the open shelf

things we love

Not everything that makes a house a home comes from our own shelves. These are the things from other houses that we actually use, steep, burn, and recommend to friends. The list changes with the seasons, the way a good shelf should.

Some links here pay us a small thank you if you buy something. It never costs you extra, and nothing lands on this shelf that we do not genuinely use and love.

for the house

  • Dille & Kamille

    Beeswax candles

    The candles on our table. Dille & Kamille has been the Netherlands' quiet home for simple, useful things since 1974, and these little beeswax candles smell faintly of honey and burn slow and clean.

    see the candles →
  • Frøya Organics

    Arctic plant skincare

    Skincare made from wild plants foraged in the far north. We love how openly they show what goes in the jar and why, and the packaging is a small joy on a gray morning.

    visit Frøya →

by the kettle

  • Traditional Medicinals

    Spearmint tea

    The tea most likely to be steeping while we write. We love them for bringing herbal wisdom back to everyday shelves and for proving a company can grow without losing its mindfulness.

    see the tea →

for the road

  • Booking.com

    Where we book our stays

    After one Airbnb story we still tell at dinner parties, this is how we book nearly all of our travel around Europe. The Genius rewards and mobile only prices quietly add up, and the flexibility has saved more than one trip.

    find a stay →

friends of the haus

People we know, building things we believe in. No commissions here, just pride.

  • Pawsport

    Travel gear for dogs

    Full disclosure, the founder is Alex's fiancé. Berke is building Pawsport to fund adopting two dachshunds of his own, stocking only gear he has tested and would trust with them. A donation feature is on the way to help stray dogs in Macedonia find homes across the EU.

    visit Pawsport →
  • MenuWise

    Eating out with food allergies

    Berke again, we admit it. He built MenuWise after years of watching Alex, her mom, and her sister decode menus around the world with food allergies. It scores dishes against your restrictions and catches hidden allergens before you order.

    get the app →