Ask the Expert: Gift-Buying Tips from Roman Alonso of Commune

Roman Alonso of Los Angeles-based design collective Commune shares his recommendations for buying the perfect gift.
Text by

What’s your go-to host gift?

What’s your go-to host gift?Commune by L’Oeil du Vert room fragrance, $185.

What’s your go-to host gift?

Commune by L’Oeil du Vert room fragrance, $185.

He also recommends these Commune Chocolates by Valerie Confections, $49.

He also recommends these Commune Chocolates by Valerie Confections, $49.

What is your everyday bedding?

What’s your favorite brand of towel?Rikumo. Towels by Rikumo, from $8.

What’s your favorite brand of towel?

Rikumo.

Towels by Rikumo, from $8.

What is your go-to kitchen appliance?A Breville electric teakettle.The Tea Maker by Breville, $250.

What is your go-to kitchen appliance?

A Breville electric teakettle.

The Tea Maker by Breville, $250.

What’s your favorite brand of towel?

What is the best design book to give as a gift?Peter Zumthor: Buildings and Projects, 1985–2013, edited by Thomas Durisch (Scheidegger and Spiess, 2014), $250.

What is the best design book to give as a gift?

Peter Zumthor: Buildings and Projects, 1985–2013, edited by Thomas Durisch (Scheidegger and Spiess, 2014), $250.

Rikumo. Towels by Rikumo, from $8.

What is your most indispensable everyday gadget?My iPhone and my Canon PowerShot ELPH camera.PowerShot ELPH 340 HS camera from Canon, $180.

What is your most indispensable everyday gadget?

My iPhone and my Canon PowerShot ELPH camera.

PowerShot ELPH 340 HS camera from Canon, $180.

What’s the best wedding present you’ve given or received?

Roman Alonso founded L.A. based design collective Commune with Steven Johanknecht, Pamela Shamshiri, and Ramin Shamshiri in 2004. The group collaborates on commercial spaces, retail environments, restaurants, residences, packaging, corporate identities, and websites.

Roman Alonso founded L.A. based design collective Commune with Steven Johanknecht, Pamela Shamshiri, and Ramin Shamshiri in 2004. The group collaborates on commercial spaces, retail environments, restaurants, residences, packaging, corporate identities, and websites.

Anything from Heath

What would you give to a recent college graduate?

A crisp $100 bill.

What is your go-to kitchen appliance?

A Breville electric teakettle. The Tea Maker by Breville, $250.

What is the best design book to give as a gift?

Peter Zumthor: Buildings and Projects, 1985–2013, edited by Thomas Durisch (Scheidegger and Spiess, 2014), $250.

What is your most indispensable everyday gadget?

My iPhone and my Canon PowerShot ELPH camera. PowerShot ELPH 340 HS camera from Canon, $180.

 
William Lamb
Will Lamb is a writer and editor based in Jersey City, New Jersey. He served as a senior editor at Dwell from 2013 to 2015.

Published

Last Updated

Get the Dwell Newsletter

Be the first to see our latest home tours, design news, and more.