Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

10 gifts for the home

Southern scent. We were impressed by the lush scents created by Low Country Luxe and inspired by the blockbuster movie The Help, so we were willing to check out the Southern botanical soy candle the company has made for Garden & Gun magazine. The fragrance suggests wintertime in the Deep South - think Fraser fir, eucalyptus, and a hint of citrus. The magazine's emblem, antlers, makes the candle appropriate for the holiday season and year-round. Candles not your thing? Try the antler-adorned letterpress stationery. You may want to use it to write to a friend about the excellent food writing in this Southern lifestyle magazine you never picked up until now.    - Meredith Broussard

Southern scent. We were impressed by the lush scents created by Low Country Luxe and inspired by the blockbuster movie The Help, so we were willing to check out the Southern botanical soy candle the company has made for Garden & Gun magazine. The fragrance suggests wintertime in the Deep South - think Fraser fir, eucalyptus, and a hint of citrus. The magazine's emblem, antlers, makes the candle appropriate for the holiday season and year-round. Candles not your thing? Try the antler-adorned letterpress stationery. You may want to use it to write to a friend about the excellent food writing in this Southern lifestyle magazine you never picked up until now.    - Meredith Broussard

Cute carryalls. Cute bags, for makeup or for miscellany, are always useful. We liked these contemporary yet functional bags from Hadaki, available in unique designs and color combinations. Hadaki says its eco-friendly manufacturing process eliminates harmful chemicals that are traditionally used. Sounds fine to us. Hadaki Jewelry Roll and Zip Carry-All Pouch, under $30 at hadakishop.com.    - M.B.

Bicycle glasses. Imagine giving these statement-making tumblers to your cyclist friend as a gift? Bold bicycle silhouettes are screen-printed directly onto these glasses using a special ink that cross-bonds with the surface, making them dishwasher safe and durable enough to be a part of your daily cycle. Comes in a set of eight bold colors: green, navy blue, orange, white, turquoise, yellow, red, and purple. Bicycle glasses are $75 at uncommongoods.com.    - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

For busy chefs. Pick up a set of colorful Melamine Mini Bowls ($8.95 for four, crateandbarrel.com). Cooks can use them for prep or they can put tiny bits of nibbles in them for snacky little hands.    - Andrea Pyros, www.Deals.com

For kids of all ages. Tokyo-based artist Taro Gomi is famous for his funky coloring books, including "Scribbles, Doodles and Squiggles." In "Play All Day" (Chronicle Books, $19.99) he has created a book that feels more like a delightful toy chest. It's filled with fun stuff to punch out and play with, such as a ringtoss game and finger puppets. Perfect for the household with kids and creative types.    - Associated Press

Retro chic. Create a swank, Mad Men-like atmosphere with this midcentury modern brushed stainless steel ice bucket. $125, Studio Seven (817-731-0706).    - Rachel S. Peters

Raise the bar. This Nambe wine rack, made of alloy metal and acacia wood, is a clever way to showcase wine selections at a hosted bar. $200, Wright at Home (817-989-8222).    - R.S.P.

Serene sheen. These mercury-glass hurricane candleholders add an elegant glow to the dinner table or a buffet. $52-$98, Adorn by Amanda (817-381-1436).    - R.S.P.

Top tier. The simple white porcelain of this serving piece shows off colorful cupcakes or beautifully composed savory bites, and the silver-tone topper provides an elegant touch. $114, Adorn by Amanda (817-381-1436).    - R.S.P.

Chic update. American Indian designs are on-trend, and no one is doing them for home quite like Pendleton. This Oregon company, which traces its beginnings to the 1800s, has given many of its trademark styles a chic update with new blankets and shams that would be equally at home in a rustic cabin or a high-rise condo. Our favorites include the minimalist Navajo Contemporary Blanket Collection, which incorporates a sacred directional cross, and the bold San Miguel Blanket Collection, inspired by the influence of Spanish missionaries on mid-to-late-19th-century Native American weavers. Shams in both styles are $98; blankets run $218 to $338, depending on size. www.pendletonusa.com.    - Fort Worth Star-Telegram