The 2021 Elves Gift Edit: From Gourmet Chocolate to Cozy Home Accessories
After a long year, we’re all in need of some TLC. Treating those you love to a gift that adds ambience, warmth and beauty to their worlds is just what the Elves ordered. Our team of hard-working Elves are not only experts at making homes shine, we’re all about making lives better. Cozy and just a little decadent, here is our 2021 gift list.
Escapology: Modern Cabins, Cottages, and Retreats. For people on your list who dream of escaping to the great outdoors in great style, a curated book of architecture and interiors by Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan “is dedicated to those who choose to leave the city in pursuit of a greater connection to nature and a quieter way of living and to those who dream of following their example”. They will swoon, be inspired, and perhaps start building a cabin upstate!
Anywhere Fireplaces. For those not lucky enough to have an idyllic cabin in the Fjords of New Zealand, you can give the gift of a cozy fireplace. Now that we are (mostly) back indoors on the East Coast, a wall mounted or portable tabletop fireplace is a wonderful gift that adds ambience and warmth. We love that they are clean burning with no ash or soot. For apartment dwellers or patio enthusiasts alike, they are a great alternative to traditional fireplaces. (Note: some areas may restrict certain types of ventless fireplaces indoors, so do a little research. As with any combustible product, use only according to manufacturer instruction and local mandates.)
Give them a buzz with truly terrific coffee at home. The Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine is a luxe gift with a price tag to match. But at $6 a cup for specialty coffee drinks at coffee shops, it pays for itself. Even better, your loved one will get to have barista quality coffee in bed. An integrated grinder, swipe and select touch screen, pre-programmed café drinks menu, and personalized coffee settings, means it’s easy to clean and even easier to make gorgeous, velvety coffee.
Beautiful, good for the planet and fabulous for furniture. We can’t resist a stunning home accessory that protects furniture and keeps it clean. Why try to get rid of water stains, when ethically sourced and sustainable boxed coasters by LaDorada exist? “The tree nuts and seeds that we work with are harvested once they mature and naturally fall to the ground; our bone and horn are humanely sourced and repurposed, and our Coralina and Mother of Pearl collections are made of beached shells once inhabited by mussels and oysters.” No guilt, just beauty, and a perfect gift for that chic homebody on your list.
Who doesn’t love getting gorgeous chocolate? Local legend and Manhattan’s oldest chocolate house, Li-Lac Chocolates, is ‘stubbornly old-fashioned’ according to The Wall Street Journal. They have delightfully used the same exquisite recipes Chef Demetrious brought to New York City from France almost 100 years ago. Sources say Martha Stewart and Andy Cohen are among the local Li-Lac converts, and the Elves are right there with them. Handmade in Brooklyn, with six retail locations in NYC, many delicious chocolates that are Kosher Certified OU-D and same day delivery within Manhattan, it couldn’t be easier to give the gift of luxe chocolate. Oh, and did we mention the huge variety of chocolate specialty molds from animals to chess sets to musical instruments to iconic NYC buildings on the menu?
Okay, so the vegan, lactose intolerant, or gluten free folks in your life may not enjoy the gift of some types of traditional chocolates. But there is nothing that says love more than seeking out sweets they can safely and thoroughly delve into. Especially when the culinary quality stands up to even the most discerning palate. For those folks, Sabrina’s favorite go-to place is Confectionary, a chocolate shop and bakery in the East Village that features stunningly beautiful macaroons and other gluten free baked goods. An outpost of Lagusta’s Luscious in New Paltz, NY and related to Sweet Maresa’s in Kingston, NY — you will be able to satisfy the most challenging sweet tooths on your list. Check out their instagram for the latest in sweets for the sweet.
Ahhhhhh, imagine if you could give the gift of sleep. No sheep herd necessary. Weighted blankets are purported to help people sleep better and feel calmer. The woven Cotton Napper from Bearaby lives up to the weighted blanket hype. We love it because it’s super soft, terrific looking, made from breathable organic cotton, and machine washable. You know the Elves appreciate easy maintenance as much as they love clean throws!