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May 15, 2009 9:53 AM Subscribe
What is a cool, upscale housewarming gift for successful professionals?
He's a doctor, she's a lawyer. They're cool, pretty worldly and have an upscale taste. I'd like to get them something original but at the same time useable and fancy. Ideas?
He's a doctor, she's a lawyer. They're cool, pretty worldly and have an upscale taste. I'd like to get them something original but at the same time useable and fancy. Ideas?
You might check out a museum's(especially a modern art museum) gift shop for some neat housewares.
posted by mmascolino at 10:00 AM on May 15, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by mmascolino at 10:00 AM on May 15, 2009 [2 favorites]
How much do you want to spend?
posted by electroboy at 10:02 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by electroboy at 10:02 AM on May 15, 2009
World Market is a great resource for unique items.
posted by JuiceBoxHero at 10:12 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by JuiceBoxHero at 10:12 AM on May 15, 2009
Single bottle wine chiller, expensive orchid plant, fancy place mats or linen napkins. Napkin rings. Wine charms. See williams sonoma, crate and barrel. Glassware from simon pearce.
posted by slateyness at 10:26 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by slateyness at 10:26 AM on May 15, 2009
French press, kona coffee.
posted by slateyness at 10:26 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by slateyness at 10:26 AM on May 15, 2009
How about a monogrammed champagne bucket, like this one from Pottery Barn?
posted by pizzazz at 10:43 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by pizzazz at 10:43 AM on May 15, 2009
I just got some beautiful engraved crystal champagne flutes. And I'm happy.
posted by ohio at 10:46 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by ohio at 10:46 AM on May 15, 2009
I don't know if it's a regional (Smoky Mountains) thing or not, but I've only ever heard of this tradition here. A lot of people give pig-shaped items as housewarming gifts. They're supposed to bring good luck and prosperity to a new household.
posted by workerant at 10:58 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by workerant at 10:58 AM on May 15, 2009
As they're both busy people, they might appreciate something that makes future hosting duties a bit easier. A gift basket containing everything to make chic drinks in a snap would be one suggestion:
Choose a favorite drink to make, and then select the pieces to go in it: a chic set of the appropriate glasses for the drink (4-6?), bottle(s) of the liquor required, possibly a neat ice-cube tray (there's several neat ones out there at the moment), and whatever other accessories are required - stir sticks, cherries for garnish, whatever you like.
posted by lizbunny at 11:04 AM on May 15, 2009
Choose a favorite drink to make, and then select the pieces to go in it: a chic set of the appropriate glasses for the drink (4-6?), bottle(s) of the liquor required, possibly a neat ice-cube tray (there's several neat ones out there at the moment), and whatever other accessories are required - stir sticks, cherries for garnish, whatever you like.
posted by lizbunny at 11:04 AM on May 15, 2009
I'd like to second the contemporary art museum suggestion, ours has just the most amazing original kitchen, dining and living room accessories.
posted by furtive at 11:19 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by furtive at 11:19 AM on May 15, 2009
My friend knitted coasters for me for my housewarming gift. I think they're awesome and people ask about them all the time. I think these on Etsy have a slick mid-century modern look to them.
posted by junesix at 11:42 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by junesix at 11:42 AM on May 15, 2009
I think the orchid suggestion is the best so far, IMHO. It's beautiful and unique and even better if they already have one. They'll look at it every single day, and it could very well turn out to be the first item that catches their eye every time they walk in a room. What more could you want from a gift?
posted by raisingsand at 12:01 PM on May 15, 2009
posted by raisingsand at 12:01 PM on May 15, 2009
A traditional housewarming gift often includes bread (so they'll never know hunger) and salt (either so they'll never know tears, or so their life will have season). You could go "high end" and get them a bread club membership from Zingerman's and a variety of fancy salts. If you want something lasting, you might locate a nice salt cellar to store the salt in as well.
Traditions vary to sometimes include honey, wine, rice, a broom, etc... depending on ethnicity. But the bread and salt seem pretty consistent. Having had the chocolate sourdough from Zingerman's, it's a great gift. And depending on your budget, a nice bottle of wine and a set of glasses could be a good addition as well.
posted by librarianamy at 12:04 PM on May 15, 2009
Traditions vary to sometimes include honey, wine, rice, a broom, etc... depending on ethnicity. But the bread and salt seem pretty consistent. Having had the chocolate sourdough from Zingerman's, it's a great gift. And depending on your budget, a nice bottle of wine and a set of glasses could be a good addition as well.
posted by librarianamy at 12:04 PM on May 15, 2009
Good liquor, depending on what they like. You can see previous askmes for pretty solid recommendations.
posted by General Malaise at 12:57 PM on May 15, 2009
posted by General Malaise at 12:57 PM on May 15, 2009
A lot of upscale designey people I know really like the Voodoo Knife Block, where the knives are stored by stabbing them into in a person-shaped knife block. (I would never put an icon like this in my own home, but hey, de gustibus non est disputandum.)
Personally, I know I would enjoy some Bacon Chocolate. Or a pear-shaped terrarium.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:20 PM on May 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
Personally, I know I would enjoy some Bacon Chocolate. Or a pear-shaped terrarium.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:20 PM on May 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
Get a playfully chic vase/bowl/dust collector from Jonathan Adler!!! My personal favorite is the little Salvador Vase.
posted by dearest at 7:15 PM on May 15, 2009
posted by dearest at 7:15 PM on May 15, 2009
Membership in a local arts organization or charity that is for people who are into the same things they are into?
posted by Lesser Shrew at 2:47 PM on May 16, 2009
posted by Lesser Shrew at 2:47 PM on May 16, 2009
Anything from Chilewich. I especially like their placemats; you only need to wipe--not wash--and they are fantastically modern in style.
posted by choochoo at 10:20 PM on May 16, 2009
posted by choochoo at 10:20 PM on May 16, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dersins at 9:57 AM on May 15, 2009