Depending on whom you ask, Valentine’s Day is a consumer holiday, nothing but a vehicle to facilitate the sales of chocolate, jewelry, and flowers – for those wondering, I prefer dark, diamonds, and dried roses. But to others, it’s an opportunity to let Roman mythology’s winged cherub and god of love inspire passion or romance in the victims of his celestial bow. And retail therapy might just be what you or your loved ones need to heal those wounds. So consider this gift guide Cupid’s quiver of arrows, curated to have you falling for contemporary design through the month of February and beyond.
Buy yourself flowers with this expansion on the previous edition for the Flower series within the LEGO Icon sets, which can be enjoyed by collectors and kids alike. This alternative flora is particularly low maintenance and includes a dozen roses in three stages of flowering with four sprigs of baby’s breath accents.
French perfumer Diptyque returns this season with another iteration of two classic scents, Baies and Roses, repacked with special edition graphic patterns that complete one another when paired. The same goes for the fruity and floral fragrances that conspire to conjure a fragrance that is equal parts seductive and sweet.
It’s encouraged to practice some self love with the deliciously deco, wildly contemporary, small burgundy Diamond Mirror by Reflections Copenhagen. A useful piece of ornamentation, it effortlessly flirts with being an object of utility and brilliant decorative element. It can be mounted horizontally and vertically.
B&O’s Beosound Explore Ferrari Edition is engineered to make your heart race. This waterproof speaker is prepared for almost anything – indoor and out. The rugged design, rich color, and compact size make for an incredible vehicle for sound. Try cruising with Mika’s Love – EP or Lana Del Rey’s Honeymoon LP.
Tortuga tapped designers Alberto Gobbino Ciszak and Andrea Caruso Dalmas to create the Dumbo Book Ends. These pairs play well together and separately to accommodate a variety of literary tastes and library needs. Small Wildflower is just one set of 15 styles and three sizes offered in this iconic metal form.
Aptly named, the Flowerpot Table Lamp by Verner Panton for &Tradition is an adorable bedside companion. The portable LED luminaire is made from recycled material, comes in eco-friendly packaging, and is recyclable at the end of its life – but this timeless design won’t rot on the vine. Take a taste of Tangy Pink, one of 14 finishes.
Block Shop’s Poiret Robe grounds the traditionally floral pops of fuchsia pink and soft linework in a field of Kelly green; the same leaves celebrate the bloom. The super soft, 100% certified organic cotton is hand block printed by 5th generation master printers in Jaipur, the capital of India’s Rajasthan state.
More of an homage than pure imitation, Boobooclay’s Kitchen Ravioli Spoon Rest is a one-of-a-kind ceramic piece of functional art imbued with the same love that goes into making its edible counterpart. Imperfections are avowed, making them more delicious in a way that something only handmade can do.
Chef Divya Alter, along with her husband and business partner Prentiss, made Ayurvedic food accessible to NYC restaurant patrons, and now to those dining in their home. This care package includes a nourishing Jaggery Rice, decadent Rose Hot Chocolate Mix, and delicious Buckwheat Cake Mix that will satisfy your sweet tooth while grounding your gut.
For those who embrace the slow burn and appreciate something handwritten over a text, consider the Love Note by artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon. This 4-pack of cards, at 3.5″ x 4.875″, features beautiful letterforms printed in opaque red on premium (tree-free) cotton paper and paired with pink pointed envelopes.
Alessi reinterprets the classic pet bed with Tacaban, an ultra mordern teardrop-shaped form with a high-contrast cushion and corresponding toy suspended from the top. Unlike most pet products, its chic design and neutral color lends itself to a variety of interiors and allows for it to be celebrated rather than hidden away.
The Mano series, available in small and large, is not to be confused with decoration. This “objet d’art” helps collectors live beautifully. Crafted in pure white porcelain, and based on designs by the late architect Gio Ponti, this powerfully minimal sculpture makes for a timeless addition to any well-informed interior.
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