The holiday season is nearly upon us and as temperatures cool, our minds naturally turn to warm gatherings and of course, showering our friends and loved ones with thoughtful gifts.
This year, LIV Design Studio is thrilled to celebrate the place we call home and share a touch of Canadian charm with a selection of curated gifts available for under $100 from our favourite boutiques across the country. Our team has hand-picked plenty of options for everyone on your list, with unique items for everything from home décor to self-care essentials and everyday objects.
To celebrate the festive season, we're giving away two Weekend Passes for IDS Toronto 2024, where LIV Design Studio will be presenting our The Art of Outdoor Living: A Virtual Experience booth, an innovative augmented-reality showcase of the next generation of interior designers. Submit your entry here for your chance to take in this exciting event with a friend or colleague.
[Carousel images courtesy of PROVIDE Home and Inform Interiors]
Gifts from Vancouver
Vancouver Design House
1. Kirby Vase
Stunning on its own or filled with a vibrant floral bouquet, The Kirby Vase from Areaware comes in three unique shapes that each have their own unique personality. This versatile ceramic vase has a rounded form that softens interiors and makes for a great gift for hosts this holiday season.
2. Kartell Jellies Tray
This distinctive line of serving trays draws inspiration from vintage jelly moulds and makes a bold statement whether as a gift or an addition to your own interiors. The vivid colours and overlapping pattern make this piece truly unforgettable.
3. Philippi June Lantern Tea Light Holder
The elegant June Lantern Tea Light holder has a beautiful iridescent surface that reflects candlelight and creates a moody atmosphere that instantly elevates any dinner party. We think this elevated candle holder would make for an excellent addition to your holiday centrepiece and a lovely gift for the home.
Inform Interiors
4. Kanaami Tsuji Japanese Tea Strainer
The ritual of tea-making is a quintessential part of cool winter days, and this thoughtfully-designed Japanese Tea Strainer from Kanaami Tsuji is sure to infuse refinement into daily routines. This seemingly simple object is handmade from metal and natural materials, ensuring it remains functional and beautiful for many years to come.
5. Woman Made: Great Women Designers
A subject close to our own hearts, Woman Made celebrates some of the most iconic women product designers from the early 20th century to the present. Full of gorgeous full-colour images, this essential book celebrates the significant role women have played in the evolution of modern design.
6. 2024 Stendig Calendar
The iconic Stendig Calendar isn't just a way to keep on track heading into the new year, it's a larger-than-life statement piece that adds a bold touch to any space. The calendar is an icon of modernist design and a wonderful gift for the design-conscious planners in your life.
Gifts from Vancouver boutiques (Cont.)
Old Faithful Shop
7. Ferm Living – Liba Watering Can
The plastic watering can is taken to new heights with this cleverly designed and sustainably made rendition from Ferm Living. The pleasing form of the Liba Watering Can reminds us of watering vessels from the distant past, and the body is made from recycled materials with a streamlined, easy to handle design.
8. Tamanohada Welcome Soap
This fun fish-shaped soap is modelled after the Japanese Tai Fish – a symbol of good fortune. As such, it makes for a wonderful gift to bring auspicious tidings to your friends and loved ones, and has a lovely, fresh smell with floral and grassy notes.
9. Camber Tool Box
For the particularly handy folks in your life, the Camber Tool Box is a veritable design marvel that's crafted from a single sheet of steel with no welds or seams. The Good Design Award winning toolbox is breathtakingly simple with a time-honoured design that's utterly classic.
Provide
10. Konzuk Orbis Concrete Vessel
The Orbis Concrete Vessel has a grounding presence that's very welcome amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. This hand-crafted structure is proudly made in British Columbia and seamlessly blends raw, natural materials with a refined design to promote deep contemplation and a sense of calm through its rounded yet jagged design.
11. Frama Komorebi Scented Candle
Centered around mindful living, the Komorebi Candle from Frama seeks to capture the inscrutable feeling of light passing through an object. This delicate, floral scent makes for an excellent gift as its subdued aroma has traces of yuzu, osmanthus, and cypress – an ideal complement to practically any space.
12. Stinson Maple Cutting Board
Made of 100% solid Canadian maple hardwood, this useful cutting board evokes a pronounced sense of place and is equally suitable as a serving platter or a chopping board. Incredibly durable and functional yet naturally stunning, this unique piece has one live edge with a smooth surface and a clean look that blends in with any space.
[Pictured here: Liba Watering Can from Ferm Living; Welcome Soap from Tamanohada – both available from Old Faithful Shop]
Gifts from Toronto shops
313 Design Market
13. Poketo Brass Bookmark
Perfect for the bibliophiles in your life, this elegant bookmark helps save your place in style. The curved design and polished brass make for a true conversation piece and are thin enough to fit effortlessly between pages.
14. MoMA 2-in-1 Chess and Checkers Set
Enliven your next games night with this bold patterned chess and checkers set designed by Panisa Khunprasert for MoMA. The sustainably made piece is constructed from rubberwood and contains reversible pieces plus a board that can be flipped to accommodate two classic board games in one convenient set.
15. Lexon Tykho 3 Bluetooth Speaker
Lexon Tykho 3 Bluetooth Speaker is a splash-proof marvel that seamlessly integrates technology with design. The bold color palette, rubberized finish, and intuitive controls make it a stylish accessory for both indoor and outdoor environments.
Swipe
16. Blackwing Pearl Pencils
The Blackwing Pearl Pencil is beloved by calligraphers and illustrators for its balanced graphite and sleek design. This set of 12 pencils makes a lovely gift for the artists in your life, with a pearlescent shade and a luxurious case.
17. Guzzini Ripples Large Flask
For the stylish adventurers, Guzzini's Ripples Large Flask is a beautiful and exceedingly practical everyday essential with a unique texture and appearance. Slim, stackable, and impressively lightweight, this elegant bottle easily slides into bags for city walks or long commutes.
18. Baggu Go Pouch Set
If you're shopping for someone with a flight planned, there's no better and nicer-looking set than Baggu's Go Pouches. Coming with three pouches of varying sizes made from recycled nylon, the "Bouquet" set features three bold tones ranging from small to large.
[Pictured here: Blackwing Pearl Pencils; Ripples Large Flask by Guzzini; Baggu Go Pouch Set – all available from Swipe Design]
Umbra
19. Stax 4 In a Row
For keeping the whole family entertained after dinner, this aesthetically-pleasing Four-in-a-row set from Stax features frosted playing pieces and a brass plated finish for an elevated look.
20. Rolz Chess & Checkers Set
This portable Chess & Checkers Set from Rolz is made for bringing on winter vacations. The board easily rolls up with ample room for all the pieces, contained in a compact case with a convenient strap for transport.
21. Umbra Picket Rail Hook
The Picket Rail Hook is a functional and incredibly stylish solution for holding coats, hats, and other accessories and looks wonderful adorning a walkway or entrance. The piece has a unique shape with beveled pine wood 'hooks' that can be flipped up when not in use to avoid taking up unnecessary space.
Easy Tiger
22. Stackable Crates
Available in a variety of vibrant hues and different sizes, these foldable, stackable crates make a great gift or last-minute purchase for your holiday reorganization project.
23. Block Design Reversible Vase
The creatively designed Block Design Reversible Vase allows for both single flowers and whole bouquets with an ingenuous reversible design. The cylindrical, handmade glass vase comes in playful tones with a contrasting cylinder fused inside for smaller stems.
24. Sowden Pepper Mill
This striking pepper mill from Sowden features bright pops of colour at its edges and has a tactile design that brings joy to every meal.
[Pictured here: 2024 Stendig Calendar, available from Inform Interiors]
Gifts from other Canadian boutiques
Design Within Reach
25. Living in Color
Life in Color is a must-have for the interior designers in your life, featuring 200 interiors from over 130 designers. Each space is organized by colour from the purest whites to the darkest blacks.
26. Sobremesa Serving Bowl
Minimal with a whimsical pop of colour around its rims, these stunning Serving Bowls make a wonderful hosts' gift and exude a refined warmth on any dinner table.
27. Muuto Sketch Toolbox
This minimal toolbox from Muuto resembles a house in its design, with slanted sides and slots of varying sizes to store all manner of writing instruments or household tools – a wonderful choice for artists and craftspeople alike.
SSENSE
28. Small Summit Planter
The Summit Planter has a minimal, structural design that instantly defines a room and makes plants stand out amid their surroundings. The versatile planter is hand-poured and is available in a number of different airy hues.
29. Sheyn Red Dorn Vase
The statement-making Red Dorn Vase is 3D printed using PLA to give it a futuristic texture and appearance. The festive red tone is perfect for the holiday and a removable borosilicate glass cylinder at the centre makes potting plants a breeze.
30. Goodbeast Glass Set
These two handcrafted, sculptural drinking glasses feature a unique crushed look that's beautiful to look at and easy to hold and drink from. Recipients will also appreciate the fact that these are dishwasher safe.
[Pictured here: Beige Small Summit Planter from Capra Designs; Red Dorn Vase by Sheyn; Crushed Glass Set from Goodbeast – all available at SSENSE]
Season's Greetings from LIV Design Studio
As you navigate the gift-giving season, we trust this guide will help you discover the ideal fusion of form and function to bring joy to your loved ones. From timeless home essentials to indulgent treats and memorable meals, our selections are tailored to elevate your loved ones' daily experiences with a touch of thoughtful, Canadian design.
May your festive season be filled with moments of genuine warmth and connection. Happy holidays from the entire team at LIV Design Studio!
