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Fashion brands (at least the good ones) are informed by the zeitgeist. They cull the best from the worlds of cuisine, books, art, music, interiors, and beyond, and infuse that into their collections. They are magpies, creating distinctive neststheir boutiques and displays at retail outletsthat aim to captivate consumers and let them dream. But in the midst of an economic downturn as the result of the coronavirus outbreak, which has forced nonessential businesses to shutter, traffic at these spaces is nonexistent. So to provide the general public, who are quarantined in their homes, with their cultural fill, many are taking all these captured elements to their online platforms.

Some of the biggest labels have enlisted their contacts from disparate industries to provide entertainment and education in the form of videos, interviews, performances, and active audience participation. Admittedly, Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services are at the top of our queues. But in between episodes of Tiger King and Little Fires Everywhere, were plugging into a podcast with a feminist painter, discovering the secret ingredient in a delectable recipe from a top chef, taking out our sketchbooks and re-creating beautiful images, and immersing ourselves in other enlightening programming that raises our spirits. And in these distressing times, everyone could use some of that.

In March, the storied French label, under the direction of creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, instituted a podcast series dubbed Dior Talks. Here, host Katy Hessel interviews a series of feminist artists and curators, asking them about their lives, their work, and the journeys they took to become luminaries in the modern-day womens rights movement.

Titled Prada Possible Conversations (a riff off Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, the Met's Spring 2012 Costume Institute exhibition), the luxury Italian brand will host a series of one-on-one discussions on its Instagram account. The first is between Pamela Golbin and Alexander Fury and about fashion in the time of crises, which will be go live on April 14 at 12 p.m.

In a program called McQueen Creators, the English designer label is unearthing images from its archives and asking its Instagram audience to reimagine them using materials found at home.

Spanning all its online platformsInstagram, YouTube, Weibo, Line, Kakao, Spotify, Apple Music, and its websitethe Italian label intends to showcase chefs, artists, writers, musicians, film directors, and designers in what it calls a laboratory of creativity.

On April, the eponymous designer hosted a chat with model Halima Aden on her brands Instagram account.

Under the helm of creative director Jonathan Anderson, the Spanish label has created Loewe en Casa, a digital initiative that highlights its collaborators and burgeoning creatives, including the finalist of its Loewe Foundation Craft Prize.

The luxury footwear brand has partnered with the Mental Health Foundation on a project called Smile, which is essentially a coloring book made up of the eponymous designers favorite sketches.

The French maison enlisted Belgian singer Angle to stream a live performance on its Instagram account, encouraging the masses to stay at home.

Excerpt from:
Fashion Brands Bringing You the Best in Music and Culture on Social Media - HarpersBAZAAR.com

NEW YORK, United States In the last few weeks, Brandon Maxwell has invited thousands of people into his home. The American designer known for his take on classic tailoring hosts a daily Instagram live stream from his Manhattan apartment where he doles out career advice and lets followers pick his brain, or tell him whats on their minds. One teenage girl introduced the designer to her grandmother.

Maxwell used Instagram Live before the coronavirus pandemic, but his broadcasts, which he calls B Spoke, have become more frequent since most of his followers were confined to their homes. Theyve also become more important to Maxwell, who recognises how the pandemic has spread loneliness as much as the virus itself.

I've always tried to use platforms to talk really honestly about where I'm at and what I'm feeling, in hopes that maybe somebody else sees that and we can start a dialogue, Maxwell said. It just helps you feel more connected in a world [where] you've become so very disconnected.

Maxwell isnt alone in turning to Instagram Live to alleviate the tedium of quarantine. Fashion has embraced the platforms live-stream feature, producing videos that run the gamut from fully produced programmes to off-the-cuff chats. Revolve, a digital multi-brand retailer, partners with fitness influencers to stream daily at-home workouts (in just under two days, one saved livestream workout resulted in 247,000 views, significantly higher than other saved videos on the brands profile.)

You're probably not thinking that much about going shopping right now.

Chanel commissioned Belgian singer Angele to serenade viewers, while accessories brand Mulberry has taken to poetry readings and live performances. Amsterdam-based Scotch and Soda broadcasts its At Home with Scotch series every Friday, including live streams that explore yoga and artist studio tours. The designer Jeremy Scott popped up on Miley Cyrus stream to discuss recycled fashion. Rihanna hosted the Fenty Social Club with live DJ sets and performances (and an augmented reality DJ booth to accompany live stream.)

Instagram introduced the option to post live streams that disappear after 24 hours in 2016, but the feature never achieved the runaway popularity of its disappearing Stories, which launched the same year. IGTV, an effort to build out the platforms long-form video capabilities and more directly compete with YouTube, got off to a slow start in 2018.

Brands are leaning more heavily than usual on Instagram because thats where their customers are. Viewership of live streams is up 80 percent in the last month, according to Instagram. Plus, with stores closed and real-life gatherings outlawed in many countries, social media is practically the only marketing game in town.

[Instagram] Live serves as a platform for you to best connect with your consumer in a human way right now, said Samantha Edwards, co-founder of digital strategy and marketing firm The Charles Agency.

For designers like Maxwell, who is his brand, informal interactions with fans work best. The designer said his broadcasts have boosted engagement with his profile, which is the biggest driver of traffic to his brands e-commerce site. Marc Jacobs, who has long had a bright social media presence, is using the platform in a similar vein, speaking casually to longtime collaborators like those atLove magazine in a recent livestream.

Larger brands are using Instagram Live as a replacement for the busy calendar of resort shows and summer music festivals that have been cancelled or postponed due to Covid-19.

In mid-March, Loewe launched its Loewe en Casa digital series, featuring the brands Craft Prize artists (part of the Loewe Foundations annual competition awarding a cash prize to the winner). The artists host live streams on subjects ranging from metalwork and weaving to furniture design. On April 7, as part of the series, artist Koichi Lo took 68,000 viewers on a live studio tour, among the brands most-viewed videos on the platform.

Levis, a regular sponsor of international music festivals and concert series, has hired musicians like Snoop Dogg and country music star Brett Young to play its 5:01 Live shows, a nod to the brands best-selling 501 jeans as well as the daily stream time. Levis said permanent posts about the live streams have double the engagement of normal posts.

We don't need to push that too hard right now.

Levis has dedicated $500,000 to the series, which came together in about a week, said Chief Marketing Officer Jen Sey.

Measuring the impact of live streams is difficult. Viewers can share or like the videos, but because they disappear unless a brand saves them to their profile, third parties have trouble measuring their reach. Other issues, including the inability to tag the Live videos in the same way as a permanent feed post, inhibit the ability to track brand mentions, which help contribute to measurements of earned media value, an industry-standard metric determining overall impact. In any event, the goal is often to keep consumers engaged rather than to convince them to open their wallets.

In this crisis, everyone is scared and we acknowledge that you're probably not thinking that much about going shopping right now, you're probably not really thinking of buying jeans, Sey said. We don't need to push that too hard right now.

Livestreams work best as part of a wider marketing strategy, said Edwards. Unlike the main feed or Stories, followers can interact in real time with a brand. A product could be promoted directly on a brands main feed, while Stories can be used to demonstrate how it should be worn, and then a question-and-answer session can be streamed via Instagram Live.

Its still too soon to determine whether any of the coronavirus-era content will boost a brands social media engagement and more importantly its sales but its worth experimenting with for the time being.

This is the most perfect opportunity for brands to test a variation of different content formats, whether it's more down and dirty and gritty, or it's super premium and elevated and curated, said The Charles Agency Co-Founder Aaron Edwards.

Were tracking the latest on the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the global fashion business. Visit ourlive blogfor everything you need to know.

Related Articles:

The Dos and Donts of Marketing During a Pandemic

How 5 Very Different Brands Are Managing E-Commerce Right Now

Beauty Booms in the Zoom Era

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How to Win at Instagram Live | Intelligence, BoF Professional - The Business of Fashion

Shops and museums may be closedto stop the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus,but that doesnt mean you cant appreciate design from the comfort of your own home. Specifically, from your home in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

New Horizons is the latest release in the Animal Crossing franchise for Nintendo Switch and the game comes with more than a few design tools for fans to express their creativity from redecorating their homes to designing their own clothes. Some creatives were quick to use these tools to incorporate the work of their favourite artists in the game.

This gamer covered their floor and walls with Yayoi Kusamas signature polka dots and even adorned their home with an artwork of her famous pumpkin. As for the outfit, user @pericpotter created their own yukata, but printed it with the trademark motif of luxury fashion brand Fendi. This impressive ensemble is one of many snapshots shared on the niche yet innovative Animal Crossing Fashion ArchiveInstagram account managed by Kara Chung.Now, at the height of cherry blossom season, the page is full of adorable villagers dressed in high-brow streetwear with a backdrop of sakura in full bloom.

This trendsetter paired a Noah cap with Converse All Stars and a Maison Kitsunpullover.

This islander could easily belong on the streets of Omotesando with an outfit snagged from a Balenciaga fashion show.

One gamer even went as far as making a Billie Eilish lookalike in a neon green get up and made a parody of the singers song titled Bass Guy.

If youd rather prioritise your house interior than focus on your 'fits, Yayoi Kusama's polka dots are just the beginning when it comes to decking your walls in modern art. M Woods, a private art museum in Beijing, has released remarkable snapshots of its own virtual art galleries in Animal Crossing, complete with re-creations of exhibitions by artists such as Andy Warhol.

Have an artist or designer you'd like to channel to add some flair to your virtual world? Now is as good a time as any to get those creative juices flowing.

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Animal Crossing players are re-creating their favourite designers and artists in the game - Time Out

As the coronavirus pandemic causes offices across North America to shut down, professionals who can work remotely have made the abrupt transition to doing their jobs from their homes.

And theyre getting creative with making it work with or without their ergonomic chairs, second monitors and cubicles.

Here are some of the most adaptive, creative home office arrangements HuffPost has seen.

Quotes were condensed for clarity and length.

1. Ironing boards become height-adjustable desks.

Debbie Pedersen

Without a desk at home and being fairly short in stature at 5 feet tall, my kitchen table is way too high to work at comfortably. My ironing board can be set quite low to suit my height, or to stand throughout the day. Debbie Pedersen, insurance worker based in Edmonton, Canada

Jessica Chaloux Hill

Ive been working at home since March 16. I stand at my work office and was missing that, so had to get creative. It has been wonderful to stand. Ive got big windows in front of me and can see outside (no windows at work). I have a bench close by for seating as necessary. Jessica Chaloux Hill, human resources professional based in Vermont

2. A master bathroom becomes an office.

Angela Small

My job is to track incoming donations [for my food bank], which I am lucky enough to be able to do at home, but most of my co-workers are on the front lines and handing out food to people in our area who are in need.

I have two little boys, ages 5 and 7, who are home right now. My only quiet options were the unfinished basement or the bathroom! I went with the bathroom because it has the most natural light. I have been making phone calls from my closet so it doesnt sound like Im making calls from a bathroom! My husband is a truck driver who delivers eggs to grocery stores, so I have to share the bathroom with him when he gets home from work each day. Its a little crazy but Im so thankful to be working right now and were doing the best we can. Angela Small, gift processor at New Hope Ministries food bank in Pennsylvania

3. Kitchens become all-in-one office spaces.

Rachel Cresci

My cooking/emptying-the-dishwasher/refilling-my-coffee-cup game has been on point. Rachel Cresci, high school science teacher based in Reno, Nevada

Elizabeth Goecke

I started at my little desk, then the dining table, then the dinette and they all were terribly uncomfortable for the length of time I needed to sit and work. I remembered our company presidents standing desk and thought Id give that a try. Elizabeth Goecke, billing analyst based in Tampa, Florida

4. A dining table becomes an ergonomic office with the help of a wrist rest made from rice and socks.

Angie Wilbur

Most people were told to work from home, but I dont have a home office or anywhere to put one. I set this up on my dining room table in order to have a little more ergonomic setup so my neck and back pain and eye strain wouldnt be quite so bad. It seems to be helping! Angie Wilbur, supervisory supply systems analyst for the defense logistics agency Disposition Services based out of Battle Creek, Michigan

5. Child-sized desks become adult-sized desks.

Marie Moreau

Marie Moreau

I feel like I am working in the middle of a messy toy store, since Im sitting next to a huge pile of over 100 stuffed animals. Although it does have benefits, like when I am getting overwhelmed with poor speed due to remotely accessing my work computer, I have many tins of my daughters putty I can take my aggression out on. Marie Moreau, senior graphic designer for a memorialization company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Kacey S.

My husband [who works as a sales manager] has been using our sons tool bench, [and] he has to ask him at night if he can use it for the next day. With two toddlers and an 8-month old, child-free tables are limited. Kacey S., associate director at Boston nonprofit

6. A homemade fort becomes a workplace oasis from distractions.

Kayla Morin-Riordan

I used my nephews fort kit to cordon off my office so I cant get distracted when I see how messy the rest of the house is. Stole the cushions off the couch, grabbed a camp lantern and were good to go! Kayla Morin-Riordan, childrens librarian based in New Hampshire

7. Parents get creative with managing their new young co-workers.

Molly Lisenko

The toddler mattress addition was just circumstance and rolling with the punches. My 2-year-old loves dragging that thing around the house; she fell asleep on my lap while I was working, the mattress was behind my chair so I laid her down on it to nap while I finished up my work day. I brought in the 6-foot folding table a week-and-a-half into simultaneously working from home and my school-aged childrens e-learning. I had been using a small sofa table as a writing desk and needed more space. Molly Lisenko, accounting clerk for a tire and wheel distributor based in South Bend, Indiana

Catherine Dublin

My husband is working out of our home office, so I had to set up an office in my sons nursery. I work for the City of Palmetto as an accountant in Palmetto, Florida. My work hours in the office are typically 9 to 5, but as you can imagine, working with a 9-month-old in the house feels like a 24-hour work schedule. Catherine Dublin, accountant based in Palmetto, Florida

Saskia de Groot

My husband and I both work in the hospitality industry, based in Miami, Florida. I have a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old that have been out of school since March 16. Once we were mandated to work from home, we outfitted our tiny guest room into a makeshift office.

Kids and/or husband walking in while Im having video calls and constant interruptions of house life has been an adjustment. However, given the current environment, Im ever grateful that I still have a job, the ability to work from home and that Im healthy and that my family is healthy and happy. But once this is over, I will hop, skip and jump back to the office as I do miss the separation and being able to compartmentalize my life. Saskia de Groot, independent contractor for a hotel company

A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus

Continued here:
12 Of The Most Clever Work-From-Home Spaces Created In Quarantine So Far - HuffPost

While much-needed PPE is finally starting to make its way to Irish hospitals, there are still plenty of other healthcare workers lacking in protective equipment.

Niall Whitty, a product designer from Gorey, County Wexford, has found himself out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he's decided to use his time to try and fill this gap in his local community.

The 24-year-old is using a 3D printer to create face shields and ear protectors.

He spoke to Buzz.ie about what inspired the project.

"I won a 3D printer while I was in college and it had been sitting in the corner of my room gathering dust.

"I'm in a group of product designers who have created a model for creating face masks.

"There's around 100 of us in the country and after having three or four OK'd, I've stepped it up and I'm making them daily now."

Niall explained that his interest has always been in products that can make a difference in people's lives.

"Even going back to college, I never wanted to design things for the sake of it, I always wanted to make things that can help people.

"For my final year project I designed a cutlery set for people suffering with MS.

"For me the best thing about design is making things that can help people in areas that have been overlooked."

While the design he's using is not HSE approved for hospitals yet, the face shields can help healthcare workers in nursing homes, vets and even GPs.

"It takes me an hour and 25 minutes to make a face shield. It's about providing equipment for people in the interim while manufacturers try to keep up with demand.

"The response has been great and we've had inquiries from GPs in smaller practices, dentists, vets and nursing homes.

"All these people who don't yet have access to protective equipment.

"At the moment we've got a back order.

"We've delivered a couple of face masks to a local nursing home already."

Niall's mother Margarita runs a children's clothes shop in Gorey called Jalanda and they used the shop's social media to spread the word about the project.

The response has been so good that Niall is looking to step up his production of face shields, which will require two or three more 3D printers.

To do this, he's set up a GoFundMePage and he's been "overwhelmed" at the support from the local community.

He's making no profit from the work and all of the money donated will go towards creating as many face shields as possible as demand grows.

At the moment, Niall is making "12 or 13 in a day at a push" but with extra printers he hopes to greatly increase his output.

At the time of writing, Niall's GoFundMe has raised over 2,000.

For Niall, it's all about doing his bit in the battle against the global pandemic.

"A few people have said to me, 'it'll look great on your CV', but it's not about that at all for me really.

"I used to do a bit of work as a magician and it wasn't the thrill of tricking people or anything I liked, it was just about putting a smile on somebody's face and bringing them a little bit of joy.

"I've got the printer here, and with the two new ones I've ordered I'll be able to produce more soon, I just want to do my bit and help out as much as I can."

You can donate to Niall's GoFundMe page here.

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Exclusive: Wexford product designer creating 3D printed PPE - Buzz.ie

We're taking design notes from Maana Homes, a luxury boutique hotel in Kyoto that espouses "peace as the new luxury"

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With the anxiety fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic, it's understandable that more of us are seeking a sense of calm in our lives. You see it with the explosion of mindfulness and meditation apps, as well as the growing desire to create clean, Zen-like surroundings at home.

When it comes to Zen, Japan reigns supreme. From the minimalist structures of renowned architect Tadao Ando to organisational experts like Marie Kondo, a desire for simplicity informs not just the Japanese aesthetic but their entire way of life.

There's no better place to embrace this ethos than in the ancient capital of Kyoto. While it is one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations, the city has only recently seen a surge in design-driven hotelsthere's the arrival of Aman Kyoto in late 2019 and the upcoming openings of Ace Hotel Kyoto this month and Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto in August, designed by Kengo Kuma and Andre Fu respectively. Established hotels aside, it is also ripe for independent brands like Maana Homes to thrive.

(Related: Temples, Ryokans And Tombstones: A Slow Travel Guide To Kyoto, Japan)

For those looking for a more local experience, the starting point is to find a machiyaa traditional Kyoto townhousewhich is what differentiates Maana Homes from the rest of the players. Essentially, Maana is a collection of renovated traditional townhouses created with standards of five-star hotels in mind. The start-up brand was founded by a hospitality designer from Los Angeles and a creative director from New York who wanted to craft luxury vacation homes that marry style, substance and a strong sense of place.

(Related: Watch The Tatler Guide To Kyoto And Osaka)

We look for homes with character and properties with intrinsic qualities such as good light, natural scenery and, of course, a charming neighbourhood, says co-founder Irene Chang. Their incredibly calming retreats are curated to help travellers to take it slow and learn more about themselves. According to the founders, their spaces are designed to show that peace is the new luxury.

Through their thoughtful renovation of century-old houses in Kyoto, guests can enjoy two soulful spaces: Maana Kyoto and Maana Kamo. The former sits on a quiet street in a central district and the latter on the bank of the buzzing Kamo River.

By the end of 2020hopefully, a time when we can all travel againMaana will be introducing another four homes into the mix as well as a restaurant, all situated in Kyotos hip Higashiyama neighbourhood. But for now, follow Tatler's guide to #stayinghome so we can #traveltomorrow.

Excerpt from:
Maana Homes Is The Minimalist Space You Need To Find Your Zen - Tatler Singapore

The value of a luxury beachside residence at Torquay has gone into overdrive since V8 Supercars Bathurst winner Will Davison sold in 2017.

The amazing Wolveridge Architects home has hit the market again, with price hopes of $3.1 million to $3.3 million for the three-bedroom concrete and timber design.

The two-storey residence at 261 The Esplanade, Torquay, is neatly wedged between Whites Beach and The Sands championship golf course.

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McCartney, Torquay listing agent Tim Carson said its one of the best homes in the Surf Coast capital.

It was short-listed for the Victorian Architecture Awards in 2013.

The current owners paid $2.25 million when they bought it from Davison in 2017.

They are professional couple looking to relocate for work. But this has been the best home theyve lived in, Mr Carson said.

Theyve lived in about 20 homes and theyve moved around quite a bit for work, he said.

The house, built by renowned local builder John Walker, is ideal for people who love to entertain and enjoy the homes emphasis on indoor-outdoor living.

Three bedroom suites are upstairs, including ensuites and built-in wardrobes and a dressing room to the main bedroom.

A dedicated study with built-in cabinetry is next to the designer kitchen with custom concrete and ultra-high-end resin bench tops and Miele appliances.

Two living spaces include an intimate lounge/media room with an open fireplace, while 5m ceilings soar above the expansive dining and living room opening out onto the north-facing entertaining area and a 13m in-ground pool.

Polished concrete floors and large sliding doors and windows and cedar exterior battens embody the beach lifestyle.

Honestly, this is one of the best homes that Ive ever seen, Mr Carson said.

You just walk in and see the quality, the architecture and the practicality of it.

Its such a beautiful living home, no space is wasted.

Youve got beautiful concrete floors and the outlook to the north-facing in-ground pool.

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Beachside home described as the best in Torquay hits market with $3 million-plus price hopes - NEWS.com.au

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The global carpets and rugs market is expected to grow by USD 18.98 billion during 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report

Consumers around the globe are spending on designer home furnishings to decorate their homes. In addition, the consumer preference for interior decoration is changing with growing awareness of different cultures, mounting media penetration, evolving lifestyles, and rising consumer income levels. This is leading to an increase in the sales of rugs, cushion covers, beds, carpets, curtains, and other furnishings. The rising income level and growing population of working women is further encouraging customers to invest in home dcor, leading to growth opportunities of home furnishing brands and retailers. Thus, the growing consumer preference for interior designs will boost the growth of the carpets and rugs market during the forecast period.

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/report/carpets-and-rugs-market-industry-analysis

As per Technavio, the rising demand for eco-friendly carpets and rugs will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024.

Carpets and Rugs Market: Rising Demand for Eco-Friendly Carpets and Rugs

Consumer preference for eco-friendly carpets and rugs is increasing because they promote a safe and sustainable environment. These products are safe as they are made from natural fibers such as wool and bio-degradable sisal, jute, and cotton. These sustainable home dcor solutions, use recyclable materials and organic fabrics and materials. Thus, with the rising use of eco-friendly raw materials will boost the growth of the carpets and rugs market over the forecast period.

The increasing adoption of carpet tiles and growth in number of residential and commercial construction activities are some other major factors that will boost market growth during the forecast period, says a senior analyst at Technavio.

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Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Carpets and Rugs Market: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the carpets and rugs market by end-user (residential and non-residential), and geographic segmentation (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).

APAC led the carpets and rugs market in 2019. During the forecast period, the APAC region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to rapid urbanization and increased demand for furnishings from new housing projects.

Technavios sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report

Some of the key topics covered in the report include:

End-user Segmentation

Geographic Segmentation

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Originally posted here:
Global Carpets and Rugs Market 2020-2024 | Consumer Preference for Interior Designs to Boost Market Growth | Technavio - Business Wire

The kitchen that Jessica Coffee designed checked all the trendy boxes: white Shaker cabinets, a subway-tile backsplash, wide oak-plank floors and an open-concept floor plan, with views into the living rooms shiplap walls. The photographs she posted on her Instagram page evoked enthusiastic comments from followers, who gushed about high-end details like the water filler above the stove.

The only drawback? Ms. Coffee, 40, cant actually serve a meal in her kitchen, at least not a real one, because the room, like the rest of the house, is built to a 1:12 scale that 36-inch chefs stove is actually three inches long. Its in a dollhouse that sits in the real-life master bedroom of her home in Walla Walla, Wash., which looks nothing like her amazing tiny one.

People are always like, Ooh! I would like to see your real house. No you wouldnt. I live in a house that is barely 1,000 square feet with three kids and a Great Dane, said Ms. Coffee, who sells her miniature designs and posts online tutorials at Jessica Cloe Miniatures. My dollhouse square footage is much better than my actual square footage.

Ms. Coffee is among a growing community of artisans who have turned the craft of dollhouse making into an exercise in aspirational home design on an itty-bitty scale, with their tiny rooms and furnishings displayed on well-curated Instagram accounts with glossy photographs and videos set to music reminiscent of The Fixer Upper on HGTV. Scroll too quickly, or miss the photograph with a human-scale hand surreally poking into the scene, and a viewer might confuse the image for a real-life one, the type of image that leaves you feeling equally amazed by and envious of the enormous kitchen island with a soapstone countertop.

These dollhouse makers and collectors say weve entered a miniature Renaissance. Call it a Mini-Aissance. Were living in it now, said Kate Esme nver, who curates miniatures on her Instagram page Dailymini, and is the author of the 2019 book The Book of Mini: Inside the Big World of Tiny Things.

Social media has turned what was once a niche hobby into a decidedly trendy and increasingly profitable business, making it easier for artisans to find each other and potential customers online. The Instagram hashtag #dollhouse has 1.65 million posts and #miniature has almost 4.3 million, a mix of posts from people making miniatures and those sharing what theyve found. Victorian-era lace and antique armoires are being scrapped for midcentury modern chairs, fiddle-leaf fig plants and sputnik chandeliers. House Beautiful took notice and commissioned 11 interior designers to reimagine a Victorian dollhouse in their own style, auctioning the decidedly contemporary finished products at the New York Design Center on Feb. 27.

In the past six months, searches on Etsy for 1:12 scale furniture were up 39 percent and searches for dollhouse rugs and miniature items were up 20 percent from the same period a year ago. A search on the site for dollhouses yields 237,000 results. Its certainly a trend thats rising, said Dayna Isom Johnson, an Etsy trend expert. The popular items miniature succulents, bath salts, word art point to an interest from the grown-ups, not their children. Maybe there are very sophisticated 10-year-olds out there who want a midcentury sofa, but I assume these are adults who want to take this on as a new hobby.

Chris Toledo, 34, who showcases his diminutive creations on the Instagram account I Build Small Things, has watched his business soar in the past two years thanks to social media. He now sells his dollhouses, designed in a nod to the 1920s architecture of Los Angeles, where he lives, for $150,000 to $200,000 apiece.

Before, miniatures were only publicized through miniature magazines, he said. Social media put it in everybodys face. His homes feature intricately detailed rooms, like a kitchen with a subway-tile backsplash and a schoolhouse pendant light that would look real if it werent for the life-size head of garlic positioned in the middle of the room.

While some artisans specialize in furnishings and dcor, Mr. Toledo focuses on the architecture, selling complete dollhouses as well as individual rooms like a bathroom in a shadow box for as much as $20,000. He designs the rooms by hand, milling moldings and using miniature tools, like a table saw the size of a shoe box, for carpentry work.

The advent of 3-D printers has opened the door for people without such advanced woodworking skills, too to the disappointment of traditional dollhouse makers, who view such technology as taboo. Ms. Coffee of Walla Walla, for example, uses a 3-D printer to make smaller objects, like decorative pumpkins, which she sells for $5. She makes other items, such as throw pillows, using everyday materials and tools like glue, fabric, tweezers and quilt batting.

A year into her craft, Ms. Coffee now sells enough printable herringbone floors and cowhide rugs on her website to turn a profit, although still not enough to give up her day job as a graphic designer. She also uses the dollhouses to work out design challenges in the real-life houses that she and her husband renovate and flip. If shes not sure about a floor color or a pattern for a rug, she can try it out on a tiny scale for a few dollars. Her actual home has the same rustic wide-plank flooring as her dollhouses.

While miniatures have long had their enthusiasts, this new generation of dollhouse makers is turning to idealized contemporary homes at a time when the real-life version is increasingly out of reach for many Americans. High real estate prices and stagnating wages make it difficult for many homeowners to consider a $100,000 kitchen with a farmhouse sink and a Wolf stove. But you could have a very little one or three of them, and fill them with teensy espresso makers, cheese boards and bottles of Dom Prignon. Like the idea of a barn door, but dont actually have a place to install one? Tuck it into the dollhouse attic, and if it grows tiresome, refurnish the entire room with rattan chairs, a shag rug and a soft pink palette.

Kwandaa Roberts, an OB-GYN in Philadelphia, says she has found a following on her Instagram account, Tiny House Calls, among millennial women who pine for a prettier house. They dont have any money and a lot of them cant afford to buy houses and theyre living at home with their parents or in a tiny apartment with roommates and they cant do design and all the things that they want to do, she said. But like me, they can get a lot of their creative energy out on a dollhouse.

Dr. Roberts, 47, a single mother of two, started her hobby two years ago when she bought a dollhouse at Target. She intended to give it to her daughter, now 5, but instead found that it filled a creative longing she had to be an interior designer. She painted it, added wallpaper, and details like a brass soaking tub and a kitchen with a waterfall countertop. She made furniture by hand with supplies she bought at Michaels. Ive always loved interior design, had a huge passion for it, and may have gone into it as a career had I known that was a thing, she said. But when she was growing up, there was no HGTV. Home Depot sold lumber; it was not what it is today.

In her tiny houses, Dr. Roberts has found an outlet, and an opportunity to reveal her projects on videos and photos she shares with her 47,000 followers. I dont have to redo my house, she said. Instead, I can have 10,000 kitchens and they will be fantastic.

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The Dollhouses of Instagram - The New York Times

Find out how the designers went about remodelling this home

A historic Queen Anne bungalow in a row of classic Victorian and Edwardian buildings in San Francisco, had been home to a family of four for a couple of years. Wanting a space more suited to a contemporary lifestyle, they approached John Lum Architecture to transform it into a light-filled, functional home that would also fit into the streetscape in which it was located. Amanda Teal Design designed the interior spaces.

The family had lived in their two-bedroom, one bath house long enough to know that the current layout and size wouldnt workit was too dark and way too small. The previous addition was falling off its foundation, triggering the need to rethink the entire design. Plus, the backyard was only accessible from an old rickety outdoor stair that was unsafe for the children, says Teal. While the house presented a lot of woes, the family loved the neighbourhood and didnt want to relocate. It was time for an overhaul.

When we first met with the homeowners, we talked about how they wanted to live in the space now, and how the home could adapt with them in the future, saysJohn Lum, founding principal at John Lum Architecture. Better circulation and functionality, natural light, and a connection to the outdoors was a must.

Consequently, the gabled two-level home was converted into a three level one, with the addition of living spaces on the top, which previously housed the attic. As with many period homes built in the early 1900s, the floor plan was divided into small, compartmentalised rooms, that no longer served their purpose. The house needed a reboot, says Lum. Working closely with interior designer Teal and the homeowners, the team embarked on an extensive remodel and addition, adding square footage and reorganising the floor plan to meet the familys 21st century needs. In order to balance family togetherness with much-needed private time, we organised the space into private and public levels, creating an open plan that increased the functionality of the home while maximising the views, says Lum.At the heart of the 3,000-square-feet version is a bright, new third floor containing a great room with kitchen, dining and living spaces, and a spacious terrace that opens to the hillside garden. In a reversal of conventional layouts, we proposed converting the former attic space into a third level in order to free up an entire floor for family activity, says Lum. This move made the backyard come to life. You have these amazing views, and it feels like youre floating in the trees.

The front facade was retained but reinterpreted with a new third floor, enabled by raising the roof. Exposed cedareaves, a navy front door, and modern materials hint at whats inside. Adhering to the original architectural style, the gabled roof, covered porch, and bay window remain. Modern window trims and subtle dentil moulding usher the house into modern times, says Lum.

This is a subterranean floor which holds the wine cellar.An interior glass stairwell allows light to filter down from the top to all the levels.Tying all three floors together, this glass-railing staircase doubles as the wall of the wine cellar. This sub-floor also houses the garage, media room and mudroom; play and practicality blended as one, says Lum.

The entrance to the home is from this floor and it holds the foyer, twobedrooms with a shared bath and a home office. It also has a dramatic master suite complete with teak-lined outdoor shower and marble bath, accessible from the garden.

The master bedroom resembles a luxury hotel with its outdoor shower.The bedroom wallsgrass cloth painted navyevoke a dramatic moodiness. The space is luxurious without being pretentious.

A Great Room with kitchen, dining room, living space, guest suite-cum-playroom, terrace and a powder room are located herea floor with incredible views and natural light, captured through an entire wall of windows facing San Francisco Bay, says Teal.

The dining area is casual, taking advantage of a nook wrapped in windows. French doors frame the living areas indoor/outdoor fireplace. An emerald green settee is balanced with an oversized linen couch. A large, leather-tufted ottoman doubles up as coffee table.

Floor-to-ceiling navy cabinets contrast with the kitchens waterfall marble counter, complementing the wood flooring. The backsplash is a geometric wall of white glazed tile.

Juggling spaces and eking out new areas, the wand of Teal and Lum has transformed the historic home into a contemporary, fully functional one.

Mumbai: In this Parisian-chic apartment, the only thing missing is the view of the Eiffel Tower

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Find out how this San Francisco homes reverse layout helps the family bond better - Architectural Digest India