & Hyde encompasses lots of ceramics, kitchen wares, and soft goods. I need to figure out where I can put those Lostine hooks in my house immediately (wait, why do I need so many hooks all of a sudden because I also really want that Trio coat rack…). The footed bowl is the type of thing that can transform any surface it’s on and the stash jar is expensive but exceptional. Put it in your bathroom, kitchen, console table, nightstand…anywhere.
Prices: $$$
Where color and cool meet. That’s Glassette. While not every single item is a personal home run for me aesthetically speaking, almost everything in their marketplace is at least smile-inducing. It’s a UK brand, and you can see that signature English charm and quirk rendered in a modern, clean way. Pick even a single thing, and it’s sure to be that one statement piece you maybe didn’t even know your room needed.
Top: SIN For-Everything Rack / Vertical, Sand, $190 | SIN Serra Bookends (1 Pair), Sand, $150 | Hannah Simpson Studio Blue ‘Me’ Table Lamp with Matching Wool Lampshade, $305
Bottom: Studio Simone Tomato Mayo Skinny Stripe Painted Frame, $96 | Amanita Labs Flur 2.0 Coasters Tobacco, $32 | Tortuga Forma Dinner Napkins Double-Sided Checker, Set of 4 – Sky, $95
Why is it so hard to find coasters that don’t look like a slice of a gemstone or some other rock? And while I intellectually know cork is great and absorbent, I also don’t want my coasters to look like I bought them at Office Depot. Love these. And love it or hate it, where else can you find a dramatic lamp with a wool lampshade? It’s pretty fabulous, tbh. As is that—surprise, surprise—vertical rack.
Prices: $$-$$$
Drew Micheal Scott, i.e. Lone Fox, is a staple of the home content creator community. His popularity exploded over the last few years as he shared all the DIYs he did to his Los Angeles home. His look is moody, aged, and what I’m coining “castle chic.” And while you might already be following him on Insta, YouTube or the Tok, you might not know that he actually has a very good e-comm shop! He sells both new and vintage/sourced furniture, decor, and art. The vintage stuff is pricey but all really well curated and in good condition, while the new stuff is more in the price realm of West Elm.
Top: Vintage Mid Century Solid Brass Shell Pot, $325 | Woven Rattan Wall Hooks (set of 2), $45 | Pears Still Life Oil Painting by Carpenter, 1965, $455
Bottom: Frasia Block Print Ruffled Pillow Cover, $55 | Vintage Italian Murano Glass Shell Sconce, $850 | Hatched Organic Woven Vase, $49
I cannot get over those vintage Murano Glass shell sconces. They are gorgeous (and I’m not even a big fan of Murano glass…or shells, yet I also love that brass shell pot). Oh, and for any parent out there who wants beautiful vases and ceramics, the woven vase here is actually made of resin, so it can take a tumble and still be fine!
Prices: $$$
A watering can so beautiful it might be confused for decor. A plant stake that could double as a sculpture. A vase that makes you want to go pick wildflowers. Oh, and it’s all promoting conscious commerce, environmental conversation, heritage preservation and so much more. Goodee is the elevated housewares brand you can feel very good about.
Top: Pakurigo Basket, $225 | Ikebana Vase, $289 | The Warley Fall (One Gallon), $149
Bottom: Folk Plant Stake – Hinto, $35 | 1616 / Arita Palace Plate 220, $40 | Dog Bed Basket, $245
It’s not often a basket or a toilet brush stand can feel like an heirloom piece but alas, Goodee has managed it. That Ikebana Vase is the kind of thing I’d buy myself for a landmark birthday like that one I have coming up next month, and perhaps it’s time the wispy legs of my fiddle leaf fig aren’t held together by blue painter’s tape anymore? This one is only $35!
Prices: $$
I’ve shared bedding from Piglet in Bed in prior posts of mine and it’s worth a mention here. Good bedding is offered by so many brands these days, but I just love the charming stripes, gingham, and small florals of this UK company. I find their prices fair and comparable to others in their category. Linen is their bread and butter but they also offer cotton (and other home goods like throws, curtains, towels, and even pajamas).
Top: Cream Linen Crinkle Throw, from $127 | Pine Green Pembroke Stripe Linen Blend Curtains (Pair), from $172 | Pine Green Pembroke Stripe Cotton Towels, from $59
Bottom: Warm Blue Gingham Linen Quilt, from $262 | Navy Striped Knitted Throw, from $79 | Sandstone Red Pembroke Stripe Linen Blend Duvet Cover, from $229
I’m particularly drawn to the pine green Pembroke Stripe color combination, and you’ll see it here twice between the curtains and the towels. Their stripes in general are great, because I find you can get thin pinstripes and thicker stripes elsewhere, but it’s hard to find this happy-medium stripe size.
Prices: $$$
Have you ever seen someone take a wine glass and whack it on the edge of a counter without it breaking? Yeah, me neither, until I found Fable. They say they use an “ion-toughening technique” which makes their thin glass twice as strong and durable as regular glass. I don’t get it, but I’ll trust the science.
Top: Serving Board Set, $172 | Wine Glasses – Set of 4, $121 | Dinner Plates – Set of 4, $79 | Bottom: Highball Glasses – Set of 4, $135 | Ramen Set, $76 | Cups – Set of 4, $64
Their wood boards have also undergone some sort of witchcraft that makes them less absorbent and lighter, and all their stoneware is fired at a much higher temperature than traditional earthenware which makes them non-porous and more durable.
Prices: $$
And lastly, yet another UK stockist, but this time with that English cottage core vibe so many have loved for the past few years. It’s nostalgic but still feels fresh enough that you don’t think you’re living in a 1990s Laura Ashley catalog. They make great floral and printed upholstery, but for the sake of this article, I’m sticking to showcasing their small goods.
Top: Sofa Topper Pillow Cover, $109 | Geometric Embroidery Fringe Trimmed Pillow Cover, $59 | Printed Drum Lamp Shade, $139
Bottom: Extending Taper Candle Holder, $59 | Woven Seagrass Stool, $199 | Eloise Embroidered Pillow Cover, $139
Solid fabric people need not apply here. You’ll find their beautiful prints on sofa toppers, fringed throw pillows, even lampshades. Don’t skip their other accessories—how sweet is this taper candle holder?
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Anything strike your fancy? I know most things are a bit of a splurge, but I hope I shared things you’d add to your home that you’d have if not forever, than for the foreseeable future. Quality, artisanship, and craftsmanship seem to be at a low these days with everything being hit by shrinkflation in one form or another, but if you want to invest in quality goods, you have at least nine places to start looking.
Enjoy, happy perusing, and happy new year, new you, new home. 🙂
Until next time…
