The worlds premier trade show dedicated to natural stone wrapped up this fall after four event-packed days in Verona, Italy, and suffice it to say, it rocked. Marmomac 2024 drew more than 50,000 attendees representing every link of the stone-production chain, from quarrying raw materials to designing interiors with finished itemsand even beyond, exploring still-experimental applications for manufacturing, architecture, and design.Ennevi VeronafiereThe immense show comes together each year in the vast Veronafiere exhibition spacepicture 12 show halls and seven outside areas stacked with stone slabs, stone interior installations, stone decorative pieces, and high-design stone creations the exact identity of which might present a mystery but whose beauty cant be denied. The venues Plus Theatre was also home to the astonishing Walk of Stone (shown above), a riff on the Hollywood tourist attraction, composed of squares of stone from around the worlda magical carpet, as the projects mastermind, architect Giorgio Canale, put it, that served as an ode to the materials diversity of colors, textures, and finishes.Ennevi VeronafiereA crown jewel of the show is the A Matter of Stone pavilion. Curated by ELLE Decor with an interior layout designed by the famed Italian design studio Calvi Brambilla, the hall showcased innovative uses of stone in architecture and construction, home furnishings, and interior and exterior design. The exhibitorssome 20 companies from nine different countriesare all in contention for the ELLE Decor-sponsored Matter of Stone Award, as well. EffezetagroupThis year, top honors went to Italian limestone company Pimar for its exhibition La casa di pietra (House of Stone), curated by Gumdesign, which demonstrates the role of marble in our homes through a collection of functional, iconic, and poetic objects. First conceived for Marmomac in 2014, the exhibit has gone on to be widely shown, along the way adding pieces and evolving in concept to reflect sustainability and the ideals of conscious design. It made a triumphant return to Marmomac for its 10th anniversary.EffezetagroupSpecial mention went to the Portuguese company Natstone, for its display featuring stone-processing innovations including honeycomb technology, which allows for natural-stone constructions such as furniture to be both strong and lightweight. EffezetagroupMarmomac serves as a microcosm of the industry, bringing together manufacturers, importers, equipment makers, buyers, architects, and designersanyone and everyone connected with this age-old, much-prized, and endlessly versatile material. All were there this year for exhibits by nearly 1,500 major players in the industry representing 55 countries; a jam-packed schedule of lectures, seminars, and workshops, including talks by renowned designers Henry Timi and Ron Arad organized in conjunction with ELLE Decor; and ample opportunities for professional development and networking.The show, a confluence of art, science, engineering, and design seen through the lens of natural stone, takes place annually; Marmomac 2025 is scheduled for September 23 to 26.

If you have a nonworking fireplace at home, you might miss out on building cozy fires, but you can still indulge in the warm and comforting atmosphere it can offer. There are countless empty fireplace ideas that can transform this home feature into a stunning design centerpiece in the fall and winter months. Fireplaces are typically the focal point of any room they're in, and it's time to return them to their former glory. The best empty fireplace ideas honor their original purpose while keeping them both functional and beautiful. Whether you choose to fill the space with decorative firewood, an arrangement of pillar candles, or an unexpected artistic accent, were here to help ignite your creativity. Below, we spotlight 19 brilliant ideas for utilizing your non-working fireplace. Trust us, with these designs on display, youll never miss a roaring blaze again.Additional copy by Hadley Mendelsohn.More inspiration for a cozy home:1Feign FunctionalityRebecca LehdeThis empty fireplace idea involves stacking logs to evoke the charm of a rustic cabin, perfect for a lakeside retreat. Filling the nonworking fireplace completes the space rather than leaving it bare.Tour the Entire Home2Display AntiquesFrancesco LagneseTake note of this empty fireplace idea from designer Tom Scheerer who used one to house a paper fan. The additional wood is a nice nod to the structure's past life. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Keep It BareLesley UnruhRather than fill your empty fireplace in an already busily designed room, keep it simple. In this sitting room by designer Sarah Vaile, the fireplace may be bare, but padded hearth guards offer excellent overflow seating.Tour the Entire Home4Retile ItKingston Lafferty DesignOld meets new in this empty fireplace idea from Kingston Lafferty Design. The ornate Victorian mantel contrasts with the graphic tiled fireplace, which reflects the geometric cabinets. The cactus in the fireplace niche livens it up. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Paint It BlackNicole Hollis StudioBrick doesn't always vibe with sleek monochromatic decor, luxe natural stone materials, and modern art. Nicole Hollis Studio's solution was to paint over them with a dark or black color. This creates depth and makes the old-timey character of bricks more discreet. Do this if you want to make your empty fireplace look edgy but understated. 6Go MonochromeLeanne Ford InteriorsLeanne Ford painted this entire nonfunctioning fireplace whiteeven the decorative firewood. Then she warmed up the living room with pampas grass and cream accents. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Conceal the OpeningANNIE SCHLECHTERIf you want your fireplace to look like it works even if it doesn't, simply cover the facade with a classic black screen. This empty fireplace idea adds so much character to this country-inspired townhouse living room. 8Use a Statement ScreenJONATHAN HOEKKLOOr, make it pop with a decorative screen like this brutalist one. It conceals the empty fireplace but also spruces up the surrounding area. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Display ArtworkREID ROLLSIn this chic, texture-rich environment, interior designer Leanne Ford turned an empty fireplace into a little gallery to display pottery and artwork. 10Arrange FlowersFrancesco LagneseWhen in doubt, blooms are usually the answer. Liven up the drab space with a pretty flower arrangement, like in the empty fireplace idea in this Nantucket cottage by Jim Howard. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Fill It With Vintage BooksJersey Ice Cream Co.Jersey Ice Cream Co. filled this empty fireplace up with stacks and stacks of vintage books, complementing the rustic, aged look of the mantel. 12String LightsMike GartenJust because you don't have a mantel or a working fireplace doesn't mean you can't huddle up to a warm, cozy glow. Though this living room is decked out for Christmas, the string lightfilled lanterns could work all year long.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Add Natural TexturesKatie Hodges DesignGo the classic route and pile logs in your fireplace to give it an inviting and homey feel, even if you can't actually light them on fire. If you have reclaimed wood seats, flank your fireplace with them as Katie Hodges did in this empty fireplace ideathey'll accent the firewood perfectly. 14Store MagazinesCourtesy of Zeke Ruelas for Emily Henderson DesignsMagazine hoarders, rejoice. You finally have another place to store your latest reads. Take note from Emily Henderson and pile them up in your empty fireplace. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Make It the Focal PointLeanne Ford InteriorsYour impulse might be to draw the eye away from an empty or nonfunctioning fireplace, but this living room by Leanne Ford may convince you otherwise. "The clients wanted to elevate their space and I knew the full wall fireplace was an opportunity to do that! I randomly came up with this idea to do a tiered thing to it and covered it with my ever favorite concrete skimcoat," says Ford.16Display DecorJonny ValiantIf coastal style is your jam, try adding a large piece of coral inside your fireplace. You'll feel like you're by the sea, no matter where you actually live. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17White OutHouse BeautifulA smart and easy empty fireplace idea is by simply saturating it with one color. To make the space feel lighter and airier, white should be your go-to.18Have A SeatCourtesy of Tessa NeustadtStick a small accent chair in your fireplace. It'll function as decor and extra seating when you need it. See more at Amber Interiors.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Light CandlesHouse BeautifulJust because your fireplace doesn't work, doesn't mean it should be in the dark. Placing candles in the space will give it an inviting glow.

When Chandler and Jeremy Quarles saw the online listing for their Brentwood, Tennessee, home, the kitchen was conspicuously absent. During a tour, they quickly learned why. The kitchen was like a time capsulecompact galley style layout, original dark stained oak cabinetry, bright yellow formica countertops, and even the original oven that survived decades of family dinners, says Chandler, the lead designer of their Nashville-based studio Peach & Pine Interiors. It had remained virtually untouched since the house was built in 1965, but the duo knew the kitchen had immense potential to be light-filled, functional, and charming, says Chandler.The couple planned and saved for nearly three years before renovating the kitchen, along with several other rooms on the main floor. To open up the space, they removed a wall that divided the former dining room and kitchen. This allowed them to place a 10-foot, solid walnut island in the center of the room, and then line the perimeter with ample cabinetry built by Broken Compass Woodworking. The focal point became the range alcove, where a dark soapstone backsplash and walnut shelving add a moody yet sophisticated touch.Joseph BradshawThe Barcelo Cream marble used for the counters is a bit harder, more user friendly than many marble species, says Chandler. It has been easy to use and maintain! Wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Benjamin Moore. Pendants: DeVol Kitchens. Cabinetry hardware: Massey via Rejuvenation. Faucet: DeVol Kitchens. Curtains: custom, on Pottery Barn curtain rod. Wall art: antique.Near the kitchen, the original laundry room felt cramped and awkwardly placed, as it was in direct line of sight from the front door. So they transformed it into a butlers pantry thats a hub for all things beverages, making entertaining so much more fun, Chandler says. It has a door that leads onto the back porch, and it is the perfect place for guests to come inside and fill their glass or grab a drink from the mini fridge.Joseph BradshawThe new butlers pantry in what was once a cramped laundry room.Joseph BradshawChickens would have once occupied the bottom of this Irish pine cabinet from the late 1800s.Joseph BradshawAll new cabinetry lines the wall opposite the breakfast nook, including a paneled refrigerator.Joseph BradshawThe range alcove features adark soapstone backsplash and walnut shelving.Since the existing breakfast room that was connected to the kitchen already had big windows with views of the tree-filled backyard, all it needed was a facelift. They added wainscoting painted in Antique Pewter by Benjamin Moore and paired it with an understated Morris & Co. wallpaper, a serious upgrade from the orange, mustard, and olive plaid wallpaper they discovered under layers of paint in the kitchen. Fresh lighting from Visual Comfort completes the look.Joseph BradshawThe 1910s English oak drop leaf table was sourced from Patina + Co in Nashville. The chairs, an heirloom set from Chandlers grandparents, were recovered in Kravet fabric.A soft, neutral color palette fuels a sense of calm throughout every areafrom the kitchen cabinetry painted in Benjamin Moores Natural Cream to the Barcelo Cream marble counters. My inspiration comes from classic, historic architecture from the American South combined with a love for English interiors, Chandler says. It is designed for the present and inspired by the past.Related StoriesIn the mix of new and old pieces that achieve her vision, the antique kitchen cabinet stands out. It is an Irish pine kitchen cabinet from the late 1800s, and we affectionately call it the chicken cabinet, the designer explains. The [previous] owners would have used the bottom sections to house their chickens when they brought them in from the cold at night. Now we use it to store all the beautiful, decorative pieces that I keep collecting.Not only is the kitchen now a major selling point, but, more importantly, its a place where their family can actually enjoy spending time every day.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

The popular encrypted messaging platform Signal announced on Monday some new features coming to its users. With the update, its now easier to join group calls using custom links, so read on as we detail whats new in Signal.Signal brings new features for group callsAs announced in a blog post, Signals latest update adds a new way for users to join a group call. Previously, users had to create a group chat before starting a group call. Now with the update, users can simply create a link to invite others to join the call.To create a link, simply open the Signal app and look for the links tab. Then tap the button to create a new link. Users can choose a custom name for the link and even require approval before someone joins the call. You can also remove people from calls and optionally block them from the call so they cant join again.Another cool option is the ability to reuse the same link for future calls, which is useful for weekly meetings, for example. Signal supports group calls with up to 50 people.In addition to these improvements, the update adds some other new features. For example, there is now a raise button during calls so that everyone can see who wants to talk next. Users can also now react with emojis during a call. Moreover, the call controls have been updated to make it easier to turn the camera or microphone on and off.The new features are now being rolled out to Signal users on desktop, iOS, and Android. When it comes to iPhone and iPad, the app is available for free on the App Store. Make sure you have the latest version installed on your device in order to get access to the new features.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple introduced a brand new interface to its Photos app with iOS 18, which for years had looked pretty much the same. Unsurprisingly, while some users liked the update, others are still reluctant to approve the new app. But there was one very annoying aspect of the new Photos app that Apple is finally fixing with iOS 18.2.Apple changes the video player in the iOS 18 Photos appWith the third beta of iOS 18.2, which was released to developers on Monday, Apple has made a small but important change to the Photos apps video player. In previous versions of iOS 18, videos are displayed with white borders around them and users have to tap the screen to watch them in full screen. Now videos are always played in full screen, just like in older versions of iOS.The new video scroll bar and playback controls are still there, but the white space around the videos is gone. Now tapping on the screen simply hides and shows the interface buttons as it used to before iOS 18.Personally, I was never a fan of the new video interface in the iOS 18 Photos app, so Im glad to see Apple changing it. Given that the company is reverting to the old design, it seems that more people were unhappy with this aspect of the Photos app.Since the very first beta of iOS 18.0 in June, Apple has made a lot of changes to the Photos app based on feedback from users and developers. The app is now entirely customizable and its internal navigation has been completely changed, which has caused some users to dislike the interface as they consider it too confusing.Photos app in iOS 18.1 (left) and iOS 18.2 (right)During the development of iOS 18, some other more radical changes were also reversed such as the carousel with highlights that was scrapped in iOS 18.0 beta 5. At the end of the day, this whole story reminds me of when Apple tried unsuccessfully to introduce a major redesign to Safari and ended up bringing back the classic interface after many complaints.Its worth noting that iOS 18.2 will be released to the public in December.What are your thoughts on the new Photos app in iOS 18? Let us know in the comments section below.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apparently you can buy anything, if you're rich enough.Dialing InDuring his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just one day after the election, president-elect Donald Trump decided to include his number one campaigner: Elon Musk.First reported byAxios, this three-way call was apparently less tense than one might expect.According to insiders Axios spoke to, Zelenskyy was reassured by what he heard from the billionaire pair amid speculation about how a second Trump presidency will affect the United States' relations with Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion.One of those sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity so they could discuss the matter freely, said that it "didn't leave Zelenskyy with a feeling of despair."In particular, the Ukrainian president was heartened that the call happened so soon after the election, one ofAxios' anonymous sources claims. Notably, the Zelenskyy call occurred days before Trump spoke to Putin and during that exchange, which seems to have happened without Musk, he advised his Russian counterpart not to escalate his years-long incursion in Ukraine.From Russia With LoveDuring the 25-minute call, Musk told the Ukrainian leader that he'd continue supporting Ukraine via Starlink satellite. That reassurance was also likely welcome to Zelenskyy following reports last month indicating that Russian forces were using Ukraine's Starlink access to their own ends.It's also curious that the South African-born technocrat was put on the call given that just a few weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had been having secret phone calls with Putin since late 2022 the same year Russia invaded Ukraine.During those chats, Putin purportedly asked Musk not to provide Starlink access to Taiwan at the behest of Chinese President Xi Jinping and given that the disputed country still doesn't have Starlink, it appears that the billionaire acquiesced.It doesn't appear that those clandestine chats were discussed during the relatively brief call between Trump, Musk, and Zelenskyy. Nevertheless, we'd love to hear what the trio did talk about.Share This Article

They could be making rainstorms fewer and worse, too. Cloudy SkiesMicroplastics may literally be changing the weather.In a press release, Penn State saysthat its environmental researchers have found evidence that microplastics may help in the formation of the ice crystals around which rain droplets form, essentially "seeding" clouds unintentionally.Published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology: Air, this new lab-based study saw Penn State researchers place four different types of microplastics low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in small droplets of water, allowing them to cool slowly to see how they affected the freezing process.The results? The droplets with microplastics in them produced ice crystals between nine and 18 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than those without, demonstrating that rain-producing ice crystals can form at warmer temperatures with these inorganic particulates than without them.Translation: with microplastics changing the way rain forms, they may well be changing weather patterns too.Heavy RainMicroplastics keep being detected everywhere scientists look, from the penises of living humans to buried archeological treasure. This new study may aid how we understand these harmful particulates, and how they seem to be so ubiquitous."Throughout the past two decades of research into microplastics, scientists have been finding that they're everywhere, so this is another piece of that puzzle," said Penn State chemistry professor Miriam Freedman, the senior author of the new paper.As Freedman explains, atmospheric microplastics could both make it rain less and also make it rain heavier."In a polluted environment with many more aerosol particles, like microplastics, you are distributing the available water among many more aerosol particles, forming smaller droplets around each of those particles," the professor explained. "When you have more droplets, you get less rain, but because droplets only rain once they get large enough, you collect more total water in the cloud before the droplets are large enough to fall and, as a result, you get heavier rainfall when it comes."Though this isn't the first study to posit that there are microplastics in the clouds, this study offers more evidence than ever that they may be changing the weather for the worse."Its now clear that we need to have a better understanding of how they're interacting with our climate system," Freedman said, "because weve been able to show that the process of cloud formation can be triggered by microplastics."More on microplastics: Microplastics Likely Causing Wave of Cancer in Young PeopleShare This Article

Nov 11, 2024Ravie LakshmananMalware / SEO PoisoningIn an unusually specific campaign, users searching about the legality of Bengal Cats in Australia are being targeted with the GootLoader malware."In this case, we found the GootLoader actors using search results for information about a particular cat and a particular geography being used to deliver the payload: 'Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?,'" Sophos researchers Trang Tang, Hikaru Koike, Asha Castle, and Sean Gallagher said in a report published last week.GootLoader, as the name implies, is a malware loader that's typically distributed using search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning tactics for initial access.Specifically, the malware is deployed onto victim machines when searching for certain terms like legal documents and agreements on search engines like Google surface booby-trapped links pointing to compromised websites that host a ZIP archive containing a JavaScript payload.Once installed, it makes way for a second-stage malware, often an information stealer and remote access trojan dubbed GootKit, although it has also been observed delivering other families such as Cobalt Strike, IcedID, Kronos, REvil, and SystemBC in the past for post-exploitation.The latest attack chain is no different in that searches for "Do you need a license to own a Bengal cat in Australia" surface results that include a link to a legitimate-but-infected website belonging to a Belgium-based LED display maker, from where victims are prompted to download a ZIP archive.Present within the ZIP archive is a JavaScript file that's then responsible for kicking off a multi-stage attack chain that culminates in the execution of a PowerShell script capable of harvesting system information and fetching additional payloads. It's worth noting that an identical campaign was documented by Cybereason earlier this July.Sophos said it did not observe the deployment of GootKit in the case the company analyzed, thereby preventing the download of additional malware."GootLoader is one of a number of continuing malware-delivery-as-a-service operations that heavily leverage search results as a means to reach victims," the researchers said. "The use of search engine optimization, and abuse of search engine advertising to lure targets to download malware loaders and dropper, are not newGootLoader has been doing this since at least 2020."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Some 25 years in the making, Ridley ScottsGladiator II finally arrives in theaters later this month. (For context: When the first film debuted in theaters in the summer of 2000 Chappell Roan was ... two years old.)The film is still about a week and a half from release, but the first reviews are in: Thecritics whove seen the film so fararemixed. Most say the film is entertaining, if a bit familiar. (A fair number compare it to a remake, even though it is technically a sequel, featuring Paul Mescal as the adult version of a character from the original film.) The person drawing the most praise so far is Denzel Washington, whos getting very solid notices for his performance as a former slave with grand designs for Mescals character.The reviews also praiseScotts action and spectacle across the board, although some do say the whole affair feels a bit too close to the original movie in terms of structure. One critic said watching the movie is akin todj vu.Gladiator IIParamount Picturesloading...READ MORE: The Best Movies of the Year So FarHeres a sampling of theGladiator IIreviews so far.Caryn James, BBC.com:By far the best popcorn film of the year.Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse:It's a darker, more vicious film for a darker, more vicious time, a relevancy that has only grown in recent days.Tim Grierson, Screen International:UltimatelyGladiator IIis diminished by a nagging recognition that this material felt fresher in the first film.Owen Gleiberman, Variety:David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter:Theres a dj vu quality to much of the new film, a slavishness that goes beyond the caged men forced to fight for their survival, and seeps into the very bones of a drama overly beholden to the original.Gladiator IIParamountloading...Ross Bonaime, Collider:A grand epic that cant escape Maximus shadow.Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly:What elevatesGladiator IIin the cinematic arena is the ways its themes and dialogue underpin its outrageous spectacle.Brian Truitt, USA Today:Yes, we are entertained again by outrageous sequel.Chris Evangelista, /Film:Scott and Scarpa should've jettisoned the first two acts of the film and made the final act the main focus.Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence:We are less entertained.Gladiator IIopens in theaters on November 22.Get our free mobile appFamous Movies Featuring Once-Beloved Products That No Longer ExistThese movies now work as time capsules, capturing a time when these now-defunct products existed.Filed Under: Denzel Washington, Gladiator, Gladiator 2, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Ridley ScottCategories: Movie News

Mattel has had to apologize for a major error on the packaging for their line of dolls from the upcoming movie version ofWicked, after concernedcustomers discoveredthat a website listed on them directed people not to asite for the film but to a similarly titled porn page.Oops.This could prove to be a costly error. TheWickedfilm looks to be one of the biggest movies of the fall and the line of toys could be a hot item this holiday season after kids see the film, which is about the relationship between Glinda the Good Witch (Ariana Grande) and the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo) in the years prior to the events ofThe Wizard of Oz.There have been reports online that the items are already being pulled from store shelves. The products were widely available on Target and Amazons website as of a few days ago, but all appear to be taken down as of this writing.Anecdotally, my daughter received one of theWicked dolls for her birthday last week and after news broke, I checked the discarded packaging to see what it said. Sure enough the website listed there takes you not to an official site for the film but to a porn site of a very similar name. (I had to investigate for journalism purposes, you see.)WICKEDUniversalloading...READ MORE: We Tried Starbucks TwoWicked DrinksHere was Mattels statement on the issue...Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the U.S., which intended to direct consumers to the officialWickedMovie.comlanding page. We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this. Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children. Consumers who already have the product are advised to discard the product packaging or obscure the link and may contact Mattel Customer Service for further information.Wickedopens in theaters on November 22. And just for the record, the official website for the movie is WickedMovie.com. Make sure you put movie in there. If you dont, something else might be defying gravity.Get our free mobile appThe Worst Parts of 15 Great MoviesThese movies are terrific. Theyre not perfect, though. Filed Under: Mattel, WickedCategories: Movie News