Home Goods Designer Ellen Van Dusen Tells Us What She’s Loving—and Gifting—This Year

Originally from Washington, D.C., and now based in Brooklyn, designer Ellen Van Dusen is the mind behind Dusen Dusen, a brand known for playing with bold, original prints and contrasting colors. Dusen Dusen started out as a womenswear line before leaping into home decor a few years back—and stuck the landing quite beautifully.

Whether it be eye-catching duvet covers, kooky oven mitts, or a fun kitchen timer, Van Dusen’s work experiments with the brain’s reaction to color, movement, and contrast to enjoyable effect. This year, we got a sneak peek at what the folks on her nice list might be in for.

"There’s nothing more luxurious than spending the day in a bathrobe—and what better than to give the gift of luxury. My personal favorite is the new Dusen Dusen Spiral patterns, but for a more classic look our Stripe bathrobes are fun too."

"I received this Merdolino toilet brush by Alessi as a housewarming gift, and I think it’s so funny and cute."

"I designed this timer because I was so sick of using my phone while I cook. Seeing all those notifications pop up every time I checked the clock was making me insane. So! For the person that needs some time away from the phone, this is a great gift."

"Another anti-phone analog device: the Hemisphere clock designed by Henry Julier for Design Within Reach. The color combos are really good, and it has a nice weight and unexpected depth. I have one at my studio and love it."

"I’m obsessed with this sponge holder that turns your sponge into a bed."

"I’m going through a dot phase right now, and I find this scarf to be irresistible."

Looking for something else? Check out the rest of our holiday gift guides here.

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