My DDIL gave me a really nice tray a few years ago and I use it all the time - for serving (especially bagel brunches) or to to decorate for various holidays or occasions. There are so many available that you can select one that fits their style - from casual rustic to ceramic, any price range and lots of different shapes. Last week I had mine on the server with a pumpkin and flowers, next month I'll arrange some pine and winterberries and a candle.

I was in my local BB&B recently and I'm not thrilled with their new look - it seems they're eliminating Brand names for their own line in many categories. However I've found a wider selection on their web site. You could try PB, WS, Crate & Barrel, even Marshalls.

We're visiting my son's in-laws for a late Thanksgiving brunch this weekend and in addition to the wine & flowers DH decided to make stuffed bacon wrapped dates and I found a pretty platter to give them.

Sometimes I opt for the consumable if I'm not sure what style might appeal to them - plus it has the added benefit of being disposable and not something physical that they have to store.

Good luck - post back if you find the 'perfect something'

Maire

Someone gave us a Wilton Armitale serving bowl when we renovated our beach house and they were our first visitors. I see BBB has some pieces, at least online.

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/brand/wilton-armetale/149

My style is more casual, but I think any kind of tray, maybe with a nice selection of cheese and crackers, is a great and useful gift.

I’m doing a charcuterie board gift set for my girlfriends this year…a pretty board, serving knives, a gorgeous hardcover book on designing your own charcuterie boards, and a gift card to Trader Joe’s for cheeses and other items. If they like entertaining, maybe they’d like that gift as well.

If they're into plants at all, nothing like some greenery to brighten up a home...

No to plants since they are not yet living there full time. You can bring a dessert or appetizer on a platter or tray that they keep as their housewarming gift, plus a bottle of wine.

I would bring really nice flower arrangement.

I think if they were a younger couple just starting out, or getting their first home, a more permanent housewarming gift would be nice.

But in this case, I’m with you — a gift container of consumables and wine sounds perfect. If it were me, I wouldn’t want decor or kitchen things, etc, unless someone knew something exact I’d talked about or knew my decor tastes really well.

I’d rather have a special gourmet treat. We’re wine drinkers and I’m thrilled when someone gives us new ones to try.

There are all kinds of online gift basket/container ideas …. it’s such a nice gift because it’s not something we buy for ourselves, but we always enjoy them. You know their tastes — cheeses, fruits, wines, savory snacks, sweets, etc. Or you could gather things and make your own combination for them in a pretty container.

I was given this Wilton Armetale piece for my first house. Still love and use it 50 years later.

I love Sue's idea of a piece of Wilton Armetale. They have some great beachy pieces-- I love the sand dollar bowl and my sister loves this piece to serve her special crab and asparagus spread in.

Wilton-Armetale is much loved by my family. I have a few pieces but my mother and sisters have many-- it used to be made in this area. The company has been sold but they still have great designs. The original pieces are fairly collectable-- in fact, this time of year always reminds me of the year I scoured the internet trying to find this onion casserole server as a hostess gift (to serve our traditional thanksgiving creamed onions)

Do they celebrate anything? Perhaps they could use a menorah or mezzuzah, or an ornament for a tree? Or a housewarming set of salt, bread, wine, etc? All in a nice serving piece?

I like the idea of a tray with some consumables. I also like to give some nice, fresh kitchen linens - towels, potholders, dishcloth kind of thing. Those things wear out quickly and I think it’s always nice to get something new. I love the old fashioned floursack dishtowels. Around here they come in a pack of six that could be tied up nicely with a festive ribbon. I have to get a housewarming gift for someone too so glad to see this topic.

First of all, of course, thank you for the great suggestions.

Maybe DH was right- I am really liking the armitale trays. I liked the suggestion when Maire raised it, but I really don't know what colors and such. (This is probably TMI but it's a second marriage so the full time home is a blend and I am not sure what was there beforehand so not a great indication of current taste lol). They did some renovating back at their home and their taste is I guess a bit contemporary.

(Bpath, if we shared the same traditions and religion I would feel great about your suggestions but since we don;t , I am not too familiar or comfortable.)

I guess I didn't realize how nice Armitale is and how it can fit varying tastes. I love that suggestion. I will show these to DH and see what he says. I think it's a great idea and not too specific and we can still bring something consumable.

This group is the best.

Funkyart, I need that recipe! Pretty please with sugar on top?

@Funkyart Thank you!

Thinking back to when we moved into this house, I remember a favorite gift. It was a rosebush! Granted, the person knew I loved roses (even down to my favorite colors), so if you did this, you would need to know what the person liked, etc. It was a perfect gift for me. Another was a beautiful engraved ornament that was dated. It's the shape of a house. If you don't know that the person would like/use certain (more personal) gifts, then I think the tray with edible treats is a great idea. Instead of a tray, you could even do a beautiful cut glass bowl. Something that suits the homeowners tastes.

Shop local, look for a local high quality chocolatier, candle maker, nursery or florist, and get your gift from them. In addition to the sale of your item, you may help a small, locally owned business get your friends as customers.

I love the idea of the Armetale tray with food, cheeses, etc. and a bottle of wine. It isn't something that has to be displayed and you don't have to know her taste-it goes with anything.

I agree with the consumables as mentioned. That's one of my favorite gifts to give because I feel like it will be used. To make it more of a house warm gift I add some type of glass or cup, anything you might use with whatever consumable you go with. I've done it with coffee or hot cocoa before, but if they like alcohol, maybe some cheese, wine and even 2 nice wine glasses and a nice corkscrew. Or if they like beer do two nice beer mugs and a nice beer or a variety of different beers with a bottle opener and some food or snacks that go with that. Or if you know a totally different mixed drink they like, get all the stuff together to make that and put it together for them. Or just do a mixture of different alcohols and snacks. I like to find a big basket or something similar to put it in. If you go that route you could also find some nice kitchen towels to throw in, which could also be used to wrap the glass in to keep them from breaking during the drive there.

Ok so I am looking at the armetale, and I have found a few pieces I like. I mean I like them all,really. It seems BBB and the A site as well as even Neiman Marcus have some but none in store or to pick up at store- all with shipping.( and believe it or not, NM has the best price with free shipping). I just don't know about how long shipping will take and I want it by Dec 10 .

So tell me, what do you think of these?

Harvest Bread Basket

#2 Fluted Bread Basket

#3 and or #4

3 Fluted Tray or 4- Round Fluted Tray

Any thoughts on what you'd prefer?

I think my favorite is #1 as it seems the most universal style wise but I don't know if others would view it as such or would use so appreciate your thoughts.

I would go with a tray. More versatile.

I like the bread baskets ...

Personally, I always tend towards their unique designs for gifts. I think that's where they shine. I have this tray (a gift).. one year my mom got my sisters and I each one of the flower designs.

Am i the only one who doesn't care for them and think they are too taste specific?

I like the idea above of getting them something consumable/perishable that is also local to their new town. It is thoughtful and nearly always welcome.

Middle-aged people don't need things, and honestly I feel so bad when someone gets me something I don't care for. I never know what to do with it.

PS, I had to laugh at "shore"community. I think that is a very regional idiom. : )

Those are all fine but I agree with Funky. Go with one of their more unique designs. You know the recipients though. The ones you selected while nice all seem very safe and traditional and maybe similar to something they already have.

I got one as a 5 year award from work. It is round and has a modern design around the edge. I have used it on my coffee table with orchids sitting in it. I don't have anything else like it.

Well thank you for hand holding.

I was getting a bit antsy about getting it done since shipping, you know, and needing it in less than 2 weeks.

I appreciated all the comments, and while I agree that generally I wouldn't want to add to accumulating stuff, these people love to entertain and do so often, and don't seem to be giving up their original home and stuff. And, the more I looked the more I decided harvest bread basket.

Of course, I tried BBB and their website was a mess. Every time I tried to make progress, it either timed me out, or, when I added one to the cart, it told me there was not sufficient stock.

I went to the amazing site, figuring it would be a done deal, and their prime delivery was for Dec 16-23. I went back to Neiman Marcus, and lo and behold was able to place the order and delivery should be 12/3.

PS I never realized shore community is a regional term. Live and learn.

Oh and I would have loved a more unique one but didn't see any or at least any that called my name.

All is well.

I will definitely also add something consumable - and thank you all.

I actually use my pewter bread basket a lot. Something I have, which I also LOVE, is a special bread basket linen piece that is designed to go in and easily fold over the breads. It is embroidered and says "hot rolls" on the folds. It came from my grandmother and I just love it. It doesn't fall out like some of my heavier little towels or napkins. I'd do the bread basket, a linen for it, and put a gourmet bread mix in the basket. Another thing that might be nice, if they entertain, is a set of jam servers. I make a lot of my own home made condiments and I have a couple of those that I really like. Of course I only use them when entertaining, so they don't get much use these days . . . ymmv.

Another idea is a serving tray with a nice set of cocktail forks. We used to have them and I thought cocktail forks were very passe, but now with covid, I could really get into cocktail forks, etc. One can always buy disposable ones, but I'm waxing nostalgic about the old fancy stainless or silver ones, even pewter would be ok if it was just to spear stuff . . .

About the term 'shore' - that was a new one for me when I first moved to the Philadelphia area. My friends would say that they were 'going down the shore' or sometimes shortened to 'downa shore.'

Yes, and AFAIK it is a term used that way only used in the Phila/NJ area, perhaps creeping as far South as MD?

I grew up going "down the shore" LOL.

Ha yes now that I think about it, even where I grew up in NY, it was going to the beach. In NJ, it was down the shore.