USM’s Cult Storage, Stainless Steel Woks and More Homewares We’re Eyeing in August

Curating a tablescape is half the fun of hosting at home. Rattan flatware, whimsical champagne flutes and brutalist candlesticks all make worthy picks, while Panasonic’s breadmaker, Alessi’s steel wok and Hexclad’s non-stick pans take care of the menu.

Elsewhere, creative collabs are having a moment. Sheet Society has teamed with artist Sophie Bell of Peppa Hart on hand-painted bedding steeped in Mediterranean motifs. Swiss storage label USM is also back for round two with designer Armando Cabral, this time wrapping a series of its most famous designs in richly striped textiles.

For the editors switching off, the brief is simple: make it cosy. Plush robes, sheepskin cushions and woollen throws make a strong case for never leaving the couch, courtesy of Kiwi brands Baina, Wilson & Dorset and Baya. But that’s just the start. Here’s everything the Broadsheet team is shopping this August.

Holly Bodeker Smith, newsletter editor

It’s deep winter and my vitamin D levels might as well be down at the Earth’s core. I’ve been horizontal most evenings watching shows, which means it’s officially cosy-homewares season. I’m finally treating myself to some of Baina’s luxe towels and maybe even a bathrobe. Also riding the cosy-fabric train: I’m obsessed with Wilson & Dorset, a New Zealand-born homewares brand that’s running a pop-up in Fitzroy. This sheepskin cushion and this hot water bottle cover are both sitting in my cart, ready to make Melbourne winter a little less brutal.

I love everything at The Plant Society, but especially love this folding storage bag, which will be the catch-all for my books and household overflow. In the kitchen, I’ve been cooking up a storm with my Panasonic Mini Breadmaker. Next up: one of Hexclad’s stainless steel and ceramic non-stick pans, which will carry me into my next cooking hyperfixation – Dutch baby pancakes.

Simone Richardson, shopping editor

I never thought I’d be excited about storage, then I turned 30. I’ve long lusted after USM’s cult wares – they’re essentially design-led Lego for adults, transforming into entirely new shapes and sizes across a lifetime. The Swiss brand’s recent collab with designer Armando Cabral only deepened the crush, and suddenly a geometric bookshelf and woven-panel chair both became dream pieces. For something closer to home, Byron Bay maker Georgina Davies channels a similar architectural energy in MDF. Either would make a worthy home for my latest read, The Art of Japanese Joinery. (Maybe it’ll inspire a new kind of bookshelf, one I make myself.)

Hosting is another new-found pleasure, and chrome decor is what I’m setting the table with. Alessi’s wok has steel ribbon-like handles that read almost like leather, too chic to hide on the stove, so I’m bringing it straight to the table and using rattan-wrapped flatware to serve whatever’s on the menu. Finally, no dinner setting is complete without a glow, and these brutalist candlesticks will suit black, white or any other wax I’m burning.

Emmanuelle Lee, social media coordinator

Hosting is my way of keeping winter spirits high, and my ideal night starts with a beautifully set table. Sophie Lou Jacobsen’s flutes are filled with champagne, the rest of the bottle chilling in Henry Wilson’s sculptural wine bucket – or holding fresh blooms if guests arrive bearing flowers instead.

Overhead lighting is out. I’m replacing it with 1000 Realms’ beaded lamp and Corey Ashford’s beeswax dinner candles in the label’s canelé-shaped holders for a soft, warm glow. Softedge Studio’s chunky side plates handle the cheese, fruit and little snacks, and once everyone settles onto the couch, Marc by Sofia earns its place on the coffee table – equal parts conversation starter and beautiful object. The finishing touch: a set of Missoni towels in the guest bathroom, because even a quick handwash should feel a little luxurious.

Gitika Garg, assistant editor – art, design and style

When did towels and bed linen become status symbols? Once relegated to the back of the linen cupboard, they’re now coveted with the same enthusiasm as a great coat or handbag – invested in by everyone, yet seen by almost no one. Case in point: Magniberg’s new Wall St towel collection, now available locally at Perrault, which has made its way firmly onto my wishlist.

I’m also in that familiar phase of wanting to completely reinvent my bedroom. I’d start with new bedside tables, perhaps Dowel Jones’s minimalist walnut design or something more sculptural like MCM House’s glossy geometric style. I’d ditch my table lamp for a floor light too. Melbourne maker John Gatip’s timber lamps, inlaid with luminous capiz shells as a nod to his Filipino heritage, cast the kind of warm glow that makes a room feel instantly calmer. Cordon Salon’s puddle mirror leaned against the wall would catch and spread the light further.

Realistically, though, the refresh will be far smaller. A fresh set of sheets, a beautiful hand cream and a candle on the bedside table can go surprisingly far. Right now, I’m eyeing Flamingo Estate’s Heirloom Tomato hand cream and Maison Balzac’s new Le Sacre candle. I recently burned the latter and its frankincense scent carries an unexpected nostalgia.

Gabriella Dolfo, sales and partnerships manager

Like my wardrobe, my home is pretty devoid of bright colours. Even in winter, it’s a cooler palette that pulls me in: blues, minty greens and a hint of chrome. So when I spotted Niall O’Flynn’s very sleek, very sexy vintage chairs at Sydney’s Composition Store, it was love at first sight. Chrome can sometimes feel a little stark, though, so I’d soften each chair with one of Pier Studios’ bolster cushions.

Elsewhere, my bathroom is overdue for a bit of a zhoosh. First up: the naff plastic soap bottles have to go. Leif’s new Flannel Flower formula comes encased in a chrome magnum bottle that’s too good to throw away, plus it smells as good as it looks. Above the sink, Form & Refine’s mirror cabinet feels like the perfect solution for the clutter bursting out of my bathroom drawers. I’d finish it all with a set of Baina’s muted blue towels, hung on Petite Furniture’s quirky wall hooks. Sorted.

Holly Birdsall, video producer 

After three weeks of chasing a heatwave through Europe, I’m back in Melbourne’s winter and romanticising the art of getting cosy. First up is a proper wool blanket. Tekla’s flannel throw is top of the list, alongside a set of chocolate-hued bedding from Sheet Society, because nothing beats that new-sheet feeling.

For the smaller, more whimsical picks: T2’s silver tea warmer does exactly as it says, and it doubles as a candle holder on nights that need a little extra ambience. I’m a sucker for sculptural ceramic pieces, and Ukrainian artist Ivana Poliakova’s works have lived in my saves list for months. The Blooming Heart incense holder feels like the perfect addition to my mantle.

Hermit mode also means hobby mode – and as a craft enthusiast I’m always looking for better ways to organise my supplies. Enter Bisley’s storage cabinet, in a shade of dusty blue that I can’t stop thinking about. Speaking of crafts, I’ve been toying with the idea of making something like Pien Studios’ coaster runner, but honestly, it’s too perfect to attempt DIY.

Audrey Payne, Melbourne food and drink editor

I want to liven up my apartment – starting with art. I’m eyeing this Brat-esque piece and this floral abstraction work, both from Blue Thumb. This poppy-flecked puffer blanket from Suku Home will also add some colour and help me enjoy the final weeks of winter. 

A visit to Georgia O’Keeffe’s New Mexico home – which has Marimekko prints scattered throughout – has made a lasting impression. I’m keen to capture that energy with the forest green Unikko printed rug from the Finnish brand’s Ruggable collab. 

Finally, Jo Malone’s Veggies collection has caught my eye. I’ll add a touch more colour with the label’s Green Tomato Vine diffuser, which I’ll place next to this iceberg-inspired glass vase from one of my favourite shops, Osara. 

Scott Renton, Hot List editor

I just moved in with my partner, so we’ve been discussing (though not agreeing on) homewares at length. Something I know we’ll both go for is this Paola and Joy floor lamp. It’s a little silly and a little chic, so everyone’s happy. I won’t budge on this off-bench coffee storage solution from Mustard Made, though. It even matches my Moccamaster.

While we’re on coffee, this Black Blaze Ink Dish stone coaster will make my morning ritual even more enjoyable – though I’ll probably pick up an extra to sit one of their wobbly candles on too. And every winter I tell myself I’ll invest in a nice throw – Baya’s New Zealand wool blanket has finally convinced me that 2026 is the year.

Evie Baker, photo editor

Another day, another bedding obsession. The latest is by local bamboo label Sleep Ins, and this pinkish-grey shade is the most idyllic neutral. To bring out the blush tones, I’m pairing it with a muted burgundy cushion from Sheet Society’s collab with Peppa Hart, while I (impatiently) wait for Curio Practice’s floral baby throw to become available in adult size.

The stylish refresh is really just an excuse for staying in and prioritising self-care – and honestly, what else are you supposed to do in winter? I’ll hop into bed early, chamomile tea in Szilvassy’s sweet cup, warm glow courtesy of MCM House’s brushed steel lamp. The kind of evening that requires no plans and no explanation.