Objects of Desire: Cold, Hard Beauty
Polished, Gleaming, and Utterly Irresistible
Some materials flirt with trends. Stainless steel commits. Cool to the touch, impossibly sleek, and built for decades—not seasons—it’s the ultimate bridge between form and function. It’s the glint that catches your eye in a minimalist apartment, the architectural edge in a maximalist dining spread, the one material that plays well with both restraint and drama.
These are the stainless steel objects currently testing my willpower (and my storage space). Eight designs so timeless, I’d happily pass them down—if my minimalist cohabitant doesn’t "accidentally" rehome them first.
1. Alessi Il Conico Kettle – A Sculptural Stainless Steel Statement
Aldo Rossi’s Il Conico is less “kitchen appliance” and more “architectural marvel.” Its perfect conical shape and mirrored finish turn making tea into a little performance art.
Shop the Il Conico Kettle →
2. CB2 Pedestal Serving Bowl – The Centerpiece That Outshines the Food
Polished. Elevated. A pedestal that practically demands to be the focal point. Yes, it’s technically a serving bowl—but I’d also display it empty just for the drama.
Shop the CB2 Pedestal Bowl →
3. CB2 x Athena Calderone Nesting Tables – Minimalism With Metallic Bite
Architectural lines, stacked versatility, and that high-shine finish… these tables are the visual equivalent of a mic drop in your living room.
Shop the Athena Calderone Tables →
4. Gohar World Dessert Stems – Dessert, but Couture
Petite pedestals with a mirrored finish so glam your pastries might develop a superiority complex. Perfect for elevating sweets—or single oysters, if you’re feeling extra.
Shop the Dessert Stems →
5. Alessi Recinto Rectangular Tray – The Sleekest Stage for Your Drinks
Straight lines, sculptural handles, stainless steel that throws light like it’s its job—this tray looks as good holding cocktails as it does holding your candle-and-magazine moment.
Shop the Recinto Tray →
6. Heath Wagoner Marfa Cocktail Sticks – Tiny Metallic Works of Art
A martini pick that actually earns its place on the table. These bring more polish to a drink than a lemon twist ever could.
Shop the Marfa Cocktail Sticks →
7. Crate & Barrel Seafood Tower – Two Tiers of Drama
The serving piece that turns oysters into theater. It’s part utility, part spectacle—and entirely worth clearing space for.
Shop the Seafood Tower →
8. AERIN x Williams Sonoma Champagne Flutes – Metallic Minimalism Meets Celebration
Tall, gleaming, and unapologetically chic. Proof that stainless steel can pop champagne just as beautifully as crystal.
Shop the AERIN Champagne Flutes →
These aren’t just stainless steel home accents—they’re heirlooms-in-waiting. Cool, hard beauty that works as well with modern restraint as it does with a fully set, maximalist table. Proof that good design doesn’t just last—it shines.