(Courtesy of Heath Ceramics, Super Simple, 3 Fish Studios, and General Store)
Good-Looking Holiday Gifts for Bay Area Design Junkies
18 November 2021
This story is brought to you by Cruise, an all-electric self-driving car service based in San Francisco.
From funky soap dishes to decorative cutting boards, these handcrafted gifts were made for your design savvy friends and family.
Finding a present for a design lover can be quite the daunting task, but when you eventually do nail down the perfect gift, damn if it isn't satisfying. This holiday season, let us help you expedite this arduous process and skip straight to the good stuff with our picks of our favorite design-focused gifts from local Bay Area businesses, designers, and creators. Below you'll find everything from ceramic plates and vases to marble mirrors and postcard-sized pieces of art—all at different price points, and all exceptionally eye-catching.
On a Roll
(Courtesy of Melanie Abrantes Designs)
Oakland maker Melanie Abrantes' mini Mesa tray is a perfect complement to any table. The elevated wood piece comes in hardwood maple and walnut—we're looking forward to displaying our impressive charcuterie boards and floral centerpieces. // $175, melanieabrantes.shop
▲Dish it up.
(Courtesy of Earthen)
From the woman-owned, San Francisco ceramic shop and studio Earthen, this stunning 11-inch plate, in a matte speckled glaze called Pebble, works both as a dinner plate when you buy a set or as a standout serving dish. // $60 at Earthen, 136 Fillmore St. (Duboce Triangle), earthen-shop.com
▲Notes of Leather
(Courtesy of March)
Functional and fancy—that's the name of the game with March's set of four genuine leather coasters embossed with the store's signature pattern. Pair them with your holiday drink of choice. // $100 at March, 3075 Sacramento St. (Presidio Heights), marchsf.com
▲Clean Sweep
(Courtesy of General Store)
Give any bathroom a design upgrade with a Ko soap dish from Object & Totem. We're hot for the curvaceous design, fashioned from mid-fired glazed stoneware and finished with a clear gloss exterior. The handmade dishes come in both sandy and rosy shades. // $30 at General Store, 4035 Judah St (Outer Sunset), shop-generalstore.com
▲The San Francisco Dispatch
(Courtesy of 3 Fish Studios)
Whether you're seeking a gift for a proud San Francisco native or miss your out-of-town people, 3 Fish Studios' six-piece postcard set is an artful way to say hey from the Bay. Each postcard features original art of a local landmark by studio cofounder Eric Rewitzer. // $15, 3fishstudios.com
▲For the Buds
(Courtesy of Heath Ceramics)
Even after all these years (more than 60!), Sausalito's Heath Ceramics remains a favorite on Bay Area tabletops. And with an ever-fresh crop of seasonal shades, there's always something new to add to the collection. This winter, Heath's bud vase trio pops in hues of matte-finished Dawn and Cranberry and glossy Nightfall. Add a few floral sprigs and, voila! // $105, heathceramics.com
▲Color in the Kitchen
(Courtesy of Rare Device)
For an item that really stands out, look no further than this Fredericks & Mae Confetti cutting board. What makes this piece cool beyond its colorful design? It's made from leftover pieces of, wait for it, other cutting boards. That qualifies as eco-friendly, right? // $40 at Rare Device, 600 Divisadero St. (NoPa), raredevice.net
▲Mirror, Mirror
(Courtesy of Super Simple)
They deserve a mirror as good-looking as they are. Studiopepe's Pepe marble mirror is made from solid marble, brass, and glass and comes in four colors. // $549 at Super Simple, 855 Valencia St. (Mission), shopsupersimple.com
▲Going With the Grain
(Courtesy of Black & Gold)
Like a special ode to the glorious baguette is no exception, Black & Gold's made-in-SF Grain bread board has clever grooves that catch crumbs, and look damn good while doing it. The boards come in both walnut and maple wood options. // $110-$120 at Black & Gold, 572 Valencia St. (MIssion), shopblackandgold.com
▲Votive Candle Set, Hudson Grace
(Courtesy of Hudson Grace)
Gift a set of Hudson Grace candles in their four most popular scents in easy-to-transport votive size. Small but mighty, the candles burn from within thick glass holders and never fail to set the mood. // $84 at Hudson Grace, 3350 Sacramento St. (Presidio Heights), hudsongracesf.com
▲Introducing Cruise for Good
The holiday season is the time for giving, and Cruise gives back to San Francisco year-round. Cruise is an all-electric self-driving car service coming soon to SF. While Cruise's autonomous vehicles have driven millions of miles to learn the city streets, Cruise also dedicates 1 percent of its fleet to important community needs, like delivering thousands of meals with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and SF New Deal. Learn more at getcruise.com/community.
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