From significant business changes to noteworthy product launches, theres always something new happening in the world of design. In this weekly roundup, AD PRO has everything you need to know.

Brooklinen Raises $50 Million

Big news for the bedding industry: Brooklinen announced this week that it has raised $50 million from Summit Partners, according to the Wall Street Journal. Founded six years ago by husband-and-wife team Rich and Vicki Fulop, the brand has become synonymous with direct-to-consumer companies that are focused on reaching millennials. So whats on the horizon for Brooklinen now in terms of growth? Thirty new stores that are set to open in the next three yearsand, perhaps, more of those ubiquitous subway ads.

Wayfair Lost Almost $1 Billion Last Year

The news coming out of Wayfair still isnt good. This week, MarketWatch and others reported that Wayfair lost $330.2 in Q4 of 2019. That means that its total loss for the year was a whopping $985 million. Unsurprising, the news subsequently caused the furniture companys stock to plummet.

More Than 200 Architects Urge Congress to Act

Why did hundreds of architects take action this week? They want national legislators to add the AIM Act, which would help transition away from the use of harmful hydrofluorocarbon chemicals to the energy package thats currently making its way through the Senate. According to various signatories, the move could have a positive environmental impact while helping the economy. And whats more, numerous contractors and engineers are also on board.

British Brands Unify Under Zoffany Name

Six British brandsincluding Morris & Co, founded in 1861 by Arts and Crafts legend William Morris; Sanderson; Harlequin; Scion; Anthology; and hallmark brand Zoffanyare now all available under one proverbial digital roof. Earlier this week, Zoffany announced in an email that its website, StyleLibrary.com, will offer all of the brands, with products spanning fabric, wallpaper, paint, home goods, and more. The brands can also be found on Instagram at the new @zoffanyusa account.

One of Minnas new rugs.

Rebecca Atwood to Release a Collection for Pottery Barn

Partnershipsespecially for a small brand like ourscreate such a great opportunity to reach a wider audience at a much more accessible price point, Rebecca Atwood tells AD PRO. Its fitting timing for her to reflect on the subject, as her debut Pottery Barn collection comes out later this year. At its core, my business is focused on trade and interior designers, so to be able to create a collection with Pottery Barn, a brand Ive long admired, is truly exciting, she adds. Atwood notes too that shes drawn to how Pottery Barn has historically created products that are both aspirational and approachable. As for the specific design inspiration behind the new line, expect Atwoods characteristic textiles that recall warm weather and happy days spent on vacation.

Originally posted here:
Brooklinen Raises $50 Million, Architects Make Plea to Congress, and More News This Week - Architectural Digest

Damage is still being assessed in the Nashville area after four tornadoes tore through the eastern part of the state early this week. Local designer Jonathan Savage is offering up his services to locals in need of a hand to get back on their feet following the devastation, and hopes other Nashville designers will do the same.

Nashville-based designer Jonathan SavageCourtesy of Savage Interior Design

This was the second-deadliest tornado event in the state, reported NBC News. More than 30 people have died, and dozens are still missing. Hundreds of volunteers have begun to lend assistance; more than 800 have donated blood.

Savage will donate 100 hours of interior design services to a local business that has suffered damage or loss in the tornado. It will be first come, first serve, and a handful of businesses have been in touch already as of Wednesday morning. Nashville is my home, and this is devastating. Interior design is all I know; its where I should be of help, Savage tells Business of Home. This is a tight-knit community of the Souths best talent. Were Southernwhen things like this happen, we all pitch in and help in any way we can.

At the time of the tornado, Savage's seven employees were in Palm Beach, Florida, at the firms cabana in the Kips Bay Show House. Savage rushed home to check on family, clients and others in the community. If I was in someones shoes that lost everything, I would be so grateful and thankful if someone would be willing to help build back my livelihood, he says. People are still trying to assess damage, power lines are down; its not a safe situation where the eye of the storm happened.

Wednesday morning, after hours of phone calls, Savage took requested pet supplies to a neighbor. Everyone in his immediate circle is OK, and many clients are fine also. He encourages other local designers to get involved as best they can, to show up and help, using their inventory and other services.

Its an opportunity to help in our own backyard, says Savage. We as designers can work together to help build back businesses or help people whove lost their homes.

Homepage image: Courtesy of Savage Interior Design

Read the rest here:
In the wake of a deadly tornado, this Nashville designer is stepping up - Business of Home

(Image: Inside Passage)

Capitol Hill rum bar Rumba is heading undersea where it is going to be a little more colorful and, maybe, just a little bit more fun. Travis Rosenthal, owner of the leading Seattle purveyor of rum, has announced the planned summer opening of Inside Passage, a neighboring bar accessed in a descent through Rumba into a grotto of idols and South Pacific stylings from one of the leading designers of tiki-celebrating culture on the planet.

The tiki culture is about escapism and trying to achieve that narrative is crucial, so Rosenthal enlisted the help of Notch Gonzalez from Top Notch Kustoms based in San Jose, to create and curate an incredible tiki design that will honor the tiki culture and shine a light on tiki cocktails, the Inside Passage announcement reads. Gonzalez has helped create and fabricate some of the countrys best bars including Smugglers Cove, Whitechapel, False Idol and Hale Pele.

The Rumba expansion and focus on tiki comes at an interesting moment for the genre.

The bars have been around for decades and the trend has faded in and out of style. Today, there is greater awareness of cultural appropriation and colonial nostalgia but the bars continue to proliferate.

On Capitol Hill, the current tiki king is a transplanted dive bar the Hula Hulamoved to E Olive Way in 2017.

(Image: Inside Passage)

With a world class designer at the helm, Inside Passage is focusing on the fun and style of the format. Inside Passage will have all the balance, fun and beauty youve come to expect from Rumba, with all the extravagance of the world of tiki, the announcement of the new venture reads. It will also have nearly a decade of Rumbas sincere dedication to rum with 650+ sugar cane spirits on its shelves to build on.

Aiming for a summer opening, the new bar space will be built out of the longtime Stussy shop retail space next to Rumba. Yes, there has been a Stussy shop at the base of Capitol Hill for more than ten years.

Rosenthal opened Rumba in September 2012 on Pike just around the corner from the growing Melrose food and drink scene and on the same block as his much-loved Tango:

Rumba is made to look likeErnest Hemingwayhired a Pike/Pine interior designer, threw a wad of cash and said go to town: rosewood walls and floors, bookshelves lined with curated knick knacks. Palm frond fans circle overhead, and a giant taxidermy marlin rests on the wall. Island music, dim lighting, and nautical vibes, complete the atmospheric pitch. Servers scurry around carrying large daiquiris and bartenders climb up ladders like sailors on the main sail, grabbing all sorts of rum you didnt even know existed.

Last year, Rosenthal shuttered Tango after 19 years of tapas and date nights. Zaika does its Indian thing there today.

Jen Akin, currently the general manager at Rumba, is heading up Inside Passages bar program with help from long-time Seattle tiki expert and bartender Sean Dumke. His incredible collection of rare and collectible tiki mugs is only overshadowed by his love and knowledge of all things tiki, Inside Passage promises. Rumba chef Alan Bochi owns adding a healthy dose of tropical flair to the food menu.

If the COVID-19 stuff and Seattle weather has you down, you dont have to wait until summer to get a taste of the new project. Rumba rumtenders will feature a new Inside Passage drink on Wednesdays during Rumbas weekly tiki night.

Inside Passage is slated to open inside the expanded Rumba this summer. You can learn more at insidepassageseattle.com.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT -- SUBSCRIBE TO CHS: Support local journalism dedicated to your neighborhood.SUBSCRIBE HERE TODAY. Jointo become a subscriber at$1/$5/$10 a monthto help CHS provide community news withNO PAYWALL. You can also sign up fora one-time annual payment. Why support CHS? Morehere.

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With Inside Passage expansion, Capitol Hill rum bar Rumba to set sail for 'the extravagance of the world of tiki' - CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News

I sourced the bathtub from a dealer and found the totem statues and the star light from Universal Providers. The little bum on the wall was a present I bought for Gaby from Columbia Road Market, Hollie says. She used a dresser for the vanity and topped it off with a white marble slab.

They agreed on an all-white kitchen and a brass bathtub for classic features that could then be accented with animal print, architectural furniture, and of course, figurines. I collect miniature animal sculptures. I find them all over the place, all over the world really, at flea markets and such, Hollie says. They were something Gaby was drawn to and so she started her ownand we joke that it got a little competitive. They add a touch of humor and some character.

We both have a pretty large collection of figurines now and occasionally do swaps and make each other jealous with new additions, Gaby says.

The figurines are an easy connection to the lush outdoor space Hollie updated with potted ferns and palms that sweep up against a bamboo privacy wall. Its home to my pissing frog water feature, which was the first thing Hollie bought me for this flat, Gaby says.

The travertine nightstands in the bedroom were found on 1stdibs and the bedside light is from Twenty Twenty One. The Fallopia Vase is by Charlotte Colbert.

The ceiling light is from my friend Orlando, who I buy a lot of weird, wonderful pieces from. He had a pop-up where I found this, and its one of my favorite pieces, Hollie says.

It took a couple of years for this project to come together, although Hollie doesnt want to say that the job is completely finished. Gaby doesnt mind, eitheras long as theyre hanging out together anyway, they might as well chat about improvements. Well probably keep adding to it, given the nature of our friendship and the way it has unfolded, Hollie says.

Gaby lounges in a rattan chair at home.

Do It Yourself

Shop for souvenirs. Collecting items from your travels is one thing that I think creates the most character in an apartment, Hollie says.

Take risks in a bathroom. The options are endless, and you can get away with more here than perhaps in a kitchen, Hollie says.

Design a room around your favorite feature. If you are obsessed with one feature, like leopard print, it's always good to focus on that and dress the rest of the room around it, Hollie says.

Hollie completely renovated the outdoor space to have a tropical and lush appearance, and sourced the table and chairs from Barney Lee.

Shop It Out

Nessa table lamp by Archivio Storico and Vetreria Vistosi for Vistosi, 502 ($649 as of this writing), twentytwentyone.com

Fallopia vase by Charlotte Colbert, 120 ($132), charlottecolbert.com

Runes mirror by Porta Romana, price upon request, portaromana.com

Vintage wrought iron chair from Jermaine Gallacher, 590 ($763), jermainegallacher.com

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How Friendship Made the Renovation of This Notting Hill Flat More Fun - Architectural Digest

As a result, apartment interiors dont offer the floor-to-ceiling vistas that buyers have come to expect from modern condos. Instead, the rooms have an understated, Old World vibe. Custom tile with Waldorf Astoria motifs adorns the master baths, while marble counters and gray-toned cabinets are found in kitchens, with brass-inlay details on floors.

Its not about standing out just for the hell of standing out, Mr. Deniot said.

If the interiors are restrained, the 25th-floor amenity offering, open to residents only, may seem over the top, with pool, bars, game rooms, a library, a theater, a spa and a gym, plus a plant-filled greenhouse-like garden room part of 50,000 square feet of amenities, inside and out. Residents can also avail themselves of hotel offerings like room service, and the public lobby will have restaurants and bars.

Sales, which are being handled by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, will begin slowly, Mr. Miller said, with 75 units offered initially. Studios start $1.7 million, a project spokesman said, while one-bedrooms begin at $2.6 million and up.

Some analysts say the Waldorfs reasonable pricing, coupled with classic architecture and a convenient location, should greatly benefit the project.

I think this building has a very, very good chance of being extremely successful, said Nancy Packes, the president of Nancy Packes Data Services, who is not involved with the project. Even in difficult market conditions.

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @nytrealestate.

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Condo Sales Begin at the Revamped Waldorf Astoria - The New York Times

6th March 2020

Jules Haines runs the high-end eco fabric business Haines Collection, which offers customers the chance to buy surplus and often unique designer materials that would have otherwise gone to landfill. Here she tells Eileen Leahy why she is on a mission to ensure that reusing and recycling become the norm in the interiors industry

Tell us how you got into interior design . . .

I lived in Singapore for a few years and met a fellow British ex-pat who was a textile designer. Ive always wanted to work in interiors so when I heard that she was starting a new textile brand, called Korla, I just had to be involved. I helped to set up the London office and worked there for five years before moving to Tunbridge Wells in 2017.

And how did you come to set up your own fabric brand Haines Collection?

It was thanks to a chance meeting in a pop-up shop on Camden Road! The owner of a soft furnishings business there was selling leftovers of high-end fabric off very cheaply. I heard him say what a hassle it was but that he couldnt see it going to waste. It made me think that there should be someone who could offer to resell it for him, at a decent price. I knew others who had the same issue with waste off-cuts too, so I emailed the Camden Road supplier, arranged a meeting and he became my first supplier and still does!

So how does the business work?

It acts as a broker between makers who want to sell small volumes of fabric but dont have the time, and buyers who are looking for something unique but dont have a big budget. This model enables Haines Collection to pass on big discounts to consumers through fabrics which are left-over from large scale building projects, off-cuts, end-of-rolls, or slightly misprinted. Often this fabric would be thrown away, adding to the growing amount of landfill caused by the interiors industry. Now we can offer beautiful fabrics to everyone and help people to buy more ethically.

Which major brands do you work with and how have you developed these relationships?

Im talking with Sofa.com at the moment to see how we can possibly work together with their leftover fabrics. I love working directly with designers too and I currently sell on behalf of Swaffer, Madeaux, Inchyra and Korla. The plan is to build more relationships so ask me again in a year and I hope to have a long list of household names!

What do the majority of your customers use the limited edition fabrics for?

Mostly for curtains and blinds, both of which are a big expense in your home. So working with my lower-priced fabrics can be a very attractive proposition for them.

What do you enjoy most about running your own business?

So much! Its the most amazing feeling to be in control of your own destiny. You dont have to wait to be recognised for your talents, you know that you can do it and you believe in you! Ive never worked this hard before but the job satisfaction is off the scale I absolutely love it. This is my dream job and where Im meant to be. It doesnt feel like work, in fact it makes me feel deeply fulfilled.

What are the challenges involved in working for yourself?

I work from home although one day I hope to get a studio so juggling being a mum to Edward (five) and Jemima (three) and working is tricky, as is knowing that I have to work flat out to really get Haines Collection off the ground. I dont feel guilty about this, though, as I know this is the right thing for all of us, but I do hate the feeling that my kids and husband will see less of me this year than they might have if I had a usual nine-to-five job.

And how about the key benefits?

Feeling complete, like I have found what Ive been looking for, is a key one. And that Im helping make a difference by reducing waste, fulfilling a need in the industry and educating people about how much waste is in the world of interiors. Flexibility is also an important benefit, too, because I can work on it when the kids are asleep in the evening which means I can spend afternoons playing with them!

You also make cushions, run lampshade-making courses etc. Tell us about why you decided to make as well as market

It all feeds into what Im trying to achieve, which is to use leftovers and ultimately reduce what ends up in landfill. I want people to start thinking about the fabrics they throw away so only needing 40cm for a lampshade is such a brilliant way to use your scraps. Cushions came naturally as Im given a lot of random shaped pieces so they were the obvious next step. Im just about to move into creating wallpaper this month, which is exciting!

Sustainability is a big part of your business. do you think more people are thinking about this when investing in products?

Definitely, its an exciting time for conscience businesses and I really believe this is the future. Sustainability and looking at the way we live is finally at the forefront of our minds. Its now being taught in schools and universities so for the generation coming up it will be second nature to them. Its not always easy to go for the eco-friendly option as some are more expensive, whereas Im the opposite Im actually the cheaper and earth-friendly option! But as the industry grows, more people will join the arena, and competition and innovation will help drive prices down, allowing us all to live in a more sustainable way.

How do you plan to encourage more people make strong, conscious decisions when buying?

I like to inform people without them feeling like Im bombarding them, so its striking the balance and not feeling like Im alienating anyone. Luckily its something that people are becoming more aware of so it will grow organically. Im all about the small changes to make a difference. Start with changing all your lightbulbs to LED or Sellotape to brown paper tape. If you think too big it can be overwhelming.

http://www.hainescollection.co.uk

What key elements make a stylish home?

Have a few key statement items that reflect you and your personality. They may be an investment but something that you treasure for a long time and so sets the mood in the home. Im all about mixing in charity shop finds with a stylish statement sofa or a big piece of art that will bring everything in that room to that level of style.

What current trends are you loving and why?

The use of bold colours as Im a big fan of colour. Hopefully the white and grey home trends are behind us!

How important has social media been for you in driving footfall to your business?

Its everything, I have grown my business 100 per cent via Instagram. At the moment 93 per cent of my sales are directly from Instagram and certainly nearly all of my relationship-building starts from it. I just love it as a social media platform thanks to the community and the support. It almost worries me that I have all my eggs in that basket, but you always put the most into what you love, right?

Do you collaborate with any local influencers/stylists/bloggers?

I love a collaboration, mostly because I love building relationships and the way we can help each other out. Ive worked with Influencer Laura at The Indigo House (Instagram the_indigo_house) and Blogger Flik (from sass_spice_andallthingsnice). I met both of them at monthly interiors meetings run by Caroline from the networking group Twelve Local (@twelve_local). These are for anyone and everyone who likes interiors. We support each other, chat and drink lots of coffee!

Wheres your favourite place to shop?

In charity shops! I have the YMCA and British Heart Foundation furniture shops at the end of my road so thats always my first stop when looking for larger items. I go to Hospice in the Weald on Camden Road for clothes for myself and the family.

And to eat out?

I love the new Central Market in Royal Victoria Place; it has a great buzz and fantastic food.

And for coffee or cocktails?

Its always definitely coffee, and I always head to The Black Dog as their coffee is amazing.

Finally, wheres the best place to go locally in order to get away from it all?

Kingdom in Penshurst its my happy place. It feels so peaceful, earthy and has a great vibe. And they have great food and coffee!

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Times Local Newspapers & Magazines | Meet the material girl - Times of Tunbridge Wells

Remember your grandmothers avocado-green kitchen? It could soon be yours. Or maybe it will be pink, mauve, emerald green or buttercup. Anything but white, because the revolt against the white kitchen has begun.

Last November, the cover of Elle Decor featured a Steven Gambrel-designed kitchen awash in a shiny turquoise even the ceiling gleamed like an iridescent underwater wonderland.

On Pinterest between November 2018 and November 2019, searches for dark-green cabinets jumped 367%, plum kitchens went up 107% and pink kitchen walls spiked 121%.

For decades now, cabinets have been relegated to white, brown or maybe black, and it has been even longer since appliances were allowed to be anything but stainless steel.

But the Instagram kitchen invariably a clean backdrop of basic Shaker cabinets, simple subway backsplashes and marble countertops finally has some competition.

Jenny Dina Kirschner, an interior designer in New York, recently painted the cabinets pink for a client in Long Island, giving the room a decidedly 80s vibe somewhere between mauve and millennial pink. The color picked up the pinkish tones in the Calacatta Vagli marble countertop.

Were starting to see more daring use of color, Kirschner said. Its a rebellion against the white kitchen.

Breaking the mold is risky when 43% of homeowners choose white cabinets and a third choose white countertops, according to a 2019 Houzz report. Try something bolder than wood cabinets or black soapstone countertops and you might fail.

Unlike an unfortunate coat of paint on the living room walls, the wrong choice of cabinetry could cost a homeowner tens of thousands of dollars. And money aside, its not easy to rip out that chartreuse backsplash if you later regret it.

Yet cracks in the color-free facade are emerging. Between 2018 and 2019, BHG.com consumer insights found a 115% spike in interest in cabinet paint trends, and a 10% increase in interest in colorful kitchen cabinetry.

And from March 2018 to March 2019, interest in blue and green for paint and home decor rose 50%. Navy cabinets have become increasingly popular, as have two-toned varieties, with choices such as blue for the lower cabinets and blond wood for the uppers.

Greens of all shades have been nudging their way onto the stage, too, appearing as emerald cabinetry, avocado backsplashes and sage pendants.

In a throwback to the 1970s, the age of wacky-colored appliances also is back. Want a retro fridge? Big Chill carries them in colors such as beach blue, cherry red and pink lemonade. The appliance company BlueStar offers hundreds of color options as well as custom colors for its products, letting customers personalize down to the color of the doors, trim and dials.

Have a specific shade of purple in mind for your oven? Dacor can match a swatch you provide to the color of its appliances.

Anything goes these days, said Gideon Mendelson, an interior designer in Manhattan. He is currently designing a yellow kitchen for a couple on the North Fork of Long Island, which he described as a sophisticated buttercup. Its not going to be sweet and cutesy. Its not quite mustard. Its happier than that.

Who doesnt want a happy kitchen? With the world so dreary, a little yellow can go a long way. In these uncertain times, we are drawn to colors that dont need to be impeccable, that can hide the messiness of life.

Theres a sense of energy and nourishment in bright colors, said Ingrid Fetell Lee, the author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness.

Alessandra Wood, the vice president of style for Modsy, an online interior-design service, told me that homeowners are looking for comfort and coziness in design choices, so why not our kitchens, too?

In this really unstable world, we are looking for anything that makes us feel comfortable, and we are definitely turning to our homes to do that, she said.

Just look at the color Pantone chose for its color of the year: classic blue, because it highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation. (See a related story on Page D4.)

Paint companies Sherwin-Williams and PPG also ushered in the new decade with blue as their picks of the year in a collective nod to what might soon be our new neutral call it bluetral.

We also are living in our homes differently. After decades of relentless moving, Americans are moving at the lowest rates since the U.S. census began tracking our mobility, with fewer than 10% of Americans moving between 2018 and 2019. Baby boomers are aging in place and millennials, facing rising housing costs and stagnating wages, are less likely to house hop. With no plans to stake a for sale sign in the front yard, why commit to the safe and listless colors of a staged house?

Greige, that dreary hue that is neither gray nor beige but took over our homes for more than a decade, is decidedly out. The relentlessly white kitchen might be next.

It made a lot of sense in the era of house flipping. White looks clean and is unlikely to offend a potential buyer. Who hates white? And if your home is perpetually one renovation away from its next open house, white is a natural go-to color. Its a kitchen designed for future buyers, not the specific tastes of the current inhabitants.

But lets face it: White looks clean only when it is clean. The rest of the time, it is not the most practical color for a room that regularly gets splashed with marinara sauce. There is something to be said for a little color to hide the imperfections.

Were living in our spaces longer, so theres an extra level of consideration that people are giving to them, Wood said. Were thinking, How do I make this space into a space that I really feel comfortable in?

So if there is no buyer on the horizon, if the kitchen remodel is just for you, the view widens.

Why not wash the whole room in turquoise? It doesnt really matter what some fictional buyer might think. You can be you and paint the cabinets pink.

The rest is here:
Colors are heating up again in the kitchen - The Columbus Dispatch

For details, go to VF.com/CreditsTRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT

Listening to: Liz Goldwyns The Sex Ed.Desert island books: John Steinbecks East of Eden and James Salters Light Years (2).Vacation spot: My family home in Piemonte, Italy (9). We donated half of it to the Italian National Trust and live in the other half.Plane must-haves: Cashmere blanket and eye set, Tata Harpers Resurfacing Mask, and Shiva Roses Glow Face Balm.

Architectural styles: I know this is a contradiction, but I am drawn to both beaux arts and 1930s. And I cannot imagine a world without modern architects such as Le Corbusier, Philip Johnson, Mies van der Rohe, and Oscar Niemeyer (13).Furniture: Cristina Celestinos furniture, tiles, carpet, wallpaper, lightingshes a renaissance woman.Career idol: Madeleine Castaing (6).Recent addition: Maison C fabrics, adapted from the wallpaper line I cofounded with the artist Costanza Theodoli-Braschi (5).In bed: I love Olatz pajamas (3) and D. Porthault bedding (1).Flora: Bodega flowers arranged in vessels from antique stores upstate (7).Candle: Diptyque Feu de Bois (11).Dish set: Wes Gordons Carolina Herrera tabletop line with Cabana (12).Four-legged friend: My 17-year-old Chihuahua, Klaus. He is a grumpy old man but my first baby and love of my life.

Perpetually worn accessory: My nonnas wedding band (10) and FoundRae charms.Go-to shoe: Sneakers from my baby daddy (currently Off-White Nikes), Gucci loafers, or Le Monde Beryl slippers (4).Supplements: Wooden Spoon Super Green Protein and anything Dr. Gabrielle Francis at the Herban Alchemist tells me to take!Workout: Walking through Central Park and Ballet Beautiful with Mary Helen Bowers.

Morning beverage: Bulletproof espresso before I take my daughter to school.Indulgence: Daily croissant (8).Restaurant: Sushi of Gari on the Upper East or Upper West Side.

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The Wing Designer on Diptyque Candles and Nikes - Vanity Fair

In terms of residential design, there is where we are, and where were headed. Contemporary conformity is fast becoming a thing of the past. The name of the game is bespoke, as custom pieces predominate, commissioned art is emergent, textures are mixed in brand-new ways and exteriors move toward individualized modes of modernism. As savvy and exacting clients become increasingly game for the type of statement homes not typically seen in the region, these five design studios are pushing boundaries and conjuring the unexpected.

Instead of working with clients who view the artwork as the last step in a project, Chad Jensenartist, furniture maker, designer and founding director of Method &Concept, a Thomas Riley Companyfollows the atelier model. We love working with clients who are either starting to build collections, or who already have collections, he explains. A recent project illustrates the process. When clients wanted to reimagine their master suite, furnishings followed art. We started this whole room palette based on a custom-commissioned piece of artwork that we proposed. Once we figured out what that art was going to be, we built the room to support it. And because the clients had a preference for the traditional, Jensen tapped classically trained painter Carmelo Blandino. Commissioned art is a leap of faith, Jensen says, both for the atelier, which counts on the artist to deliver, and for the clients, who put their trust in Jensen. In the end, Jensens clients find their faith well-placed. Drew Limsky

I look for inspiration on the Internet on a daily basis, but then when I start the design, I dont look at anything, says Carrie Brigham, a bright new light in the local designcommunity. Born and raised in Naples, she earned her BA in interior design at Florida State, and founded her firm in 2017. If Brigham has an ethos, she says its all about using material and finishes in an unexpected way, in a way thats unique to the project. For example, in the kitchen featured on her websites landing page, rustic meets polished as a wooden hood is surrounded by waterjet mosaic tiles. What accounts for such a bold contrast? Im obsessed with every building material known to man, she says. But her favorite material is marble: We live in a world where everyone wants everything to be durable, understandably, from manmade quartz to porcelain tile, but the natural beauty of marble is unparalleled, surpassing any material created to emulate it. For a designer relatively new to the industry, Brigham exudes certainty. DL

Rene Gaddiss design arsenal often borrows from runways, glossy mags and maybe even a chic clients closet. The Naples-based interior designer, and owner of Rene Gaddis Interiors, draws from her degree in apparel merchandising, design and production from Iowa State University when she tackles any project. In one room, she framed a vintage Herms scarf with buttery golden hues that amplified the warm wood floors and metallic light fixtures in the space. Gaddis compares home design to picking out an outfit, with accents and lighting acting as jewelry or a blazer. You start with the staple pieces and add complementary details that can easily be changed with the fads or seasons. Her affinity for trends and bold pieces fits particularly well with her roster of seasonal clients who are more open to experimentation when designing their second or third homes. When a client comes to me with a unique design concept, Gaddis says, it really gets my creative juices flowing. Jaynie Tice

Husband-and-wife team Brandt Henning and Michaela Reiterer Henning met cuteat an AIA lecture. Michaela had founded her Naples-based architectural and interior design company in 2010, while Brandt was working with another firm. I was helping to organize the lecture andMichaela was an attendee, Brandt recalls. Indiana and Italy were joined by design. He became a partner in HLevel in 2013 and the firm emerged as a meeting of their modernist minds. We were tired of seeing what was happening in South Florida, cookie-cutter homes, Michaela says. When the two realized that the area hadnt yet picked up on the tropical modernism and sustainable elements that were starting to blossom in Miami, they saw their opportunity. What clients like about our design is that its clean but also warm and livable, Brandt says. Its not a cold, stark, harsh modernismwe celebrate natural materials. Brandt says that one of their projects in progressa 3,000-square-foot house located on a magical, beautiful site on the Estero Riverillustrates their values. Their goal is to have the home LEED-certified. Its somewhat of a camouflage-type of home where the lines between the built environment and the riverside setting will be blurred, Brandt explains. The house will tread very lightly on the land. DL

Juggling clients is not for Leili Fatemi, principal of Leili Design Studio in Fort Myers. I dont know how other designers approach their projects, she says, but what I hear from my clients is they like that I take total responsibility from start to finish. Im a boutique-type businessIm not accepting five or 10 projects at once. Fatemi regards each project as an utterly unique creation informed by a clients needs. I was working on a bachelor pad project and my client said, Give me something that no one else has in Southwest Florida, she remembers. So I came up with a lounge for what I call the Bobcat project: at one end is a TV set within a stone wall, and on the other end I designed a full bar anchored by a stacked column, illuminated in blue. Soon after completion, she met one of her idols, designer Thom Filicia, at a Kravet event. When he heard about the project, the star of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy asked to see some photos, and in no time Bobcat was published. Naturally, that one-of-a-kind column was prominently featured. I enjoy doing custom work, she says. I like to create from scratch. DL

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Designing The Future - Gulfshore Life

When Tracy Steel was a teenager in the mid-1990s and working at her parents' Christian bookstore at West Ridge Mall in Topeka, she likely had no idea that she one day would be the author of a book that would be sold at similar stores across the nation.

But that is exactly what happened with the release of her book"A Redesigned Life: Uncovering Gods Purpose When Life Doesnt Go As Planned," which was released this past August by Revell Books, a subsidiary of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Baker Publishing Group.

"This book is a great fit for any woman, age 18 and older, who is living a life that hasnt gone as she planned," Steel said, "and who is wondering if God is there and if he cares, or for anyone who wants to go deeper in their faith."

Steel said her parents, Wayne and Roxie Davis, owned the Lemstone Bookstore from 1995 to 1998 at West Ridge Mall. The store was located in the lower level of the mall near the Dillard's store entrance.

Steel recalls those days with fondness, remembering how her parents enjoyed interacting with the people who came into their small store.

"They enjoyed talking with their customers," she said, "and considered it an honor to sell paper-backed messages of hope and inspiration to all who came into their store."

Steel said she came from a family of "book lovers," yet never thought of herself as a writer.

She was born and raised in Topeka, attending Berryton Elementary School and graduating in 1994 from Shawnee Heights High School. She then attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in interior design in 1998.

She said she graduated in May 2019 from Phoenix Seminary with a master of arts degree in biblical and theological studies.

After she graduated from K-State, she said, she had "dreams of owning her own interior design firm, moving to New York City and making millions of dollars. But as I mention in the book, none of that happened. Ive never lived in New York City or made anywhere close to $1 million, in ministry or now as a writer. And that is fine by me. As God continues to redesign my life, Ive come to discover that his plans for me have far exceeded what I always thought to be best. I trust him completely and will continue to follow him wherever he leads me next."

Over the past several years, Steel said, she has "had the privilege of traveling and speaking at various conferences. Ive met with women of differing ages and stages of life across the nation and listened to their frustrations and heartaches. All of them, who identify as Christian women, were surprised by their lives because they werent turning out the way they had planned. They wondered where God was in the midst of their shock, surprise or grief.

"I wanted to come up with a fresh, encouraging and creative way to encourage them and help them to see the purposes of God whenever life doesnt go as planned. For my own life, along with the Bible itself, has taught me that God is with us and that he is moving in the middle of the mayhem and mess."

Before going into the ministry, Steel said she worked in the corporate world of interior design for several years. Then, she said, God called her into a different kind of interior design.

"This type of interior design entailed me taking the words of the Bible and redesigning the hearts and minds of women with its truths and hope," she said. "As I remembered the set of 'design principles' that I used as a human interior designer to create functional and beautiful spaces for my clients, I thought about God, who is our master architect or designer. I wondered if he uses similar principles as the ones I used as he is redesigning our lives."

Steel said she found that to be the case, as God "uses the principles of movement, emphasis, pattern, contrast, balance and space to tell us something about himself or what he desires for us whenever life doesnt go as planned. I dive into these more deeply in the book, showing how we can apply them in our own faith walk, while combining them with real-life stories from other women who have been shocked or surprised by life, as well."

In her book, Steel shares the story of her mother, Roxie Davis, who died at age 61 in October 2012. Steel said her mother was a "devoted teacher" at Berryton Elementary School just southeast of Topeka.

"I also write about her death and battle with breast cancer in the book, and know that if she were still here, shed be so proud, but that if she was still here, the book would not have touched as many lives as it already has," Steel said. "Her death was not in vain, and God has used her story in 'A Redesigned Life' to redeem much of what she suffered. I am incredibly grateful to him for doing so."

Steel and her husband, Chad, who is a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, have two children ages 9 and 11. Steel noted she has moved six times during the first 12 years of marriage, "making me a professional mover and Walmart and Starbucks locator."

At present, her husband is stationed in Washington, D.C., "but I still make it back to Topeka to visit my father, Wayne Davis, and his wife, Kathy, my grandparents Dale Davis and Betty Crouch, and my sister Jamie Cooper."

"A Redesigned Life: Uncovering Gods Purpose When Life Doesnt Go As Planned" is available online at Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, Barnes & Noble and Target. Steel said the Barnes & Noble store in Topeka also has copies on its shelves.

To read Steel's blogs, reach her via email, or subscribe to her newsletter, visit http://www.tracymsteel.com. Steel said she enjoys interacting with readers on Facebook @TracyMSteelMinistries or on Instagram @tracymsteel.

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Topeka native pens book on A Redesigned Life - The Topeka Capital-Journal