THE JOURNAL
Image by Mr Joe Mortell
Buying gifts for the home can be a fraught task. But as cultural historian and decorative arts expert Dr Benjamin Wild told us last year, the secret lies in knowing the taste of the recipient and scrupulously sticking to it. Personal style goes far beyond our sartorial choices, after all. Our homes are where we spend most of our time – and where we’ve been forcefully confined for a lot of this year – so it’s only right that they serve as an extension of our personalities.
This goes some way to explaining the rising popularity of designer homewares, covetable artworks, soft furnishings and objets d’art created by brands that inspire the kind of hype usually reserved for limited-edition sneaker releases.
If there’s a style-conscious home decor enthusiast in your life who might appreciate such a thing, you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up a range of hype-worthy homewares, all available now at MR PORTER, that they will be thrilled to find under the tree.
01.
The bold blanket
JW Anderson creative director Mr Jonathan Anderson is no stranger to the art world. He is an avid collector himself and his eponymous label regularly collaborates with visual artists from around the world. Part of its latest multi-disciplinary crossover, this blanket isn’t just for throwing over a sofa. It’s spun from a soft blend of wool and cashmere at Begg x Co’s workshop in Ayr, Scotland, and woven with an abstract design, courtesy of New York-born ceramicist and performance artist Ms Shawanda Corbett.
02.
The trippy cushion
Mushroomcore has taken the style world by storm and this fungus-shaped cushion is here to prove that the world of design isn’t immune from its influence, either. In true The Elder Statesman fashion, it’s patchworked from multicoloured swatches of its signature sumptuous cashmere. If you thought Christmas and the upcoming festivities couldn’t get any bolder, jollier and merrier, put this cushion under your tree. It’s guaranteed to be quite the trip.
03.
The cult collectable
BE@RBRICK needs little introduction. The brainchild of Japanese retailer Medicom Toy, the brand takes inspiration from pop culture, comic books and gaming fixtures to create bear-shaped collectable figurines in 18 different themes. Die-hard fans of The Simpsons will recognise Chief Wiggum’s one-eyed doppelganger, which first appeared in the “Treehouse Of Horror” Halloween special. Who’s to say the offspring won’t like it, too?
04.
The artsy skateboard
He might not know his kickflip from his pop shuvit, but you don’t need to be a pro skater to appreciate Billionaire Boys Club’s board, designed exclusively for our Super Mart pop-up. The cult label, founded by tastemakers Mr Pharrell Williams and Nigo in 2005, is known for its bold graphics and this pop art-inspired banana print is no exception. One to mount on the wall rather than take to the skate park.
05.
The colourful rug
Somewhere over the rainbow… there’s Hype Rugs’ mat (read: the piece of homeware likely to spark the most joy). Let’s put it this way, if we were to give our interiors the Ms Marie Kondo treatment, this rug would definitely stay.
06.
The new-age pillowcase
Have you ever seen a quilted pillowcase? We hadn’t, either, but we can guarantee that this one by Korean label POST ARCHIVE FACTION is the first step to better (and certainly more stylish) sleep. You wouldn’t imagine nylon to be the fabric of choice for anything bedtime-related, but the brand’s reputation for innovative use of materials, which put the team on the LVMH Prize shortlist this year, is enough to alleviate any concerns.
07.
The minimal vase
The societal stereotype that men don’t like to receive flowers is slowly but surely being eradicated and Pieces’ minimal vase makes the transition that bit easier. It’s purposely designed to fit only a few stems, so arranging and colour-coordinating flowers will be a doddle.
08.
The grown-up arcade
Someone once said that boys never grow up, their toys just get bigger. By that logic, by the time he’s reached adulthood, the man in your life might have a whole gaming room. Neo Legend’s arcade makes a fun addition. It has a 19in HD screen and two sets of joysticks and buttons to accommodate an old-school two-player experience. The teeth-brushing Batman graphic comes courtesy of French pop and comic artist Mr Grégoire Guillemin.
09.
The botanical candle
In a time when it’s been tricky to venture out, Loewe Home Scents brings the outdoors to you. It might not be the boldest from the offering – hello, Marihuana – but this Luscious Pea candle is guaranteed to evoke the sweet, green aroma reminiscent of a Victorian botanical garden. The tonal ceramic vessel conveniently doubles up as a catch-all or small vase once the candle has burned out.
10.
The stand-out glassware
For those who prefer gifts that serve a purpose, this set is a shoo-in. Some people would advise against coloured glassware, but we can say that the deep Lyons Blue shade of this carafe and glasses by R+D.LAB is the making of a room. If it doesn’t complement the dining table, it’ll make a stand-out addition to an otherwise neutral guest room.