Clearly, these AD PRO Directory Houston interior designers are redefining southern style. From interiors rich in color and pattern to more neutral high-end spaces with a modern industrial twist, these 21 studios all put their unique stamp on residences in the Houston area and beyond. Whether youre making over a kitchen in Katy or an entire home in River Oaks, if youre in search of design services, consider this list a good place to start.Bilal Rehman StudioLocated in the River Oaks area of Houston, this home by Bilal Rehman Studio is a masterful blend of refined opulence and minimalistic style.Bilal Rehman StudioWhether crafting a penthouse bedroom drenched in a dusty rose hue or a cutting-edge black-and-white residence, Bilal Rehman Studio doesnt shy away from dramatic elements and bold gestures. Led by designer Bilal Rehman, the firm brings together creatives from a variety of artistic backgrounds and has become known for its innovative details and forward-thinking designs.Located in Post Oak in Houston, this timeless white-and-black lounge was designed by Bilal Rehman Studio for fashion lovers.Bilal Rehman StudioWith outposts in Houston, Los Angeles, and New York, Bilal Rehman Studio has transformed private residences, restaurants, bars, and retail outposts into luxurious, captivating spaces and has partnered with top brands, including Cosentino, Benjamin Moore, and Kohler. The firm also showcases its signature style at its Houston store, Bilal Rehman Gallery.Bankston May AssociatesTo infuse warmth into the monochromatic palette of this Houston living room, Bankston May Associates selected a pair of Roche Bobois sofas in vibrant blue velvet.Michael HunterHer clients needs and personal styles are the driving forces behind designer Darla Bankston Mays elegant interiors. Her Houston-based firm, Bankston May Associates, specializes in luxury residential and boutique hospitality projects, crafting highly personalized interiors that blend beauty and functionality.In a Houston home designed by Bankston May Associates, bold geometric patterns with rich blue accents and rustic wood beams were chosen to create a serene bedroom retreat with classic modern elements.Michael HunterThe designer draws on her background in architecture, design, and art history in her work, and the firm is often involved in every stage of a project, from architectural planning to finish selections, ensuring that the final product showcases a cohesive vision. From rustic residences accented with stone and reclaimed wood to modern homes elevated with eye-catching art and sculptural lighting, Bankston May Associates can bring any style to life without sacrificing livability.Lambrakos StudioLambrakos Studio completed a historic renovation of a Brutalist four-story concrete structure to create a penthouse residence fit for a modern art collection.Par BengtssonArt and technology beautifully coexist in the work of Lambrakos Studio. Principal Mary Lambrakoss background in art history and curation shines through in the firms gallery-like spaces, which are filled with meticulously crafted details and bespoke elements. Lambrakos has transformed residences throughout Houston, including a penthouse in a historic Brutalist building and a minimalist home that serves as a showcase for a captivating collection of fine and decorative art.Pop Palace is a ground-up, two-year project by Lambrakos Studio to create a singular space for an art-collecting family.Divya PandeLambrakos Studio offers interior and architectural design services for renovation and new construction projects, as well as art consulting. The firm utilizes the latest technology in the design process, including 3D modeling and virtual reality simulations, and teams with skilled artisans to craft its inspiring spaces.Marker GirlMarker Girl refreshed a Houston kitchen by installing a white Zellige-style porcelain tile backsplash and marble-style quartz countertops. To suit the needs of a busy family of four, the firm added durable Four Hands counter stools upholstered in a performance fabric.Marker GirlMarker Girls warm and welcoming spaces prove that family-friendly homes can be durable and stylish. After studying interior design in Paris, Karen Davis settled in Houston and discovered the need for high-style interiors tailored to clients with families. (Her firms name is inspired by her daughters Sharpie artwork on the living room furniture.)For a guest bathroom in a home in the Woodlands, Texas, Marker Girl selected a bold wallpaper from Cole & Son. White quartz counters and gold accents were added to complete the sleek, contemporary aesthetic.Marker GirlWith nearly 20 years of experience, Davis translates each familys personality and lifestyle into livable and inviting spaces that will stand the test of time (and the test of toddlers). Marker Girl offers a range of services, from guiding clients through new builds and renovations to offering guidance with design planning days.Chandos CollectiveCustom fumed oak panels with 14-karat gold leaf channels and hand-blown glass pendants set the tone for understated elegance in this primary bedroom by Chandos Collective.Kristopher EllisDesigner Chandos Dodson Epley earned her stripes at several AD100 firms before founding her own eponymous firm in Houston over 20 years ago. Chandos Collective has become known for its ability to blend modern and traditional styles for residences that feel contemporary with thoughtful nods to the past.Chandos Creative devised an artfully curated and collected look for this midcentury living room in Houston.Kristopher EllisThe firm delights in adding one-of-a-kind details to its spaces, from elegant panel walls trimmed with gold to handcrafted tables with built-in chess boards, and art plays a critical role in each project. In addition to residential interior design services, Chandos Collective offers art consulting, bespoke furniture design, and custom home development.Brittney Ferguson InteriorsWhen working on a home in Beaumont, Texas, Brittney Ferguson Interiors wanted to maintain its original charm. The team pickled the existing beams, painted the ceiling white to match the walls, and added concrete pendants by Suzanne Kasler for Visual Comfort.Colleen ScottFounded in 2019, Brittney Ferguson Interiors brings a fresh, feminine spin to traditional design. Lead designer and owner Brittney Ferguson has a knack for creating memorable rooms, whether its a garden-inspired dining room with a trellis-clad ceiling, a moody blue lacquered office, or a dapper red closet with a library ladder.Brittney Ferguson Interiors highlighted the 12-foot ceilings of a bedroom by hanging large mirrors over the custom Oyster Creek Collections burl nightstands.Colleen ScottThe Beaumont-based firm works with residential and commercial clients throughout Texas and specializes in renovations, new construction, and decor projects. Ferguson and her team work closely with homeowners to craft interiors that reflect their lifestyles and aesthetics, and even the youngest residents are treated to nurseries and bedrooms that feel as stylish as the rest of the home.Lucas/Eilers Design AssociatesIn this thoughtfully renovated Houston dining room by Lucas/Eilers Design Associates, modern design artfully blends with timeless charm. Adorned with custom DeGournay chinoiserie wallcovering featuring tranquil nature motifs, the room is enveloped in warmth from a high-gloss apricot ceiling.Stephen KarlischDesigners Sandra Drews Lucas and Sarah Brooks Eilers founded their firm Lucas/Eilers Design Associates in 1995, and since then, the duo has brought their timeless, polished style to homes across the country, from Vermont to California. The firms portfolio showcases a range of aesthetics, including rustic ranch homes and traditional beach houses.In a ranch home designed by Lucas/Eilers Design Associates with the homeowners Texas roots and eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary styles in mind, this spacious family kitchen serves as a stunning centerpiece for entertaining.Stephen KarlischLucas/Eilers Design Associates tailors each residence to their clients tastes and the team takes a hands-on approach to ensure that each project stays on schedule and budget. Lucas and Eilerss work was celebrated in the Rizzoli monograph Expressive Interiors: Designing an Inviting Home, which delves into the firms philosophy and diverse selection of projects.Ginger Barber Interior DesignIn this light-filled Austin living room, Ginger Barber created a calm oasis accented by a limestone fireplace, earth-toned textures, and beautiful antiques and reproductions.Michael HunterSimplicity is at the heart of designer Ginger Barbers interiors. Barber, who has been crafting tailored spaces for over 40 years, beautifully blends traditional and contemporary design elements into residences that feel warm and welcoming, whether it's a high-rise apartment or a rural ranch house.Barber brightened up this dark mahogany, traditional office space with contemporary pieces, such as a lucite coffee table, mixed with antiques, reproductions, Rose Tarlow pieces, and the clients collection of art.Michael HunterFrom an English countrystyle farmhouse to a personality-packed party barn, the homes in Ginger Barber Interior Designs portfolio are highly personalized and showcase natural materials, soft hues, and her clients treasured pieces. The firm works on a range of projects, including second-home designs, new construction, and large-scale renovations.Benjamin Johnston DesignA richly veined marble fireplace draws the eye in this wood-paneled library designed by Benjamin Johnston.Julie SoeferBenjamin Johnston Design, whose work has appeared in AD and The Houston Chronicle, is an award-winning firm led by visionary tastemaker Benjamin Johnston. The studios cool, collected interiors reflect the personal histories and desires of their clients, and artfully mix classic form with contemporary technology and timeless style.In this study, Johnston used brightly colored artworks and accents to make working from home much more enjoyable.Julie SoeferWorking across hospitality, commercial, and residential sectors, Johnston works in Houston and well beyond, with projects internationally and across more than two dozen cities. Past interiors run the gamut from a Manhattan skyscraper apartment to a posh boutique in Beverly Hills.APPLY NOWGrow your business with the AD PRO DirectoryArrowCreative Tonic DesignChairs and drapes offer a touch of modernity layered among the dramatic wallpaper and various antique pieces in this Houston dining room by Creative Tonic.Julie SoeferServing clients across the US, Creative Tonic is a full-service boutique interior design firm founded by Courtnay Tartt Elias. She and her experienced team have a flair for deploying saturated hues, bold textiles, and thoughtful layers of details to achieve a home that is truly one of a kindand chockfull of unexpected details.Creative Tonic made quite the statement in this Houston pantry, with high-lacquer green across the walls, cabinets, and ceiling.Julie SoeferTheres no fear of finer details here: Creative Tonic knows their way well around intricate millwork, delicate passementerie, and other delights. But function is never sacrificed for the sake of form, eitherinteriors are livable and inviting. Working on everything from architectural and construction consulting to renovations and design installs, Creative Tonic is a multitalented Houston firm ready to collaborate with creative homeowners.J Squared Home DesignsBlack window trims and moldings bring a masculine edge to this living room by J Squared Home Designs.J Squared Home Designs is an award-winning design studio specializing in custom residential design and vacation rental design for investment properties. Led by Juliana Ewer, the team of Houston interior designers offers a turnkey design experience for clients, including custom furnishings, drapery and window treatments, remodeling services, and white-glove installation.J Squared Designs went all-out in this bathroom, pairing rich teal with bronze accents for maximum impact.Erin Adams PhotographyFor a new build, the team can work directly with a clients home builder and architect to offer a seamless design process from blueprints to installation. J Squared Design believes that a residence is a personal space that should reflect the homeowner. When applicable, the team enjoys integrating family heirlooms and artwork into their design planning, as they believe mixing antiques with new furnishings gives a home depth and character.M.NaeveMuted colors are a signature of M.Naeve founder Margaret Naeve Parker, as demonstrated in this neutral living room.Pr BengtssonWith an approach that explores the unexpected through texture, form, and muted color, Margaret Naeve Parkers projects reference timeless sophistication with a modern edge. She creates spaces that convey an ethereal atmosphere, combining elements of contemporary design and rare antiquities found during her travels. Years of buying trips in Europe curating for her namesake store, M.Naeve, have trained her eye to recognize craft, quality, and iconography when it comes to her interiors. Each project tells a story through exquisitely edited rarities using quiet restraint.Stainless-steel cabinets and countertops match the appliances in this industrial-style kitchen by M.Naeve.Pr BengtssonMuch like her renowned boutiquewhich recently relocated to Houstons historic Dorrance BuildingParkers projects are known for balancing contemporary finds with pieces from eras gone by, creating a feeling of profound harmony. Each project employs principles defined by her learned design philosophy, and important decisions are made based on how materials, colors, textures, light, and specific artworks interact with one another in space.Nina Magon StudioDark furniture adds visual weight to this airy living space by Nina Magon Studio, which also features cloudlike pendant lights.Julie SoeferMultihyphenate creative Nina Magon is the brains behind this global design studio, which has offices in both Houston and San Francisco. Blending architecture, interior design, and construction expertise, Magon has an eye for design and a well-trained sensibility for luxury experiences. A graceful take on modernism runs through these designs, and has earned her coverage in publications ranging from AD to Forbes and her fair share of trade publicationsjust to name a few.A floral-inspired lighting installation appears to grow up the wall and across the ceiling in another space by Nina Magon Studio.Julie SoeferHaving partnered with esteemed brands like Bergdorf Goodman, Cosentino, Studio M Lighting, and Wall & Deco, Magon knows a thing or two about collaboration too. Shes also presented acclaimed work at major events like Miami Art Week, where she showcased her project Dreamcloud in 2022. For clients looking for an expert take on luxury design, Magon is a solid choice.Paloma Contreras DesignChartreuse-colored curtains and a blue love seat pop in the spacious study by Paloma Contreras.Brittany AmbridgePaloma Contreras is an award-winning interior designer and tastemaker based in Houston. Contrerass design sensibility is a modern take on traditional stylegravitating towards classic silhouettes and timeless pieces paired with a touch of glamour and an infusion of color. She has honed her distinct eye for style over more than a decade in the design industry, and a lifetime of appreciating beauty in all of its various forms.For this dining room, Contreras chose a botanical wallpaper and various blue-green tones for a calming look.Aimee MazzengaContreras has developed a reputation for designing beautiful interiors in a broad range of styles, which are executed in a manner that is polished, refined, and effortless. Contrerass interiors are at once timeless yet freshbalancing attention to detail and the intersection of form and function to enhance a well-lived life. Contreras and her team are currently working on projects in Houston and beyond, with clients in Palm Beach, Key Largo, Atlanta, and New Jersey.Lucinda Loya InteriorsFeminine hues and jewelry-inspired lighting create a glamorous vibe in a bedroom by Lucinda Loya Interiors.Photography courtesy Lucinda Loya InteriorsDesigner Lucinda Loya isnt afraid to make bold moves and add drama to a space, whether it's through impactful ceiling treatments, eye-catching patterns, or sparkling light fixtures. Her eponymous full-service firm is known for its "electric high-end style," which it applies to residential and commercial projects in Houston and around the world. Loya and her team imbue their bespoke spaces with polish and personality, incorporating antiques and a curated selection of art.Lucinda Loya Interiors anchored each room of a Houston home in black and white, then added unique pieces, such as a geometric rug in the living room.Lucinda Loya Interiors tailors its daring aesthetic to each client, bringing unique, luxurious elements to a variety of spaces, including homes, boutique hotels, and even private jets. The firm tackles projects of all sizes, from single rooms to entire homes and new construction and brings an exacting attention to detail to each phase of the design process.Meg Lonergan InteriorsMeg Lonergan Interiors enveloped the media room of a Houston home in a muted blue hue and accentuated the space with a vintage Italian chandelier and an H.G. Edwards painting.Designer Meg LaSueur Lonergan founded her namesake firm in 2009, and since then, shes become a go-to for clients in Houston, Austin, and nationwide. Lonergan brings a global perspective to her designs thanks to her experiences living abroad in Singapore, New Zealand, and France. The designer is known as a master of the mix, combining different styles, time periods, and sources to create lively, layered interiors.Lonergan layered natural materials and eclectic art and objects in the living area of a New Ulm, Texas, home.Meg Lonergan Interiors offers residential and commercial design services, bringing its signature playful and detail-oriented approach to each project. The firm focuses on crafting comfortable and creative spaces that allow its clients to showcase their personal style and unique histories in their homes.Rainey Richardson InteriorsRainey Richardson Interiors designed a home outside Austin for the owners of Matt Sitra Custom Homes, marrying rustic elements, sleek lines, and organic touches to create a comfortable and approachable kitchen.Collaboration is at the heart of the design process for Rainey Richardson Interiors. The firm, which is led by mother-daughter team Rainey and Ragan Richardson, sees the client-designer relationship as a partnership and works with homeowners to create interiors that are as functional as they are beautiful.For a ranch home in Tomball, Texas, Rainey Richardson Interiors enlivened the study by wallpapering the ceiling, installing a large chandelier, and painting the walls in a warm blush hue.With 23 years of experience and deep roots in the Houston design community, Rainey Richardson Interiors works on all types of projects, from custom new homes to remodels, and boasts its own construction team, allowing it to handle every aspect of the process. The designers and their trusted team get in on the ground floor to ensure the project goes smoothly from the planning stage to the finishing touches.Mary Patton DesignA striking stone backsplash is the centerpiece of a midcentury modern kitchen by Mary Patton Design.Designer Mary Patton brings a joyful approach to her residential and commercial design projects, developing warm and welcoming spaces that put people at ease. Her interiors range in style from bold and colorful to neutral and elegant, and she combines her clients heirlooms with vintage pieces, modern elements, and exceptional art.Patton chose furnishings in a vivid color palette and rich textures for this light-filled seating area.Interior design, home renovations, styling, and design consultations are all on the menu for Patton. And clients who are passionate about the outdoors will find a good match here too, as the team also offers landscape and exterior design services. Delightful and unexpected details are a hallmark of the firms projects, whether its a colorful fireplace, animal-print wallpaper, or a subtle yet eye-catching stone backsplash.Marc Houston Lifestyle & InteriorsThe clients for this Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, home desired a statement light fixtureand AD PRO Directory designer Marc Houston delivered, installing this multichromatic stunner by the British artist Stuart Haygarth.Claire EsparrosA recent transplant from New York City, Boston-born designer Marc Houston is adept at creating highly customized, dramatic, and elevated interiors for his clients. Each one responds to the unique personality and style of its residents while also harnessing Houstons studied eye.For this Manhattan pied--terre, Houston specced a custom Bower Studios mirror, Poltrona Frau chair, and sleek, built-in dressing table.Sean LitchfieldWe believe that each space emits a singular resonance, says Houston, that can be tuned to reveal the finest parts of itself by mining inspirations, traditions, precedents, and perspectives. Having worked across markets ranging from LA to Washington, DC, Brooklyn, and beyondand even, at times, dipping into corporate spacesHouston is a welcome addition to the Texas market.The Owen Group Interior Design FirmThe Owen Group Interior Design Firm chose a classic blue-and-white palette for a stylish seating area.As the leaders of The Owen Group Interior Design Firm, mother-daughter team Tami Owen and Brelan Owen Pearson beautifully blend tradition and modernity in their highly sought-after residential and commercial designs. Neutral palettes, classic architectural details, and modern art are hallmarks of the firms sophisticated style, and the Owen Group designs many of the elegant furnishings that appear in their clients spaces.Colorful artwork provides a vivid contrast to the neutral hues and natural materials used throughout a dining area by the Owen Group Interior Design Firm.With offices in Bellaire, Texas, and WaterColor, Florida, the Owen Group Interior Design Firm takes on projects nationwide, from urban apartments to beach retreats. No matter where the project is located, creating spaces that are comfortable and timeless is always the firms focus.Victoria Plasencia InteriorsNeutral furnishings and sleek finishescombined with a warm mix of natural texturescomplement the vista in this Victoria Plasenciadesigned great room.After a decade and a half in the industry, Victoria Plasencia founded her namesake firm in Guadalajara back in 2014. Another decade on and still thrivingand now, luckily for Houstonians, with an office in the WoodlandsPlasencia is a pro with the experience and know-how to bring a contemporary home to life.Modern organicism defines the interiors in this open-concept interiorfrom the raw-edged coffee table to the Scandi-inspired furnishings.Lorena DarqueaShe does this through her expert ability to craft modern, texture-driven interiors tailor-made for each client. And thanks to her human-centered approach to design, homeowners will find themselves feeling perfectly at home under her carewith a space that not only looks good to them, but works for them too.Are you looking for an interior decorator or designer to hire for your next project? Wherever you are in the US, visit the AD PRO Directory to browse our list of AD-approved designers and find your match for a design consultation

Although 2025 may feel like a year when much is in fluxwith a new administration settling into Washington, DC, and the aftermath of the devastating fires in Los Angeles just beginning to come into focusleading figures in design, construction, and real estate are surprisingly unanimous in their mostly upbeat industry forecast for the year ahead. Here, they share their big takeaways for the rest of 2025.Join NowBecome an AD PRO member for only $25 $20 per month + receive an exclusive toteArrowAn End to UncertaintyThe result of the [2024 presidential] election was not as impactful as the fact that the election is over, says Khoi Vo, president and CEO of the American Society of Interior Designers, which recently published its 2025 Trends Outlook. Last year, the country was holding its figurative breath, with both consumers and companies hesitant about committing to projects before knowing what was going to happen. Now, he says, people are exhaling and going, Okay, weve got this behind us. Lets move on with our lives. And business leaders are saying, Lets continue to plan and strategize about what were going to do next.Scott Norman, CEO of the Texas Association of Builders, concurs: Theres a lot of waiting on the sidelines in the second half of a year before a presidential election. We always see more activity after the election, when things are settled. Post-November, his members have been reporting more interest in and inquiries about new homes. Industry mood may depend in part on locationstates that are experiencing both job growth and population growth will be in better shape than states that are suffering net lossesbut in general, he says, people are optimistic.Areas Still to WatchSome questions remain, however, as the US navigates the early days of a second Trump presidency. Ambitious intentions have been announced regarding tariffs on international imports and curbs on immigration, for instance, yet its still unclear how those proposals will actually be implemented. I think the industry is waiting to understand some concrete plans for the next four years, says John Edelman, president and CEO of Heller Furniture, citing tariffs as an example and noting that import duties expected to be levied immediately on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China havent yet [at time of writing] materialized. We have to know what the rules are, and then we will pivot and play by those rules, he says. Adaptability will be key.Namita Modi, cochair of the Committee on Residential Architecture for the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects, says that some international partners and suppliers in the home design industry are already scaling back on their US commitments due to doubts about the direction trade policy will take. She cites conversations with an Italian leather goods label that has paused its stateside designer events for 2025. Theyre coming back for their New York trade show, but with hesitancy, Modi says. Otherwise, everything is kind of on hold. At the same time, Modis fellow committee cochair, Dennis Wedlick, reiterates adaptability as a reason to be hopeful: Suppliers quickly shift into neutral when uncertainty comes around, he says, but architects will find somebody to make the product that they need. Clever and flexible procurement strategies may be especially necessary this year, as the massive rebuilding effort that will follow the recent catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles leads to nationwide shortages of materialsan outcome Modi and Wedlick think is likely.

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Image: ThunderfulThe latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it's bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!Switch eShop - HighlightsHello Kitty Island Adventure (Sunblink, 30th Jan, $39.99) - Embark on a cozy adventure with Hello Kitty and Friends. Explore and restore a mysterious island while befriending super cute, beloved Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty, Kuromi, My Melody and Cinnamoroll! Learn what they love, adventure alongside them and eventually become best friends. Create your own character and team up with a friend* to explore Big Adventure Park as you craft, create and collect to make your ultimate island paradise. - Read our Hello Kitty Island Adventure ReviewSubscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube794kWatch on YouTube Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (NIS America, 30th Jan, $59.99) - Join Marona a young girl with the power to speak to Phantoms and her loyal Phantom companion, Ash, in this tactical turn-based game from the creators of the Disgaea series. When a fleet of ghost pirates attack, its up to Marona and her new friend Apricot to save the day. Recruit Phantoms, bind them to objects, combine them with Gadgets or even merge them with Marona herself to unleash show-stopping abilities and sink the Shipwreck Fleet.Switch eShop - New ReleasesA Rite from the Stars: Remaster Edition (Artax Games, 30th Jan, $11.99) - Join Kirm and his guiding star Hoku on this adventure full of puzzles, exploration and growth to unveil a beautiful coming of age story with multiple endings. Meet unique supernatural creatures and new companions along the way, cooperate with them and conquer the wisdom, courage and spirit paths!Accolade Sports Collection (QUByte Classics) (QUByte Interactive, 30th Jan, $19.99) - Step back into the golden age of sports gaming with the Accolade Sports Collection! Featuring five legendary titlesHardball!, Hardball II, Hoops Shut Up and Jam!, Winter Challenge, and Summer Challengethis collection delivers nostalgic thrills with modern enhancements.Agent Fall (eastasiasoft, 29th Jan, $5.99) - Strange enemy activity has been detected at a secret military base in the desert, and its up to you to investigate! Agent Fall is a retro side-scrolling shooter across sprawling platformer stages, from the desert sands and jet hangars of the surface to mysterious underground labs and waterways.Basureroes: Invasion (JanduSoft, 30th Jan, $12.49) - Basureroes: Invasion is a 2D platform game with retro aesthetics in which a group of heroes with different abilities must save the world from an alien invasion. Run, jump and fight your way through twenty levels full of danger and epic boss fights.Big Adventure: Trip To Europe 7 Collectors Edition (Ocean Media, 23rd Jan, $9.99) - Hike through gorgeous national parks, explore European musical culture, visit ancient castles, and much more! This hidden-object game is full of new and popular tourist spots, so use your skills and knowledge to solve mini-games and puzzles with a distinct European flare!Bubble Shooter World (Silesia Games, 30th Jan, $2.99) - Are you looking for a fun challenge to engage your mind? Enter a colorful bubbly game, where your strategic thinking will carry you through the levels. Use your power-ups to blast through the levels with easeBundle: Monster Dynamite + Ultimate Runner (TREVA, 23rd Jan, $34.99) - Monster Dynamite: Boom! Bang! Crash! Cheeky monsters everywhere! Place your explosives strategically on stacks of crates, scaffolding and logs where the little critters are sitting. Light the fuse and bring them all down! What looks simple at first gets more and more demanding: The cheeky little guys won't keep still and they just keep coming!Car Wash Tycoon Business Simulator (VRKIWI Games, 1st Feb, $7.99) - In Car Wash Tycoon Business Simulator, bring your dream of owning a car wash business to life! Start with the basics: a simple wash station where you clean your customers' cars by hand. This is how youll earn your first money and gain experience. Over time, your business will expand!Card Collection Trading Shop (Console Labs, 31st Jan, $4.99) - Play the role of a collector who has become a business owner. Open a card market and become rich. Build, manage and develop your own collectible card store where you can trade, collect and battle with the rarest and most valuable cards from the legendary Beast Lords series of unique and powerful creatures!Cardfight!! Vanguard Dear Days 2 (Bushiroad, 29th Jan, $69.99) - Cardfight! ! Vanguard is a one-on-one card game first released by Bushiroad in February 2011. It has been translated and localized into multiple languages including English Chinese Italian Thai and Korean and is now sold in 61 countries and regions continuously growing its player base worldwide.Chained Heroes (DEMENCI Games, 3rd Feb, $5.99) - Step into the post-apocalyptic world of Chained Heroes, a thrilling 3D platformer where every jump could be your last! As a player, your mission is to leap across crumbling surfaces, dodge dangerous obstacles, and climb to new heights in a desolate, dystopian landscape.Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Fellow Traveller, 31st Jan, $24.99) - The highly anticipated sequel to one of 2022s most acclaimed RPGs! You are a sleeper, an emulation of a human mind housed in an artificial body. You are on the run from the corporation that made you and the gang that seeks to control you. Commandeer a ship, build a network of crew and allies, and take on challenging contracts as you seek to build a future for yourself. Choose a class, configure your skills and assemble your crew in unique tabletop-inspired gameplay.Colorizing: Animals (D-Games, 30th Jan, $6.99) - This coloring book is a guarantee of good mood.In it you can find all kinds of pictures for every taste. Coloring by numbers with Colorizing is a calming and easy activity for people of all ages. This drawing game is suitable for children and adults, everyone can enjoy pixel coloring. You will definitely love coloring with this beautiful coloring book!Connect the Circuit 1000 (SUCCESS, 30th Jan, $3.99) - "Connect the Circuit 1000" is a puzzle game where you draw paths for electricity according to specific rules to complete the circuit board.Enjoy a full set of 1,000 puzzles, ranging from simple to challenging.Conquistadorio (Upscale Studio, 20th Jan, $19.99) - The conqueror, who has gone through many trials in his life, decided to retire and become a hermit. To simply lie in his solitary cave away from people. But it seems that fate itself throws you new challenges even in such a simple endeavor. The tomb where you love to sleep has disappeared. You need to embark on a quest to find it and solve many mysteries along the way.DEDALO Escape Room Adventure (M9 Games, 23rd Jan, $5.99) - An escape room adventure set in the icy depths of the Arctic. Fresh evidence of a lost civilization has surfaced, leading you to a mysterious site buried beneath the snow. The ancient arctic ruins hold secrets of artifacts with great power, but accessing them wont be easy.Diner Simulator Horror Story (Evgheni Carasiov, 23rd Jan, $4.99) - Take on the role of a night shift worker at a small fast food kiosk, where mystery awaits. Your predecessor has vanished under eerie circumstances, and its now your job to uncover the truth. As you juggle late-night orders, unsettling occurrences start to unravel.Dreamless (17Studio, 30th Jan, $14.99) - Immerse yourself in this fascinating world and find out what lies behind the eerie events of the death week.Fables Mosaic: Rapunzel (Ocean Media, 23rd Jan, $6.99) - Fables Mosaic: Rapunzel features a collection of colorful puzzles that can be solved by logic alone! Follow the story of Rapunzel while you solve captivating nonogram challenges!Fly Corp (HeroCraft, 30th Jan, $11.99) - Connect cities around the globe and upgrade your planes and airports for increased efficiency and capacity. But choose wisely when developing any destination, as your resources are limited, and you dont want to let any of the airports become overloaded, otherwise, thats it for your company!Genso Mange (PQube, 31st Jan, $39.99) - I will awaken the magic within you, and you will free us from the Rve. . . Set in a wondrously evocative re-imagining of France, a beautifully crafted otome visual novel following Emma, orphaned at a young age, as she fights to uncover her forgotten memories.Great Again : 3D Shooter (Eclipse Interactive, 23rd Jan, $7.99) - Great Again: 3D Shooter is an action-packed wave shooter where you must fight your way through zombie-infested locations in a stylized fantasy cartoon world. Play as a courageous hero armed with 9 versatile weapons, including a knife, katana, pistol, and sniper rifle, to eliminate the undead hordes.Hand-Drawn Epic Adventures (COWCAT, 20th Jan, $26.99) - Two big adventures with memorable characters, for the price of one! BROK The InvestiGator and Demetrios. Both games are very friendly to newcomers in the genre, with in-game hints, hotspots viewer and accessibility.Hoarding Simulator 2.0 (GAME NACIONAL, 25th Jan, $9.99) - One of the best high-tech simulations ever created is here! Your mission is simple: collect as much as you can. A third-person adventure with one goalgrab it all! Explore a peaceful town, but bewareunexpected, chaotic events can turn your experience into a total nightmare!Hunter Simulator: Wild Hunting (16BIT, 24th Jan, $9.99) - Step into the heart of the wild with Hunter Simulator: Wild Hunting, where breathtaking landscapes meet the ultimate hunting challenge. Traverse vast open worlds, from dense forests to towering mountains, as you track elusive prey in an unforgiving environment.InorStreet (Edia, 30th Jan, $2.00) - In a certain world, "inorganic" suddenly started appearing everywhere, causing trouble for the residents. Embark on a journey through this world while helping to destroy the inorganic.KAMiBAKO (Gravity, 30th Jan, $29.99) - Mapcrafting x Puzzles x Battle x RPG! ? Repair the fragmented land through puzzles, and rid the world of darkness by defeating monsters. All resources obtained through repairing the land can then be used to design the world to your liking! The medley of genres in this RPG is surprisingly accessible to players of all types, but there's no shortage of challenging elements, too!Laika: Aged Through Blood (Thunderful, 30th Jan, $19.99) - Drive, jump and fight your way through the huge hand-drawn world on your trustworthy motorbike. Race through the wasteland and perform dangerous jumps, shoot enemies in slowmo and reload your gun by performing a backflip!Losen Screws Puzzles (Kistler Studios, 23rd Jan, $2.99) - Solve different screw puzzles in different difficulties from easy to hard and choose from over 100 puzzles. Loosen different shapes from rings to complicated structures and loosen each screw to expose the beams.Lush Forest (Downmeadowstreet, 31st Jan, $4.99) - Step into a world of serene beauty and discovery in Lush Forest! This relaxing walking simulator invites you to explore three breathtaking levels, each filled with lush greenery, hidden treasures, and peaceful vibes.Masked Devourer (Phantom Publishing, 31st Jan, $3.00) - You play as young blogger, who loves filming her careless travels in forgotten and forbidden places. She doesn't believe in mysticism and all sorts of superstitions, but one day, wandering into a strange Japanese city, she completely changes her mind...Mechanita (eastasiasoft, 5th Feb, $4.99) - Get ready for a steampunk-themed adventure in Mechanita, a side-scrolling platformer packed with brainteasing pixel art stages! Take control of a goggled heroine as she carefully navigates 50 unique levels of gradually increasing complexity.Meow Mission (Digital Touch, 30th Jan, $3.99) - Solve various puzzles in Meow Mission to rescue cats trapped in alien dimensions! The quirky cats you rescue will move to Tomcat House, where they can create memories with Tomcat.Mizuchi (Viridian Software, 29th jan, $24.99) - Journey with Linh as she is forced to question her understanding of life, happiness, and what it means to be human. Each decision matters in this tale about identity, friendship, love and loss.Ocean Driving: Boat Parking Simulator (Megame, 23rd Jan, $4.99) - In the game, you will have to manage various ships, trying to moor them in the designated places, avoiding many obstacles and not damaging your magnificent vessel in a limited time.Puzzle Adventures Serve Dishes (winterworks, 24th jan, $6.99) - This drag-and-drop puzzle game is extremely easy to use and has been designed with the utmost care for children of all ages.Pyramids and Aliens: Escape Room (mc2games, 23rd Jan, $12.99) - Pyramids and Aliens is an escape room game that will test your skills as an archaeologist. Solve puzzles, find clues, and reveal the secrets of the pyramid. Spoiler: it was not built by humansROBOBEAT (Kwalee, 30th Jan, $19.99) - You're Ace - a famous bounty hunter after your latest target, the eccentric robot-showman Frazzer. To find your way through his twisted techno-playground, youll have to master the art of shooting, wall-running, sliding, and bunny hopping, all in sync with the beat! Get ready to dance till you're dead and then suit up for the remix in rogue-like rhythm shooter ROBOBEAT.ROBOT ANARCHY (Infinite Zone, 29th Jan, $4.99) - Prepare for heart-pounding action as you blast through waves of deadly machines across a series of diverse and gripping levels. The game offers a unique mix of intense gunfights, puzzles, and secret areas that keep you on your toes. Built using old-school 90's technology to deliver an authentic experienceRookie Table Tennis (Pix Arts, 31st Jan, $9.99) - Serve, smash, and spin your way to victory in Rookie Table Tennis, the ultimate 3D ping pong showdown! With thrilling solo tournaments, exciting local multiplayer matches, and lifelike visuals, this game brings the table tennis experience to your console like never before.Shawley Zoo of Wonders (EpiXR Games, 30th Jan, $14.99) - Dive into the enchanting world of a captivating third-person platformer adventure where magic and bravery collide. Follow the journey of a courageous girl adorned with a big, mysterious scarf and armed with a fun hammer, on her quest to rescue escaped animals from a magical zoo.Slicy Flips (NOSTRA GAMES, 30th Jan, $4.99) - Simple but addictive gameplay. Roll the knives and cut everything on your way. Each level is made for your pleasure and happiness. Feel the real ASMR every second you play. Slicing the fruit can be so satisfying. Try it for yourself.Sokomonster (Afil Games, 30th Jan, $4.99) - Sokomonster is a thrilling puzzle game where chaos and strategy collide. You play as a powerful monster invading a city, tasked with destroying buildings by pushing cars into them. Progress through 30 uniquely designed levels, each filled with new challenges and obstacles that test your wits and destructive skills!Squab (Ratalaika Games, 31st Jan, $4.99) - Prepare to overcome a variety of challenges while navigating vibrant and dangerous environments. With engaging game mechanics and thrilling gameplay, Squab offers a unique experience that will test your skills and leave you craving more.STAR RUSH -STACK & JUMP- (Edia, 30th Jan, $2.00) - Simple yet challenging! A hectic side-scrolling action game! Use boxes and bubbles skillfully to overcome obstacles!STAR WARS: Prequel Pack (Aspyr, 23rd Jan, $64.99) - The STAR WARS: Prequel Pack includes: STAR WARS: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles, STAR WARS: Bounty Hunter, and STAR WARS Republic CommandoStellar Docks (Afil Games, 29th Jan, $4.99) - Embark on an interstellar puzzle adventure in Stellar Docks, a Sokoban-inspired game with charming 2D pixel art. Guide an astronaut as they maneuver drones to their recharging docks across grid-based maps filled with logical challenges.Subway Sprint Girl (Tashlik, 30th Jan, $6.99) - Dash through vibrant low-poly worlds in Subway Sprint Girl, a fast-paced endless runner with stunning visuals and intuitive controls, perfect for players of all ages.Tap Wizard 2 (Ultimate Games, 30th Jan, $14.99) - Tap Wizard 2 Idle Magic Quest will take you on a journey full of magical action and wonder. Wield magical skills and fight the dark forces to secure the Chronosphere.TCG Card Shop Master (DEMENCI Games, 31st Jan, $7.99) - Dive into TCG Card Shop Master, a 3D game where youre in charge of your own trading card shop! Start small, expand, and create the go-to spot for TCG collectors and fans. Customize and Grow Stock your shelves with trading cards, rare collectibles, and cool accessories.Techno Banter (Crunching Koalas, 30th Jan, $17.99) - Tap Wizard 2 Idle Magic Quest will take you on a journey full of magical action and wonder. Wield magical skills and fight the dark forces to secure the Chronosphere. This is one of those Warrior Magician Games that will allow you to have the fun and excitement of a Fantasy Idle RPG game with thrilling challenges.The Stone of Madness (Tripwire Interactive, 28th Jan, $29.99) - The Stone of Madness is a tactical stealth adventure game set in a Spanish madhouse in the late 18th century, presented with gorgeous hand-crafted, period-inspired artwork.The Ultimate Detective Bundle (Marmalade Game Studio, 24th Jan, $39.99) - Different worlds, different motives, same question whodunit? Enjoy the vintage aesthetic of Clue Classic Edition and experience a fresh, modern take on your favourite murder mystery in Clue.Under The Sea: A Hidden World of Wonders (Aldora Games, 27th Jan, $4.90) - On a vibrant underwater reef, three very different friends embark on an extraordinary adventure. Learn their story in this beautiful visual novel.Wander Hero (BD Games, 30th Jan, $12.99) - This game combines card strategy and marble ejection. Players can explore, take risks, trade, and recruit mercenaries in randomly generated dungeons and towns.While Waiting (Optillusion Games, 5th Feb, $19.99) - Welcome to While Waiting. This innovative title invites players into a transformative journey through the art of patience, blending humor with profound life insights.Whittingham Asylum: The Investigation (Great Escape Games Publishing, 31st Jan, $4.99) - Prepare to immerse yourself in a bone-chilling adventure. Unravel the truth, face your fears, and expose the hidden darkness that lies within Whittingham Asylum. The answers await you, brave investigator!Wizardry: The Five Ordeals (Game*Spark Publishing, 30th Jan, $39.99) - Classic hardcore gameplay. Experience a deep dungeon crawling RPG. This game was created by the main staff that worked on the popular RPG series back in 2006.Zombie Blitz (CFK, 23rd Jan, $4.99) - Zombie Blitz is a quarter-view survival roguelike bullet hell. With all its cool action rendered in adorable 3D graphics, it embodies the dynamic battles and fight for survival between the zombies roaming the world after the fall of humankind and the ruthless combat robots.Note: As with all of our Nintendo Download pieces, we've removed some games from the poll below due to the number of releases each week. We've also included an 'Other' option.What will you be downloading this week? (77 votes)Hello Kitty Island Adventure12%Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero9%A Rite from the Stars: Remaster Edition 0%Accolade Sports Collection (QUByte Classics)6%Agent Fall 0%Basureroes: Invasion 0%Bubble Shooter World 0%Cardfight!! Vanguard Dear Days 25%Chained Heroes 0%Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector17%Colorizing: Animals 0%Connect the Circuit 1000 0%Conquistadorio 0%Diner Simulator - Horror Story 0%Dreamless 0%Fly Corp 0%Genso Mange 0%Great Again : 3D Shooter 0%InorStreet1%KAMiBAKO1%Laika: Aged Through Blood16%Losen Screws Puzzles 0%Lush Forest1%Masked Devourer 0%Mechanita 0%Meow Mission 0%Mizuchi 0%Robobeat 0%Robot Anarchy 0%Rookie Table Tennis 0%Shawley - Zoo of Wonders1%Sokomonster 0%Squab1%Star Rush -stack & Jump- 0%Stellar Docks 0%Subway Sprint Girl 0%Tap Wizard 2 0%Techno Banter1%The Stone of Madness1%Wander Hero1%While Waiting 0%Whittingham Asylum: The Investigation 0%Wizardry: The Five Ordeals9%Zombie Blitz 0%Other (comment below!) 0%Nothing for me this week16%So that's your lot for this week's North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!

In BriefPosted:1:55 PM PST January 30, 2025Image Credits:Justin Sullivan / Getty ImagesOpenAI said to be in talks to raise $40B at a $340B valuationOpenAI may have billions of dollars in the bank. But its gearing up to raise billions more, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Per The WSJ, OpenAI is in talks to secure up to $40 billion in a funding round that would value the startup at $340 billion. SoftBank would lead the round, pouring between $15 billion to $25 billion into the ChatGPT maker, according to The WSJ.Should OpenAI successfully close the round, itd be a remarkable feat for the startup, which was valued at $157 billion in October. The WSJ says that OpenAI would use the capital to fund its money-losing business operations and fulfill its commitment to Stargate, its ambitious project to build AI data centers across the U.S.In 2024, OpenAI reportedly lost around $5 billion againstrevenuesof $3.7 billion. The losses could mount. In conjunction with partners including SoftBank, OpenAI aims to contribute billions of dollars to Stargate to start.Topics

Last week, Founders Fund partner Delian Asparouhov realized he hadnt checked on his genetics in a while. He clicked open a dashboard created by Nucleus Genomics, a Founders Fund-backed startup that gets saliva samples sequenced and then compares the DNA results to extensive data linking health issues to genes. Within seconds, he concluded that he had a predisposition for schizophrenia, a sky-high IQ, and prostate cancer. Bummer, he shrugged.If Asparouhovs reaction seems nonchalant, its only because he and the Nucleus team he backed are dreaming much, much bigger. Imagine a world where your medical treatments are tailored to your genetics or where every couple gets their DNA sequenced before having kids together or a world where, as Asparouhov imagines, dating apps have a kid simulation that meshes your genetic tests together and shows you what a child might inherit.Today, Nucleus is a step closer to that future. The company, founded by 25-year-old Kian Sadeghi, announced a $14 million Series A, bringing its total funding to about $32 million. Investors like Alexis Ohanians Seven Seven Six, Balaji Srinivasan and SpaceX alum Achal Upadhyaya have all rallied behind Sadeghis vision for widely available genetic testing.DNA is actually the kind of ultimate health test, Sadeghi said. So one swab and you get your analysis on about 800 plus conditions. And thats going to be rapidly growing over the next several months, until its effectively every common and rare disease known.Nucleus is possible because the cost of genome sequencing has plummeted in recent years. In 2007, genome sequencing cost close to $1 million. Today, Nucleus, staffed by a team of PhDs and genetic experts, charges $400 to send a saliva sample to a third party sequencer and then analyze the results, telling users a host of potential illnesses they may be at risk for. Sadeghi believes that, in the next five years, the cost of sequencing the genome is going to be negligible, and everyone will have their genome on their smartphone.Sadeghis dream began with tragedy. One night, his cousin died in her sleep from a previously unknown genetic condition. The loss permanently altered his lifes path. He dropped out of college and moved home, where his schedule was as follows: wake up, meditate for an hour, scribble gene-related company plans in a notebook for twelve hours, meditate for another hour. I do believe in the soul, he reflected. Ive meditated every day for, I think, five years.His year of work and meditation birthed Nucleus and sent Sadeghi into the orbit of Silicon Valleys most famous contrarians. He first met Peter Thiel at Hereticon, the Founder Fund bash that celebrates all that is controversial (Sadeghi recalls a particularly exciting exorcist). It was a fitting place to meet, considering all the controversy that Sadeghi would court.Last year, Sadeghi launched Nucleus IQ, which tells users how much their genetics correlate with markers for high intelligence. Sadeghi puts a huge asterisk next to that claim: there is still much we dont know about the connection between genes and IQ, and, even if we did, genetics can only account for so much, while ones environment handles the rest.Geneticist Sasha Gusev called into question the accuracy of Nucleuss IQ tests (Sadeghi then published a lengthy defense), and others pointed out that Nucleuss IQ tests could lead to discrimination and stigmatization. Sadeghis approach is also markedly different from competitors: Back in 2018, 23andMe told the MIT Technology Review it purposefully wouldnt release consumer information around genetics and intelligence for fear of misinterpretation.But Sadeghi and Asparouhov believe that the average American should have as much information about their genetics as possible. Asarouhov finds the hesitancy around Nucleus IQ very odd, adding thatif were able to acknowledge genetic advantages in athletes (like, say, Michael Phelps astonishing wingspan), why wouldnt we do the same for IQ? Experts claim that they know whats best for you, he said. But I think its best to just give consumers the information thats available to them and let them decide.As Nucleus acquires more customers, Asparouhov says the companys insights will get even better, the results on a Nucleus dashboard automatically updating with new information. At some point maybe there will be, like, phenotypic reporting, where you tell Nucleus, I have blue eyes, I have brown hair, maybe you come in for an IQ test, etc, and that actually improves the model, he said.When asked if linking things like blue eyes, blonde hair, and IQ could be interpreted as eugenics, he clarified with a laugh, I said brown hair!Then, miming the same hand motion that Elon Musk performed following President Trumps inauguration, he joked, My heart goes out to you.

Ive decided to make this thread for any small to medium sized projects I want to share instead of making whole new posts.I made a simple HLSL custom node for something that I did with nodes at first. I am converting a texture to YUV, approximately, blurring it, and then, approximately, converting it back to RGB. This was inspired by Mirza Beigs work.I tweaked some of the numbers in the YUV to RGB conversion after the initial numbers I found produced off color results.HLSL is much less scary once I watched a few Ben Cloward videos on it.Heres the node based version of it. This version runs with 2 more instructions on most surface materials, but actually runs slightly faster in UI. Truly negligible differences.The material function:HLSL effect:Node effect:

Leica Geosystems, a leader in LiDAR scanning technology, recently announced a new partnership with SCI-Arc to help train the architects of tomorrow, the global company said. The Hexagon subsidiary committed to supporting SCI-Arc with hardware and software donations as well as scholarships. SCI-Arc will receive more than $200,000 in technology donations, including user-friendly LiDAR scanners for capturing photorealist 3D scans of areas, structures, and objects. A postgraduate program at SCI-Arc, EDGE, will also get a considerate amount of money in scholarships.Architects are increasingly leveraging new technologies to create immersive projects, which means that students need to have access to innovative solutions to stay ahead of the curve, Fabio Ponzio, executive vice president at Leica Geosystems, said in a statement. SCI-Arc has earned a reputation for preparing students for any eventuality, and we are honored to work alongside such inventive thinkers. Together, we can drive transformative progress in the media, entertainment and related design fields. The architecture school and tech company already have a history together: SCI-Arc students and faculty used Leica Geosystems tech for a multi-year research and art exhibition, Views of Planet City, a Liam Young project.The postgraduate programs at SCI-Arc EDGE broaden what an architect is capable of doing in the world by developing new knowledge and expertise, added David Ruy, SCI-Arc postgraduate programs chair.Despite competing predictions about the future, direct experience with emerging technologies has always been the best crystal ball, Ruy continued. I am thrilled to engage in this partnership and cant emphasize enough how significant this relationship will be for our students and faculty.The partnership announcement comes at a time of extreme distress at SCI-Arc, given the recent wave of wildfires in Los Angeles.SCI-Arcs communications director Stephanie Atlan recently told AN faculty members are rewriting curricula to better equip our students to confront these evolving realities.

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