A Space Between - Vol. 2 A Gift Guide
A Gift Guide: for the Love of the Home
Welcome back! This week, I’ve been thinking about gift guides. How they’ve become their own kind of seasonal weather pattern: a deluge of options, a soft panic of tabs open, the paradox of choice. But gift guides aren’t new, not really. In the first century, Roman poet Martial wrote his Sigillaria, or The Presents Made to Guests at Feasts, a comprehensive list of suggestions for what to exchange with your dinner guests after a feast.
“Apophoreta,” he called them: things to carry away. I love that. Gifts as little departures. Some practical, some whimsical, all quietly acknowledging the social choreography of the season.
It feels fitting to return to that origin point this week, as everything around us is becoming more focused on hosting, gathering, preparing. Autumn has always been about the home. Before the marketing machines, the Pinterest boards, there were simply communities moving inward, taking stock of what they had and what they could share.
So yes—today’s endless cascade of Substack gift guides is a lot. But in a strange way, it’s also a return to something older, something gentler: the idea of curating not because we must, but because it’s a way of saying, I thought of you.
This edition isn’t about things I think you should buy. It’s the things I’ve been eyeing myself: pieces I want to pass forward, the luxury gifts I can’t purchase in my current finances, but hope someone else will unwrap this holiday season.
I’ve broken everything down into digestible price points, because we all have a friend who deserves the perfect under-$50 gift, and the friend who somehow deserves a $600 vintage object from 1stDibs.
The theme? Mostly home and accessories. (Shocker!) I’m firmly of the belief that impractical gifts age poorly, they simply collect dust on your desk. Form and function win every time. The best gift I’ve ever received was my Dyson vacuum. I use it every day. (A sign that I’m getting old? Or simply good design?)
Either way, please enjoy this small curation of things I love, wish for, or believe will make someone’s home or body or daily life feel a fraction more beautiful.
** My complete gifting guide and the Black Friday deals I am eyeing **
Under $60 (The perfect gift for a family member you’re not that close to, a last-minute white elephant, a co-worker you sort of like, or just a little something extra for the stocking.
Claus Porto Soap, Banho 150g Regular Price ($26) – Simple, always used, and impossible to get wrong. Claus Porto wraps their soap like tiny vintage treasures. It feels like you picked it up on your trip to Lisbon on a whim, even if you ordered it from your phone on your couch.
Tapered Dinner Candles (Set of 2) ($42) – A pair of limited-edition taper candles, hand-painted by artist Connie Williams-Thomas. Candles are the essence of any ambient dinner or romantic night, and I keep them everywhere in my home–windowsills, nightstands, the weird side tables that only fit one object. These are especially beautiful and make the perfect gift for anyone who loves hosting and wants to add some character to their table.
Wood Riser - Bleached ($45) – Originally used for rolling unleavened chapati dough, this object can act as a pedestal for prized possessions or as a rustic servewear alternative.
PORTA Playing Cards ($18) Gifting a game is underrated. It sparks real connection and pulls us away from our phones. I’m newly obsessed with card games after not learning any as a kid, so embracing these slow-life traditions feels especially joyful.
If you want to level up and spend a bit more: the Travel Backgammon ($79) was my summer obsession; or how cute if you just whip Le Dice ($95) out at the table? This Rummykub Tile Game ($340) is beautiful, and this Chess Game Table ($878) is the ultimate splurge…
The Lifestraw Home 7-Cup Plastic filter pitcher This gives you purified water at home without committing to a full reverse-osmosis system (my dream appliance). My New York friends will roll their eyes at any shade on “the best tap water in the world,” but for $45 you can quietly improve your hydration situation. I actually have two water filters. The Berkey (yes, the one everyone is obsessed with) is the pricier but truly incredible upgrade if you’re willing to splurge. If you want to go down the rabbit hole: Huberman has a great episode on microplastics and how to reduce them.
Aloeswood Incense ($30), Japanese incense is unbeatable, and I cannot wait to go to Japan next month to stock up properly. This is one of the easiest gifts — practical in any home, office, bathroom. And of course, incense requires an incense holder. I have a true obsession with fish (Substack on fish coming soon), and this Koi Incense Holder ($18) is very affordable, this Round Stamped Incense Holder (Now $54.40, was $68), or this amazing Japanese Recycled Glass Incense Holder ($195).
Small luxuries under $200
The Candle by Mary MacGill ($75) – perfect for anyone who dislikes visible branding. My mother refuses to display a logo anywhere, and she would adore this. Refillable, understated, and a gorgeous alternative to the usual suspects like Aesop or Diptyque.
CouCou The Iris Slip Dress ($140) or the Washable Silk Lace Cami & Short Set (Now $171, was $228) is the perfect gift for anyone who loves getting ready in something pretty. I famously hate bathrobes—I’ve never used a single one I’ve been gifted—and prefer pieces that feel cozy and have a second life. The CouCou slip can be worn out on a casual summer day, and the Eberjey set can be mixed and matched, giving you multiple outfits from one gift.
Set of Four, Duck Pond Coasters ($148) I have truly scoured the internet for good coasters, and I’m very particular about what I want from one. The Sophie Lou Jacobsen spirals are beautiful, but they’re in everyone’s home; marble is too heavy; leather feels too masculine and predictable. These handmade ceramic coasters add texture without feeling bulky, and the small hand-drawn details add a touch of care, making them feel special and unique.
Luca Linen Box 18” Ceiling Light (Now $99.97, was $199.00) – I just purchased this and can’t wait to install it in the kitchen. I have been picking off-white with green undertone paint samples from Benjamin Moore to paint the classic orange wood cabinets that fill most NYC apartments. Stay tuned for a kitchen transformation video.
Open Mindfulness App – A friend gifted this to another friend recently, and it stuck with me because it was such an unexpectedly thoughtful gift. I had already been using the app at the time, but somewhere along getting so head down in work, I neglected my meditation practice. I just re-downloaded it and I’m easing back in ahead of the New Year. A small nudge toward calm feels like the kind of gift everyone could use.
Meena Hot Water Bottle ($155) – For those girls with tummy issues and/or period cramps. There are a lot of fun hot water bottles that don’t need to be a sad knit one off Amazon. This Johnstons of ElginRibbed Cashmere Hot Water Bottle ($320) is a bit more of a splurge, but nonetheless chic.
Between $250 - $400, a sweet but very generous spot
Tania Bulhoes Linen Placemat ($70 each) – You need four, minimum. They also come with a matching napkin ($60 each)), naturally. One of the best gifts—and I’m projecting here since I just moved into a new apartment—is beautiful linens for hosting. Hosting feels instantly more adult and romantic with good placemats and napkins.
If you want something more budget-friendly, Bicla Filial Napkin, Set of 6 ($148) is a great option, or the Primavera Linen Napkins, set of 4 ($88), which come in a range of really lovely colors.
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Throw Blanket ($249) – Cashmere at this good of a price point is rare. My friend Molly said a good cashmere throw is on her list this year, and she’s never wrong. I just got this blanket and I am wrapped up in it as I write this.
Le Creuset Thyme Enameled Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven (Now $299.95, was $475.00) – One of my long-time wishlist items. With the price and the quality of this piece, this might finally be the year I do it. You can absolutely do the same for a friend and hope they invite you over for a divine meal and a glass of red wine. Some gifts are really just investments in shared pleasure.
$400 & over — for the indulgent gifter, whether it’s a treat for yourself or someone truly deserving
Item: Enso’s Menorah or Candleholders ($485 or $235/Pair) – Joel Harding—my Jewish co-principal —always said it was impossible to find a Menorah that felt truly design-forward. After years of not seeing one we loved, we made our own. Sculptural, simple, and meant to live beautifully beyond the holiday. The candleholders carry the same spirit for those who don’t celebrate Hanukkah.
Theo Fennell Sterling Silver Tabasco Sleeve ($1,650) – Completely absurd, I know. But I can’t get over how glam and fabulous this is. If you’re not looking to drop a month of rent on a hot sauce accessory, there’s a far more reasonable Pewter Tabasco Sleeve ($65) that delivers the exact same charm. I don’t even like Tabasco, but I fully respect its chokehold on the world, and I can think of at least a dozen people who would lose their minds over this gift.
The Perfect Nothing Catalogue Latch-Lock ($750) – Frank Traynor transforms everyday objects into incredible works of art. He’s represented by contemporary design gallery The Future Perfect, and his pieces continue to blur the line between the commercial and the conceptual. Adding a small detail like this latch lock to your home is the kind of thing that quietly reveals your attention (and love) for considered design. Another small and cool gift is the Abalone Shackle Padlock ($500).
Early Art Deco Vase by Just Andersen, 1920s, Denmark ($822) – I had to include a few vintage pieces in here, because that’s ultimately what I splurge on. Design that hasn’t aged, and will continue to patina and soften over time — the kind that fades beautifully into the background alongside the objects you collect on your travels and in the little moments that shape a home.
Just Andersen is an iconic Danish designer, known for his mastery of metal and his ability to make even the simplest form feel sculptural. He helped define Scandinavian Art Deco, stripping ornament down to its essence and proving that everyday objects could carry quiet, architectural weight. There are so many fun ones to choose from: Art Deco Vase by Ellen Schlanbusch for Just Andersen, 1940s, Denmark ($582) or Amphora-Style Discometal Vase by Just Andersen, 1920s, Denmark ($1,175).
And before anyone points it out: yes, I completely forgot to include anything for the boys. I’m terrible at “boy gifts.” My boyfriend helped me put together a For Him section on ShopMy. If you’re looking for something in that realm, it’s all HERE.