Sophie Lou Jacobsen knows firsthand that there is beauty in simplicity. Using borosilicate glass, the French-American designer creates vases, carafes, cups, and pitchers with playful colors and lighthearted details (think: wavy handles and rippled forms). Here, she shares the things that are inspiring her as of late—from elegant perfumes to Portuguese cabbage plates.

“Lisa Corti is an Italian textile brand that has been around since the ’80s, but I only discovered it recently via my friend Pauline Vincent’s recently launched home-goods store, La Romaine Editions. Everything Pauline curates in her shop is bright, joyful, and uplifting, all the while being extremely sophisticated and elegant—for dreamy tablescapes evoking the most pleasant, delicious summer meals in the south of France. I love how the decorative floral patterns on this tablecloth are balanced by more bold, graphic elements, and how the colors are somehow both bright and muted. There are also placemats and napkins to match, so you can really go crazy.”

“I originally designed this Poppy Vase, alongside the Tulip Vase, for La Romaine Editions’ Red series. It is a much bigger scale than I tend to work with, standing proudly at 13" tall, and I had the pleasure of working with local master glass artists Susan Spiranovich & Adam Holtzinger to develop it. The wave edge is created using a traditional venetian glassblowing technique called fazzoletto (or ‘handkerchief’) which is truly one of the most magical things I’ve ever seen. I love that Pauline prompted the use of the color red, which isn’t always the easiest color to use, but it’s so stunning—especially at this scale. I can just imagine this vase holding the most epic bouquet of flowers atop a grand fireplace mantle, or as the centerpiece on a long dining table.”

“I am a big fan of Areaware—they make a point to work with independent designers and help them bring their designs to market, many of whom wouldn’t otherwise have that opportunity. They are dedicated to creating functional, uplifting objects, and these newly released Serving Friends really hit the mark. They are designed by Selena Liu, who, like my own practice, explores form, color, and humor to elicit joy. I love all three styles, but I am especially a fan of these wavy, wiggly little numbers here. I’m also working on a project with Areaware at the moment—so look out for that in the near future!”

“This side table with nesting stool is a continuation of the furniture collection I launched in 2018 alongside Sarita Posada, under the name Studio Sayso. The table comes is several materials and colors, as does the stool, so you can mix and match for a more toned-down look or a super vibrant, poppy combination. The shape and proportions are so friendly and humanlike, they remind me of a friendly little creature. There is also another variation that comes with a poof instead of a stool, which is very practical for small apartments like mine.”

“I have always been a big proponent of the after-work drink, and up until now that has almost always included alcohol. And while I’m still partial to the occasional tipple, Ghia has been the first nonalcoholic replacement that I have found just as satisfying, relaxing, and enjoyable. It helps that their branding is super cute.”

“I recently got one of these bathmats for my apartment, and I can’t wait to get all the matching-yet-contrasting towels to go with it. It’s super, super soft—and I love the playful checkerboard pattern that is toned down by the brown and black color combination.”

“This perfume by Ormaie has been on my wish list for a while now. The perfume bottles are like beautiful little pieces of art, with colorful, Brâncuși-esque wood caps. I wish I could collect them all, but if I had to choose one (on a purely aesthetic basis) I’d go for this lovely chartreuse green, which is a color I’m very into right now. In fact, I just painted my studio floor almost the exact same shade of green.”

“Another sculptural wooden lid! These storage jars by Ettore Sottsass for Alessi are, to me, the perfect examples of how everyday products can be joyful and uplifting—I smile every time I see them. If I could, I would fill my entire kitchen with items from the Twergi collection, which this is a part of.”

“I’ve been obsessed with these French handmade resin knife rests since I discovered them this past winter.”

“These traditional Portuguese cabbage plates by Bordallo Pinheiro are my all-time favorite crockery. They actually come in all shapes and colors—depicting pretty much every flower, fruit, or veg you can imagine, all of which are absolutely amazing—but the cabbage plates are my go-to for sprucing up a table. Their form and color compliment pretty much any dish, because in the end, what isn’t better sitting atop a leafy green bed?”

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