I have mostly succulents, because I get a lot of light in my apartment and that’s almost all the care they need, but lately I’ve been thinking about branching out to other, maybe more challenging kinds of plants. So it was fortuitous that a friend just gifted me with a cute ponytail palm just like this one that came from a stylish site called Bloomscape. They have a fantastic selection of plants that come in various sizes, and they all arrive in this cute pot, which is available in several good colors.

As far as flowers go, I’m a fan of Urbanstems, which delivers next day coast to coast, or the same day to New York City and D.C.  This pretty arrangement is typical of what they turn out: sophisticated, chic little arrangements (that aren’t cheap, alas) housed in vases so good you (or your recipient) will want to hang on to them.

The Bouqs isn’t quite as pricey as Urban Stems, but you’ve got to dig a bit more to find good arrangements, like this green and white one, which I’d order without all the baby’s breath and other fillers.

I’m also a big fan of my neighborhood plant shop The Sill, on Hester Street. They’ve got a nice selection of planters, and a lot of cute plants too, including this adorable Hoya Heart, which is a rooted cutting from the Hoya kerri succulent. I like that their website allows you to search on plants that are good in low (or high) light , and that they specify which plants are pet-friendly.

At Leon & George, plants are also helpfully categorized—what’s easy to care for, which plants act as air purifiers—and some of their offerings, like this snake plant, are available in cool midcentury pots.

Hay is a Danish brand that specializes in thoughtfully-designed items for the home, and I’ve been a fan of theirs for a while now. A lot of what they offer comes in more than one colorway, like this well-priced quilt.

This portable lamp is battery-operated, and would be ideal for outdoor dining.

A chic little stainless steel water bottle with a bright plastic lid.

I just think this marbled dinner plate is super-cool, but then again I’m a sucker for marbled stuff.

The contrasting colors on this vase are really striking—it’s worth displaying even without flowers in it.

A chic, sculptural coffee table that makes a big statement in gold.

I can’t think of a reason anyone in this modern world needs an hourglass (I know Scrabble players would disagree) but I kind of want this anyway.

I’d use this plastic tool box to store all the stuff that gets lost at the bottom of my junk drawer.

This throw would look so perfect on my grey sofa.

A faux wood grain mug that strikes me as pretty clever.

And this quilt-ishly patterned blanket is pretty smart too.

I’m not so into the clothes on Need Supply anymore—everything’s kind of trendy and tricky—but I do think they have an excellent selection of items for the home, and right now everything on the site is 30% off. I’ve wanted an Areaware totem candle for a while, and now just may be when I pull the trigger.

It’s never too early to think about holiday gifts, and this classic Stendig calendar would be a really good one.

Just the coolest bottle opener maybe ever.

This stemless red wine glass comes in a set of four, and will make you feel all European when you drink from it.

I think this side table looks way more pricey than it is.

Such a spiff little portable speaker.

These glass straws are as cool as they are environmentally sound.

A bright waste basket that would add a little pop to even the dullest of rooms.