We've scoured three of this week's gift guides from The New York Times — one devoted to gifts under $25, one devoted to unique finds for those hard-to-please people, and one from the Style section &mdash and we've whittled down the list to what we consider THE BEST home-centric gifts in the lists (don't worry, we eliminated the $100 pencil sharpener)...
Our favorites from 25 Holiday Gifts for $25 and Under:
• Wooden Salad Tongs from Folk Art Museum Shop ($16)
• Set of 3 colored baskets from Mxyplyzyk ($20)
• 3 Cheese Tools from Crate & Barrel ($17)
• Airplants from DWR ($25)
• Set of 3 Plastic brushes from Kiosk ($15)
Our favorites from the Pulse Holiday Gift Guide:
• Castlight by David Weeks from Mxyplyzyk ($40)
• Cardboard Animal Trophies from Mxyplyzyk ($32 - $55)
Our favorites (and the most practical) from Gifts for Hard Cases:
Domino editor in chief Deborah Needleman chose this Blackboard Oilcloth from Bell’Occhio ($15 a yard)
Interior designer Jamie Drake chose this Bulgarian dinner plate from Treillage ($60)
Interior designer Thom Filicia likes Just Scandinavian (and so do we!). He chose Josef Frank throw pillows ($188, left, and $198) and Tove Adman concrete candlesticks ($75 each)
Pics: Tony Cenicola, Lars Klove
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Lovely things but please don't encourage people to spend $25 for an airplant (tillandsia) from DWR. Love DRW, but you can find these at garden centers, florists, etc for between $6-12! Buy a good glass of champagne with what'll you save, or a festive potted amaryllis!
Leslie
view ellesausalito's profile
We have two of the cardboard buck trophies in different sizes. They look incredible on our wall. If you live in New England you can pick them up at Newbury Comics.
view cassielynn's profile
** TickleMe Plant Greenhouse US $19.95
A great green l gift that will make everyone smile is to grow a TickleMe Plant in your apartment and watch it MOVE when Tickled! The leaves quickly fold and even the branches droop when tickled. I found this to be a great stress reliever in my office and what a conversation piece!. You may have seen the TickleMe Plant in the botanical gardens.. Now it can be grown indoors year round.
No green thumb needed. I found it on line at http://www.ticklemeplant.com
view Jenny Carres's profile
WOW TickleMe Plants- I grew these when I was a child in my apartment in the Bronx. They helped launch my career as an environmental educator. THis is a must grow for everyone.
Its one experience you will never forget. Now I grow them with my students!
view kidsgardener's profile
FYI, these pottery plates are the Bulgarian version of Corelle and go for less than $10 in any Sofia market. There are a bunch of places that import them to the US. Google "Bulgarian pottery" or "Bulgarian ceramics" and you'll should be able to find them for about $20 or so. The pattern is Troyan and is very typical throughout Bulgaria. New Yorkers, if you have a Bulgarian grocery store in your neighborhood (I know there's at least one in Queens), you may be able to find them there as well. Definitely not something you should have to spend $60 on!
view mfarling's profile