With Black Friday out of the way, it’s time to think about Christmas shopping and there is no better place than Bath to find the perfect gift. We have a wonderful Christmas market and lots of wonderful independent shops.
As an interior designer, I love to give home or design inspired gifts to my friends and family and we have an incredible selection of shops in Bath where you can find the perfect gift. Here are some of my top picks.
SJ Axelby’s Interior Portraits from Topping & Co
Topping & Company Booksellers is one of the best bookshops in the country and one of my favourite independents in Bath. It’s the perfect place to find a lovely interior design book to give as a gift. It’s also a beautiful recently restored building, having been a former Grade II listed former Friends Meeting House in York Street which had been closed since 2019.
This book, subtitled ‘Homes of leading creatives explored through gorgeous watercolour painting’, is an artist’s record of the homes of 89 leading creatives from interior designers to ceramicists, antiques dealers, florists and chefs.
Each watercolour interior portrait is accompanied by quirky interview with the owner, full of invaluable nuggets of design advice. This gorgeous book includes not only Sarah-Jane’s original watercolours but scrapbook pages annotated with design wisdom from each room’s owners. The book includes rooms from Kit Kemp, Alexandra Tolstoy, Henry Holland, Lucinda Chambers, Luke Edward Hall & Duncan Campbell and Skye McAlpine and is a creative who’s who of the international design world.
www.toppingbooks.co.uk
Neom Candle from Space NK
I love Neom scented candles, and they are stocked in our local branch of Space NK in New Bond Street. Poured by hand using natural wax, a Neom Christmas Wish 3 wick candle, would make a lovely Christmas present. Crafted with a comforting blend of 13 pure essential oils, the fragrance includes notes of mandarin, cinnamon and tonka bean and has been developed to promote relaxation. Providing up to 50 hours of burn time, this candle is ideal for creating a more relaxing atmosphere during the busy festive season. With a 100% natural fragrance, it contains no paraffin or synthetic ingredients.
Space NK offers the best in luxury cosmetics and is my go-to if I am looking for a special present for one of my girlfriends.
www.spacenk.com
Dressing gown from Graham and Green
At Christmas I always pay a visit to Graham and Green. Their global finds, statement pieces and vintage-inspired treasures are unique. Established in 1974, it’s still a family-owned business and Jamie and Louise Graham live near the Bath store, which is a lovingly restored former 20th century bake house.
As well as beautiful cushions, bone-inlay furniture, quirky ceramics and fabulous rugs, Graham & Green also have some lovely luxurious loungewear. One of their cream safaris print dressing gown would make a wonderful present. In a Jaipur print of exotic palms and prowling leopards, the wrap-around dressing gown is made from 100% cotton with contrasting jungle green pom pom trims.
www.grahamandgreen.co.uk
A flowerpot lamp from Holloways of Ludlow
Holloways of Ludlow in Milsom Street source quality lighting and furniture from around the world. They are a family business and have a particular love for designs from the UK and Scandinavia which make them a favourite with me. They carry brands like Hay, Gubi, Buster & Punch and Panton who make timeless designs made to last. The store is light and airy, and I often browse in the brilliant lighting department at the back of the shop. A great present for a design-savvy friend would be the Flowerpot VP3 table lamp, designed by Verner Panton in 1969. With an elegant, rounded shape, the VP3 is available in a vibrant array of colours and metal finishes. Its geometric structure is the perfect complement to any contemporary home. It has stood the test of time to become a true design icon.
www.hollowaysofludlow.com
A print from Studio EDP
Studio EDP is a creative design studio with gallery space based on Walcot Street in Bath.
They always have an interesting selection of prints, which they can custom make to any size. For a local, a print of Bath would be perfect. I love the print called “Walcot Street, Bath. Georgian Architecture – Summer Sunset”, a Giclee print of Walcot Street in Bath at sunset in the summer, when the sky is a beautiful pink and makes the Bath stone glow. Check out the selection online or pop into the gallery for the latest works.
www.studioedp.com
Next week, look out for five more gift ideas.
