The holidays at Lostine have never been about spectacle. For Natalie and Robert, December is a shift in atmosphere, with softer lighting and objects with more presence. It’s a time when the home and studio slows just enough to notice the details: the grain of walnut in warm candlelight, the weight of an old brass ornament, the quiet beauty of a hand-built ceramic bowl placed at the center of a table.
This year, as we prepare to release Vintage + Art Collection 20 on December 4th and gather pieces for our upcoming Gathered Goods reveal on December 8th, Natalie and Robert share how they approach the season as designers and lifelong hunters of interesting objects.
Seeing the Season Through a Designer’s Eye
Robert and Natalie don’t decorate in a traditional sense, they adjust tone. At this time of year, they lean into atmosphere:
- Subtle color shifts toward deeper woods, greens, and winter reds
- More candles in sculptural holders
- A focus on materials that feel warm to the touch
December becomes less about adding and more about refining: giving objects a little more room, and letting light do the rest.
What They Look for in Winter
Winter sourcing has its own rhythm. Natalie and Robert look for pieces with gravity, objects that feel storied, substantial, and capable of holding their own in the dimmer light of the season.
They’re drawn to:
- Warm woods and old-world shapes.
- Pieces with narrative, texture, and show the hand of the maker.
- Unusual vessels that might become candle holders or centerpieces
- Wall art with moody palettes or winter landscapes
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Objects with patina that quietly signal age
Lostine’s vintage collections reflect this sensibility: sculptural forms, warm materials, and pieces chosen not for trend, but for presence.
Atmosphere Over Ornaments
Rather than themed décor, Natalie and Robert think about ambiance. A room feels different with an extra light source, a more sculptural object, a deeper artwork, or a well-chosen vessel on a table.
- Candle holders creating warmth and casting long shadows
- Art layered against a wall
- Timeless wooden pieces arranged in simple vignettes
It’s all about quietly and intentionally shifting the mood.
The Art of Gifting Vintage
Both founders love gifting vintage pieces because a found object carries two stories: its history, and the story of how it was discovered.
A vintage gift says:
- “I came across this, completely by chance, and it stopped me in my tracks.”
- “This object has lived another life, and I wanted you to be the one to give it its next chapter.”
- “It’s a rare thing to find something unforgettable, rarer still to pass it on.”
For Natalie and Robert, gifting vintage is a way of giving a kind of character and charm that could never be bought new.
The Traditions They’ve Built at Lostine
The studio has its own rituals too.
One of their favorites is the annual workshop series, where employees get to experience a new skill or trade. They’ve created the opportunity for employees to try glass blowing, lamp making, stained glass, wood turning, sewing, ceramics and more. Each year the classes get more creative and inspiring. And lastly, our annual and very popular Pie Baking Contest!
And then there’s the start of new traditions they share with the wider community:
Gathered Goods: A New Tradition
Starting this December, Natalie and Robert will release twelve exceptional vintage finds from their personal archives, one each day. These are objects chosen for their rarity, character, and the unmistakable feeling of having been hunted.
Insider hint: Email subscribers often see new arrivals first!
Looking Ahead
Vintage + Art Collection 20 arrives on December 4th, shaped by a year of travel, sourcing, and uncovering pieces with the kind of presence the season calls for.
And soon after, our Gathered Goods event begins on December 8th.
Twelve special pieces. Twelve unique stories.
None of them ordinary, and none likely to appear again.
