If Money Were No Object, We’d Buy These 18 Gifts for the Design Snobs in Our Lives

Every holiday season there’s at least one design snob on my shopping list. I am, of course, referring to myself. Like attracts like, though, so there’s often at least a few members of this pack who I’m shopping for, too. To satisfy the pickiest among us, one must try to think like a design snob. What material is it made from? Is it so overplayed? What’s the story behind the piece? Arriving at a satisfying answer to each of these questions is crucial for appeasing the design snob in your life—whether that’s yourself, your sister, or someone you just met on a dating app who you’ve spent the last several months trying to impress. Often, too, it requires spending a pretty penny. Accordingly, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite gifts that we’d buy for the myriad design snobs on our list—from the hypebeast younger brother to the mother who prefers to collect things from her travels. This year we’re sparing no expense.  

For the design lover who’s all about sumptuous textures, this 100 percent silk dupioni pillow from Brooklyn design mainstay Michele Varian is sure to please. It’s subtle enough to blend with a variety of decor styles, but luxurious enough to make an impression on your giftee.

When we’re looking for gifts that’ll make us feel like we’ve escaped to a cozy thatched roof cottage, we turn to Toast. This patchwork quilt would do the trick.

From pantry staples to bath products, Flamingo Estate’s products taste great and feel good on the skin. Their classy packaging is what makes them particularly suited for the design snob in your life, though.  

For the design freak who seeks out brutalist buildings on every trip they take, why not help them bring the party home with this Barbican-inspired cocktail shaker? It’ll serve as an entry point to tell their story of visiting the London building at every dinner party.  

The only risk in giving a design nerd a set of East Fork plates is that they might already have them. With these newly released ones featuring artwork by Henri Matisse, your bases are covered.   

Your giftee has had their eyes on Gantri’s first ever wireless lighting collection since it was announced in the spring, if they know what’s good for them. Grab this rope-handled one to make it as simple as possible to bring the light from place to place.  

What do you get when you mix one classic with another? A certified crowd pleaser. With the coziness of a Pendleton throw and the poppiness of Alexander Girard’s prints, this blanket is certain to be the first taken from the top of the basket time and again.

For the friend who just finally pulled the trigger on a USM Haller shelving unit, grab a speaker by Transparent that they can pop on top.

You might not be able to swing a trip to Mexico for the holidays, but you can buy ‘em this vase that was hand-blown in Guadalajara.

You could get them the Dusen Dusen towels they might already have, or you could really splash out and grab the Laguna~B collab pitcher. Who doesn’t appreciate a deep cut?

East Coast design nerds can’t get enough of Philadelphia collective gallery Dudd Haus. Take a piece of the magic home with this charming wood wall sconce by Mothership Studio.  

Keeping steel streak free isn’t for the faint of heart, so grab Aarke’s Carbonator 3 in the new Heritage Green colorway instead. Your giftee will thank you for helping them kick their eyesore SodaStream to the curb.

Some people insist they want experiences, not things. This gift will help them unlock a lifetime of them, with architecture and design guides to a range of North American cities that will make planning the next several weekend trips quite a bit simpler.

There’s always at least one Marimekko fanatic in a design-loving friend group. Help them reinvigorate their bedroom with this duvet cover that reinterprets the brand’s beloved Unikko print.

Sometimes the most luxurious gifts are the simplest. Made of ultra soft shearling and a suede sole, these slippers cost a pretty penny, but they’re incomparably cozy. Their slim profile makes them ideal for travel, too.

A statement piece for the credenza if there ever was one. Le Labo’s latest diffuser comes with Santal 26 Diffuser Oil so your recipient will be prepared to indulge in the scent experience the moment they’ve torn through the wrapping paper.

Studio Bruno Grizzo has created an expansive series of glazed ceramic trays, all available at Lawson Fenning. Ideal for someone who prizes gifts that are one-of-one.

Pieces by French designer Laetitia Rouget are a good choice for the design snob who isn’t afraid of a little whimsy. This snake candleholder that practically jumps off of the table could be just the thing.

Top collage by Dwell with images (from left to right) courtesy of the MoMA Design Store, Jared Blake for Lichen, and Gantri

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