A planter with bananas, a notebook with 12 papers & an object you can’t buy 🌞 #63

Buonasera from San Marino!

Welcome to this week’s installment of what’s hot in brands & products.

Well, technically I’m already back in Merano. But a visit to the world’s 5th smallest country left a mark.

If this newsletter had existed 200 years ago — printed on linen paper and titled something like Continental Curiosities & Fine Armaments for Ladies, Gentlemen & Other Curious Minds — and if I’d been the type to settle disputes with pistols at dawn (unlikely, but let’s pretend), San Marino would’ve been front-page material.

The gun handles? Surprisingly elegant. Not exactly my lane, but impressively designed if you're into 18/19th-century combat chic.

Instead, I stuck to what I know: a tightly curated lineup of design — this week, all from Italy.

Also — small side note — it’s my birthday today. And I spent a bit of time writing down a few reflections from the past year. Not because I’ve got it all figured out, but because putting it into words helped me see things a little more clearly.

If you’re new around here: Every week, I share 5 of the coolest products from Europe I’ve discovered in the past 7 days.

I scout, you explore. Let’s get to it!

With love 🌞 
Jakob

P.S.: Missed last week's edition? The floating waterpod was the most clicked product.

Wall Fan [🇮🇹]

For those of you with a 3D printer (and/or building skills) — meet DIYR (pronounced ‘Dear’).

They’re a Bolzano-based venture of the Design Friction Lab. And it’s all about building design-forward, open-source objects for modern living. No branding, no gatekeeping — just clean STL files you can print and build at home. This minimal fan? Quietly brilliant.

Build your own fan

Kore Banana Vase [🇮🇹]

This is a vase that said no to fruit and yes to being art.

Found in a tiny ceramics shop in Pesaro. I went in for a plate (that stands right next to me on the table as I write this), but stayed for this banana planter. A little absurd, very delightful.

Check it out

Gardelli Coffee [🇮🇹]

Rubens Gardelli roasts out of Forlì and once won the World Coffee Roasting Championship.

In the first year after moving to Italy, I ordered from him obsessively — especially his filter coffees, which are still some of my favorites in Europe.

Yesterday, on the way back from the Marché, I finally made it to his café. The flat white was excellent.

If you’d like me to feature more coffee brands in the newsletter from time to time, just say the word.

Stock your coffee corner

Woodstock Notebook [🇮🇹]

One notebook. Twelve different papers.

It looks simple from the outside — just white. But inside? 192 pages, with 12 different textures, grains, tones. Like a tasting menu for pens. I wrote last week that I’ll visit the town known as ‘city of paper’ and this was one of the most interesting finds there.

And the brand with the same name – Fabriano – has been making paper since 1264, so you can trust they know what they’re doing. If you’re a sketcher, scribbler, or daydreamer — this thing’s a playground.

Become a paper sommelier

Kurinuki #4 Planter [🇮🇹]

It looks like a rock. But it holds water. Or flowers. Or secrets.

Each Kurinuki piece is hand-shaped from clay to mimic natural erosion — like time did the work. Made in Italy by Colture Project, but spiritually somewhere in rural Japan. It's not trying to impress.

Add some beautiful weight to your shelf