Category: Featured In

The food may be the star of the show when it comes to a photo-ready meal, but what it’s served on is what makes it a perfect plate. Our Dining Collection ranges from striking flatware to one-of-a-kind serveware. Discover how some of our favorite food bloggers have served up delicious dishes on our favorite dinnerware pieces and see how you can incorporate them into your next culinary experience.

Grace Gray Dinnerware Set

@lindseyeatsla

Your next gathering deserves dinnerware, unlike the rest. Our Grace Gray Dinnerware Set is crafted with a special grade of high-quality stoneware and is exclusive to Unison. If you’re looking for versatile dinnerware that can be both formal and casual, Grace Gray is the perfect fit. Beautiful enough to stack on open shelving, and durable enough to feature at your next outdoor dinner party. See how Lindsey of @lindseyeatsla styled both the salad and dinner plate for her vibrant Korean BBQ spread. Add in our Serve Bowl and Platter to round out your table.

Eve Brushed Gold Pasty Server

@acarriedaffairdesigns

Who said pie is only for the holidays? Especially when you’re serving it up on something so eye-catching. Taking the cake for durability and luster is this modern pastry server, made from 24-carat brushed gold plating over stainless steel. It’s a special occasion piece that elevates dessert to its rightful place. Picture this in anything from your wedding photos to Thanksgiving dinner with the family. Purchase the entire Eve Brushed Gold Serve Set for an elevated look that compliments an array of serving dishes.

Grid Black Round Tray

@witanddelight_

Set your spread out in style with our Grid Round Tray. In eye-popping black and white, it’s a graphically-charged essential that’s perfect for summer entertaining, especially because of its ability to carry everything you’ll need and easy-to-clean laminate finish. Consider it your perfect partner in all things picnic or alfresco dining. An asset for a party-sized charcuterie board, or to transport additional table-essentials.

Bistro Ivory Flatware Set

@harlowspizza

Our most beloved flatware can step up any scene from casual pizza to a steak dinner. These Bistro Flatware Sets are available in Ivory, Black, and Teak; each color bringing a necessary contrast to your dish. Inspired by the clean-smart style of classic Parisian bistros, this French designed set is sharp, strong, and crisply modern. Pictured here in warm ivory, it’s an inviting and versatile addition to your tablescape and its casual sophistication makes it ideal for any setting.

Heller White Melamine Dinnerware Set

@franceslrothrd

A crisp white plate is a necessity when it comes to a picturesque table setting. Heller’s melamine salad plates, dinner plates, and soup bowls were designed in 1964, and have remained indispensable. Easy to stack, store, clean, and bring from outdoors in; these are a perfect everyday piece for serving up even the simplest of meals. Looking for a clean look in porcelain? Try our Medaillon Dinnerware Collection.

Galvin Black Serve Set

@lastingredient

Add a strong contrast to your plating game. These five align in sleek, modern style. And they’re built to last from titanium electro-plated stainless steel. Includes salad servers, a pastry server, a bread knife, and a serve fork to help you dish out any meal. We loved seeing them in action for Paige Adams’ (@lastingredients) delicious mini pizzas on the grill. Also available in a Copper finish for an air of elegance.

Falcon White Plates

@readytorolldough

An iconic look with enduring strength and smoothness. Falcon Enamelware is the perfect balance of classic and modern. Plus, it’s dishwasher and oven-safe up to 530 degrees Fahrenheit. So, swap out your traditional pie pan for our deep plates for a quick and easy baking dish. Not to mention that the traditional design of ice white with a blue rim is casual elegance at its best. The final result: a look that reflects iconic British design and iconic mod that perfectly compliments whatever food you top it with. Find this Rustic Tart recipe here.

Eve Brushed Gold Flatware Set

@thedefineddish

Add this flatware to your setting, and instantly elevate your plate. Share the excitement at the dinner table and bring luxury to each seat. Brushed gold flatware by Cutipol promises a glimmering, 24-carat experience. With a sturdy elegance, they beg to be plated with a decadent meal. Try our Chrome colorway made of 18/10 stainless steel for an equally striking setting.

Planning a large gathering? Many sets from our Dining Collection are now available in bundles, saving you 10% on your dinnerware purchase!

As a gathering space, it’s important that your living room is functional while still feeling like home. Once you’ve covered function with seating and surface space, it’s time to add the final design elements that transform a room and make it uniquely your own. Here’s our guide on what you will need to complete your most lived-in room.

1. Accent Tray

Complete your coffee table (or ottoman) with a versatile tray that can be used for organizing candles, stacking books or setting out coffee and tea. Our Heathered Black + White Raffia Tray is the perfect element to add to any living room surface. Or try one of our smaller entertaining pieces like the Grace Gray Serve Platter or Salon Tray for more versatility.

2. Bookstand or Magazine Rack

Create easy access to books + magazines with a simple bookstand or magazine rack. Our Rise Natural Bookstand displays books, magazines or records in an inventive way that adds an artful accent to the room. Need to save on space? The Analog Magazine Rack has just as much design appeal and can slide into a more compact area.

3. Storage Baskets

With our wide range of baskets, there are plenty of smart ways to store your extra blankets and pillows. Easily stack folded throws in our Natural Nido Floor Basket, or roll them up in our Tilden White Baskets.

4. Lighting

Make reading in your favorite chair a little easier with moveable lighting, like our Canal Black Floor Lamp. Equipped with a matte black steel base, arm, and adjustable shade with dip switch, it provides ample light and tilts according to your mood. Same goes for our Canal White or Copper Table Lamp that can be easily incorporated to brighten your space.

5. Benches + Stools

Extra seating is key in a space meant for gathering. A lightweight piece like the Spindle Bench can easily be placed at the back of a couch or against the wall when not in use. Alternatively, our Juniper Stool may be all you need to pull up a seat for your guests. Or try one of our most versatile pieces, the Woodrow Storage Stool, made for storing, seating, and extra surface space.

6. Throw Pillows

Don’t forget to add a colorful accent to your room. Throw pillows are the perfect opportunity to add texture and a design statement. Our Vintage Moroccan Throw Pillows are one of a kind and make a space completely unique. With covers sold separately, you can simply swap them out depending on the season. Our Sailor Zest pattern is always a Spring and Summer favorite while our Grid Knit Pillowcases add comfort and coziness for the colder months.

7. Planters + Vases

Add life into your room with some greenery. Our collection of planters and vases feature bold colors and creative designs that will naturally fill your space without adding clutter. While some pieces like our Oblique Planter function wonderfully on the floor, you can add an accent to your side table as well with our Hasami Planters or Hoop Vases.

Shop our full collection of Home Decor + Living Room Furniture
-OR-
Find everything you need for your space on our Shop The Room Page

We’re always on the hunt for pieces that will be around for the long run. It’s true: “built to last” are not words we use lightly. As it turns out, that’s the best way to describe our the Spindle Furniture Collection. The collection is tightly curated to include four pieces that every home needs: a bed frame, nightstand and bench in a choice of solid oak or brushed black.

Plus, the dresser is also available in oak as a versatile statement furniture piece in the bedroom, living room, or dining room. Opting for these woods was an easy decision: They both have incredible longevity as well as a beautiful grain for a look that’s natural and at ease in any space.

Every piece in this collection was handcrafted in Indonesia by skilled artisans with acute attention to detail. While clean and modern, these statement pieces actually nod to the past. Look closely and you’ll see the collection has aspects of classic, windsor-style furniture, as well as inspiration from the spinning wheel, a design with centuries of heritage.

A Solid Choice
Why invest in solid wood? Along with its strength and durability, it has an aesthetic that’s hard to replicate. It’s all about natural appeal that brings instant warmth to your surroundings. No piece of solid wood is alike and it’s exactly that variety that make them so sought after; the grains look different depending on the cut of the wood.

On top of it all, solid wood proves versatile in any setting, be it bedroom, living room, office, den or kitchen. That’s especially true when you take into account the versatility of the Spindle Nightstand and Bench; they can be used in the entryway, dining or living room as a side table or to provide extra seating. Walking the line between modern and rustic is no easy task, but Spindle has it mastered.

Sustainability Matters
Wood is the greenest material possible when it comes to furniture construction. When responsibly sourced, it’s actually the only renewable building material; trees that are harvested for their wood can be replenished by new growth.

Trees absorb carbon throughout their life cycle, taking it out of the atmosphere and into their trunks. When wood is transformed into furniture, it continues to store that carbon.Wood also means zero waste. Whatever doesn’t make it into furniture can be reused for anything from wood chips for landscaping to sawdust that can be burned for heating.

Get To Know Oak
Oak was a popular material in England among the British Tudor monarchs, and it continues to retain its popularity. That’s largely due to the fact that it’s plentiful, durable and resists damage. Another plus: White oak doesn’t have pores, making it resistant to water. Given its lighter shade it brings levity to a space and has a clean, modern feel. Our oak pieces are finished with hardwax oil, which forms a protective layer to help prevent surface stains.

Brushed Black Details
Richly stained black wood gives these pieces a defined and distinctive look in the bedroom. The black stained finish features a protective brushed lacquer coating which highlights the natural wood grain.

We hope you enjoy exploring the Spindle Collection and find that perfect place in your home for these pieces.

 

A table is the symbol of big feasts — and big ideas. Whether you place it in the dining room or workspace, it should be as important as the action that happens around it.

We’ve chosen to bring you the Coast Table for not just its clean, modern appeal but also for its thoughtful craftsmanship. Made from high quality solid white oak, it’s truly built to last. And make an impression.

The same can be said for its perfect accomplices, the Juniper Chairs & Stools. Each piece, finished in tung oil and capturing the eye with simplistic lines, harkens to the American modernism of the Southwest. However, the way in which it was made dates back much farther.

Techniques as Old as Time
Both the stools and chairs are made using traditional Chinese joinery techniques, a fading yet honored artform that’s been around for centuries. It employs the use of intricate, interwoven joints to create furniture without nails or screws. Instead the pieces “lock” into place, kind of like a puzzle.

One big benefit of that is that most of the furniture comes fully assembled. All is efficiently packaged to lower risk of damage during shipping. The appearance is also special. In the table, you can see the surface joinery detail through the gentle white-washed finish.

The same artisans that craft our Wing Nude Stand and Rise Nude Bookstand make the table, chairs and stools. They’re based in Guangzhou, China, and some are part of families that have passed these distinctive joinery skills along for generations.

A Charming Show of Character
The chairs and stools have full-grain vegetable tanned leather seats, which develop a beautiful patina over time. This gives each piece its own personality reflective of the unique rhythm of your home.

Vegetable tan is, in fact, a bit of a misnomer. It means the leather has been tanned with bark tannin (extracts) in an environmentally friendly way, versus with toxic chemicals. It’s a long process but results in the most pronounced and attractive patinas.

Freedom to Switch Up Your Scheme
No matter where you put these pieces you can feel good about its adaptability. Swap chairs in and out, and pull up a stool when you need it (put a planter on the stool when it’s not in use!). The pieces are truly versatile — equally useful and eye-catching in the workspace, kitchen or dining room.

The allure of this type of modern design is the freedom it affords you to express yourself and continually adapt your space to your needs and whims. All while knowing that while your home may change, these pieces will last and last.

Shop The Collection:

Coast Nude Dining Table, $930

Juniper Nude Dining Chair, $640

Juniper Nude Stool, $460

As seasonal design shifts begin, we wanted to catch up with some of our favorite designers to see what trends they are reflecting in their upcoming projects. With an emphasis on responsibly made pieces and bold and bright design, discover the direction these creatives see design trends going in 2019.

Image Credit: HubbHouse

---

Sabrina Smelko – Designer, TV Personality, Illustrator, and Blogger

“The things we put in our home hold so much weight, and in 2019 I’m realizing how much we care: we put things in our home that have meaning; we care about how they’re made; we want info on where they come from; and we use them with greater intention. Call it a result of the sustainable/responsible design trend, call it influenced by the makers movement, call it trusting in the things we like more and celebrating them—no matter the reason, I like it.”

Get The Look:

Rise Natural Bookstand

Hasami Glass Gray Mugs

---

April Bovet – Interior Designer

“I’m seeing a real interest in finding beautiful solutions for organization and storage in the home from many of my clients. From using multifunctional furniture, to creating a series of woven or wood boxes for a practical and good-looking storage system – efficiency is trending. I’ve also loved seeing an increase in bold choices for color and pattern, with brighter and more saturated tones.”

Get The Look:

Fulton Storage Bench

Turin Coral Knit Throw Blanket

---

Elizabeth Pasquinelli – Principal Interior Designer, debaun studio

“Taking cues from the latest fashion trends and Pantone’s color of the year, Living Coral, interiors of 2019 are going to feel more energetic, playful, and relaxed. The lines of furnishings are softer, (still referencing Art Deco), but are contrasted with more bold and dynamic colors, patterns, and textures. Along with these influences, purposeful and sustainable pieces continue to be a focus. In a world where we are on screens a fair amount of our day-to-day, we are looking for pieces that have some reference to nature, tell a story, and are made by hand. It’s a way to connect back to our roots.”

Get The Look:

Black Band Storage Baskets

Talman Plaid Throw Pillow Cover

---

HubbHouse – Design + Renovation Team

“As trend changes go, kitchens tend to be at the forefront. A kitchen trend that we are particularly excited about is the move away from painted elements toward natural wood. When paired with modern detailing and finishing techniques, the natural grain of species like ash, rift sawn white oak, and black walnut makes a stunning visual statement in any kitchen project.”

Get The Look:

Ribbon White Wall Shelf

Kolmar Natural Dining Table

Fans of modern design may have differing opinions on colors, textures and shapes. But we can all agree on one thing: simplicity is essential.

Nothing brings this idea more to life than our newest additions from the furniture design studio Sun at Six. We have two pieces that epitomize stunning simplicity in both form and function: the Wing Nude Stand, a white oak piece that can serve as both seating or a stand; and the Rise Nude Bookstand, designed to hold books, records, magazines and more.

The story doesn’t end there: Simplicity also shines through in the way these pieces were made. They were all handcrafted without nails or screws – which means they come fully assembled.

Sun at Six works with families, artisans and traditional joinery masters from Guangzhou, China, to create pieces using classical Chinese joinery techniques. It’s a fading, yet honored, artform that is still passed down from generation to generation. It employs the use of intricate, interwoven joints to create furniture without hardware. Imagine wood pieces fitting together using tongue and grooves that interlock like puzzle pieces.

It’s not just an exercise in convenience. By using a joinery system, the wood can “breathe” during large swings in temperature and humidity. Essentially, the furniture expands and contracts, which prevents cracking and warping. Traditionally, this was a response to China’s extreme changes in temperature and humidity. The logic holds universally, however: Considering our temperate climate in America, we can definitely relate.

Though production of classical joinery pieces, like wardrobe cabinets, has dwindled, Sun at Six is working to create new opportunities for its masters by applying the traditional technique to new designs. It’s their hope, as well as ours, that this legacy of craftsmanship carries through for centuries to come.

Shop our Sun at Six Favorites

Wing Nude Stand, $315
Pull it up to your dining room table as extra seating. Or, put your plants on it and use it as a display stand. Its height was designed to serve both purposes. Equally adaptable is its neutral color (a nice, clean white oak) and simple shape.

Rise Nude Bookstand, $290
It’s “floating” form is just part of its allure. This showpiece holds books, records, magazines or anything else you want all eyes on. Place it on the floor as an accent piece, or on a table as an elevated point of interest.

When buying a handwoven basket, you want to know that, not only does it look alluring, but you can feel the heart and soul interlaced throughout. There’s certainly that emotive element, along with a strong degree of tradition, in our new Tilden baskets from Swahili Modern.

Honored Techniques, Empowered Artisans
Swahili Modern works with Senegalese artisans – primarily Wolof women, an ethnic group indigenous to West Africa. They focus on a style of basket weaving practiced in Senegal for generations and have learned the techniques from their mothers and aunts. Traditionally, these women created the baskets by binding njodax, a thick local grass, with thin strips of palm frond. Now, they’re constructed using more contemporary material: recycled plastic. Easier to manipulate, plastic means less discomfort for the weavers as they bring their baskets to life.

Crafting handmade products is an empowering employment option for rural African women like the Wolof. As the backbones of their family, they cook, clean, garden, care for the extended family and pay school fees. Their artisan endeavors give them tangible earning power within the family. And not only that; they ignite a cooperative spirit among the community. The women work in association, proud of the consistency in their traditional craftsmanship and their ability to stabilize their communities.

A Vision … Expanding
Swahili Modern works with artisans from not just Senegal, but all over Africa including Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and beyond. The company adheres to fair trade principles, offering its partners in Africa the means to build stronger homes and communities through their talents. We believe that not only are the artisan-made products beautiful, but we feel comfortable knowing that we are providing these artisan women an opportunity to showcase their goods beyond local markets.

Shop the Basket Collection
Made in limited productions and of course, by virtue of being hand-made, no two baskets are alike. We offer three sizes in a neutral shade that complements any living scheme.

Tilden White Large Basket
Imagine it as the safekeeper of bath towels, throw blankets, board games and more.
Shop Here

Tilden White Medium Basket
Ideal for magazines, shower necessities, knitting supplies, children’s toys and more.
Shop Here

Tilden White Small Basket
The perfect place for bath towels, kitchen utensils, craft supplies and more.
Shop Here

We’re seeing a warming trend. That’s right – the growing need for a good handcrafted knit blanket. Perfect examples of form-meets-function, blankets don’t need to be stored in a chest. With eye-catching textures and alluring prints, they deserve a place on your couch even when they’re not being used.

We’ve recently expanded our collection and have added a special inUnison collaboration that you won’t find anywhere else. Our creative team worked with Chicago artist Chad Kouri to bring his artwork to life in knit. The result is the Turin Coral Knit Throw Blanket, which has a super-soft, double-knit construction and is made by a fourth-generation, family-owned company.

Turin is based on Kouri’s “Color Grid” series of original artworks. Which Kouri describes as an “ongoing investigation” that references architecture and other compositions that he photographs.

“My goal is to move eyes all around canvas and not have a ton of settling points,” says Kouri. “I like to visualize paintings within paintings in larger works, find those moments and create active viewing experiences.”

Kouri presented his artwork series in grayscale and the Unison team selected the color story, deciding on coral, cobalt blue and rich yellow. “It’s rare that I have a composition with such few colors, but this is different… I see a blanket as an opportunity for rest and relaxation… calming to the eye.”

Growing up, Kouri says he had always understood an artist to be one particular way: “someone who made paintings that were big and sold for more than a car.” He says he didn’t understand art could be accessible. Then, when he started in graphic design and visual communication, something clicked. “The key aspects of that practice is accessibility. Now, in material or concepts, I feel like as working artist it’s detrimental if I’m mystifying my practice or making it only for a specific group of people. So I’ve always strived for accessibility and inclusiveness.”

Kouri is currently working on a solo show in LA, for which he plans to tear barriers down and make the gallery a community center with carpeting, seating and sense of balance beyond the aesthetic of his work.

“Ultimately, I want people to have the opportunity to live with artwork,” says Kouri. “We shouldn’t feel like artwork can only be seen if we go to a white box. It’s something we should experience every day. Through editioned work or collaborations like this, that becomes more possible and accessible.”

Shop the Turin Coral Knit Throw Blanket

The latest addition to the collaboration
We’ve added this second colorway option to the exclusive Unison creative collaboration with Chicago-based artist Chad Kouri. Get all wrapped up in its neutral color palette punctuated by a playful contrast of soft pink and burgundy. When you have this kind of feat of form-meets-function, you don’t need to hide it in a chest.

Shop the Burgundy Knit Throw Blanket

More knits you’ll love to live with…
Our expanded collection of blankets includes three other options that have become fan favorites. As with Kouri’s Turin blanket, these also have a soft, double-knit construction and are made by the same family company that’s been in business since 1913.

Dove Natural Knit Throw Blanket
Designed with Unison by illustrator and printmaker Andrew R. Wright, this essential combines warmth, simplicity and joyful details. Its pattern of simplified forms is inspired by the architecture and public sculpture of Wright’s adopted city, Chicago.

Shop the Dove Knit Blanket

Grid Throw Blanket
A classic pattern to bring both comfort and order to any room. Enjoy the clean simplicity and relish its warm-and-cozy factor.

Shop it in Black | Shop it in Gray

Sonia Graphite Knit Throw Blanket
Inspired by painter and clothing designer Sonia Delaunay, who for much of the 20th century grew her place as a distinctly modern female artist. We’re translated that inspiration into a geometric-design blanket that reflects her style and spirit.

Shop the Sonia Knit Blanket

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chad Kouri (@chadkouri)

Durable, attractive glassware is a must. Toyo-Sasaki Glass from Japan fits that bill. And it brings even more to the table: a storied history.

It’s a merger of two distinctive Japanese design icons: Toyo Glass, founded in 1878 during the Meiji era; and Sasaki Glass Co., founded in 1902. The two esteemed companies came together as one to form Toyo-Sasaki Glass in 2002.

Toyo-Sasaki Glass requires that each of its artisans has at least 15 years of glass-making experience and are accepted by the Certified Traditional Japanese Craft-Masters, an association that credits prestigious artisans for their ability and expertise.

There are two major strengthening methods for glassware, Physical Toughening (by heating and rapid cooling) and Ion-Exchange (by submerging in a salt bath that alters the chemical structure of the glass). Both methods temper the glass by creating a compressive stress layer on the glass surface which results in a much stronger surface.

Toyo-Sasaki’s premium grade Hard Strong Series is made with Ion-Exchange Toughening and features a cold-cutting sheer rim finish. Ion Toughening allows for a thinner glass profile that is stronger, clearer and more durable. Their signature Hard Strong Series has been used in the catering and restaurant industry for over 40 years and was awarded the prestigious Good Design Award.

Want to bring this kind of quality home? Unison offers two glassware collections from the Hard Strong Series: Stackable Tumblers and Cylinder Glassware – they’re beautiful, durable and dishwasher safe.

Stackable Tumblers
We have them in both tall and short formats. The tumblers’ stackable quality and sturdy build makes them sought after by not only restaurants, but homes across the world.

Cylinder Glassware
Grab them and get cocktailing. We feature them in Tumbler, Collins and Rocks size. Their classic, timeless appeal will stand the test of sipping and stirring – again and again. A must for building your bar.

This Giving Tuesday, for every bedding order we receive through December 3, we are donating a set of crib sheets to Cradles to Crayons, an organization that provides everyday necessities to children in need.

At Cradles to Crayons, their mission and model is “It’s More Than a Cause, It’s A Kid”. Approximately 200,000 children in Chicago live in poverty but the urgency to help these children is often overlooked. That’s where Cradles to Crayons comes in. Their efficient and effective approach provides kids with the essentials they need, free of charge. This enables them to engage communities that have, connecting them with communities that need.

Here at Unison, we wanted to partner with an organization that gives back to our community, and Cradles to Crayons does just that for the Chicagoland area. The relationship started when Unison co-founders Alicia and Robert Segal felt compelled by the work Cradles to Crayons (C2C) was addressing, donating kids’ items like clothes, shoes, books, and toys. Through further communication they realized C2C had a great need for crib and twin sheets, an area we could do a bit more.

This year we got the chance to see what C2C does firsthand by participating in one of their volunteer days at The Giving Factory. Here, volunteer groups helped separate out donated items, package them by age group and size, and then put kits together for children in need. This was the area where we had the opportunity to lend a hand and gather items specifically requested for each child. Each kit is completed with a special note of encouragement, written and decorated by the volunteers themselves.

We were also able to chat with Senior Manager of Community Engagement, Catherine McDonough, and see where they house their stock of crib and twin sheets. Robert later reflecting on the experience,

“As Catherine informed us during recent volunteer work, they receive lots of knit and fleece blankets, yet hardly any sheets. With this shortage of sheets and pillowcases, they are unable to finish the package and can only distribute once complete. It’s very unfortunate to hear and it inspires us at Unison to be able to provide our high-quality bedding for babies and children in need.”

Our Giving Tuesday partnership, however, is not the only way you can get involved with C2C. The Giving Factory at Cradles to Crayons can accommodate groups of 120 employees or more and is especially suited for corporate volunteering and team-building programs but of course C2C welcomes groups of families or friends as well. If you don’t have time to visit The Giving Factory, you can still lend a hand by donating in-need items at local drop-off locations or funding the cause with a financial donation.

Cradles to Crayons began with the vision of one individual who was determined to make a difference in the world. Today, the Cradles to Crayons community has grown to include thousands of young people and adults — working together to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children each year. Help make an impact by shopping our bedding this Giving Tuesday and we will give back to Cradles to Crayons. Interested in making a direct bedding donation to Cradles to Crayons? Contact Unison Customer Service to learn more.