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An inkless planner? Yes, indeed, this monthly planner by South Korea based O-Check Design Graphics uses no ink; it’s pressed with an intaglio printing technique so that it stays environmentally friendly. A completely blank calendar page allows you to customize the weeks and months with your own handwriting and/or stamps, giving you an option to stay super minimal or go crazy with colors and hand drawn patterns.
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This paper knife is so sleek it’s scary. A solid black matte finish and a super sharp point make it look like it’s a futuristic weapon, and you’re welcome to pretend it’s such as long as you don’t engage in any role play- someone is bound to get hurt. Keep it on your desk, admire it for its sculptural shape, and use it safely, as intended, as a paper knife.
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Think of this as a color field art piece that will keep you (or your giftee) warm. The handwoven mix of 100% ecological French merino wool shows color combination at a basic level: off-white, Yellow, Red, Green and Gray are woven to create a one larger rectangle of an earthy sort of yellow ochre. This one, the Sensation blanket, is my favorite, but there are others as well: Intuition, Feeling, and Thinking. Or, for a more pixelated mix, check out the Labyrinth. All by Zuzunaga.
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If you want to score major points with someone who likes tea, you can’t do much better than gifting this teapot by Heath Ceramics. Originally designed in the 1940s to work with their dinnerware, the teapot has a copper handle wrapped in leather and is microwave, dishwasher and oven safe. Consider adding a couple of Large Modern Cups to complete the set.
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What is this magical, mysterious thing? It looks infinitely more special than something that keeps a writing implement sharpened, but that’s the whole idea- you can leave it out on your desk without offending anyone’s eyes. Machined from a solid block of metal, it easily doubles as a paperweight. Do be sure to consider the Penpo Desk Organizer ($88) as well, as they’d make an excellent pairing on your desktop.
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It’s a Nut Hammer. It’s a pretty smart idea: a removable silicone ball holds the nut in place- just strike the hammer against a flat surface and the cast-iron head will take care of the rest. The silicone keeps flying shards at bay and minimizes the mess usually associated with cracking nuts. It’d be an excellent holiday gift.
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Remember Lee Broom’s Crystal bulb? Well, take that idea a step further and you’ve got his Decanterlights in all their fine hand-cut, lead crystal glory. Originally devised from vintage decanters, these replicas will make a lovely sort of statement above a bar or dining table. Pick between the Bell, Square and Tulip shapes, or mix several for a bigger statement.
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You’re such a snob for wanting the black version of the Soma Water Filter, but that’s okay because a) aesthetics do matter when it comes to the discerning design enthusiast, and b) $15 of each sale will go straight to the nonprofit Charity:Water organization which supports access to clean, uncontaminated water for people in developing nations.

Soma’s filter and carafe are made of a biodegradable filter (made of coconut shell carbon, layers of silk, and plant-based plastic) and pharmaceutical-grade glass and together they’ll filter up to 40 gallons of tap water. Subscribe to get new filters delivered to your door every 2 months. Oh, and you’ll get some special black gift surprise too- like a black Stelton chef’s knife or a black Salt Surf surfboard. Sounds like an all-around good deal.
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Up for your 2015 calendar consideration is Noa Bembibre’s Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar Calendar. This is its seventh year in production, and, as usual, each month features odd phrases that hold the month’s letters. Subtle colors lends a nice variation throughout the year. Produced in a limited edition of 500.
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This carafe is such an easy gift idea you might as well buy two. ‘W/W’ stands for ‘water’ and ‘wine’ as the carafe does double duty- use it for serving water or soft drinks and know that the rubber seal and stainless steel breathing device keeps ice and other stuff (like fruit/garnishes) in the carafe, or admire the ‘raining’ process which aerates wine as it’s poured into the decanter. Add the set of 4 Hubert Wine Glasses for an extra special gift set.
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I’ll bet that wherever you enjoy your Thanksgiving feast they won’t have placemats as cool as these (if we actually were betting money, I’d make an absolute fortune). The Join Facet Placemats (set of 2) have a 3d fractal pattern molded out of heat resistant silicone. Join them together for an interesting seamless table runner or keep them separate for an easy-to-clean table setting.
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Oh, how to protect that valuable bottle of wine whilst trekking across town or perhaps even continent, as the case may be? No paper bag will do, that’s for certain. The folds of this Origami Wine Tote insulate and protect a bottle during travel and then compress down for storage. The neoprene material further softens any possible blows and adds to the bag’s appeal.
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Hey, what should you get someone that’s fond of their bottled beverages? A special bottle opener, of course. This collection of solid brass openers by Fort Standard use a minimal amount of material to get the job done, and, since they’re too pretty to be tucked away in a drawer, there’s the option to leave them out on the table or on a wall hook for display.
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Atelier de Troupe is hitting the right sort of note with their Balise collection. Just take a look at the pendant: a little retro Jean Royère inspiration moved this fixture from ‘quiet modern’ to ‘quiet-yet-playful-modern’, and that’s the secret winning combination when it comes to sophisticated interiors. Four 6″ ball glass shades hang side by side to make a 36″ width, 40″ drop height pendant, which fills a space above a dining table or kitchen island perfectly.
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You know that weird section of your hair on the back of your head? This hand mirror will help you see it, and hopefully fix it, so you won’t look like a bum when you roll into the office each morning. It’s made by polishing a piece of stainless steel to a mirror finish, and then dipping it into an industrial rubber tool grip. You certainly won’t need to worry about breaking it (to clarify, by dropping it) because there’s no glass to break.
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