Shopping small businesses is a passion of mine. Remember that year when the whole ‘every time you shop with a small business, someone does a little happy dance’ did the rounds? Well, those words were with me before, but haven’t left me since. If Christmas isn’t about community and being thoughtful with your gift-giving, what is it about?
Around this time of year, we often head towards ease and lower price points (thank you Black Friday for your unwelcome participation), so for my 2023 gift guide for interior lovers I wanted to focus solely on homeware offerings by smaller, sustainable businesses. This is a gift guide to look back at all year round, send to your friends and family for ideas, or simply buy for your own loved ones. A small business isn’t just for Christmas and all that.
While I’ve tried to keep things at a range of price points, remember that these items come with the cost of craftsmanship and being made to last. There are makers, curators and largely, just a singular person behind every single one of these offerings. Where I’ve included an item that is a little more mainstream, the link you’ll find is to a small retailer. For the books, you’ll be directed to UK bookshop, where you can choose a local bookstore to support. Some of these items are ones that I’ve treasured in my home for many years, while others are on the wishlist (hint hint, to anyone who wants to buy me a gift), but they’re all worthwhile purchases that are guaranteed to bring on happy dances for both you and the businesses behind them. Happy shopping!
For the cushion hoarder
1. Wine Red & Rose Pink Ruffle | In Case by Paboy | £65 // 2. Fushia & Peat Bolster Cushion | Appreciation Project | £135 // 3. Eldorado The Studio Tierra Roja Cushion | Glassette | £105 // 4. Striped Pyramid Cushion | The Socialite Family | £45 // 5. Christina Lundsteen Laura Cushion | Heal’s | £135 // 6. Martini Cushion | Harriet Says Hi | £200 // 7. Love White Velvet Cushion | One Night Eight Five | £75 // 8. Pome Cushion, Buttercup | Ceraudo | £125 // 9. Tartan Blanket Company Rust Checkerboard Cotton Cushion | Trouva | £60 // 10. Leopard Ruffled Cushion | Amuse La Bouche | £65
For the candle sniffer
1. Earl Of East X Studio Lenca Strand Soy Wax Candle ‘Felix’ | Earl of East | £50 // 2. Almond Croissant Candle | Overrose | £46 // 3. Scallop Candle | Casa Carta | £58 // 4. Oré mi Honey + Tobacco Candle | Oré mi | £24 // 5. Polkra x Katie Scott Atlas Candle | Polkra | £55 // 6. The Checkerboard Pillar Candle | The Waxness | £14.50 // 7. Vermouth Scented Candle | Evermore x Top Cuvee | £32 // 8. Stripe Candle | Papillon Margate @ Trouva | £55.20 // 9. Bookworm Scented Candle | Paul Smith | £65 // 10. Lark London Yin Yang Candle | Lark London @ Trouva | £24 // 11. Dreamland Candle | Haeckels | £58 // 12. Aery Moroccan Rose Scented Candle | Lark London @ Trouva | £30
For the ceramics collector:
1. Love you every day Plate | Laetitia Rouget | £60 // 2. Sweet Cherry Pie Plate | Lorraine Robbins | £12 // 3. Wiggle Handle Vase | Florence Mytum Ceramics | £95 // 4. Tata Naka Hand Painted Ceramic Plate Pink | Tata Naka | £110 // 5. Duci Heart Striped Trinket Dish Red | KS Creative | £30 // 6. Makia Plate | Alexandra Manousakis | £42 // 7. Astier De Villatte Small Austin Vase | Liberty London | £90 // 8. Love Is A Drug Platter | Tatiana Alida | £200 // 9. Cerises Plate | Harlie Brown Studio | From £55 // 10. Checker Ceramic Tumbler | Megan Made This | £25 // 11. ‘Pour the wine already’ Hate Plate | Dan Jamieson | £105 // 12. Pink Porcelain Clam Shell Dish | Minnie-Mae Stott Studio | £38.50 // 13. Blue & White Mini Great Hey Vase | Henry Holland Studio | £125
For the art lover:
1. ‘I’m In The Bush’ Pink Screenprint | Babak Ganjei | £135 // 2. ‘Fuzzy Man’ Print | Tuft Luck Studio | £45 with Hand-painted Ash Frame | Studio Simone | £75 // 3. ‘Mon Cheri’ by Natalia Bagniewska | Glasette | £60 // 4. ‘Cheese and Wine’ by Nia Beynon | Eleanor Isobelle Art | from £12 // 5. Soulmates and Playing Out Late’ | Lucy Mahon | £70 // 6. ‘Girl in Shirt’ Print | Margo in Margate | from £35 // 7. ‘Cosmo’ Acrylic painting | May Watson | from £40 // 8. ‘Amazing’ Poster | Charlie Evaristo Boyce | £50 // 9. ‘Live Laugh Bath’ Original | Megan Metcalf | £55 // 10. ‘Endless Summer’ Print | Telegramme | £45 // 11. ‘Miami Beach’ by Charlotte Windsor | Print Club London | £60 with Mustard Yellow Wiggle Frame | Alma Frames | from £59 // 12. ‘Cambio’ by Adriana Jaros | Partnership Editions | £100 // 13. ‘Martini Pain’ Poster | Jemima Sara | from £35 // 14. ‘You Complete Mess’ Print | Harriet Richardson | £40 with All The Things Geo Frame | Glasette | £50 // 15. ‘I must be dreaming’ print by Kelly Jay | Glasette | £50
For the host with the most:
1. Wiggle Candlestick | Bias Edition | £48 // 2. Amarillo Jug| Late Afternoon | £72 // 3. Serving Ceramics Set | Fable | £181 // 4. Retro Marble Coasters | Dolly Rocket | £35 // 5. Napkin Rings | Villa Bologna Pottery | £15 // 6. HK Living Ceramics Dessert Bowl | Potters Ramsgate | £44 // 7. Checkerboard Napkin | Dolly Rocket | £15 // 8. Wonkie Jimmie Juice Glass | Nina Campbell | £60 // 9. A Mug For Things (use as a pinch pot!) | Kalinko Home | £12 // 10. Perfect Pot | Our Place | £140 // 11. Stackable Daisy Candle Holder | Happy Rooms Home Decor | £15 // 12. All The Trimmings Menu Cards | Papier | £25
For the coffee table bookworm:
1. ‘Create: Inspiring Homes That Value Creativity Before Consumption’ by Emily Henson | £25 // 2. ‘Resourceful Living’ by Lisa Dawson | £20 // 3. ‘Marbling: Projects, Design Ideas and Techniques for a More Colourful Life’ by Zeena Shah | £15 // 4. ‘Vivid: Style in Colour’ by Julia Green and Armelle Habib | £32 // 5. ‘Making Living Lovely: Free Your Home with Creative Design’ by Russell Whitehead & Jordan Cluroe | £19.95 // 6. ‘Wild Isle Style: Resourceful And Sustainable Interior Design Ideas’ by Banjo Beale | £25 // 7. ‘Own Your Zone: Maximising Style & Space to Work & Live in the Modern Home’ by Ruth Matthews | £18 // 8. ‘The New Colourful Home’ by Emma Merry | £25 // 9. ‘Bargello: 17 Modern Needlepoint Projects for You and Your Home’ by Nerrisa Pratt | £15 // 10. ‘Colour Confidence’ by Jessica Sowerby | £16.99 // 11. ‘At Home with Nature’ by Marianna Popejoy | £40 // 12. ‘Home Sweet Rented Home: Transform Your Home Without Losing Your Deposit’ by Medina Grillo | £15
For the cocktail connoisseur:
1. Cocktail & Nibble Murano Glass Sticks | Sandra Alexandra | £95 // 2. Ferm Living Ice Spoon | HUH Store | £15 // 3. Strand Rattan Ice Bucket | Kalinko Home | £72 // 4. Glass Strawers | Matilda Goad | £50 // 5. Silver Matchbox Sleeve | Matilda Goad | £50 // 6. ‘G by Glasette’ Glassware | Glasette | Sets from £50 // 7. Bamboo Handle Bottle Opener | Rachel Udall | £22 // 8. Linen Cocktail Hour Coasters | Not Another Bill | £25 // 9. Cherry Red Scallop Round Tray | Addison Ross | £80 // 10. Amuse La Bouche G&T Tea Towel | L’Absurde | £22
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