The Season of Giving

It's that time of year again, the holidays. Time to start thinking of gift ideas for family and friends. Ever since Liz and I got into this business our holidays have been more harried than most lay people. Our season is so busy with showroom resets, product arrivals and show preparations that we barely have time to think, much less think about great gifts for the people we love and care about. We always vow we'll get a headstart, but somehow we always end up on Thanksgiving wondering where all the time got to. So, I'm ashamed to say, we've often resorted to the laziest of all gifts- the dreaded gift card.

This year I'm resigning to come up with something different, something more thoughtful, something more meaningful. Just a few ideas are listed below.

1. The Gift of Charity- the lean times of late have been especially harsh on charities. Instead of gifting a token gift card that may go unused or unappreciated make a gift of a donation to a charity of your choice in someone's name.

In fact, if Liz and I are on your gift list- please make a donation to either the SPCA or Rover Rescue in our name (both organizations are links on our blog).

The SPCA is reporting a higher than ever abandonment rate of animals and lower donations and government funding. Rover Rescue is a top notch non-profit pet rescue and adoption agency in California. We've adopted both of our pets from these wonderful and humane organisations.

Please help those that cannot help themselves. That is the best gift of all.


2.) The Gift of Small Luxury- Small luxuries abound, but we often would never indulge in them for ourselves. This year consider a gift of small luxury for someone.

A scented candle from Jo Malone or Molton Brown. I like the Molton Brown Candelas with their heady, wonderful fragrances. At $74.00 a pop they are a luxury but they will light up a room for many nights in many ways. http://www.moltonbrown.com/


For Him:

Black Pepper or Thai Vert

For Her:

Naran Ji

Other small luxuries-

A cashmere throw in grey, beige, brown, or cream (beware of strong colors unless you really know the recipient's taste or it's Hermes)

http://www.wshome.com/

A magazine subscription- there's still nothing like pouring through the pages of a good magazine. You'll give a gift to your friend, and the publishers who are struggling. Some of the best:

Elle Decor

House Beautiful

Vanity Fair

Time

Sports Illustrated

Town and Country

Gourmet

The Gift of a Beautiful Book- coffee table books are continuous treasures a few good new and old books:

Glamorous Rooms

the refined modern elegance of Jan Showers

  Style and Substance

by

Margaret Russell

Inspired Interiors

The simplicity of Suzanne Kasler's body of work

 

The style icons Gucci years chronicled in dazzling style