So why is our team so awesome?  Well, they love our customers.  They love our designers.  They love modern design.  Most of all, they are passionate about the intersection of those three and it shows in their work every single day.

Of course, when you see amazing design day in and day out like we do, it’s almost impossible not to develop a few favorites.  So, this holiday, we thought that we’d bring your our staff’s top picks for the holiday season!  Hopefully you’ll find some inspiration for the design buff, the love of your life, or even that hard-to-shop for person on your list.

Happy Holidays!

Ali, Merchandising – Loll Designs Cabrio Lounge Chair

“I’m a fan of any gift that has a built in bottle opener on it!”

Matt, Business Development – Modfire Urban Gasfire

“I do a lot of outdoor entertaining and inevitably, people like to huddle around the Modfire as soon as the sun sets.  It’s always the centerpiece of our summer BBQ’s.”

Karlie, Customer Service – Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack

“I would love to have a diaper bag like this for when our son is born! The vibrant colors and backpack like style would make it easy to tote around all my little ones things!”

Morgan, Product and Marketing – Vitra Eames Elephant

“These elephants are fun, sturdy and add a touch of whimsy to any room. The kids love them and I love the playful design.”

Erika, Public Relations - Carl Mertens Slate Fireplace for the Tabletop

“I’m head over heels in love with the Carl Mertens Tabletop Fireplace. It is both elegant and unique, and makes an incredibly impressive conversation piece. Romantic dinner, anyone?”

Vic, Customer Service - Gus Modern Lightbox

“I love it. My cat loves it. One of these little guys defines ‘mood lighting’. Three or four and you’ve got yourself a party. It’s like a luminescent Transformer! It’s a table; no, it’s a lamp; no, it’s a stool! Awesome!”

Laura, Customer Service - Tocky Alarm Clock by Nanda Home

“Shhh!!  It’s a Christmas present for the kids – I can’t wait for them to start getting themselves up in the mornings!  Bonus – your purchase includes a donation to Global fund. How cool is that?”

Todd, Operations - Blu Dot Buttercup Chair

“It’s super-comfortable to sit in and I love the character of the wood. It goes great with a lot of different room environments.”

Michelle, Customer Service – Thomas Paul Lighting “Olivia Pendant Lamp”

“We actually have this lamp in my 3 1/2 year old daughter’s room and it is just gorgeous. We get compliments on it all the time! We installed it with a dimmer light bulb – and it’s just perfect. Bright when we need it to be, dim when the kiddo is sleeping, and beautiful to look at. It really brings the whole room together. Now all I need is a pendant lamp in every room!!”

Matt, Marketing – notNeutral Intelligentsia Cappuccino Cup and Saucer Set

“Co-designed by the fine people at Intelligentsia, need I say more…?”

Becky, Blogger – Vitra Butterfly Stool in Maple

“This elegant, sculptural and minimalist stool is on my fantasy wish list. Designed back in 1954 by Sori Yanagi, it has proven to be a timeless modern icon that is well worth the investment.”

I found myself feeling really happy when I looked at this picture last night and then started scouring flickr for some favorite black and white (and charcoal) images to share with you in tomorrow’s “Flickr Faves on Fridays” post. Then I thought, why not share the image that inspired me in the first place as well? It comes from our very own Ali Beckford, who is a super-stylist and photographer (and hilarious, when you click over to her blog, make sure to check out this post). She and he professional photographer S.O. Cooper love to snag their neighbor’s toss-aside furniture from their hallway and they scored big time with this dresser.

As for some of the other pieces, Ali tracked down the camera print after spotting it in this Unison Porter bedding shot:

The artist is Rod Hunting. The vintage clock came from an old school in Olympia Washington. Doesn’t it remind you of being bored out of your mind in some high school class, praying for the second hand to move, thinking that the bell was NEVER going to ring!

Where are you from? I am a Boulder, CO mountain girl at heart, but I lived in a small town in Illinois for a few years during my formative years where, like Joe, I learned to appreciate the taste of Midwestern cuisine (meatloaf, corn, frozen peas, Jell-O with marshmallows, etc.). I also lived in Saudi Arabia and Alaska shortly after I was born, but I don’t really remember either spot so I guess they don’t count.

Where do you live now? I have been a bit of a nomad during my 9 years in Nor Cal. Currently I have nestled myself into a corner in Oakland and love it but I have to continue my nomadic ways…as of next week I’ll be moving into a loft space in Emeryville. Expect lots of photos oh-so-soon!

How did you get interested in design? I have always had a passion for crafts, design, and art in general. As a child I would make intricate dioramas for book projects and they would typically be scenes in a home (and no, my parents didn’t make my school projects for me). In college one of my majors was in art with a focus on mixed media painting. I took a couple photography classes and while other students did their final projects taking pictures of people or landscapes, I was off photographing chairs.

What’s your favorite DP product and why? I have major love for the Blu Dot Nick Table. The character of the woodgrain and the rounded edges make me melt. Some may call me a “DP addict” since I have a slew of items on my wishlist. My fist DP purchase ever was the Matteo Due Stitch Duvet in brine and I looooove it.

If you weren’t doing this what would you do? Probably sit at home and eat beef sandwiches while watching daytime TV…kidding. Actually, I’d most likely try to pursue creating my own line of items. Although, this would require some start up, and that means saving some money, and that would require finding a job. I then would probably resort to finding any job off Craigslist and then get stuck working in a cubicle for 20 years.

What do you do in your spare time? I don’t really have a lot of spare time. My side gig is as a second photographer for Cooper Carras Photography which requires working weekends shooting and editing photos. We do a lot of destination wedding photography so we have to do a good amount of traveling. Luckily, traveling is my thing so I can’t complain. If only there were 10 days to each week…

What do you like most about our Design Public? Why do you work here? The office cactus named Kelly Clarkson.

Who was your favorite member of the A-Team?
Although I am pretty quiet, a little on the scrawny side and a really fair-skinned gal, I would have to say I am a lot like B.A. Baracus at heart. I idolize Mr. T.

Where are you from? Nebraska! The great land of beef, corn, and Football – with a capital F.

Where do you live now? Last year I moved from a fabulous sprawling penthouse in Oakland to an equally lovely shoebox in SF. It’s all about location, baby!

How did you get interested in design? I worked at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for years and found myself attending as many architecture and design lectures I could get into. It is fascinating for me to learn about the process a designer goes through in order to realize their ideas. It is also interesting for me to see how people can interpret the same object in so many different ways. I think that’s where the line often blurs between art and function.

What’s your favorite DP product and why? Love my Area Jewel duvet and Area Theo coverlet. I always tell people its my ‘fancy’ bedding.

What do you like most about our company? I mostly work here for the free food. People say we have a great team and that we are doing something different and exciting in retail. That’s all great, but its mostly the food that keeps me here.

If you weren’t doing this what would you do? Sushi chef or Zen gardener. Same art, different mediums. (p.s. the rock garden to the left was Joe’s former desk creation. I hear that soon he has plans to spell his name with the rocks…I’ll keep you updated).

What do you do in your spare time? I used to call myself a marathoner, but lately have been spending a lot more time in the kitchen than on the trails.

Favorite member of the A-Team? Definitely MacGyver.

Thanks, Joe!

Where are you from? Clearwater, FL

Where do you live now? San Francisco, CA

How did you get interested in design? I started cutting up clothes and sewing them, painting, doing ceramics, changing the way I “decorated” my rooms and other creative shenanigans when I was younger and throughout growing up. As I got older, I discovered new arenas of more sophisticated design regarding furniture and sustainable art, how loose the term “design” is, and how the kiddie painting and grown-up furniture design can work together… Did that make sense?

What’s your favorite DP product and why? umm… I don’t have a favorite, but I really love jefdesigns pieces, and I really need the Area Bruno Bed and some Graham & Brown Mode Enchant Wallpaper, please.

If you weren’t doing this what would you do? Probably be miserable while attending grad school.

What do you do in your spare time? I used to play drums, so hopefully that will happen again soon. I play records sometimes, listen to lots of metal, indulge in adventurous, fancy cooking as much as possible, and bike rides.

What do you like most about our company? Why do you work here? I like the relaxed “vibe” (for lack of a better, less hippy-sounding word), and how comfortable our work place is… Like a fam! That’s why I work here… and I love that I can have writing projects to keep the workload versatile.

Favorite member of the A-Team? Hannibal – I liked his creepy leather gloves and cigar.

Thanks, Kerstin!

P.S. The photo above of a little girl with pig tails is Kerstin as a wee one. Grade A material for a children’s book, I’d say.