Blush, bright, or dusty rose. Prior to it being co-opted by my millennial peers I gave into the allure of pink long ago – even when it wasn’t in vogue for men to admit. While I accepted the awesome responsibility of moving the needle on that issue, there wasn’t a great variety of goods or designers embracing the hue until the last decade. If you or someone you know has been brave enough to bear the burden of enjoying it, I encourage you to think pink this holiday season when gifting.

Deco enough to pay homage to one of the most iconic architectural periods in recent history but contemporary enough to complement a modern home, the Brooklyn Candle Holder is an elegant piece for any tabletop or crystal collector. Its hand-cut, layered wings can catch some rays to create visual effects from those that are dazzling to simply marking the passage of time depending on its relation to source light. It’s exemplary collectible design.

Swarovski partnered with the esteemed porcelain manufacturer Rosenthal in an exclusive collaboration to marry this signature octagon pattern with utility for more tabletop play. The vase delightfully subverts expectations from the crystal brand while serving as more than just a collectible item. It’s an exceptional gift for those who appreciate historical references as it takes inspiration from the Wiener Werkstätte art scene – an amalgam of craft, architecture, and graphic design.

Particularly beautiful in the Calcutta finish, its materiality elevates this dish from trinket tray to architectural experience as the namesake of L’abbaye du Thoronet. The austere arches mimic those of the abbey with contemporary flair while inviting users to commune with the home. It is crafted in Porto, Portugal, living a storied life from its inception.

Chic meets utilitarian with this tool set packaged in an iconic pink box. Home fragrance is an investment and burning rituals should include candle care to preserve those purchases. Comprising an oval tray, wick trimmer, snuffer, and wick dipper, this collection enhances user experience as it invites a slowness otherwise rushed through while on a scent journey. It’s all about the “slow burn.”

Despite my aspirations or delusions of grandeur, sometimes the most meaningful gifts are those that are handmade and whose purchase can support slower craft. Aptly described as “slender” and “sexy,” these high balls in pink and amber are perfect for those with an appreciation for presentation when crafting libations. Handmade meets hydration for the holidays.

Oops!… They did it again. Without missing a beat the Danish maker of audio and home entertainment equipment fashions an even more elegant model of their Beosound Level Portable WiFi Speaker with the Atelier Edition in Lilac Twilight. While the product, exclusive for online purchase, is enamoring, the most impressive feature is its Cradle to Cradle™ certification. Inherently designed to be the gift that keeps on giving, its technology and construction allows for “future-proofing” with features like hardware that can easily be serviced.

I’m a staunch believer that art and books are equally important elements to invest in as is any other home furnishing. The soft geometries and modest colors reprinted with archival giclée on a sturdy stock make a fine art composition for the home. Understated in its elegance, this spatial composition still draws the eye to it and makes a great conversation piece when hung on the right wall.

The beguiling orbs and metallic L-shaped brass base plates that comprise Jonathan Adler’s Globo Bookends are inspired by big, bold cocktail rings. Available in several jewel tones, these functional objects provide just enough theater for an otherwise minimal bookshelf and enchant passers by to get lost in their imagination, or perhaps, a book.

This portable and rechargeable table luminary comprises two rounded elements, a body and a knob, and made of blown glass with a bell jar shape plucked from a fairy tale. It allows for personal customization but I recommend Flamingo – a pink model whose finish and candy hue make it saccharine sweet. The dim-to-warm functionality of its light source allows users to connect and play building on its elements of whimsy.

Creative genius, production prowess, and a command of color conspire to bring you the Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair. A collaboration between Herman Miller and HAY, this artifact is made of 100% recycled plastic in six new colors inspired by archival designs from the famed industrial designers and architects. Laura Guido-Clark, the former Creative Director of Materials Innovation at Herman Miller and founder of Love Good Color, gives my Powder Pink pick her seal of approval.

Follow along so you don’t miss any of our 2023 Gift Guides this year!

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With professional degrees in architecture and journalism, Joseph has a desire to make living beautifully accessible. His work seeks to enrich the lives of others with visual communication and storytelling through design. A regular contributor to titles under the SANDOW Design Group, including Luxe and Metropolis, Joseph serves the Design Milk team as their Managing Editor. When not practicing, he teaches visual communication, theory, and design. The New York-based writer has also contributed to exhibitions hosted by the AIA New York’s Center for Architecture and Architectural Digest, and recently published essays and collage illustrations with Proseterity, a literary publication.

The former Schellens Fabriek in Eindhoven became Something.bigger for Dutch Design Week 2023 – a creative hub for designers, artists, and makers as residents and host to Nothing Happens If Nothing Happens by the digital and physical design platform Isola. The exhibition showcased innovative biomaterials, circular products, and collectible design pieces.

The German designer behind the limewood and bouclette Big Marshmallow (Ottoman), Paul Ketz, claims that it suits any environment “from throne room to lounge area” and that the segmented shapes are like “a fountain of youth that seems to float gently around.” We’re not quite sure about any of that, but it does look super comfy and it certainly makes a statement!

In case you didn’t spot the visual reference or the clue in the name, Paperclip by Esmee Gruson was in fact inspired by the ubiquitous paperclip, “enlarged and deformed into a new absurd reality,” with the intention of questioning comfort, functionality, and the boxes into which we place things.

Deze Beams (“these beams”) originated from a collaboration between Plastiek Breda and Soeps Creative Collective. At their simplest, they are sustainably manufactured, recycled plastic beams with holes in them – together they can be used as a modular system to make almost anything, from seating to sleeping pods. “Together we build a creative ecosystem without limits to sustainable thinking and action,” says the team. “These are easy to use, encourage reuse, and therefore reduce the purchase of new materials and/or products.”

MESA is a side table handmade from 100% natural and biodegradable eucalyptus bark by the Portuguese multi-disciplinary design practice DUBLO Studio. Eucalyptus bark falls naturally from the tree and can be collected from the ground and, at the end of its life, the stool can be returned to the earth as compost. “This conceptual work is intended to show a field of application for plant materials in less complex products,” says the studio. “Properties of the material are lightness and stability and a long lifecycle, as it is reusable.”

As unlikely as it might sound, Groove by Rotterdam-based Cousins Design unites image making, improvisational music making, and ceramic production. “Using music I have composed and recorded, or images I have created (chiefly, analog photographs), I sought a way to express these as topographical ‘landscapes,’” says designer Wilem Cousins. “Using digital fabrication techniques, particularly 3D modeling and computer numerical control (‘CNC’) milling, I create plaster molds derived from these landscapes allowing me to transfer these detailed textures into the clay body.”

Paris-based designer Raphaël Pontais’ favorite material is metal – not the most comfortable choice for a chair, so he has paired brushed stainless steel with fabric and foam to create the Rooly pouf. The duality of materials and snug fit of the two pieces results in an oddly satisfying form.

Senimo is a carpenter and a designer who creates limited editions of collectible furniture, inspired by curved forms and using recycled materials. The Sharpei Stool is handmade in a small series from reclaimed or reused wood, wooden fibers bound with resin into medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and lacquer for the orange glossy finish.

X4 by Rotterdam-based Studio Verbaan is part of an ongoing series formed with a 3D-printed foundation that is then veneered by hand. “Attention is given to every detail, texture, and contour, imparting a unique and artistic character,” say co-founders Solange Frankort and Jordi Verbaan. “This artisanal process infuses a human touch into the technology, making the sculpture a masterpiece that reflects both advanced technology and human craftsmanship.”

RE-Puzzle is a space-saving furniture concept by Ukranian designer Solmazprimavera crafted from recycled materials. The modular system is made entirely from post-consumer materials like plastics, metals, fabrics, and OSB (oriented strand board) and is fully customizable to fit any space.

Dutch Circular Design describes itself as “a young Dutch design brand with a mission” and that mission is to raise awareness of the value of reusing materials. WasteCraft is part of their effort to do exactly that through such pieces as side tables in which the waste they are made from (in this case, bottle tops) is left deliberately visible in the end product. “Because this is the only way people can see, and therefore believe, that the circular economy is already happening,” they explain. “For us, this is more than just a style, it is a deeply felt mission to create a better world together.”

Weld Stool Recycled is a collaboration between Studio Joris de Groot and Gogo Plastics, demonstrating their research into applications for the latter’s recycled panels, and specifically, whether the panels would be both strong enough and flexible enough to be used for Studio Joris de Groot’s Weld Stool – the answer, after much testing and experimentation – is yes!

Photography by Katie Treggiden.

Katie Treggiden is a purpose-driven journalist, author and, podcaster championing a circular approach to design – because Planet Earth needs better stories. She is also the founder and director of Making Design Circular, a program and membership community for designer-makers who want to join the circular economy. With 20 years’ experience in the creative industries, she regularly contributes to publications such as The Guardian, Crafts Magazine and Monocle24 – as well as being Editor at Large for Design Milk. She is currently exploring the question ‘can craft save the world?’ through an emerging body of work that includes her fifth book, Wasted: When Trash Becomes Treasure (Ludion, 2020), and a podcast, Circular with Katie Treggiden.