Inspiring Collaborations Turn Paper To Glass + MoreHOLLY HUNT X MCCOLLIN BRYAN British design duo Don McCollin and Maureen Bryan’s partnership grew out of a passion for highlighting the individual qualities of the materials they use, as well as creating something new and unexpected. Their devotion to materiality, shape and function make them a perfect fit in the Holly Hunt portfolio. The designers create distinctive designs that call on their backgrounds in textiles and ceramics, with McCollin exploring surface textures and patterns, and Bryan focusing on sculptural forms. Using traditional materials and processes such as scagliola—a Roman technique from the 18th century that imitates marble—they produce small batches, limited editions, and unique pieces that are works of art for the home. hollyhunt.com B&B ITALIA X NAOTO FUKASAWA Renowned industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa has a history of collaboration with B&B Italia, bringing his Japanese design aesthetic to the storied Italian brand. His new collection of outdoor furniture, Ayana, is inspired by the ancestral designs of his native land. Pieces are made from natural, unpainted teak, which ages and evolves, revealing the intrinsic characteristics of this material. The structures have invisible joints held together by wooden pins instead of metal hardware, adding to both the beauty and the function: as the hardy wood expands and contracts with the weather, metal would cause irreversible cracking or deformation. The line includes seating in addition to dining and coffee tables. bebitalia.com NEW RAVENNA X GRACIE New Ravenna is collaborating with Gracie—makers of handpainted wallpaper since 1898—to reproduce five of the storied brand’s […]View
From Hip Tiles To Rocky Tables: Top A&D Building PicksCourtney McLeod is the principal of Right Meets Left Interior Design, an award-winning, Manhattan-based design studio. An avid colorist at heart, Courtney draws from a kaleidoscopic toolbox of texture, pattern, and color to create rooms evocative of one emotion above all others—joy. Her work has been featured in national magazines such as Veranda, House Beautiful, and Aspire Design and Home. rightmeetsleftdesign.com Luba Libarikian is the founder of Born on Bowery, a full-service interior design studio. With a background in film, photography and mixed-media arts, her creative perspective is evident in every project, from pre-war duplexes to modern lofts. Her design work focuses on creating a sense of calm and sophistication through the use of fine materials and high-quality craftsmanship. bornonbowery.comView
6 Sensational Flooring Options That Really Stand UpThe floor is a canvas for creativity, with limitless possibilities.View
Alexander Gorlin: Architecture Is An Intimate DanceBy Alexander Gorlin in conversation with Paul Hagen WHAT’S FIRST? I visit the site because architecture is a site-specific performance art. It must respond, complement and interact with the site, whether it is a landscape in the countryside, an urban setting or the interior of an apartment. Simultaneously, I meet the client because the whole design process involves an intimate dance with the client, to listen to their desires, their needs and dreams, and—of course—their neuroses. SKETCHY BEHAVIOR I begin with old school hand sketches and small models, then my team draws up the ideas digitally in plan and 3-D. The goal is to maintain the concept, the feeling, the spark of the creative idea from beginning to the completed project, not an easy task, but when it happens, it is phenomenally rewarding. EXCESS LANE After four years of frightening political turmoil and a year of deadly pandemic, the trend away from flashy excess is welcomed and should be encouraged. Restraint, concern about the environment and commitment to all economic levels of society are urgent and necessary directions—not just trends, but historical paradigm shifts. MISSION POSSIBLE I look for quality and service. Top of the line in the A&D is Studium, where David Meitus presides over a gorgeously curated collection of tile, stone and other beautiful materials. Then of course, there’s Holly Hunt, B&B Italia, Poliform, Miele, Fantini and so many more. CINEMA FILE Film has always inspired my work, since film is movement through space and how people interact […]View
What’s So Special About European Bathrooms?Written by Deborah L. Martin All bathrooms are not created equal, and there are more opinions about what makes the perfect bath experience than there are types of tile. But one thing is clear, when it comes to the European plan, style and function merge to create a beautiful juxtaposition of old-world elegance and modern innovation. Whether austere or over-the-top, and from tiny to grand, the European bath is always long on style and filled with luxurious touches that will withstand the test of time. Consider the charming English beauty of Kate Moss’s country home in the Cotswolds, with its period details and original cast iron tub in the center of the room. Says Moss, “My bathroom in the country is my favorite bathroom in the world, it’s my haven.” Contrast that with the spa-like appeal of the modern bath from Scavolini, or the luxurious mix in Portugal’s Palácio Príncipe Real Lisbon, built in 1877. It’s time for a European vacation. “Any work of architecture that does not express serenity is a mistake.” —Luis BarragánView
Look Inside an Art Collector’s Apartment in HangzhouWritten by Deborah L. Martin Hangzhou, the capital city of the Zhejiang province in China, sits at the terminus of the Grand Canal waterway, at the Eastern foot of the Tianmu (Eye of Heaven) Mountains, and on the shore of Xi (West) Lake. The city is celebrated for its beauty in poetry and paintings going back to the 9th century. The lake was a favorite imperial retreat, and has islands with temples, pavilions, gardens and arched bridges. Today, Hangzhou boasts world-class architecture and is a hub of trade, industry and science. It has been selected as the site of the 2022 Asian Games. The Qiantang Residence by interior designer Austin Cai of NVD Interior Design reflects elements of life in this bustling metropolis of over 10 million people. The modern apartment is designed for an art collector and boasts a large collection of contemporary art from all over the world. In the living room, defined by woven screens made from hemp, the curvilinear sofas echo the curves of the room. The layered stacking of textures and shapes are accented by the Raw carpet designed by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance for Tai Ping. A ring-shaped crystal light is designed by Hungarian artists János Héder and Judit Zoltai. A small open kitchen adjacent to the living room provides convenience for entertaining small parties or cooking casual family meals. In the Chinese tradition, there is a larger private kitchen that is hidden from sight. A room called “The Studio,” is covered in tropical flora on […]View
How Cosentino Is Transforming Buildings Around The WorldWritten by Thomas Connors Too often, tall buildings get attention because they are, well, tall. Even those that don’t quite scrape the sky are more about verticality that anything else. Blame it on the curtain wall. No matter how cleverly the volume of a tower is tweaked, if it’s dressed in glass, there’s nowhere to look but up. While that sleek skin isn’t about to disappear anytime soon, increasingly, architects and corporations are turning to other treatments that not only meet their technical requirements but invest buildings with an eye-engaging dimensionality and presence, as well. Cosentino, an industry leader in surface materials, has long been the go-to for designers and clients looking to give their projects a significant finishing touch. And one of its newest products, Dekton—a high strength composition of porcelain, glass and quartz—is quickly finding its way to some of the more inventive buildings around the world. Take the ToHa building in Tel Aviv. A sort of inverted ziggurat designed by Ron Arad, the 29-story structure rises on two beefy legs, like some gargantuan robot from an old sci-fi flick. The custom colored Dekton panels on the exterior—a progressive palette of six shades—add texture and depth to this less-than-conventional facade. In Madrid, Mendoza+Simal Architects incorporated large format hexagonal pieces into its renovation of the headquarters of Gunni & Trentino, a supplier of luxury interior decor products. Black at the base of the building and executed in a lighter, warmer tone above creating a honeycomb effect, the Dekton panels […]View
Paradise FoundWritten by Nicole Haddad Photography by Joe Schmelzer Design should be tailored to the landscape—at least that’s the argument this Paradise Valley, Arizona residence puts forth. Which is exactly why history came into play and Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson of the eponymous firm Drake/Anderson, were enlisted to wield their fearless approach to color on a new build. “As trusting, twenty-year-long clients, they let us choose the palette, and embraced it fully,” explains Drake. The wild-yet-serene landscape of the surrounding Camelback Mountains is not only mirrored in the living room’s dramatic double-height fireplace surround, but throughout the home. The result of a visit to the stone yards, the mesmerizing, bookmatched slabs of stone captivated the clients and subsequently inspired the home’s regional decor. “The choice pleasantly surprised me. I thought something this bold would be scary to them—but they absolutely adored it,” says Drake. The colors of cacti, sagebrush and turquoise play against vibrant orange tones that pay homage to the region’s native Indian Paintbrush flower. The open-plan layout on the main floor sets the tone for the rest of the home. Giant porcelain pavers in a soft sage green connect the living, dining, and kitchen areas. Expansive windows with sliding glass doors bring in the views and create a seamless transition from the indoors out. In the living room, a capacious L-shaped sofa in a sky-colored pastel hue defines the room. A shapely wood table sits over an expressive silk-and-wool rug that Drake says reminds him of “desert sunsets.” […]View
School of RocWritten by Kaitlin Clark Photography by Eric Laignel Very few artists earn the title of changemaker. Jay-Z, however, has built a career on changing the game across every platform he touches, and he can now add the design of his new headquarters for Roc Nation—his sprawling entertainment company that includes artists, athletes, publishing, film/TV and many other ventures—to his list. In collaboration with architect Jeffrey Beers—with whom Jay-Z and Roc Nation’s CEO Desiree Perez envisioned and developed their 40/40 Club—the office move from New York City’s Garment District into a sprawling 29,000 square foot office space across four floors in the heart of Chelsea, essentially reinvents the modern, post-Covid era office. “We transcend culture for a living,” explains Perez. “The design had to fit our style, yet also allow us to work comfortably.” The result is an airy, bright space punctuated by beams of natural sunlight. It’s meant to cultivate an aura that reads more hidden downtown art gallery than office. “We were inspired by the incredible art collection,” says Jeffrey Beers of Jay-Z’s world-class acquisitions, which include “vibrant album covers, an incredible array of artist photography, athlete jerseys and paraphernalia, as well as Paper Planes apparel,” all of which take center stage throughout the company’s four floors. “We used the art collection as the anchor to create a look that mirrored creative collaboration and bold artistry.” —Jeffrey Beers “Once Desiree described Roc Nation’s bold, fearless and creative client culture, we instinctively understood how the look and feel of the […]View
Outside InWritten by Paul Hagen Photography by Lena Pfeiffer Architect Mark Bearak of dtls.ARCHITECTURE was seeking a personal getaway from New York City’s hustle and bustle. But he found that the historic homes of Hudson didn’t offer quite the escape he sought. He explains, “We bought a piece of land and thought: how do you reflect being out in nature? There’s no better way to do that than by building a glass house.” As he built glass walls to bring the outside in, designer Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens worked to carry that mix into the culinary heart of the home. “The use of the dark material as a backdrop to the wood that was used on the island,” she points out, “is a nice play in the same colors and materials that you find when you step outside the house.” Bearak and Smith had worked together on multiple projects, so he trusted her and Bilotta to help find kitchen solutions. “The thing that brings me back to Bilotta and Aston is that they can do anything. They can take a sketch and build a custom door out of it,” he says. “The precision engineering that we do—as far as concealing appliances and making the pantry on the right side of the main kitchen wall look indistinguishable from the refrigerator on the left side—is something that draws people in,” explains Smith, who stocked the kitchen with Bilotta Collection Cabinetry, Brizo faucets and a sink by Elkay. Smith loved designing the room’s […]View