Detroit Charm: Host Gifts That Always Impress
Story and Photos by Liz McGuffin of @withwonderandwhimsy
'Tis the season for festive gatherings with family and friends. Our presence is perhaps the greatest gift we can give this time of year. But a little extra something can go a long way to making hosts feel appreciated for opening up their homes and hearts this holiday. Check out these 10 Metro Detroit boutiques for thoughtful gift ideas to delight those hosts who do the absolute most.
Grande Trunke Home in South Lyon
There are many special small towns nestled throughout Metro Detroit, each home to charming independent boutiques. Grande Trunke Home in South Lyon is one such shop, with beautiful holiday displays and gifts galore. Gift a piece of their Nora Fleming serving ware with a festive holiday bow or evergreen adornment. A perfect choice for potlucks, you can present your gift and dish-to-pass in one.
Leon & Lulu in Clawson
Housed in a former rollerskating rink, Leon & Lulu is Metro Detroit's destination for whimsical curiosities and gifts. Shop their selection of offbeat art and collectibles, group party games, and gag gifts and stocking stuffers. For a thoughtful and personal host gift, thumb through their library of coffee table books, with several titles by Michigan creatives and chefs.
![](https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-36999423-c75f-46b8-8dbe-ebc10c705955-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=f6b1aaa5bf2b222f3bce306db50b1504 320w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-36999423-c75f-46b8-8dbe-ebc10c705955-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=caa03cfafe4c228bbb98131874d57d94 540w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-36999423-c75f-46b8-8dbe-ebc10c705955-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=768&s=9673313607928e6119fcc306b3eaf57d 768w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-36999423-c75f-46b8-8dbe-ebc10c705955-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1024&q=80&w=1024&s=202f6664f831d8c0ea5f412d9422dcda 854w)
![](https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-c9cf3ca1-4b42-414b-86fc-a18abf991907-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=1fe765621cca4f8e7803094c3050b6cc 320w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-c9cf3ca1-4b42-414b-86fc-a18abf991907-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=3ad9d3cfd2e9bff4703256d7846c54dd 540w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-c9cf3ca1-4b42-414b-86fc-a18abf991907-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=113fbb9c096b9e24d14e4ec8dba45663 768w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-c9cf3ca1-4b42-414b-86fc-a18abf991907-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=ac69dd5ed506a9e95dead312ba85ff28 1024w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-c9cf3ca1-4b42-414b-86fc-a18abf991907-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=79c70b72b8c9ee31fe925e17730cd5ae 1200w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-c9cf3ca1-4b42-414b-86fc-a18abf991907-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=b7795289ed3509f426c5592fa1994497 1280w)
Cantoro Italian Market in Livonia and Plymouth
A local favorite, Cantoro Italian Market stocks Italian wines, cheeses, and charcuterie in addition to everyday groceries. If you're headed to a party and need to grab a gift on the way, stop by Cantoro for a bottle of bubbly, bouquet of flowers, or selection of sweets from the pastry counter. Or for a gift for the serious gourmand, a duo of top-grade olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Gardenviews at Home in Northville
With art galleries, home décor boutiques, and artisan food shops, you can find gifts for everyone on your list in historic Downtown Northville. Gardenviews at Home stocks a curated selection of holiday ornaments, tabletop décor, and gifts for home and bar. A pair of taper candles and a chic box of matches is a sweet gift for the host who sets a beautiful table.
Flowers for Dreams in Detroit
Flowers for Dreams offers a rotating selection of seasonal floral arrangements, all of which benefit charitable causes across the Midwest including Great Lakes animal rescues, racial justice initiatives, and education programs for low-income students. Visit their Eastern Market studio to shop their grab-and-go arrangements, house plants, and plant care gift boxes.
![](https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-7ab91496-4097-484c-a1d4-49d3286c0210-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=60a0f0b80720b534893381f41c4bb488 320w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-7ab91496-4097-484c-a1d4-49d3286c0210-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=ee77f328c46ff60962ced883fe6f263f 540w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-7ab91496-4097-484c-a1d4-49d3286c0210-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=b88356364b47657fc8e826c8c317b7e0 768w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-7ab91496-4097-484c-a1d4-49d3286c0210-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=13f282f99dacad71ea3ac97ac2054076 854w)
North-End Market Candle Bar in Clarkston
For a truly personalized gift, create your own custom candle or scented soaps at North-End Market Candle Bar in Clarkston. You get to pick the candle vessel and create a unique scent profile your gift recipient will love. This truly one-of-a-kind gift idea is perfect for the host who has everything, but also for the gift giver who wants to present something personal and unique.
Sideways in Plymouth
Downtown Plymouth is a shopper's paradise, and Sideways is one of the district's premier gift boutiques. Shop their curated selection of holiday linens and dishes, scented and unscented candles, and festive gift wrap and greeting cards. Gift a set of gingerbread kitchen towels and a rolling pin for your next cookie exchange, along with a plate of homemade cookies.
![](https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-a18fde2b-4137-4777-810c-830947945f8c-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=4ff810811baf9e0fbaa28c1d7abb8693 320w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-a18fde2b-4137-4777-810c-830947945f8c-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=db1625e840eb9c89fb086ec7fe9511de 540w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-a18fde2b-4137-4777-810c-830947945f8c-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=6ecf7c8176130583a1598bbbbb2c8e12 768w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-a18fde2b-4137-4777-810c-830947945f8c-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=fda847c79c0b394afdedae7439d4fc6d 1024w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-a18fde2b-4137-4777-810c-830947945f8c-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=8ff6c3bcc667ecd043d46b605ceeb3e4 1200w, https://visit-detroit.imgix.net/images/Elizabeth-McGuffin-Owned-3555-wl-a18fde2b-4137-4777-810c-830947945f8c-medium.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=ec7249f9cb1484bf591d020767015429 1280w)
The Good Day in Birmingham
The Good Day specializes in gifts to elevate and romance the home. Shop their selection of ceramics and vessels, apothecary products, and accessories and gifts. They offer curated gift boxes for relaxation, others with gifts from The D, and still others with kits to infuse your own olive oil. You also have the option of customizing your own gift box with treasures hand-selected by you.
The Royce Wine Shop in Detroit
The Royce is a European-style wine and tapas bar in the heart of downtown Detroit. In addition to serving wines by the glass, The Royce sells wines by the bottle, each personally selected to highlight some of the best, small-batch producers from across the globe. The Royce is a wine lover's wine shop, with unique bottles you can't find just anywhere. Gift a bottle (or a membership to their wine club!) for the oenophile on your list.
Opal Grove Games in Detroit
If your holiday gatherings are more pizza and Euchre than champagne and caviar, this final host gift idea is for you. A new board game is a fun and creative gift they'll enjoy for years to come. Check out Opal Grove Games in Detroit for the best selection of craft board games and experienced staff excited to share their recommendations. Gift an exciting new game for your next holiday gathering, and maybe it'll become a beloved part of your annual tradition.
Happy holidays, and merry gifting!
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