Your Studio KOHLER Workspace
Your Studio KOHLER Workspace
Expressing gratitude in the form of a tasteful token is a gesture that dates back as far as humankind. Every culture has its own traditions, etiquette, and meaningful messages when it comes to gift giving. However, around the world, the intention of endowment is universally embraced as a way to show love and affection toward one another. This, naturally, has imparted a bit of pressure upon the task and given rise to the notion that gifting is truly an art.
Since there is no more fitting an industry than the design world for “artful giving,” it is the ideal community from which to draw inspiration. For many designers, clients often bring repeat business, make valuable referrals, and ultimately become good friends, prompting interiors pros to dispense house-warming gifts, thank-you gifts, and personal alms celebrating a client’s milestone occasions.
Elle Decor A-Lister Eric Cohler likewise sources vintage and believes barware is always a good idea. “Vintage coasters to complement the style of the recipient’s house or monogrammed glasses add a nice, personal touch,” shared Cohler. “Ralph Lauren, Baccarat, or Tiffany all have great crystal.” Cohler has also delighted beneficiaries with his thoughtful perusal of historical documents, such as autographed letters from a client’s favorite political figure that can be found at Kenneth W. Rendell Gallery, or literary works. “I love to give first editions of someone’s favorite book. Bauman Rare Books on Madison Avenue carries some great titles, as does Raptis Rare Books in Palm Beach.”
Flora and fauna are perennial favorites when it comes to declaring one’s appreciation, but they don’t have to be a last resort according to Nicole Fuller of Nicole Fuller Interiors, who splits her time between projects from New York and Miami to LA. “One thing I’ve been doing lately that I really, really love and think everyone is enjoying is I find a beautiful vessel that contains a little element of surprise—maybe an old Japanese ceramic—and then work with my landscape colleagues and talk about what is in season right now, then plant it in the vessel with a thoughtful note about why I chose this particular container and arrangement.”
Her preferred flower is lily of the valley, which was beloved by her late mother, and thus chosen by Fuller for her own wedding bouquet. “I also love amaryllis, but it requires resting it in a very different type of object a bit more dainty like a blown Murano glass.” Fuller says that the right combination of container and arrangement can be the gift that keeps on giving. “You can enjoy the plant or flower for a while, then plant it and enjoy the object it came in on its own. Depending on the recipient, I think about what their interiors are and tie the vessel into their space so that it is something they will love forever.”
“Another thing I love to do is find vintage candelabras, and not necessarily a pair!” adds Fuller.“ It is easy to get caught up in matching things and having two of something. I’ll find one dynamic candelabra with three to five places for candles—I like odd numbers! —or completely different styles of candelabras that look beautiful together, with varying heights, width, candles, and finishes. I’ll choose candle colors that my clients might not normally pick, like a sage or emerald green, or a dusty rose or deep taupe. I like to show another way of doing something that seems so ordinary.”
Fuller emphasized a simple rule to which she abides when putting thought into just the right gift. “I curate the story myself, instead of buying it curated for me. You can’t go wrong when it comes from the heart.”