I love a good little splurge, especially when it’s something I’ll actually use every single day. The problem with homeware is that generally it’s trend-driven, so kind of all looks the same. A perfectly beige, slightly wonky mug that costs £40 and was made to look ‘imperfect’ by a machine, doesn’t exactly scream ‘design’
I’ve spent months falling down a ceramic rabbit hole, so you don’t have to.
This isn’t a ‘where to buy pottery’ guide. This is a tightly edited, opinionated list of the ceramists and brands that bring genuine luxury, wit, and that elusive cool factor to your flat. The stuff that makes you actually want to host a dinner party, just so someone can ask, “Oh my god, where did you get that?”
You’re welcome.
Suko Ceramics
Japanese-inspired, slightly melancholic serenity. Think subtle, hand-painted koi, drifting clouds, or just deeply saturated, mossy glazes.
To me, Suko isn’t ‘statement’ tableware but more elevated everyday. The Porcelain Tumblers are perfect for a morning coffee with added Zen, even when you’re actually about to tackle work mode. The hand-painted detail is so delicate, it feels like an actual secret between you and the cup. If you need a dose of calm without resorting to boring neutrals, this is your brand.
Karina Black
Abstract expressionist sculpture meets IRL Instagram aesthetic. Big, textural, and often monochromatic or in very rich, earthy tones.
Karina creates pieces that are v textural. Her Florence Dinnerware Collection is giving La Dolce Vita. A piece of hers on your dining table becomes an object, rather than a dinner service. It’s that one item that makes the rest of your tasteful, mid-century furniture look a bit more serious.
Motel a Miio
Sun-drenched, messy-chic Portuguese ceramics. Hand-painted patterns, bright stripes, and glazes that look like they’ve been dragged straight out of the Mediterranean Sea.
Motel a Miio is very much a dopamine hit for when you’ve had it with muted tones and want your dinner table to feel like a high-end taverna in Porto. They’re a brand, yes, but they maintain that vital handmade clunkiness that stops them from feeling mass-produced. Their Seia heart mugs, in particular, are just pure, uncomplicated joy. (And are also the perfect antidote to winter in London).
Studio Arhoj
Danish-design having an acid trip. Goopy, colourful, heavy glazes, and those instantly recognisable, slightly confused ‘Ghost’ figurines.
Most likely the most well-known ceramic pieces on the list, Arhoj understands the power of a ridiculous silhouette and a glaze so thick it looks like melted sweets. The Ghosts of course are iconic - I have around 10 of them dotted throughout my apartment as little Easter Eggs for guests to find (pic below). They’re masters of blending Scandi simplicity with a pure, childlike playfulness.
Brighty Design
Cheeky, illustrative, and a little surreal. Think bold line drawings, graphic lips, and unexpected colour combinations on classic shapes.
Brighty is for the person who loves a classic dinner plate but wants it to look like a vintage magazine illustration. They’re hand-painted pieces with a sense of humour and 90s glamour. The sort of plates that scream chaotic hosting style with a side of ‘take a picture for your Stories’.
Zoe Burdon
Impeccably clean, beautifully thrown, and deeply satisfying. This is pottery focused on perfect function and form with subtle, sophisticated glazes.
Zoe’s work is less about a loud pattern and more about the beauty of the shape itself. Her bowls and mugs are weighted perfectly and have a clean, contemporary edge that makes them feel incredibly expensive, even if the price point is relatively fair. If you want the feel of artisanal, hand-thrown ceramics without the wobbly, rustic aesthetic that’s all over Instagram, this is the discerning choice. It’s refined and utterly flawless.
You don’t need an entire new dinner set. You just need one piece of proper, opinionated ceramic art that interrupts the bland flow of your life - your morning coffee deserves it. So do you.