Buonasera from Merano!
Roland Reisley is 101 years old and has lived in the same Frank Lloyd Wright house in Pleasantville, New York for 73 years. Someone asked him recently why he thinks he’s still around. He said it’s because there hasn’t been a single day in that house where he didn’t see something beautiful.
I love that answer because it sounds simple, but it isn’t.
We’ve been in Merano for almost five years now. Long enough for it to feel familiar — and definitely like home. And long enough to wonder what happens when familiarity slowly turns into autopilot.
That’s the tricky thing with places. A place can absolutely be home. But after a while, even true things can turn into stories you repeat a little too automatically.
And once you’ve repeated a story enough times, you stop asking whether it still fits.
Lately, I’ve been trying to stay honest about that.
I don’t think Reisley’s answer is ours. I doubt we’ll stay here forever. But his question feels like the right one: do you still see where you are — or are you just telling yourself you do?
This week: five things worth seeing.
If you’re new around here: Every week, I share 5 of the nicest products from Europe I’ve discovered in the past 7 days.
I scout, you explore.
With love 🌞
Jakob
P.S.: Missed the last edition? The funky little nonsense La Machine was the most-clicked product.
© ‘grette
'grette Salad Dressings 🇬🇧
I prefer making my own salad dressing instead of ordering online but I like the idea and the brand aesthetic of this one. It’s bold red, no wellness angle, no ingredient guilt-tripping. Gus and Juno started 'grette in South London because the dressing aisle was full of options that were either twee, over-sweetened, or tasted like they'd been designed by committee. Two flavours so far: an OG vinaigrette and a miso one.
© Florentine Kitchen Knives
Western Steak Knife 🇪🇸
Florentine Kitchen Knives — product designer Tomer Botner and fashion designer Noam Blumenthal, based in Barcelona — make knives that take the table setting seriously. The Western Steak Knife has a 112mm straight-edged blade and their signature stacked handle, which comes in various colour combinations. Sold in pairs. Would look great on our table.
© Volver Studios
TRACE White 🇳🇴
Norwegian designer Kristine Five Melvær made TRACE for Volver Studios — a handtufted rug with raised leaf forms that reference the Tree of Life. It's part of their Echoes collection. Eight to ten weeks lead time, which for something like this is not long.
© GUBI
Aspide Table Lamp 🇩🇰 🇮🇹
Gianfranco Frattini designed the Aspide in 1970, GUBI brought it back, and it holds up completely. Chrome, serpentine, adjustable at both the neck and head — 350° each — so it works as a task light and as something you'd just leave pointing at the wall. "Aspide" is Italian for viper. The silhouette makes that obvious.
© Hermansen CPH
Bike Nine E-Bike 🇩🇰
Anders Hermansen designed the Bike Nine as a city bike that actually fits city life — compact enough to carry up stairs or onto a train, 20-inch wheels, asymmetric Chromoly frame, silent 250W rear hub motor. The battery is a small bottle shape on the seat post that detaches for charging. Up to 60 km range. It's been around a few years and I still don't see a better-looking option in this category.
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