From the Agent:"This is the former studio and home of sculptor Anna Mahler, daughter of Austrian composer Gustav Mahler. Architect William Adams daringly removed the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bedroom walls and ceilings, creating an inspiring new space for modern living. The open plan features a spacious, high-ceilinged living/dining area with a fireplace. The remodeled kitchen has stainless appliances and a corner banquette. The primary bedroom has an en suite bathroom and a walk-in closet with handcrafted mortise-and-tenon cabinetry. The second bedroom, which can also function as an office, opens directly to the private exterior and into nature. A party-sized sundeck, sheltered by a canopy of trees, adorns the hillside and affords wide views of the surrounding canyon, making it the perfect place to unwind or host friends. A carport for two cars with EV charging, as well as a driveway and parking pad in the front yard offers parking for six cars total. Situated in sylvan Beverly Glen with the prestigious Bel Air zip code, The Mahler / Adams Residence offers an artful blend of rich, bohemian history and warm contemporary architectural significance."
The locations of the home’s previous walls are demarcated by dark timber inlays in the flooring.
The residence is designed to minimize its impact on the landscape while maximizing comfort for both the owners and the area’s native species.
Some years back, architect Ignacio G. Galán was walking through the woods outside Madrid with his client, who paused to point out frogs hopping through the trees. As a child visiting his grandparents there, he used to catch frogs like these in the same woods, he tells Galán, which is a mix of native holm oaks and pines imported for resin extraction. Today, industry has since vacated, but the client has returned to the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama with his children to bike, run, and catch frogs once again—and build a home of their own.
The frogs sparked an idea for New York–based Galán and his partners, Madrid-based Álvaro M. Fidalgo and Arantza Ozaeta, whose collaborations often answer unique architectural questions. In addition to designing a spacious family retreat, they envisioned a pond to honor the family’s bond with the forest’s aquatic life—and a home that would help sustain it. "We wanted the house to be part of the ecosystem rather than extracting from it," says Galán.
In Avila, Spain, a family with ties to the area built a home that harmonizes with a forest recovering from industrial resin extraction. It has a graywater pond that doubles as a habitat. "We came up with the idea of the pond, but Ambient Paisajismo, the landscape architects, taught us so much—how to rebuild the ecosystem with compatible species that favor both biodiversity and beauty," says Ignacio G. Galán.
Photo by Imagen Subliminal (Miguel de Guzmán + Rocío Romero Rivas)
Without city plumbing, a home typically requires a septic tank, but the architects devised a system they call "un-tanking." Instead of burying a tank underground, they developed an open setup that separates black and graywater, channels clean runoff into ventilated filters, and reintroduces it into the environment through the new pond.
Now, just down the hill from the house, descendants of the frogs from the client’s childhood also enjoy a new home. "The frog became the protagonist," says Galán. "It links their memories to the site and symbolizes the return of life to a recovering ecosystem."
The six-bedroom, 4,300-square-foot house was designed to minimize disruption to the terrain—no deep foundation was dug and no trees were removed. Downstairs, two bedrooms are tucked behind a generous open-plan living space that includes the kitchen, dining, and lounge spaces, all opening to a large veranda that connects directly to the forest. Upstairs, four bedrooms and a small living room provide private space.
The home’s open-plan living interior can be heated with a woodburning fireplace, and a radiant-heating and cooling system in the ceramic floors helps adjust the temperature. Windows cool the interiors, too, in lieu of mechanical air conditioning.
Photo by Imagen Subliminal (Miguel de Guzmán + Rocío Romero Rivas)
Oak wood ceilings in the living room balance the clean, modern ceramic floor and furnishings. A lamp by Claus Bonderup & Torsten Thorup and linen curtains by Bandalux add touches of elegance.
Photo by Imagen Subliminal (Miguel de Guzmán + Rocío Romero Rivas)
Someone you know probably needs a new garbage can or a dish drainer. Why not make it a pretty one?
No one is every really thrilled to receive (or give) a gift that is more workhorse than anything else. Unwrapping a box only to find a trash can instead of a four-foot-tall vase might be a scenario ripe for disappointment—but if it’s the sexiest trash can you’ve ever seen, well, maybe that changes things. Ahead, we rounded up a bunch of very practical home goods that are both design-forward and useful, perfect for the aesthete in your life (or just for you).
If your stepmother complains about the bed in the guest room, consider this mattress topper a gift for both of you.
This innovative 3 inch mattress topper is ideal for those with frequent lower back pain because it features a segment of ultra-dense foam beneath your midsection to provide additional support and pressure relief where you need it.
Everyone should (if they can) compost! Replace the plastic bag in the freezer full of vegetable scraps with this countertop caddy that genuinely does keep the stink and bugs at bay.
This innovative 3-Way Rice Washing Bowl & Colander features strategically placed drain holes and a sloped bottom, making it perfect for washing, soaking and straining uncooked rice and other foods. Crafted in Japan from 18-8 stainless steel, this versatile bowl seamlessly combines the functionality of a strainer and a washing bowl in one. Whether you're rinsing rice, preparing vegetables for a vibrant salad, or straining pasta, it caters to many cooking needs, as it frees up space in your kitchen. The 3-Way Rice Washing Bowl & Colandar measures 4.7h x 9.25"diam. Hand wash only.
Is a bidet seat a weird thing to get as a gift? Honestly, not really!
Crafted for quiet luxury, the WASHLET KS6 pairs an elegant, sculpted silhouette with an intuitive remote — offering personalized cleansing, comfort, and spa-like luxury at the touch of a button.
Upgrade that grody squeeze bottle with an elegant solution for all your olive oil needs.
Meet our dripless Oil Can which features an elongated spout that ensures an even and steady pour. Furthermore, the tip of the spout is hand-sharpened to cut through the oil's stream, reducing drips. Made of stainless steel, our Oil Can's refined silhouette protects against light and debris to keep the oil fresh.
Keep a little rechargeable light around and you’ll be ready for anything life throws at you. (This one has a little handle; carry it like a purse, why not.)
Initially inspired by the shape of water gourds and sake bottles, the Camp Lantern features a playful paracord sling handle, meant to encourage and highlight portability – hang it on a bedpost, take it on a picnic, or simply carry it with you around the house. Cordless unit is USB-C rechargeable, features three dim-to-warm brightness settings, and lasts for up to 80 hours between charge
This product has plenty of capacity for a busy family home. A great choice for the kitchen or your hobby room. The NewIcon step-on trash cans are not only iconic beauties, but they’re reliable workers too. Thanks to the unique soft-closure feature, the lid closes smoothly and very quietly.
In 2026, let’s all get wall clocks so that we can be 10 to 15 percent less involved with our phones. This is a good start.
The Melt Wall Clock is reimagined in supple burl wood, with a surrealist shape that appears to gently melt and shift. The fluid silhouette is made from FSC™ Mix-certified poplar burl veneer, bringing together sculptural softness and structural integrity for lasting expression.
Look, it might not feel great to buy someone a dish rack but it will feel wonderful when you see how happy they are after using this one just once.
A swivel spout quickly drains this compact dish rack made with a sleek stainless steel frame in a compact size to fit smaller spaces. Anti-residue coating prevents smudges and silicone caps hold dishes securely without scratching or chipping.
A wall sconce that casts light in many directions and also doesn’t require tearing into a wall to install? A dream. Best gift!
GUBI’s Multi-Lite wall lamp is a wall-mounted version of the elegant lighting classic designed by Louis Weisdorf in 1972, known for its playful use of geometric forms. True to its name, the Multi-Lite wall lamp offers multiple shapes and lighting directions, thanks to its two rotating shades surrounding a cylindrical core. These adjustable shades allow the light to be directed upwards, downwards or to the sides, depending on your needs. The lamp’s arm rotates 180 degrees, and the inner shade can be tilted at a 90-degree angle. Originally produced by the Danish brand Lyfa, the Multi-Lite is a timeless metal lamp whose sculptural form adds a striking, atmospheric touch to a wide variety of interiors.
Your dented and rusty bakeware have done their duty; retire them and acquire this enameled steel set from East Fork.
Enamelware baking dishes that work hard and look good doing it. Available in three sizes: Small (baked brie, personal desserts), Medium (sides, casseroles for two, entryway catch-all) and Large (sheet cakes, baked pasta). Get the full set and you’re covered for just about anything.
Hang the Charmin from a holder that’s beautiful to look at.
Curvature is a series of organically shaped accessories for the home that have been hand formed in pure, solid blackened brass with a matte finish. The whimsical curves juxtapose the solidity of the material, and make a feminine, functional addition to any bathroom. Crafted by hand, no two pieces are 100% identical.
A cute, status-y wall shelf that also comes in green, if the white metal isn’t your bag.
String Shelf Pocket white from String is a charming and sturdy wall shelf designed by Nisse Strinning. With two side panels and three shelves, it offers smart storage and displays books, ornaments, and plants in an airy way. Each shelf holds up to 25 kg, making it both practical and reliable for the home. The String Pocket can be combined in multiple configurations — buy several sets to build larger sections and create a personalized solution that fits your room. Remember to adapt screws and wall plugs to your wall when installing.
When a towel purports to be quick-drying, I am often skeptical, but this one actually is.
We've elevated the bathing experience by reimagining the perfect towel. Lightweight. Absorbent. Fast drying. A visual and tactile masterpiece. Our Waffle Towel is the quintessence of Japanese artistry. Its mesmerizing pattern is woven from soft, long-staple, Pima cotton fibres and perfected by years of experience. Nossara towels are carefully crafted in one of Imabari's oldest, family-run, and fair trade textile mills.
Everyone needs a stepladder that isn’t just your dining room chair or a very sturdy (hopefully!) cardboard box.
At long last: a step ladder we wouldn’t mind leaving out full-time. Every helper here is built from aluminum and steel, then topped off with a powder-coated finish. Stability and practicality? It's got both, so you can climb aboard with peace of mind. You’ll love how easy it is to store, too, thanks to a fold-flat design. Lightweight for portability (1-step weighs 3.7 pounds; 4-step weighs 14.7 pounds) All sizes hold up to 225 pounds
We love the products we feature and hope you do, too. If you buy something through a link on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
—
Looking for something else? Check out the rest of our holiday gift guides here.
If you want to go all out on a holiday gift, these picks are hand-selected to impress.
Gift-giving doesn’t always have to be a modest gesture. If you’ve got a fabulous shopping budget and a recipient who’s down to make monumental furniture or decor swaps in their home, why not be the Santa who dazzles and stuns? Since we’re in the business of recommending the crème de la crème of all things well-designed, we’ve selected 27 truly opulent and unique home items that are sure to delight for a lifetime. From expensive-but-worth-it tabletop accessories to made-to-order heirloom furnishings that might cost you a small fortune, nothing beats the gift of exacting taste.
A suggestive chair or silly chair, depending on who it’s for.
Mouth Chair is an absurdist piece of furniture made out of solid walnut and hand-turned legs. This work challenges conventional design norms, featuring an expressive mouth cheekily sticking out its tongue. Suited for public or residential environments, it blurs the lines between functional design and art, offering a playful surface for display or utility. The tongue-in-cheek design evokes a sense of humor, embodying my interest in creating work at the intersection of art and design.
Add intrigue to your living space with a gracefully appointed spiral coffee table. Its maze-like base is painted a dark brown-gray and creates a refined, organic ambiance under a glass tabletop. Imperfections denote age and authenticity, lending gravitas to this striking table design.
The gift of a good night’s sleep begins with an insanely designed (and expensive) bed frame.
"My design for this bed started with the oversize ball feet," says Australian designer Sarah Ellison. "We crave that human element that is round and soft, and sensual in a way." The Yoko Bed (2017) takes inspiration from Japanese minimalism but with contemporary proportions, resulting in a mix of subtle yet directional design and everyday functionality. This bed has a commanding presence, but it’s really only the size of a mattress (sold separately), making it suitable for large and small rooms. Made in Indonesia.
A bistro-style solid white oak table set for the breakfast lover.
The Material Studies Rugosa Lounge Chair is an indoor-outdoor chair made from powder-coated aluminum and GreenGuard Certified, outdoor-rated textiles. The elegant, pared down silhouettes of Rugosa’s original designs have been adapted in slender, reflective metal. A vibrant palette, including oxblood, lapis and lime white, both celebrate and contrast the textures and hues of the natural landscape. Designed to ensure rugged durability in a variety of climates including the seaside and desert, and equally at home in interior spaces, these pieces exude a joyful sophistication. The Material Studies Series is an exploration of a material’s influence on design and space. In this first chapter, Rugosa has been translated into vibrant powder-coated aluminum. Originally released in 2020, this suite of furniture was crafted in sustainably harvested Western Sugar Pine. While this collection’s material choice honors and evolves the spirit of the living room, these new pieces embrace the exterior elements.
A throw blanket is much better when it’s hand-quilted (and made with 100-percent cotton from India).
Warming quilt crafted from soft cotton in India and printed with a floral motif. Quilted together by hand, with a cotton reverse with a rich yarn-dyed stripe and cotton wadding. Finished with yarn-dyed stripe bound edges. Soft cotton. Cotton wadding. Yarn-dyed stripe bound edges.
For the children, consider this adorable and aesthetically pleasing table set.
Setting up a play/learn corner in a kids’ room or living room? This pint-sized ecoBirdy set is sure to please. Consisting of a table with two chairs in different colorways, it offers the ideal spot for little ones to paint, read, build things, and even enjoy their meals from 18 months up to 7 years old. Crafted from ecothylene — an exclusive material made of recycled plastic toys — the set is easy to carry around and wipe clean, making it well-suited for indoor and outdoor use. Includes:1 Luisa Table (Party)1 Charlie Chair (Ocean)1 Charlie Chair (Vanilla). Please note that this furniture is suitable for kids from the ages of 18 months up to 7 years old to sit on. We do not recommend the chair to be used by adults.
Elevate the TV setup with a gorgeous credenza with colorful custom ceramic pulls.
Solid, domestic hardwood cabinetry, featuring individually sculpted floral ceramic door and drawer pulls and cast bronze feet. Offered in a wide range of species, finishes, sizes, and configurations. Made to order.
A speaker that doubles as an object d’art, handcrafted by Parisian artisans.
Inspired by the concept of sculpting the structure of sound, the Object 9 Speaker’s graceful curves and balanced form provide both a fascinating object d’art and an exceptional sound experience. Handcrafted by skilled artisans at Ballon de Paris, the Object Speaker series is the brainchild of the Garrel family, who founded a violin atelier in 1921 and have been renowned for their auditory innovations ever since. In the Object 9, they hoped to create a speaker with extraordinary performance that "expresses its presence through proportion and harmony" instead of high-tech bells and whistles. Their proprietary, pipe-like design minimizes distortion, and the use of vicuña wool in the speaker coverings enhances sound absorption and eliminates noise, delivering superior performance across low, mid, and high frequencies. Over 92% of the product is made from recyclable materials, contributing to reduced environmental impact.
For the chess head, a checkerboard hewn from solid walnut with bronze-cast pieces.
Edition of 5. 32 solid bronze pieces. Patina: raw bronze + dark bronze. Dual purpose walnut chessboard + display shelf. Total weight approximately 35 LBS. Dimensions: 24 3/8 x 24 3/8 x 3 Inches Carved in wood, cast in bronze at Alphacast Foundry in Los Angeles, 2025.
A large, jelly-like vessel designed by the late Italian architect Gaetano Pesce.
Soft resin vase designed by Gaetano Pesce for Fish design in Italy. A striking piece on its own or with flowers. Each of these vessels is made with years of experience, intuition and evolution so colors and shapes vary subtly due to the goal of achieving uniqueness of each piece. This visionary collection of products produced for over 20 years have become a chapter in the history of design and celebrate Gaetano Pesce as an icon in the culture of objects.
Who needs a plain full-length mirror when your reflection can take form in this illusory shape?
Resembling sprouting leaves, the Palm Mirrors bring fresh life into any space.The use of dark and light mirror tones amplifies the appearance of the Palm's leaves curling forward and back. These new tints are an introduction of our new acid-etched mirror finish that diffuses light, giving off a moody, foggy glow.The bottom of the Palm Mirror features a hand-shaped mahogany detail. The carved form evokes a vining root emerging from the mirror as it descends to the ground.
For the friend whose front door could use some much-needed sprucing.
These original house numbers were designed and produced in the early 2000s by acclaimed Dutch artist Reinoud Oudshoorn for the Olympian Quarter in Amsterdam, a landmark residential development by architects Rudi Uytenhaak, Lafour & Wijk, and Mulleners & Mulleners. Cast in solid, high-grade, ball-burnished aluminum, each number embodies Oudshoorn’s mission for the project: that every resident should have a sculpture of their own. Inspired by the expressive forms of the Amsterdam School architectural movement, the numbers glisten like oversized raindrops on a façade. They are weatherproof and made to endure — a 200-year lifespan is guaranteed.
The only thing melting will be your recipient’s heart.
The New Swedish Pewter collection was created prior to Svenskt Tenn’s 80-year anniversary in 2004. It was developed by 10 female Swedish designers to honour Svenskt Tenn’s founder Estrid Ericson. The candle holder Flow is one of the objects in the collection. With Gustavian column-shaped candle holders as inspiration, Sissi Westerberg decided to create a contemporary version in pewter. The base of the candle holder has a soft shape that makes the pewter appear as if it accidentally has flowed and hardened.
Flower fiends will love this three-footed vase, specially made for displaying the triple bouquet.
Our Shell Bedside Table doubles up as a storage or laundry basket. Ideal for storing spare cushions or blankets next to the bed or sofa. The unique wavy scalloped design brings a natural feel and the teak finish adds a vintage look. Dimensions: Length 54 cm x Depth 32 cm x Height 66 cm
"Let there be light!" said a bunch of molten glass tulips hanging from the ceiling.
The statement-making centerpiece of the Flora collection. Both delicate and dramatic, the Flora Chandelier features shades made using the centuries-old fazzoletto technique, in which a molten glass dome is spun upside-down to create waves that resemble the wilting petals of a flower. Fitted with hand-finished brass details and dim-to-warm bulbs that illuminate its colored glass blooms—a stunning reveal at the flick of a switch.
For the smoker in your life, consider this globular ash tray fashioned out of Czech crystal.
We partnered with Bavaria’s premier glass innovator, Stumpe Glas, and Czechia’s prestige crystal foundry, Bomma, to craft The Object. They engineered every part to our exacting specifications.
Sometimes, an elegant English porcelain vase is exactly what a tabletop calls for.
The Highball Crystal Glass is characterized by its exceptional craftsmanship, featuring 36 hand-finished cuts in our signature columnar pattern. This piece is rendered in fine crystal and is notable for its distinct sound, clarity, and brilliance. Each piece of Pleasure Island crystal is made in Rogaska Slatina, Slovenia. With a tradition of over 350 years of glassmaking, Rogaska Glassworks applies exceptional know-how, mastery, and craftsmanship to each piece of Pleasure Island crystal. Perhaps crystal’s most magical characteristic is its metallic sonorous tone, which is noticeable when you ping your glass. After all, everything simply looks and tastes better in crystal.
Grab a set of placemats for the friend who loves hosting dinner parties.
Elevate your table with The Figata Placemat Set. Crafted from a luxurious linen-cotton blend, these reversible placemats feature contrast scalloped edges and stitching for a charming, playful touch to any tablescape. With a soft, durable texture, The Figata Placemat Set is perfect for both everyday hosting and outdoor occasions.
Make it the happiest of happy hours with a bespoke oyster plate outlined with gilded swirls.
Impress your friends by shucking oysters and displaying them on this stunning ceramic oyster plate. With a vintage-inspired design, opalescent finish, and gold details, this piece is more than just a serving dish—it's a conversation starter. Handmade and painted by Catherine Rex, this plate promises to steal the spotlight at your next gathering. A perfect gift for the connoisseur who appreciates the finer things in life.
Nothing’s as soothing and comforting as unwrapping a sturdy stoneware clay teapot.
These stoneware coffee and teapots provide excellent heat retention, enabling sharing, conversation, and connection over these classic rituals. Incredible function meets a minimalist, presentation-worthy form by Scottish artist Samuel Sparrow. Available in two sizes and two finishes.
Inspired by traditional chintz woodblock textiles, the Viola Organic Print Duvet Set combines floral motifs with a soft, dotted background. Made and printed in Portugal on 100% GOTS certified organic cotton percale, it’s breathable and gentle on skin, making it a safe choice for your home. Whether you’re looking to elevate your vintage aesthetic or bring a little bit of nature into your bedroom, Viola does both effortlessly.
We love the products we feature and hope you do, too. If you buy something through a link on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
—
Looking for something else? Check out the rest of our holiday gift guides here.
