The French have gifted us many thingsChampagne, croissants, and now, a fancy word that gives us permission to embrace the wonderfully weird in our homes: Jolie laide. If you played hooky during French class, allow us to interpret. Jolie laide (pronounced zho-lee-led) literally translates to pretty-ugly, and is the latest interior design trend taking over the internet. And while ugly might be the last word we want associated with our carefully curated homes, dont let it scare you. This isnt about collecting aesthetic disastersits about curating pieces that raise a few eyebrows, spark some conversation, and reveal your true personality. Hear us out, sil vous plat.What is jolie laide?If youve ever walked into a home so perfectly styled that it feels like no one actually lives there, the jolie laide trend is the antidote. You know that bizarre brass lamp thats absolutely ridiculous but makes you smile every time you pass it in the vintage store? Or that unsettling portrait that your mother swears is disturbing but you find utterly mesmerizing? Thats joile laide territory.Garrett RowlandThe portrait of the incredulous little girl in this bedroom designed by ELLE DECOR A-Lister Ghislaine Vias proves that this is indeed your party and you will cry if you want to. (Art: Awe by Jill Greenberg)I think it might be difficult for some people to digest but that is also the beauty of it, says New York and Palm Beachbased designer David Lucido. Every home should have pieces that make people stop, think, and start a conversation. These bring energy and personality to a space.We first heard the term from author and design expert Virginia Chamlee, who explained in an Instagram reel that ugly, in this sense, is used as a term of affectiona painting that is a little jarring, a sculpture that is maybe a little gaudy, a wooden chair that, on its own, might be a little ugly.If it makes you shudder, thats a bad sign, but if it makes you go, waithuh? that might be a good one. Chamlee tells ELLE DECOR that jolie laide is fundamentally about balance: Its really all about tempering those really pretty, precious pieces with a dose of what some might call uglyor pieces that most of us think of as unconventionally beautiful, she says. When paired with pretty things, the one ugly or weird thing becomes more attractiveand it keeps everything else in the space from looking too serious.Ori HarpazIn this Los Angeles home designed by David Lucido, a toe sculpture provides a delightfully surreal moment. I really had to push for that, he told us. I dont like when projects are too seriousyou need things like this to shake it up a bit.Christie Ward, coprincipal of Ward + Gray, agrees: Something that feels a bit off or wrong is sometimes exactly what the space needs, she tells us.But how do you know when something is so wrong its right versus just plain wrong? Chamlee offers a simple litmus test: There has to be something thats drawing you to it. If it makes you shudder, thats a bad sign, but if it makes you go, waithuh? that might be a good one. She points to historical examples like Jackson Pollocks abstract art or even Crocspieces that initially faced pushback but eventually found their place in the mainstream aesthetic.OK, is this really a thing?Joyce Huston, lead interior designer at Decorilla, has taken notice of the trend: Ive really been noticing this interesting shift lately, where more and more of my clients are embracing the quirkier, more unusual elements in their homes, she tells ELLE DECOR. Its a nice counterpoint to the very curated, magazine-ready looks that were so popular for a while. I think a lot of people are craving something with a bit more personality and soul.Not only are clients craving itbut designers are too. For designers like Ward, helping clients embrace the unconventional is part of the excitement. Creating a new world is what draws us to design, Huston says. Theres usually a more right answer for a room, but it will likely be something someones seen before. Were always trying to work in a piece that is unique to both the space and the people who visit it.And shes not the only one who loves upending some rules: Breaking the mold is what good design is all about, and incorporating unusual pieces moves the needle forward, Lucido tells us. The best spaces are the ones that feel authentic and personal.In an era of algorithm-driven design, where our social media feeds are flooded with what Chamlee calls the fifty shades of greige look, jolie laide feels like a breath of fresh air. For so long, design was about symmetry and balance, she tells us, but these days, tension and juxtaposition feel so much more fresh.Yves DriegheA lime green paint job and an aristocratic pooch painting make Jean-Philippe Demeyers living room the ultimate pretty-ugly moment.Interior designer Darlene Moinar agrees, noting that algorithmic design has made it increasingly difficult to challenge conventional choices. I think we get inundated with algorithms that push a specific, popular look, she says. That makes it difficult to challenge design choices or go outside the norm.The trend can manifest in various ways, whether its a taxidermied fish or a bold pattern combination that conventional wisdom would advise against. These are the pieces that make a space truly distinctive, even ifor perhaps becausethey challenge traditional design sensibilities. I think some of the most successful designs are ones that not everyone likes, Moinar tells us. If youre appealing to everyone, youre doing something wrong.The beauty of jolie laide lies in its deeply personal nature. Unlike the cookie-cutter aesthetics that have dominated in the past, this approach encourages genuine self-expression. Shannon Askinasi, lead interior designer at Ash & Pine Interiors, has seen this philosophy bubble up organically in her practice. Sometimes this approach gets birthed with a client simply asking to incorporate their grandmothers eclectic painting, or maybe its an avant-garde chair one of my clients purchased from a recent trip, she explains. For me, an ugly-pretty piece creates a strong jumping-off point, and both inspires and challenges me to create a unique design experience in a room.I think it changes the way we look at the world and gives you the confidence and power to believe in your own point of view.For Moinar, this isnt just another fleeting trend. I actually dont think its as much a trend as it is a deeply rooted design philosophy, she says. Its about creating spaces that tell your story, whether through that garishly gilded mirror you haggled for in a Parisian antiques shop (the one that made your partner question your taste but reminds you of that perfect spring weekend) or those mismatched dining chairs inherited from your grandmother (they're falling apart but remind you of childhood summers).Perhaps most importantly, embracing jolie laide can change your entire perspective. I think it changes the way we look at the world and gives you the confidence and power to believe in your own point of view, New York Citybased designer Ghislaine Vias says. Everyone has their own taste and sees beauty in different things. There should be no judgment.Embrace your own jolie laide moment.Ready to inject some personality into your space? Askinasi suggests starting small. Dip your toe in the water by starting out with room decor or accessories, she advises. Reconsider a family piece thats been gifted to you thats been relegated to your basement, or keep an eye out for an antique market find that elicits a reaction from you.Even [if it] freaks them out a bit, it usually ends up being the part of the room they love most.When hunting for these conversation pieces, Ward suggests looking beyond the obvious sources. Its always a good idea to use more obscure websites or visit antiques markets in person, she says. I love to dive into Live Auctioneers and try to find something really obscure that will be a statement piece. Estate sales are another goldmine for unique findstake time to see what catches your eye and consider why.Garrett RowlandThis little piggy went to the market, this little piggy stayed home, and this little table piggy, in a home designed by Ghislaine Vias? He gave us major jolie laide vibes. (Pig Table by Moooi)The key is finding pieces that spark what Chamlee calls a good WTF momentitems that might raise eyebrows but ultimately make your space more interesting and personally meaningful, whether its a crazy pillow fabric scheme or a kitschy chair. As Askinasi puts it, The goal is to create something disruptive.Also, consider wallpaper. I love when a client reacts strongly to a bold or jarring wallcoveringsomething that may seem gaudy on its own, but can actually be a powerful moment to elevate a room design, Askinasi says. Ive found if a wallpaper speaks to my clients in some way, or even freaks them out a bit, it usually ends up being the part of the room they love most.But honestly? There are no rules here. There doesnt have to be a reason for everything in your home other than that it makes you happy, Chamlee says. Buy the big weird painting. Re-cover your grandmothers couch in a fabric that might have horrified her. Lifes too short not to have a little fun while were here.Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE DECOR, where she manages the brands social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Her eye for emerging styles helps bring the latest in interior design to ELLE DECORs audience across platforms. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, design, and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.

Forget the occasional spa outingtheres no better way to treat yourself than by giving your far-more-frequented home bathroom a bona fide face-lift. Sure, a backsplash is fun. And of course, a few trendy touches or a luxurious tub can take your space to the next level. But the true showstopper of any well-designed bathroom is a bold and brilliant paint shade. A heavy-toned teal sets the stage for a moody space, as designer Pierre Gonalons boldly brandished in this eclectic Paris apartment. A preppy pop of high-gloss aubergine acts as an ideal backdrop for ELLE DECOR A-List designer Katie Ridders clients black-and-white photography collection in this color-drenched Manhattan remodel. Even the right neutralsee Marc Valeanus layered bathroom, awash in Farrow & Balls lilac-undertoned Dove Talecan sometimes be the furthest cry from the default flat white paint job in most bathrooms. The object of any bathroom is to feel nurtured and pampered, says designer Sara Bengur whose redo of Michael C. Halls New York City digs is the stuff of any design enthusiasts wildest color dreams. This can mean different colors for different people. Bengur says some of her clients like the idea of their primary bathroom feeling like a roomwith a rug, ottoman, decorative cabinets and antique lightingwhile others prefer a neutral-toned spa look. Before youre confronted with the full spectrum at your local paint store, its worth considering a few key factors. North-facing rooms tend to get softer, warmer light, while southern exposure brings in brighter, cooler tones. Paint finishes also affect how a color reads in a space: glossy finishes tend to deepen colors by reflecting and absorbing light, whereas eggshell or matte finishes generally keep the color true to the swatch. Bengur has just one word of warning: steer clear of the color yellow and green with a lot of yellow. "These colors are not ideal for making us look our best and brightest when looking in the mirror," she says.Are you feeling paralyzed by choice? Below, weve culled 30 0f our favorite colorful bathrooms from the ELLE DECOR archives for inspiration. Read on for bathroom paint ideas to spur on your next renovationits sure to be dripping in style.1Lulworth Blue by Farrow & BallYves DriegheBelgian designers do it their own way. If Jean-Philippe Demeyer wants a bathroom in his East Flanders manor to have a custom tub painted a shade of blue that clashes ever so slightly with the Lulworth Blue painted over the brick wall beside it, then that is whats going to happen.Buy Now2Razzle Dazzle by Benjamin MooreKirk Davis SwinehartDont adjust the brightness on your computer. Just let your eyes adjust naturally to the loudness of this wall. William Cullum paid homage to Elsa Schiaparellis trademark Shocking Pink in his Greenwich Village studio bathroom. Buy NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below3Angels Landing by Portola PaintsTrevor TondroSophia Bush is a huge fan of terracotta. So much so that the One Tree Hill star had decorator Jake Arnold paint the walls of multiple spaces of her midcentury modern home Hollywood Hillsnot just the bathroom.Buy Now4Setting Plaster by Farrow & BallPatrick BillerNude is a fitting hue for a bathroom. In the primary bathroom of an 1880s Victorian row house in Toronto, decorator Tommy Smythe opted for dusty pink to cover the walls above the Acritec soaking tub. Long live the new flesh (tone)!Buy NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Oriental Blue by Asian PaintsFabien CharuauBelieve it or not, this is one of the more subdued color schemes in the Mumbai apartment of Srila Chatterjee and Mahesh Mathai. This regal shade of blue contrasts perfectly with Indian brass wok and custom wall tiles are from Jaipur.Buy Now6Tea by Benjamin MooreEric PetschekHaven't you heard? Rich browns and reds are having a major moment. A warm terra-cotta hue, though, melds the best of both worlds. For this Manhattan home, designer Bachman Clem used the water closet as an opportunity to break out of the shell so painted the walls and ceiling in this sultry brick red. Buy NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below7Calamine by Farrow & Ball Richard PowersNeed a pink-me-up? If youd like to live la vie en rose on the daily, consider this flattering hue, which adds whimsy and softness to Michael C. Halls New York City apartment. A pale pink wall paint timelessly goes beyond the bold bubblegum pink that emerged from the Barbiecore craze (and, lets be honest, well before that). This particular blushing hue pairs perfectly with dark-toned accessories like an assortment of John Derian decoupage plates and trays.Shop Now8Hague Blue by Farrow & BallWilliam Waldron For a subtle take on a classic color, opt for Farrow & Balls Hague Blue, which is featured in the powder room of this homespun, old-world Lake Tahoe Retreat. In this jewel box of a space, designer Palmer Weiss says she took the governor off the design engine and let it rip. That entailed pairing the trimmed walls with poppy wallcovering (a reproduction of a 19th-century C.F.A. Voysey Arts and Crafts design by Trustworth Studios) for contrast. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below9Chantilly Lace by Benjamin MooreTREVOR TONDRO PHOTOGRAPHYThis soft hue is just as elegant as its name suggests. Described by Benjamin Moore as a classic go-to white that elicits images of fresh cotton and pure silk, this lovely hue is a graceful complement to a white-on-white scheme or, as in this rustic bathroom, a fitting counterpoint to anchoring Moroccan tiles. Shop Now10Pelt by Farrow & BallEric PiaseckiIf youre hesitant to take the color plunge, a diminutive powder room is the ideal place to experiment with bold colorand for an extra dose of glam energy, give your bathroom a high-gloss finish. In this luxe retreat, designer Katie Ridder began considering the wall art first. Our client wanted to start a collection of black-and-white photography here, she tells ELLE DECOR. So we painted the walls high-gloss deep aubergine as a backdrop for the artwork. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Chappell Green by Farrow & BallDouglas FriedmanGreenin all of its variationshas taken over virtually every room in the house, especially kitchens. Were equally obsessed with it in a bathroom. Here, ELLE DECOR A-List designer Ken Fulk coated the walls in his Cape Cod cottage with Farrow & Balls Chappell Green, a versatile sage tint that, per the paint company, reads blue when contrasted with warmer tones and green when paired with cooler shades.Shop Now12Skylight by Farrow & BallDaniel SchferHomeowners will obviously gravitate toward blue in bathroomswater, water, everywhere!but this hue from Farrow & Ball gives you a little bit of gray, too. The company notes that the color reads as pale blue in small spaces, while larger rooms bring out its cooler undertones. For an example, see Elad Yifrachs home in Portugal, where he used the shade in this airy primary bath. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below13Orange Coloured White by Farrow & BallWilliam Jess LairdThis tint by Farrow & Ball is precisely what it says it is: white with a dash of orange. Together, the colors make for a creamy neutral (not dissimilar to Pantones 2024 Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz) that creates an exceedingly flattering cast when youre gussying up, regardless of the hour. ELLE DECOR A-List designer Michelle R. Smith shows us how its done in her elegant New Orleans bathroom. Shop Now14Blue Gray by Farrow & BallLaure JolietWant your next bathroom makeover to give you some serious serenity? Try Farrow & Balls Blue Gray, a hue made from a little bit of black, a dollop of blue, and a dose of green. These ingredients make it an especially versatile shade, allowing it to read as a soft sage or even a duck egg, depending on the light. In the context of a soothing primary bathroom by ELLE DECOR A-List designer Frances Merrill of Reath Design, it feels like a hue plucked straight from nature. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below15Newburg Green by Benjamin Moore Haris KenjarSmall spaces such as powder rooms offer opportunities for bold design choices. Designer Anne McDonald, in this charming Minnesota lake house, painted the half bath in Benjamin Moores Newburg Green, a smoky teal shade. Depending on the light and the time of day, it can read as a deep blue or a dusty green. Shop Now16Naval by Sherwin-Williamscourtesy of Nicole FranzenNaval was named as Sherwin-Williamss 2020 Color of the Year, but obviously, this sophisticated shade has staying power. In a stylish New York apartment, design firm Le Whit used this deep, deep blue to create an enveloping, sophisticated atmosphere in the primary bathrooma feeling accentuated by a painterly wallcovering and dramatic, burgundy-colored marble. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below17Dimpse by Farrow & BallStephen Kent JohnsonDont ask us to define Dimpse. One thing we do know, however, is that it makes for a great bathroom neutral. This cool gray creates a peaceful, serene atmosphere, making it a good option for virtually every sort of space. But dont take it from us: Amanda Seyfried painted the walls in her own primary bathroom in the hue. Shop Now18Setting Plaster by Farrow & BallNicole FranzenNews flash: Pink, when used correctly, can function as the chicest neutral. One designer favorite is Farrow & Balls blushing Setting Plaster, which serves as an ultra-flattering backdrop in bedrooms, dressing rooms, and bathrooms. In the same Manhattan apartment designed by Le Whit, the color skims the walls of a half bath. Add brass fixtures, a sparkling chandelier, and a bold tiled floor andvoil!its me time perfection. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below19Monroe Bisque by Benjamin MooreFrank FrancesThe right neutral can make even the smallest spaces feel luxurious and serene. Take, for instance, the unabashedly classical bathroom in this Federal-style farmhouse in upstate New York. Swathed in Benjamin Moores Monroe Bisquedescribed by the brand as a rich, creamy neutral with a touch of honeythe rooms historic treasures are given a museum-worthy backdrop.Shop Now20Dove Tale by Farrow & BallTrevor TondroWhoever said the loo cant be your favorite room in the house? In the bathroom of this Parisian apartment, Marc Valeanu chose to drown out the street noise just beyond with a calming toneFarrow & Balls Dove Tale. When paired with bespoke Maurizio Scianna bathroom tiles and Charvet and Prada bathrobes, we daresay hes created a bath-lovers nirvana. Shop NowCharles CurkinArticles Editor, ELLE DecorCharles Curkin is ELLE Decor's Articles Editor, covering everything related to luxury watches, design, and travel, and has previously written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Paris Review.Rachel SilvaAssistant Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 12 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.

If there's one thing that every designer agrees on, it's that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It's where day-to-day life happens, from late-night homework sessions to anniversary dinners, birthday celebrations, and memorable parties. It goes without saying, then, that you want your kitchen to feel welcoming and cozy, right? And if there's one thing synonymous with soul-warming comfort, it's a fireplace."A kitchen fireplace gives this old-world charm that draws in the familyand guests too," says Louise Copeland, founder of L.B. Copeland Interior Design. "Its the perfect spot to gather, share stories, and relax in the warmth. Its not just functional; it turns the kitchen into the true heart of the home, a cozy spot where everyone feels welcome to hang out."Originally placed in kitchens for utilitarian purposes, most homes no longer rely on an enormous fireplace to cook their daily meals or provide warmthbut that doesn't mean that it's not a welcome addition to the space. From historic homes that hold relics of years past to newer builds looking to add charm and comfort, a kitchen fireplace can instantly up the cozy factor in your cook space, inviting diners to linger longer and helping the room flex between functionality and ambiance.Looking to stoke the flames of inspiration? Below, we're rounding up 15 gorgeous kitchen fireplace ideas, straight from the industry's top pros. Our takeaway? Nothing burns brighter than a home thoughtfully designed for cozy comfort.More cozy design inspiration:1Add Subtle Seating Adam Kane MacchiaTo make it easier for your sous chef to take a load off after all that slicing and dicing, style a small seating area near your kitchen fireplace so they can take a load off while keeping an eye on the stove. In the kitchen fireplace idea in quaint farmhouse by LB Copeland Interior Design, two petite stools offer a front-row seat to the action. 2Fill It With FirewoodLizzie OrmeIf you find yourself with a nonfunctional fireplace in the kitchen, don't fret. The focal point can still be a great way to add visual interest and texture to your room. Instead of leaving it empty, consider piling it high with firewood, a selection of plants, or another creative addition (like books!). Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Choose a Bold SurroundAndreas von Einsiedel//Getty ImagesRemember, your fireplace has a lot to compete with in your kitchen, from upper cabinetry and appliances to a gorgeous tile backsplash. To make sure it doesn't get lost in the shuffle, opt for a prominent mantel or firebox surround, like the antique stone design seen in this kitchen fireplace idea.4Select a Complementary StyleHearst Magazines UKIf a kitchen fireplace isn't original to your home, you want to be careful when selecting the size, location, and type of feature you add to your room. To ensure a natural fit, do a bit of research into what type of fireplace coordinates best with the architecture and age of your home, whether that's a brick beehive-style oven or a Colonial-inspired, cast-iron wood stove.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Echo the Shape Throughout Your SpaceCourtesy of deVOLTo further integrate your fireplace into your kitchen, echo elements of its design in the rest of your room, whether in the shape of the crown molding or the cabinet doors. In this stunning kitchen, designed by Banjo Beale and the team at deVOL, the curved arch of the fireplace opening is repeated on either side of the hearth for satisfying symmetry. Related Story: 16 Crown Molding Ideas That Add Architectural Character6Coordinate Your ColorsJane BeilesIn many cases, a kitchen fireplace idea will utilize natural materials and texturesmost of which come in shades of gray and brownso it'll be up to the rest of your space to marry those hues with the overall color palette. In this elegant cook space by architect Matthew R. Dougherty, a stone-clad surround melds perfectly with veiny gray marble and a metal range hood. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Make It MinimalisticTom Merton//Getty ImagesDoes your kitchen boast epic sightlines, either into the rest of your home or the great outdoors? Avoid adding visual congestion to your space by selecting a fireplace that whispers instead of yells. In this home, a floating midcentury moderninspired fireplace leaves plenty of room to enjoy the surrounding greenery.8Stray From TraditionCourtesy of deVOLYou shouldn't feel beholden to traditional design standards when deciding what your kitchen fireplace idea looks like. Think of the unusual placement as an opportunity to go bold with a tile surround or coat in a chic color, like the flowery pink seen here in a deVOL-designed kitchen.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Create the Best Seat in the HouseStephen Kent JohnsonYou know the feeling when you walk into a cozy restaurant, get seated by the room's roaring fireplace, and immediately feel like you scored the best seat in the house? Pretty great, right? Emulate that experience in your own home by placing your dining table and chairs near your hearth. Even if you're just unboxing takeout, it'll still feel like a Michelin-star experience. 10Mind the GapMichael J. LeeWhen designing a functional and effective cook space, there are a few general guidelines to keep in mind. One of the most important? Maintaining wide-enough walkways throughout the space, including around your kitchen island. Make the gap too snug, and you could be forced to shuffle around fellow cooks while juggling hot pansa recipe for disaster. If you're working with an already snug space, choose a kitchen fireplace idea that has a slim mantel projection off the wall. In this room by Carpenter & MacNeille, a barely there surround of wood and brick still brings plenty of charm to the space. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Share the LoveMichael J LeeGetting the opportunity to do a full kitchen renovation is exciting, especially considering it allows you the chance to include all sorts of extras, likeyou guessed ita fireplace. To make the most of the work (and money) the addition will entail, consider a see-through fixture that allows the room beyond to show through. In this charming home by KT2 Design Group, a multifunctional firebox shows love to both the kitchen and nearby living room, thanks to a dual-sided interior. 12Set It to the SideLaura Muthesius & Nora Eisermann for Our Food StoriesLet's be honest, there's a lot happening in the kitchen, and the addition of a fireplace might not be something you want to battle with among all the other appliances, cabinets, and pieces of furniture. Instead of putting it center stage, try adding a fireplace to the side of your kitchen, as seen here in a project by Laura Muthesius and Nora Eisermann of Our Food Stories. The resulting kitchen fireplace idea still brings that cozy factor, just without the congestion. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Level It UpWerner SegarraYou spend most of your time in the kitchen on your feet, staring at things that are counter height, whether that's the food you're prepping on your actual counter or a nearby stove. The point is, if your fireplace is ground-level, you risk missing out on the relaxing vibes it can impart. To remedy this, consider raising your fireplace to counter heightlike the stone design seen here in a project by David Michael Miller Design and Oz Architectsto bring the flames front and center. 14Put It Next to the Real DealZeke RuelasOne surefire way to seamlessly blend your kitchen fireplace into the rest of the room? By positioning it next to your stove. The two will have natural synergy, and the common-sense location will lend the impression that the fireplace was a historical feature of a bygone era in your homeeven if it wasn't. In this home by Rosa Beltran Design, a rustic brick design adds grit and a sense of history to the surrounding all-white cook space. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15When in Doubt, Add a StoveCourtesy of deVOLStumped on how to use the shell of a former fireplace in your kitchen? When in doubt, use it to house your cooktop. Stove alcoves are having a moment in design right now, and this creative reinvention offers a seamless, low-effort way to achieve the look. In this space by deVOL, an antique stone fireplace and surround act as the main stage for cooking up cozy winter meals.

Zurich-based venture capital firm Founderful has raised $140mn in its second fund $20mn more than its target and a strong sign of investor confidence in Switzerlands flourishing tech ecosystem.First announced back in February, the fund has already invested in 15 early-stage startups. These include Chiral Nano, which develops nanomaterials for silicon chips, and 8inks, which is rejigging the lithium-ion battery.Founderful formerly Wingman Ventures was launched in 2019 by Pascal Mathis, the co-founder of local travel marketplace unicorn GetYourGuide, Eat.ch co-founder Lukas Weder and Alex Stckl, former exec at Creathor Ventures.The founder-led VC exclusively backs Swiss startups at the pre-seed or seed stage. Its vision? To transform budding Swiss ventures into global industry leaders.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!From day one, we have been relentless in our efforts to create a foothold for the Swiss tech ecosystem on the global stage, said Stckl, partner at Founderful.Fund II is evidence that we have walked the talk, and investors have taken note. This was no easy win, but we fought hard.Founderfuls new Fund II is backed by a range of institutions, family offices, and founders from unicorns such as Duolingo, Climeworks, Proton, and Scandit.Silicon alps?Stckl called the Swiss tech ecosystem a powerhouse thats only just starting to claim its place on the global stage. The Alphine nation has the highest number of unicorn companies per capita in Europe and has ranked first in the Global Innovation Index for13 years in a row.But perhaps the Swiss tech ecosystems biggest asset is its universities and research institutions. ETH Zurich, for one, now produces more university spin-outs than any other university in Europe. We profiled one of these companies, Oxyle, earlier this year in an in-depth piece about PFAS, commonly known as forever chemicals. Led by Dr. Fajer Mushtaq, Oxyle has developed a reactor that mineralises these cancer-causing compounds, breaking apart their carbon-fluorine bonds.Founderful led Oxyles pre-seed investment in 2022 under its first $90mn fund, which has since been fully deployed across 40 startups.The VC claims that these portfolio companies have since created over 1,100 jobs and secured more than $450 million in follow-on funding. Notable successes include Ethon AI, which helps factories like the Lindt chocolate factory save waste, and plastic recycling startup DePoly.Severin Hacker, CTO and co-founder at Duolingo and investor in Founderfuls Fund II called the up-and-coming VC meticulous and relentless in creating value for the founders it backs.Their approach, combined with the unfolding potential of the Swiss tech ecosystem, probably makes them one of Europes most promising VC firms, said Hacker. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

American wearables firm Realwear has acquired Swiss augmented reality (AR) startup Almer Technologies.Almers AR headset the Arc-2 overlays digital information onto the wearers field of view, allowing them to access real-time data, instructions, or assistance from an engineer seated anywhere in the world. The glasses are targeted specifically at industrial companies looking to help their staff maintain and repair equipment and machinery remotely.Almers innovative approach for frontline workers has enabled us to deliver industrial AR solutions that are intuitive and effortless to use, said Sebastian Beetschen, Almers co-founder and CEO.Beetschen founded Almer alongside Timon Binder in 2021 as a spin-off from a research project at the Swiss Insitute for Technology. The company has raised $8mn in funding so far. Its clients include Coca-Cola, Ford, and Samsung.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!For Realwear, the acquisition is part of its plans to become a global leader in the industrial wearables space. For Almer, the deal bolsters the budding companys ambitionsto scale at pace and expand beyond Europe.We are thrilled that the Almer team is joining forces with the American leader in the augmented reality space for frontline workers, said Olivier Laplace, managing partner at Swiss VC Vi Partners. The firm was an early back of Almer.This strategic move validates our early conviction that Almer is a technical front-runner, said Laplace, who will now join the board of directors of Realwear.The acquisition comes as the market for AR, and extended reality (XR) more broadly, consolidates.The initial hype around XR sparked a wave of startups and experimental applications, driven by excitement over immersive digital experiences. Now, as the market matures, were beginning to see where the technology adds real value.XR tech can now be found in any industry that benefits from immersive interactions. Healthtech has been one of the greatest use cases. AR is used to provide train medical professionals, enhance patient diagnostics, and even facilitate remote surgeries.Startups in transportation, manufacturing, professional training and construction are also harnessing the technology. And of course, gaming and entertainment the early targets of the XR market still make up a sizeable portion of the market.Almers buyout was financially backed by TeamViewer, a major player in enterprise AR software that owns a minority stake in both Almer and Realwear. Almer will continue to operate from its headquarters in Switzerland. The deal amount was not disclosed. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Recent rumors have strongly suggested that Apple is working on an ultra-slim version of the iPhone for next year that could be called the iPhone 17 Slim or even the iPhone 17 Air. While we are almost a year away from this product, it seems that Samsung is pushing ahead with its plans to launch a Galaxy S25 Slim.Samsung wants a Slim phone to compete with iPhone AirSmartPrix has obtained details of SM-S937, a mysterious variant of Samsungs Galaxy S25. The website explains that the model numbers of the successors to the Galaxy S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra had already been leaked, and the fourth identifier suggests that the lineup will gain another version in addition to the three existing versions.A report last month revealed that Samsung is building a Slim version of the Galaxy S25 that will be launched next year along with the other phones in the S25 series. Its still unclear how much thinner this new Galaxy phone will be, but it seems that Samsung wants to get ahead of Apple in the race for the thinnest smartphone of 2025.According to multiple sources, Apple is expected to replace the Plus variant of the iPhone with this super slim version next year. The device is rumored to have a single rear camera and a smaller cut-out for the front camera and sensors behind the Dynamic Island. The so-called iPhone 17 Air would be promoted as a version between the regular iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro.The iPhone 17 Air should also be one of the first iPhone models to feature Apples new custom 5G modem, along with the iPhone SE 4. However, a recent report suggested that Apple is facing difficulties in making a super slim design, and it may not be as thin as initially expected.As of right now, the iPhone 17 lineup is expected to be announced and released in September of 2025. As always, this timeline can shift based on production and supply chain issues.Its also important to remember that because were still months away from the announcement of the iPhone 17 lineup, its possible that Apples plans change.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

Vimeo recently launched its visionOS app that Apple announced during WWDC 2024. As part of bringing Vimeo to the Apple Vision Pro, filmmaker Jake Oleson has published a short film dubbed currents. If you can get your hands on an Apple Vision Pro, give the spatial short film a watch.My favorite part? The cinematography style that resembles photographs coming to life to me. currents is also an easy viewing with wonderful music and a thoughtful story. Do give it a watch on Vision Pro if you can.Accompanying the short film is a very cool director interview blog post on Vimeo that shares more about the process:As part of the launch of Vimeosnew appfor Apple Vision Pro, we asked him to create an original short film for us that was shot entirely in spatial format. Armed with a single Canon camera with a dual fisheye lens, Jake and his team flew out to Vietnam to create currents, the story of a young Vietnamese woman named Lynn, and her experience traveling to and arriving in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time.Meanwhile, theres plenty of great spatial and 3D content AVP users should have queued up and ready to view. See Apple Vision Pro proves best home theater as 2024 top grossing films arrive in 3D and Apple Immersive Concert for One arrives next week on Vision Pro for suggestions.Follow Zac: X, Threads, Instagram / Shop Apple on Amazon to support my work 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

The budding bromance between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and president-elect Donald Trump could have massive implications for the United States' space program assuming the volatile pair don't flame out, as both have repeatedly done with other allies.That's especially true when factoring in NASA's current strategy of relying on the private space industry for initiatives ranging from getting to the surface of the Moon to building a space station in Earth's orbit.As Durham University astropolitics associate professor Bleddyn Bowen argues in an essay for The Conversation, the unusual pair-up between the new president and the richest man in the world could see the US doubling down on its existing private industry-led space policy, while potentially supercharging an emerging arms race in the Earth's orbit.In some ways, the Trump administration could simply continue where it left off four years ago, with an emphasis on the Artemis Moon landing program, which has continued under the current Biden administration.But the inclusion of Musk in Trump's inner circle this time around could also shake up NASA's priorities.As SpacePolicyOnline editor Marcia Smith recently noted, the US may double down on human spaceflight efforts, an endeavor long championed by his new right-hand man. Don't forget that during his first term, Trump offered the head of NASA unlimited funding if the agency could get to Mars during his presidency."For all of the money we are spending, NASA should NOT be talking about going to the Moon We did that 50 years ago," Trump tweeted in 2019. "They should be focused on the much bigger things we are doing, including Mars (of which the Moon is a part), Defense and Science!"This is all still hypothetical. After all, Trump didn't appoint Musk as the country's space policy czar instead, the richest man in the world has been put in charge of a still-fictional "Department of Government Efficiency," which will allegedly be tasked with "dismantling government bureaucracy" and slashing "excess regulations."That role could facilitate Musk's hunger to break down environmental rules that were put in place, for instance, to protect wildlife inhabiting the region surrounding his space company's so-called "Starbase" facilities in South Texas.At the same time, especially given Trump's ongoing denial of climate change, other government agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or NASA's Earth Sciences Division could face major budget cuts, Smith argued.And don't forget thatNASA was already severely underfunded under the Biden administration, with Congress balking at the space agency's ballooning budgetary demands. Just this week, NASA's iconic Jet Propulsion Lab in California announced it would be laying off an additional 325 employees.Where a GOP-led Congress will leave NASA's financial situation remains to be seen. As Smith points out, around half of its budget is currently allocated to its human spaceflight program.The new administration could also majorly shake up the National Space Council, which is by law overseen by the Vice President. As Bowen points out, vice president Kamala Harris formalized a ban on anti-satellite weapons tests in 2022, something that could be revoked under vice president-elect JD Vance.As far as we can tell, Vance has no background in space whatsoever, making his control over the council a big question mark.On an international level, Trump's saber-rattling "America First" approach could greatly deteriorate foreign relations, especially when it comes to space.However, alienating the international space community could have devastating effects on the country's efforts to establish dominance in space."I think were just going to wait and see how that plays out," former US Space Command deputy commander John Shaw said during a recent episode the Space Foundation podcast, as quoted by SpaceNews. "Its hard to do things on your own in space, because were all in there together. It would be like trying to do air traffic control all by yourself."More on space policy: It Sounds Like NASA's Moon Rocket Might Be Getting CanceledShare This Article

Image by Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post via GettyRx/MedicinesThere are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump's newly mintedsecretary of Health and Human Services.But a particularly concrete example might be that helobbied against vaccination in the Polynesian island nation of Samoa prior to a deadly uptick in measles that killed dozens of children there.Kennedy claimed in the 2023 documentary Shot in the Arm that he "had nothing to do with people not vaccinating in Samoa" while visiting the Polynesian islands in 2019. However, that Kennedy and the anti-vaccination nonprofit he founded, Children's Health Defense, actually encouraged misinformation around vaccinations during a 2019 trip, just months before the ravaging outbreak and which helped influence the decrease in measles vaccinations that precipitated it.Ultimately, the 83 deaths that measles caused in Samoa is an unfixable tragedy, and to say the least it doesn't bode particularly well for Kennedy's influence on health policy here in the US. But RFK seems undisturbed by the fact that he helped induce a public health crisis.In some ways, that disastrous rsum puts the Kennedy scion squarely in line with Trump's public health legacy. After all, Trump ruled over the devastating COVID-19 pandemic about as thoughtfully as a cat dropping a beheaded mouse on a pillow.Trump publicly railed against the level-headedformer White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, dismissing him as "a disaster." And instead of upholding Fauci's science-backed advice, Trump preferred to baselessly promote the anti-parasitic hydroxychloroquine, which is now associated with higher death rates among COVID-19 patients, and publicly muse about injecting patients with bleach.There's a strange side note, but it's worth mentioning: one of Trump's smarter moves during the early pandemic was to pour funding into developing a COVID vaccine, in an initiative known as Operation Warp Speed that's been broadly hailed as a success.The only problem? Trump quickly realized that his base hates the idea of vaccines, so he stopped talking about it on the campaign trail and regressed back into his more traditional fearmongering on the topic.In other words, Kennedy who once proudly proclaimed that a worm had eaten chunks of his brain, and that's without getting into the weird animal stuff should feel protected by Trump's conspiracy-soaked White House. Whether Americans should feel the same is a different matter entirely.More on Robert F. Kennedy: RFK Jr. Gloats About Plan to Gut FDA Under TrumpShare This Article

Nov 15, 2024Ravie LakshmananCyber Espionage / MalwareCybersecurity researchers have shed light on a new remote access trojan and information stealer used by Iranian state-sponsored actors to conduct reconnaissance of compromised endpoints and execute malicious commands.Cybersecurity company Check Point has codenamed the malware WezRat, stating it has been detected in the wild since at least September 1, 2023, based on artifacts uploaded to the VirusTotal platform."WezRat can execute commands, take screenshots, upload files, perform keylogging, and steal clipboard content and cookie files," it said in a technical report. "Some functions are performed by separate modules retrieved from the command and control (C&C) server in the form of DLL files, making the backdoor's main component less suspicious."WezRat is assessed to be the work of Cotton Sandstorm, an Iranian hacking group that's better known under the cover names Emennet Pasargad and, more recently, Aria Sepehr Ayandehsazan (ASA).The malware was first documented late last month by U.S. and Israeli cybersecurity agencies, describing it as an "exploitation tool for gathering information about an end point and running remote commands."Attack chains, per the government authorities, involve the use of trojanized Google Chrome installers ("Google Chrome Installer.msi") that, in addition to installing the legitimate Chrome web browser, is configured to run a second binary named "Updater.exe" (internally called "bd.exe").The malware-laced executable, for its part, is designed to harvest system information and establish contact with a command-and-control (C&C) server ("connect.il-cert[.]net") to await further instructions.Check Point said it has observed WezRat being distributed to several Israeli organizations as part of phishing emails impersonating the Israeli National Cyber Directorate (INCD). The emails, sent on October 21, 2024, originated from the email address "alert@il-cert[.]net," and urged recipients to urgently install a Chrome security update."The backdoor is executed with two parameters: connect.il-cert.net 8765, which represents the C&C server, and a number used as a 'password' to enable the correct execution of the backdoor," Check Point said, noting that providing an incorrect password could cause the malware to "execute an incorrect function or potentially crash.""The earlier versions of WezRat had hard-coded C&C server addresses and didn't rely on 'password' argument to run," Check Point said. "WezRat initially functioned more as a simple remote access trojan with basic commands. Over time, additional features such as screenshot capabilities and a keylogger were incorporated and handled as separate commands."Furthermore, the company's analysis of the malware and its backend infrastructure suggests there are at least two different teams who are involved in the development of WezRat and its operations."The ongoing development and refinement of WezRat indicates a dedicated investment in maintaining a versatile and evasive tool for cyber espionage," it concluded."Emennet Pasargad's activities target various entities across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, posing a threat not only to direct political adversaries but also to any group or individual with influence over Iran's international or domestic narrative."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE