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Christmas 2014 Gift Guide + Giveaway

Today, in keeping with our annual tradition, we are thrilled to have a gorgeous line-up of Christmas gift ideas for you, which doubles as our ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!   All these super stylish gifts for man, woman and for the home have been sourced from our favourite local designers and retailers, and all are available to WIN for 25 lucky readers…!  But… we do have one request… please take our annual reader survey!

Written
by
Lucy Feagins

From left to right – Menu Jewellery flacon from Resident GP ($119.95), Tilly Jewellery Flower Drop Earring from Monk House Design ($139.00),  Alpha 60 Maggie Slides from Alpha 60 ($260.00),  ‘Mixed Doubles’ leather bracelet from Jen Booth ($49.00), Menu Gridy Me Mirror from Resident GP ($199.95),  Lip keyring by Bride and Wolfe ($30.00), House of Holland On A Promise round sunglasses from Grace ($249.00),  Nebula nail polish by Kester Black ($20.00),  Saint Germaine 34 Boulevard Candle from Mecca ($100),  Nars Digital world set lipstick from Mecca ($24.00), Le Labo Rose 31 solid perfume from Mecca ($112.00). Styling – Jess Lillico, sourcing / styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, photo – Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

From left to right – HAY Black Gym Hook from Cult Design ($58.00), Byredo Parfums Morjave Ghost fragrance from Mecca ($164.00), Baxter Safety Razor from Incu ($120.00), Finch (Roo) Wallet by Tailfeather ($120.00),  Money Clip by Two Hills ($189.00), Block Book Ends by Daniel Emma ($120.00),  Kakkoii Wow Speaker from Make Design Object ($90.00), HAY White Gym Hook from Cult Design ($42.00). Styling – Jess Lillico, sourcing / styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, photo – Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

From left to right – Martin Jakobsen Himo Glass from Resident GP ($59.00), Brass Bowl (comes in a set of 2) from Lightly ($35.00),  Tide Gold Carafe from Country Road ($45.00), Small Lips Mirror by Bride and Wolfe ($65.00), Itta Marble Rolling Pin from Country Road ($59.95), Normann Copenhagen Flip Table Mirror, White from Top 3 Design ($160.00),  Martin Jakobsen KarPPi Water Jug from Resident GP ($109.00). Styling – Jess Lillico, sourcing / styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, photo – Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

From left to right – Normann Copenhagen Stelton Jug from Safari Living ($220.00),  Diamond Box from Third Drawer Down ($24.00),  Spun Pendant Light, Silver from Evie Group ($595.00), Toru Bottle from Country Road ($60.00),  Tom Dixon Gemm Collection Tall Vase from Third Drawer Down ($133.00),  Ora Clock from Country Road ($59.95), Hex Box silver and gold by Evie Group ($140.00), Mitch Book End from Country Road ($40.00). Styling – Jess Lillico, sourcing / styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, photo – Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
15th of December 2014

WELL dear readers.  It’s been a hell of a year!  Thanks for sticking with us through all the madness, we reckon it’s been our best, if not certainly our busiest year yet!  We re-designed our website (in a pretty big way!), we launched TDF Collect, our quarterly art exhibition series… we staged another huge TDF Open House event (this time built from scratch, because we just don’t know any better), and we hit over 100k followers on both Facebook and Instagram (thank you all for following!).  On a personal note, I managed to get married, have an awesome honeymoon, move house and move offices – twice!  HOLY Moley.  Now that I think about it, 2014 really has been insane!

Today we are thrilled to have a gorgeous line-up of Christmas gift ideas for you, which doubles as our ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!  OH YES.  Each and every supremely photogenic item pictured in today’s post is up for grabs for 25 lucky readers. The items pictured here have been sourced from some of our favourite local retailers, and, if, like me, you have done ZERO Christmas shopping and have 20 people still to buy for, we hope today’s post will encourage you to shop local for your Christmas gifts this year!

Now dear readers, before you pounce on the comment button, please note that in keeping with our annual tradition, in order to enter the Christmas Giveaway, there is just one little thing you have to do – enter our yearly TDF reader survey. Please CLICK HERE to fill out our 2014 Reader Survey! (After taking the survey you will be automatically entered into the giveaway!).

We value your feedback immensely, and would be so grateful if you could spend just 10 minutes on the survey to let us know your thoughts on our new website design, the new content we have introduced this year, what we could do better, and how we can improve in 2015!

You have between today and next Wednesday 24 December 2014 to take the survey. Winners will be drawn the week commencing 5 January 2015 and contacted via email.  25 winners will be drawn from all survey respondents at random – unless otherwise stated below, the prizes will be grouped by supplier.  Please note this giveaway is open to all, however bulky / fragile items will not be shipped internationally.

Good luck all, and THANKYOU SO MUCH for reading and supporting all our ramblings and random happenings…!  You are a top notch bunch of readers, and we love you madly. x

THE FULL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY LINE-Up

Evie Group – Spun Pendant Light Silver ($595.00) and Hex box silver and gold ($140.00)  – after recently discovering the clever young duo behind Evie Group in Sydney, we have fallen head over heels in love with their sleek, contemporary designs for the home.  We’re especially drawn to their ‘Spun’ pendant lights, available in either a silver, gold or rose gold finish.

Resident GP – Menu Jewellery flacon ($119.95), Menu Gridy Me Mirror ($199.95), Martin Jakobsen Himo Glass ($59.00) and Martin Jakobsen KarPPi Water Jug ($109.00). – Resident GP are a Melbourne based online store, and are relatively new on our radar!  We are super impressed by their extensive and carefully considered range of designer gifts and homewares, plus they offer free shipping on all orders over $50.

Monk House Design – Tilly Jewellery Flower Drop Earring ($139.00)  – Brunswick based fashion retailer Monk House have a special place in our hearts, they are ardent supporters of emerging Australian fashion designers, stocking and promoting many local brands. These sweet 60’s inspired flower drop earrings are made by Brisbane jewellery designer Tilly Sinclair.

Alpha 60 – Alpha 60 Maggie Slide ($260.00)  – Another of our fave local fashion brands, Alpha 60 is the label of brother / sister team Alex and Georgie Cleary.  These Maggie Slides are our top pick for open-toed footwear this summer!

Bride and Wolfe – Lip keyring ($30.00) and Small Lips Mirror ($65.00) – SO if you attended our recent ‘TDF Open House’ event in Melbourne, you might have noticed our current obsessions with LIPS (and eyes, and really all things ‘facial’).  Melbourne makers Bride and Wolfe are certainly feeding this latest obsession… we love their lip mirrors, and key rings, and brooches!

Grace – House of Holland On A Promise round sunglasses ($249.00) – BLOODY HELL how amazing are these sunglasses!?  ‘Look me in the eye, tell me you love me’ – what more is there to say..!?  Get your very own pair from those gorgeous fashionistas at Grace in Hawksburn, Melbourne (their online store is also well worth a look for those all important ‘presents to self’ this Christmas).

Kester Black – Nebula Nail Polish ($20.00)  – Our top pick for nail polish is always local label Kester Black, because it’s made in Australia, vegan and Cruelty Free accredited.  Kester Black nail polishes are also ‘Five Free’ which means they contain no harmful chemicals (no Toluene, DBP, Formaldehyde, Formadehyde resin or Camphor!).

Mecca – Saint Germaine 34 Boulevard Candle ($100), Nars Digital world set lipstick ($24.00), Le Labo Rose 31 Solid Perfume ($112.00) and Byredo Parfums Morjave Ghost ($164.00)  You’d think the world would be over scented candles now but, NO, we’re not.  We love the Saint Germaine 34 Boulevard candle in its beautiful ceramic vessel – a classic beauty.  Though best known for its gorgeous ladylike gifts, Mecca shouldn’t be overlooked for the blokes either, they have an impressive range of men’s skincare and fragrances including Byredo Parfums which are just stupendously sexy…. seriously, your nose will thank you later.  Note – We’re splitting these prizes up – 3 prizes for 3 people.  

Jen Booth – ‘Mixed Doubles’ bracelet in Strawberries and Cream ($49) Our dear pal Jen Booth is the Melbourne designer behind those cheerful leather lockets we’ve been wearing for the past couple of years.  ‘Mixed Doubles’ are her latest creation – a series of hand painted leather bracelets in the most delicious colour combos.

Cult Design – HAY Black Gym Hook Medium ($58.00) and HAY White Gym Hook Small from Cult Design ($42.00)  – OH HAY.  You really can do no wrong.  Always the perfect balance of stylish / quirky, you never disappoint.  (Buy anything and everything from Danish design brand HAY from Cult in Melbourne and Sydney).

Incu – Baxter Safety Razor ($120.00)  – Incu is one of our fave local fashion retailers, with stores in Melbourne and Sydney, and a extensive yet perfectly curated edit of menswear, womenswear, gifts and accessories.

Tailfeather – Finch (Roo) Wallet ($120.00) – Tailfeather are makers of fine leather goods, designed and handcrafted in Tallarook, Victoria.

Two Hills – Money Clip ($189.00) – Two Hills is an independent jewellery label based in Melbourne, specialising in small run, handmade pieces.

Daniel Emma – Block Book Ends ($120.00) – the darlings of the Adelaide design scene, Daniel and Emma To make functional objects for the home that often double as striking sculptural pieces.  These solid block book ends are another future classic from the DE archive!

Make Design Objects –  Kakkoii Wow Speaker ($90.00) – Make Design Objects is a brilliant Melbourne store with an exhaustively impressive range of international homewares and design brands all under one roof.  This sweet little Carlton store appears somewhat modest in size from the street, but expands over 2 levels inside – an excellent spot for gift hunting.

Lightly – Brass Bowl (comes in a set of 2) ($35.00)  – Lightly is one of our favourite local design houses, known for their lighting, ceramics, brassware and countless other locally designed functional pieces, stocked across Australia and Internationally.

Country Road – Tide Gold Carafe ($45.00), Itta Marble Rolling Pin ($59.95), Toru Bottle ($60.00), Ora Clock ($59.95) and Mitch Book End ($40.00). I’ve said it countless times before and I’m sure I’ll say it again, I am the biggest fan of Country Road – especially their homewares.  What is not to love about their beautiful new ‘Itta’ solid marble rolling pin – or that insanely beautiful ‘Tide’ Gold Carafe pictured above!? There is truly SO MUCH GOODNESS in there right now people, from tableware to bookends to clocks… and let’s not forget CR are famed for their complimentary Christmas gift wrap. Get onto it. Note – We’re splitting these prizes up between 2 people.

Top 3 Design – Normann Copenhagen Flip Table Mirror White ($160.00) – Top3 By Design is another brilliant one-stop shop for a great variety of design-inspired gifts.  We particularly love their range from Normann Copenhagen, like this striking Flip Table Mirror – an elegant, contemporary addition to any bathroom or dressing table.

Safari Living – Normann Copenhagen Stelton Jug ($220.00) and Tom Dixon Gemm tea light holder ($41.00)  – Safari Living has long been one of our fave go-to local stores for homewares and gifts for all occasions.  This year AS ALWAYS we’re loving Tom Dixon’s stuff (the man can do no wrong) – the ‘Gemm’ series is suitably festive, yet supremely versatile.  Meanwhile, the Normann Copenhagen Stelton Jug is almost too beautiful to use!  Many more gorgeous gift ideas can be found in store and online, so do have a look!

Third Drawer Down – Diamond Box ($24.00) and Tom Dixon Gemm Collection Tall Vase ($133.00) –  Third Drawer Down is another firm favourite for unique and stylish gift shopping in Melbourne (and online!).  More Tom Dixon goodness can be found here, alongside a wonderful and, at times, slightly wacky edit of gifts and stocking fillers for all ages.

Gorman – Connie Lichti Eye Platter ($89.00) – Gorman’s homewares line, ‘Home Time’ continues to go from strength to strength – we love this Eye platter by local ceramicist Connie Lichti, just one in an extensive range of locally crafted ceramic vessels.

Minami – Teruhiro Yanagihara 1616 / Artia Japan Squae Bowl (from $27.00) and Scholten and Baijings Arita Japan Coffee Cup ($89.00) – Minami is a new online store from local foodie Julia Busuttil Nishimura and her husband, Norihiko Nishimura, stocking a treasure trove of lovingly sourced Japanese tableware and homewares, bringing a touch of Japanese minimalism and restraint to a kitchen near you!

Champ – Rhombus Table Trivets ($59.00) – These Rhombus table Trivets / coasters are designed and made in Melbourne from recycled aeroplane tyres. Their tessellating shapes give rise to endless geometric shapes, encouraging playfulness at the dinner table!

Marble Basics – Basic Square Trivet ($55.00)  – These solid marble trivets from local label Marble Basics double as serving platters, and also are ideal for displaying makeup and toiletries in the bedroom or bathroom, protecting timber surfaces from drips and spills.

To enter, please CLICK HERE to fill out our 2014 Reader Survey

From left to right – Connie Lichti Eye Platter from Gorman ($89.00), Teruhiro Yanagihara 1616 / Artia Japan Square Bowl from Minami (from $27.00), Tom Dixon Gemm tea light holder from Safari Living ($41.00),  Rhombus Table Trivets by Champ ($59.00), Basic Square Trivet by Marble Basics ($55.00), Scholten and Baijings Arita Japan Coffee Cup from Minami ($89.00). Styling – Jess Lillico, sourcing / styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, photo – Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

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