15 Well-Designed Father's Day Gifts
Snag a Few Gift Ideas for Dad from Some of Our Favorite Designers
If your dad is anything like mine, you've got an impossible shopping task ahead of you. Without fail, every year my dad says, "Don't get me anything," sweetly accepts the random gift I purchase anyway, and then quietly stores it in the back of his closet.
I'm determined to get a gift that he'll love this year. What better way to start than to follow the advice of some of our favorite guy designers, architects and tastemakers? They know that some of the best gifts for Father's Day are the gifts that pay attention to Dad's favorite activities. Is your dad an outdoorsy guy? A cook? A tech geek? The picks in this gift guide have got you covered.
I'm determined to get a gift that he'll love this year. What better way to start than to follow the advice of some of our favorite guy designers, architects and tastemakers? They know that some of the best gifts for Father's Day are the gifts that pay attention to Dad's favorite activities. Is your dad an outdoorsy guy? A cook? A tech geek? The picks in this gift guide have got you covered.
"When I think about Father's Day, I think about playing in the sun or relaxing outdoors," says Jeff Schlarb, principal designer at Green Couch Interior Design and Staging in San Francisco. For Schlarb, nothing mixes good design and fun in the outdoors more than a traditional bocce ball set. This easy-to-transport pack is perfect for an afternoon backyard barbecue or just a lazy day in the park with the family.
San Francisco interior designer Brian Dittmar's pick was from one of his city's great local design companies, Shine Labs. The front panel of wood on this clock is cut extremely thin, allowing the numbers to shine perfectly through. Smart and stylish! "These 'floating' numbers can really trick the eye, which makes this one of the more unique clocks out there — and a functional but fun gift for Dad. A bonus is that it's also an iPod dock with surprisingly powerful speakers," Dittmar says.
by Brookstone
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For their Father's Day pick, New York architecture firm Workshop/apd suggets going the high-tech route. If your dad is a guy who likes lounging by the pool, get him the perfect outdoor accessory: a chic, weather-resistant indoor/outdoor wireless speaker from Brookstone. This is no dinky iPod dock — this compact device has a 150-foot broadcast range. Yup, just far enough to force you indoors in order to escape his music.
by surftechsup.com
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If your dad has shown any interest in surfing (or just loves the beach), this is a perfect chance to splurge and let him pursue the dream. "Any body of water will do — just let Dad off the leash!" says Jonathan Staub of Philpotts Interiors. Since one of their offices is located in Honolulu, Staub knows exactly which brand and board is best. This sleek bamboo surfboard was made by master craftsman Randy French. It's so pretty, it doubles as a great splash of summer decor when placed against a wall.
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| For the dad who calls himself King of the Grill — or for a dad who just loves to cook — make sure his cooking area is outfitted to the nines. "Like most fathers, mine is the master of the grill. I'm sure something like this would suit him just fine, " says contributor Jason Ball, principal designer at Jason Ball Interiors. These quality grills are the best of the best and easy to use. They can be used as a built-in, or as a free-standing cart. |
"It's not necessarily fancy," says Charles DeLisle, principal and founder of CDL Workshop, "but this lemon squeezer has a great design. God knows I couldn't live without it." If your dad loves to cook, this is one of those great gifts that will be used on a daily basis. It'll save him from sticky hands — and you from picking lemon seeds out of your chicken.
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by 3fortyseven.com
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| Trying to create a room or two just for Dad? Avoid the standard La-Z-Boy armchairs and bachelor-pad decor, and opt for a classy, vintage style. Michael Davis, principal at Michael Davis Architects and Interiors, and owner of 3FortySeven recommends opting for a few unique, vintage signs for some extra flair. "These are all groovy, graphic bits of historic advertising that make excellent collectibles," Davis says. "They'd add a bit of dash to any man-cave on Father’s Day." |
by safretti.com
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One of Houzz's resident dads — Tom Borsellino, director of brand advertising — had a few gifts on his Father's Day wishlist. This sleek grill from Safretti doubles as a firepit. Its streamlined aluminum and stainless steel design allows you to alternate between a wok, grill and simple firepit. What more could Dad want?
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by dwconcrete.com
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| For Borsellino, the great thing about this modern ping-pong table (besides the fact that it's a perfectly manly ping-pong table, of course) is that it doubles as an outdoor dining table. Remove the net after your match, set out a few placemats, and continue enjoying the warm weather! |
by Brookstone
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If a spendy ping-pong/dining table isn't in the cards for you this year, try a more practical suggestion per Borsellino— the Axis Weather Radio, part of a collaboration between Eton and the American Red Cross. This isn't just your average radio — it includes a built-in LED light, is moisture resistant, durable, and can even charge your dad's cell phone.
This beautiful book (published by Taschen, my all-time favorite publisher), is a perfect gift for any architecture-loving mister in your household. This book on one of the most important architects in modernism is a must for Borsellino, who is a huge fan of mid-century modern design. If your dad loves architecture, he'll be sure to appreciate the influence of Neutra's work — available here, in its entirety, for the first time.
by moleskineus.com
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Borsellino's final lust-worthy Father's Day gift is this unique iPad cover. Does your dad still like to scribble things down on paper? Give him the best of both worlds with this luxurious Moleskin iPad cover with a reporter Volant notebook built right in. The notebook accommodates both left and right-handers and has 96 pages ready and waiting for Dad's work notes, last-minute grocery lists, and notes from Little League practice.
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by Bluelounge
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| This is one of those "Why didn't I think of that?" products. So simple, but oh-so-smart. I know I'm not the only one who is constantly scrounging around for my iPhone cord, computer charger, camera cord, and headphones. My dad is a pretty big tech-geek, so the area around his computer is about a million times worse. These cute CableDrops (Don't they sort of look like candies?) are a perfect solution for the mess. |
Another problem that any tech-loving dad is bound to encounter: Messy, sticky, grimy touchscreens and keyboards. These little microfiber fuzzies are a good solution, and can work as fun, decorative desk accessory to boot.
If your dad is on the other end of the spectrum and has an aversion to all things touchscreen (or maybe just has a hard time getting used to it), then try easing him into it with this quirky salute to the days of typewriter ribbon and Wite-Out. This antique typewriter has been modified to work as a keyboard for PC, Mac, and iPad. Just plug in your USB cord, and it functions as a full keyboard with all letters, numbers and punctuation marks.
More: Find gift ideas in the Houzz Products section, too
More: Find gift ideas in the Houzz Products section, too
Comments
Karen Ho Fatt Pretty classy bunch of selections. Cable drop would work very well for me- I tend to get the chair running over it all the time. Firepits have come a long weay- beautiful piece of art here.
2 years ago · Like
Denise Vilim Great ideas! Though I may have to buy the Neutra book for myself :0
2 years ago · Like
Carol Took a few notes ... thanks!
2 years ago · Like
Ideabook updated on June 14, 2012.
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