The Nicole-Inspired Holiday Edit: Homeware Guide
Every product is owned by Nicole and approved—from thoughtful decor gifts and innovative gadgets to modern accents and kitchenware designed for inspired living (with Nicole’s signature pink touch).
Disclaimer: I do use affiliate links in this blog meaning that if you purchase anything through my affiliate links I receive commission at no additional cost to you! I only recommend products that I have heavily researched, tested and loved, and/or used for several years.
Welcome to the first part of the Nicole-inspired holiday edit! When the Little Mermaid sang “I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty”—I’m pretty sure she was singing about me (my musical theatre lore for another time)! My friends call me Inspector Gadget as I love to collect home items that make my life living solo a lot easier; my dream is to have a highly automated home in the future (once my immediate hobbies are complete, Raspberry Pi is on my list)! I consider my iRobot vacuums (Vader and Vader 2.0) and mop (Squirt) my pets. The one my friends laugh about the most would probably be my automatic jar opener for “senior, arthritic hands”.
On the flip side, my Virgo-detective skills shine brightly with aesthetic decor as I love niche, modern, and pretty (in pink) things but they have to be worth it and stand the test of time. This already comprehensive guide would be overwhelming if I included all of the home items I love, so I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite items that I would love receiving if I did not already have them! As always, I usually link pink as the default color option but know that the majority of items come in an array of colors to choose from. I hope you or your lucky recipient love them as much as I do!
You may notice that some of these are repeats from my BFCM product guide or Hostess with the Mostess gift guide—simply a testament to focusing on products I use and love in my recommendations! The new products are in the top section for any of my loyal readers!
Georg Jensen Platter: You can probably tell that when I first started decorating my apartment, my vision was everything sleek and modern with silver accents! This Georg Jensen platter was one of my favorite finds, and I was thrilled to see it listed in the past couple of years as a Bloomies “Fashion Director Find”—does this mean I get to add Fashion Director to my resume?! It has not tarnished in the five years that I have had it due to its stainless steel material, and despite its crinkled surface it is extremely easy to clean. I keep my remote controls and keys in it on my coffee table. If you have a lover of modern home decor in your life, this gift is a match made in heaven!
Le Creuset Pink Petal Braiser: As a lover of impossible to find and sold out items, getting my hands on this Le Creuset pink masterpiece was one of my greatest victories! Unfortunately, the task at hand is even more difficult now and even my trusted Harrod’s link has now sold out. I picked the more user-friendly of the two retailers offering it (Bob Leisure? site linked here), though I beg that you double validate the legitimacy of the sites. I am a notorious terrible cook (why I opt for “Lazy Girl meals”), and this braiser is the sole reason that I cooked anything at all this past year—I’d like to think that I am improving! If you are open to a different color, you can purchase it from Harrod’s here in white, Farfetch here in “Tegame”, and Amazon here in “Coastal Blue” or “Peche”. Cheers to cooking up some delicious recipes in 2026 or getting a giant smile from your resident chef!
Pink Etsy Matcha Bowl Set: When this viral TikTok matcha bowl set first came on my TikTok FYP (“for you page”—kind of like your main feed for anyone not on TikTok) my jaw instantly dropped. Quite often, I’ll have a vision of something so specific that I want to add to my collection and it will take several months, sometimes years to find after several in-depth, rabbit hole research sessions (the hidden cost of letting others instantly “have the secret sauce” to copy and why people should always tag the originators and use affiliate links when provided in my opinion)! I try to always give credit where credit is due, and I owe the fulfillment of my dream pink matcha set-up to @yamyamdiaries <3 (see her pinned post and follow!).
Anne de Solene Robe (towels unfortunately sold out): This is another one of my niche finds, as I spent months trying to find the perfect high-quality, pink towels to invest in and replace my ratty old ones with. After discovering the towels, I was able to double whammy the matching bathrobe as I was simultaneously looking for a new, pink terry cloth robe. The material is as luxurious as it looks, and as your resident Francophile I love that the brand is French!
Anna New York Rose Quartz Platter and Kivita Coasters: My Anna New York rose quartz platter and coaster sets are the main characters of many of my Instagram posts, and anything from her line makes for an excellent, unique gemstone gift. This is the perfect gift for your crystal lover or general lover of color and unique materials in homeware. I personally use my platter as a decorative piece to hold my candles, flowers, Baccarat butterflies, and sage—but it can also double as a serving or charcuterie board. I also loved my coaster set so much that I gifted two of my best friends coasters that come in a wide array of gemstone options—pink quartz, agate, white quartz, and many more!
AromaTech: After my trip to the Baccarat Hotel in New York, I was like “I need my own home signature scent”! After researching the depths of the internet as I always do, I came across the AromaTech BT Plus. My issues with diffusers I’ve had in the past were the constant need to refill with water and leaky machines. AromaTech does not require water (it uses filtered air), and you can control all of its settings within the app (inclusive of setting a schedule!). Even better, their scent offerings are truly what you would experience at a 5-star luxury hotel. My home scent of choice is their white tea, and it never fails to get compliments when people visit me! I have also owned the machine for many years and it is still going strong! Do note that it does make a sound when it’s running, so if you need a completely silent diffuser this one may not be a fit (but, you can schedule it to go off when you’re out of the house).
SimPure: You can read my full in-depth blog post on the SimPure coutertop reverse osmosis machine here, but the TLDR is that a) though it seems to be too good to be true (just plug in and turn on!), it’s simply that good and b) this is the perfect time to get one with up to 46% off sitewide (ends December 21st)!
Sabre Set: Getting a customized Sabre set in Paris this past October was one of my major highlights, and I am itching to go back and keep building my collection (Paris blogs are in progress, I promise)! Sabre has the most beautiful silverware with unique colored handles that will set your gift apart from the rest! I reach for my cutlery set every single meal (and am upset at myself for not getting more!). Sabre thankfully has a US site, but you’ll want to place your order ASAP! If you need faster shipping time, goop has a beautiful bistrot serving set here (included in my hostess with the mostess guide) and Williams-Sonoma has a cutlery set here (I did half of my customization in the “Dune” color!).
De’Longhi: I have influenced many friends and family members with my De’Longhi Dinamica automatic machine (still going strong five years later!). I could not find my older version on their site, but the new Dinamica is even fancier! You can create user profiles, adjust froth settings, choose from 24 one-touch recipes, and utilize the built-in grinder with 13 settings! Make sure to register the product for an additional year of warranty (3 total)!
Allavino: PSA—the fridge is still 5% off and in stock! If you did not read my BFCM product guide, not to fret—the recap is that this fridge often sells out, and simply does not go on sale so 5% is better than nothing! I have had mine for over five years now, and it is still my favorite thing about my apartment! I have had no issues even through several power outages and heat waves. You can read more about the fridge features in my dedicated blog post, The Best Dual Zone Wine Fridge for Wine Enthusiasts.
Compagnie de Provence Liquid Marseille Black Tea Soap & Hand Cream: Before you say anything, I fully acknowledge the legitimacy of investing in Aesop and Loewe tomato leaves soaps—I too was in the depths of soaptok! However, you have to remember that I am both a Virgo and a Cancer venus so I will always win the loyalty game! I have been using Liquid Marseille soap for about seven years now, and it is still my favorite from an exclusivity, packaging, soap and lotion consistency, aroma, and pricepoint perspective. I first discovered it in a luxury French spa, and soon learned that it was used by many French aestheticians (you can also discover it in the guest bathroom at the Biologique Recherche Ambassade in Melrose!). Compagnie de Provence offers tons of different scent options, but my favorite is their black tea. I’m seeing now that it was a 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Winner! I specifically adore their lotion, because it does not give me a sticky, icky feeling after application and leaves them perfectly moisturized (my hands are extremely sensitive to weird consistencies). I also love their glass bottles which make for a double whammy of bathroom decor! Their price point is far less than Aesop and Loewe’s as well, with $35 for a soap bottle and $61 for the hand and cream bundle! This is important for me because I am a notorious paper towel monster and have to wash my hands constantly when I’m doing skincare or cooking. P.S. They are offering a limited edition holiday set including the black tea duo (save time on pretty packaging)!
Slip: I personally feel very validated that I never fell for the satin dupes of silk pillowcases. If you are not as in the depths of beauty product controversy as I am, it came out that satin pillowcases are not as breathable as natural silk because they trap heat and moisture only worsening acne-causing bacteria. Slip’s silk called “Slipsilk™” is 100% pure mulberry silk and 22 momme (mm = weight/density of silk). Contrary to expectation, a higher momme does not necessarily mean “better” (but more silk does mean more expensive usually). There are plenty of luxury silk brands with higher momme silk pillowcases, but 22 momme is actually the sweet spot because it balances softness, breathability, and durability. Their packaging is also top notch, which always makes for easy gifting. I love that they have an endless amount of color/pattern, zip vs envelope, and sizing options. I own quite a few, but linked the classic pink color. P.S. I also love their hair scrunchies!
Revolution Smart Toaster: When I first moved back to LA from Seattle in 2020, one of my favorite kitchen gadgets I got for my apartment was the Revolution Smart Toaster! As the name implies, it truly is revolutionary providing an iPad-like touchscreen interface. Unlike Apple products, it has not deteriorated in performance or died on me in the five years that I have had it! They have come out with newer models over the years, including their R180 Connect Smart Toaster, and their most advanced R180 Connect Plus Smart Toaster + Toastie Press + Warming Rack—this one in particular has 38 bread types, 7 brownness levels, and gluten-free settings!
Green Life Rice Cooker: Growing up in a Japanese household, eating rice everyday is the way of being! My mom actually got me this Green Life rice cooker which is the perfect size for an apartment or for someone who wants easy storage. In my opinion, it is one of the best investments you can make! Rice cookers truly transform the quality of your cooked rice, and this one in particular comes at a very reasonable price. I always link pink as the default color option, but know that there are a lot of other options including black, white, and blue! P.S. I’m actually working on an edit of the more high-tech Japanese versions you can invest in if you are curious (will require more counter space as well).
