The 17th-century frescoes and antique mirrors should immediately tip visitors off: This showroom has something it needs to say. Palazzo Durini Caproni di Taliedo is a historic building in Milan, designed and built in the mid-1600s by Baroque architect Francesco Maria Richini. Among many other monumental works and churches, he also designed Milan’s Palazzo di Brera, which currently includes the Pinacoteca di Brera museum. The Palazzo Durini Caproni di Taliedo was commissioned by the heir to the Durinis, a wealthy merchant family.Today the palazzo is furniture showroom as palimpsest. Since 2021, Edra has exhibited collaborations with supremely contemporary designers, including the Campana brothers, Jacopo Foggini, and Francesco Binfaré, amid the restored Baroque grandeur.Courtesy Edra.Palazzo Durini in the 1920s, when the famed Italian aircraft designer and aeronautical engineer Giovanni Battista Caproni used it as an office.Walking through the rooms, one might imagine the visitors who could have lounged on an Edra “On the Rocks” sofa at one time or another in the history of this place: Giovanni Battista Caproni, the Italian count and aeronautical engineer who lived and worked in the building for more than 40 years? Soccer sensation Ronaldo, who caused a near riot when he visited the palazzo during its Inter Football Club era, when the sports association’s offices were located here? Or could it be iconic designer Gio Ponti, who is said to have drawn that gilded Art Deco bathroom with green terrazzo floors in the back?One palazzo, so many lives. ◾Top Image: Palazzo Durini now, in its Edra showroom era. The frescoes may be 17th-century, but the furniture is the 2021 A’mare collection by Jacopo Foggini.This story originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBEStellene VolandesEditor In ChiefEditor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes is a jewelry expert, and the author of Jeweler: Masters and Mavericks of Modern Design (Rizzoli).

Bar stools aren't intended for hours of lounging. What they are intended for, however, is constant use. Because what’s a bar if not a counter by another name? And a counter, in many cases, is also a breakfast table, the after-school snack buffet, the take-out and basketball-watching hub, and, eventually, the cocktail bar, come hosting hour. For each activity, the same seat does its duty. Unlike dining room chairs, bar stools suffer thoughtlessness: We yank them out, half asleep in the morning. We hike our feet up their pegs, lost in a TV show's plot. When friends come over, we lean forward, animatedly. All the while unwittingly testing each little joint and bolt beneath us. That’s why shopping for them requires a good deal of thought. So, we went ahead and did a lot of that thinking for you. Below, you’ll find some of ELLE Decor's favorite stools, from the design-forward to the budget-conscious. You'll also find a little about what went into our choices. The Classic (with a Back) Carter Counter Stool$398 at Serena and LilyThere's a lot to be said for a classic. With this elevated chair-like stool, you can rest against the back and bring your feet up to its pegs. Also, it comes in six colorways.Dimensions37"H x 18.25" W x 21" DFeaturesSolid beech, painted finish. No assembly required. Holds up to 275 lbsThe Vacationer Avalon Rattan Swivel Bar Stool$648 at Serena and Lily If there's a material evocative of vacation, it's rattan. This version also has a swivel seat and basket-weave back. But, you'll have to appreciate the natural wear on a material—it's part of the appeal. Dimensions38.5"H x 20.5"W x 22"DFeaturesMade with hand-wrapped rattan, holds up to 300 lbsAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLaurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse® Baggett Solid Wood Windsor Back StoolNow 15% Off$165 $140 at WayfairIf you like the look of light wood but at an affordable pricepoint, this option from Wayfair is totally serviceable. And, it comes in three classic colorways. Dimensions14.8'' W X 14.2'' D; back is 12.5'' HFeaturesWood frame, some assembly required; holds up to 300 lbsMartha Stewart Martha Stewart Playa Handcrafted Rattan Counter StoolNow 36% Off$399 $256 at WayfairTDimensions35'' H x 23'' W x 22.5'' DFeaturessolid wood; some assembly required. Holds up to 300 lbsAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowElegant designVanity Counter Stool$3,400 at nickeykehoe.comAnd what if you want the back, the cushioned seat, and a considered, elevated design? Time to check on Nickey Kehoe. Says our own Interiors Director, Bebe Howorth: “I love a stool with a little bit of back support, but doesn’t impose on the space like a chair.” Dimensions33.25" H x 18" W x 19.5" DFeaturesNatural oak; Susan Deliss, constanza in denimBarely-there backrestSede Counter Stool $249 at ArticleA short back, a cushioned seat, and an elegant, tapered leg, this stool has a lovely silhouette at a low price point. Available in three colorways and the option of a leather (versus fabric) seat. Dimensions31"H x 16"W x 17"DFeaturesSolid and veneered wood, holds up to 300 lbsAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowWayne Swivel Bar & Counter Stools$449 at West ElmThere's no denying the appeal of the swivel. And if you foresee your bar stools serving a primarily social function, you'll want to seek that out. As Dorothy Scarborough, Editorial Assistant at ELLE Decor and Town & Country says: "Bar stools, by their very design, are tricky. When you're a few martinis in, it's fun to swing your legs and turn in circles, but when you're trying to enjoy a bowl of cereal, bar stools make for a less than ideal experience. This West Elm design has a higher back and arms, and at only 26 inches off the ground, doesn't make you feel like you're sitting on a tower. It's almost like a real chair, but it has all the jazzy chicness of a barstool."Adam Stool$610 at framacph.comOf course, not all stools need to be tall chairs. The perch-type stool can serve its function expertly, even with a minimal design, like this one from Frama. Dimension30" H x 17" W x 10" DFeaturesPowder coated frame, oiled seat; steel frame, oak seatAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowErgonomic PerchWayland stool $1,110 at oandgstudio.comPrepare for a comfortable perch with this statuesque stool from O&G Studio. Says ELLE Decor's Market Director, Benjamin Reynaert: "I personally sit-tested the Wayland Stool, and let me tell you—the carved solid wood seat isn’t just a design detail, it’s a comfort revelation, perfectly pairing form with the casual functionality of its bamboo-inspired turnings and classic box stretcher base, all available in a palette of 19 hand-applied stained finishes that highlight the American craftsmanship of O&G Studio."Dimensions25" H x 21.25" W x 18" DFeaturesMade with ash and maple wood, stained; "stylized bamboo turnings of the Wayland Family."Industrial chicSteel Stool$129 at ZARA HomeFrom Zara Home comes this sharp number. Not as tall as some, and, clearly, not intended for hours of sitting, this steel stool brings a chic taste of the industrial to any room. Dimensions17" H x 11" W x 11" DAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowWinsome Winsome Satori Stool$36 at AmazonWith a curved wooden seat and a classic, ladder-leg construction, this Winsome Satori stool is chic, simple, and affordable. Bonus: It's available in multiple heights.Dimensions16" H x 18" W x 29" DFeaturesSolid beech wood with a walnut finishLancaster Stool $48 at webstaurantstore.comIndustrial but make it comfortable: The Lancaster stool comes in multiple colors and heights. Plus: the cushion is removable, making these stools stackable for easy storage. Dimensions24" H x 16 " D x 16" WFeaturesFrame is coated steel, and the cushion is corrosion-resistant powder coated vinyl. Holds up to 400 lbsAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowCurvy and Cushy Lulu and Georgia Ashford Bar Stool$598 at Lulu and GeorgiaThis curvy stool from Lulu and Georgia comes with the brusque silhouette of its industrial cousins tempered by the soft edges, arched lines, and plush seat of a comfortable chair.Dimensions30" H x 18.25" W x 18.25" DFeaturesAsh wood frame, foam cushion; hand-crafted and made from sustainable materialsThe Heavy-Lifting VacationerAlastair Bar & Counter StoolNow 37% Off$264 $167 at Joss & MainA return to the vacation rattan, this classic, backless stool comes with all the attitude of a beach cabana at a reasonable price. Offered in multiple colors and heights for beach-adjacent rooms of all sorts. Surprisingly, perhaps, this stool claims to hold up to 500 lbs, making it the heaviest lifter of them all. Dimensinos24'' H X 16'' W X 16'' DFeaturesMade from rattan and plastic, it can hold up to 500 lbsAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowInnovative eleganceMoon Stool$880 at sunatsix.comIt's all about the considered design on these moon stools. But, made from solid white oak treated with tenna oil, they're also stain resistant and built for use. Dimensions30” H x 19.5” W x 16”DFeatureshand-made from white oak using traditional joinery; three finishes availableHigh-quality classic Range Stool$1,200 at assemblyline.coThese classic stools are solid wood, handmade, and all about the understated beauty of quality. Which also means you'll need to order these well in advance of your first soiree, as they take roughly 12 to 14 weeks to make. Dimensions25” H x 13” L x 13” WFeaturesMade from white oak; multiple finishes available.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowMainstays Natural wood stool$35 at WalmartYes, Walmart makes a totally serviceable, classic wooden bar stool. Sold in packs of two, and available in multiple heights, they get the job done. Dimensions13.50" H x 29.00" D x 13.50" WFeaturesMade from woodFrequently Asked QuestionsWhat makes a bar stool comfortable? Let's be honest: Most stools are not built for comfort. Especially the perch variety, as we're calling it—stools with just a flat shelf or round disk to sit on—are functional. If comfort is high on the must-have list, look for a perch with a slightly concave seat, engineered for the shape of a human body. Or skip the perch and go for stools with backrests and cushions. Here's a rule of thumb: the thicker the cushion, the higher the back, the longer you'll want to sit. Ideally, however, you'll find a showroom to test out any piece you're looking to invest in. How do you clean a stool? Most of the stools we've listed have specific instructions for cleaning, but non-abrasive cleaners are always recommended. And, most if not all of the stools we've chosen are intended for indoor use only. Even indoors, however, keeping your stools out of direct sunlight will help preserve the finish. Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowWhy Trust Us?For more than three decades, ELLE DECOR has covered stylemakers, trendsetting interiors, and must-have home furnishings. With a focus on the latest design trends and ideas about how to incorporate them into improving your own space, we’re your go-to resource for elevating and beautifying your home. Our team of editors and interior design pros research and review every new article we publish to ensure you have the most up-to-date, expert-approved information.

You never know who you might meet on a plane. Four years ago, ELLE Decor A-List designer James Huniford, known as Ford, began chatting with the gentleman across the aisle. Both have children, and both spend time in the Hamptons, so they had a lot to talk about. The man mentioned he was hoping to buy land in the Hamptons for a vacation house. Huniford encouraged him and handed over his business card. But after landing, the designer gave no further thought to the encounter, so he was surprised when, several months later, the man’s wife called.The couple, who had rented in the Hamptons for years, had found an idyllic site on a peninsula in Sag Harbor, private but close to town. Though their city home is traditional, they chose William Reue, a New York architect known for crisp, modernist geometry, to design the house. He conceived of a three-story home with six bedrooms, large enough for the couple and a parade of guests, including their four grown children and their partners. Landscape designer Edmund Hollander, renowned for projects such as the public garden at the Kennedy Center in Washington, was brought in to envision an environment worthy of the setting. Pernille LoofEven before the foundations were poured, the couple invited Huniford to the site. They made it clear that they didn’t want either a conventional shingled beach house or a stark white box. “They told me, no trends,” he says. “They wanted a sense of playfulness. And they love color.” The man’s wife explained exactly what she wanted: “A house where I feel like I’m on vacation every time I step inside. And even when I am inside, I want to feel like I’m outside.” In some ways Huniford was an unexpected choice, since he is not often tapped for sleek, contemporary interiors. But he proved to be a wise one. He has an eclectic eye that can discern the beauty in a rusted tool or an old road sign, in rough-hewn beams or a clunky Victorian washstand. He juxtaposes these disparate elements with clean-lined furnishings, in restrained but never cold spaces. Over the past two decades he has designed apartments and country houses for a variety of people in the worlds of finance, media, and entertainment, including Broadway producers Jeffrey Seller and John Gore. “I never doubted that [Ford] was the right person,” the wife says. “I knew the house would be beautiful. Some people were surprised at our choice, saying, ‘That’s not his style.’ But so what? A good designer always has more up their sleeve than people think.”“They told me, no trends. They wanted a sense of playfulness. and they love color.” —James HunifordHuniford immediately knew water would be central to his conception. “The light is extraordinary,” he says. “The reflection off the water inspired the palette of saffron, green, and blue.” For inspiration he looked to French modernism, especially the simple, sunstruck variety in the South of France, exemplified in Eileen Gray’s 1929 house in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, and the nearby beach cabin Le Corbusier built two decades later. To soften this home’s geometry, Huniford filled the rooms with craftsmanship, incorporating both vintage furnishings and commissioned items. The dramatic wood staircase was based on one he had spotted at an antiques dealer on the Left Bank in Paris. The den’s paneling is inset with butter-fly joints evocative of iconic designer George Nakashima’s woodworking techniques.Huniford divided the huge living area into zones, creating a sense of loft living at the beach. Wit and color are equally evident: in the dressing room’s postmodern “Queen Anne” chair by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown; in the kitchen’s gold-streaked stone, which the designer dubs “Cy Twombly marble”; and in the powder room lined in Yves Klein–blue parchment.Huniford’s good fortune on this project extended beyond the initial chance encounter. These clients let him stretch into new territory, more colorful and contemporary. “They pushed me,” he says. “And they trusted me.” ◾ This story originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBE

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.When Corey Moriarty moved into a new home in Palm Beach, Florida with his four dogs—Maverick and Bauer (Golden Retrievers) and Blue and Titan (Siberian Huskies)—he found himself wondering what to do with his spare bedroom: “We had an extra room just sitting there, and instead of turning it into an office or a guest room no one ever uses, we thought, ‘Why not make it a space entirely for them?’”What started as a lark quickly turned delightfully over-the-top. Moriarty outfitted the room with custom bunk beds, a Murphy bed, and a wall lined with glass jars filled with the dogs' favorite snacks. There’s a ball pit, a full TV setup for nightly Bluey viewings, and a closet containing all of their outfits. Moriarty has been documenting the room’s evolution on TikTok, where his latest post racked up more than 24 million views.Corey MoriartyCorey Moriarty’s dogs have their own bonafide bedroom, complete with bunk beds, a TV area, and a treat wall. Pet ownership is booming in the U.S. In 2024, 59.8 million households had dogs, and 42.2 million had cats, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. And people aren’t just adding pets to their families—they’re investing in them. In 2023, Americans spent more than $147 billion on their pets, per the American Pet Products Association, with an increasing chunk of that going toward pet-focused home upgrades. These aren’t mere afterthoughts—they’re carefully crafted extensions of the home that call for thoughtful planning and, often, the expertise of an interior designer. In fact, the dog room has truly become the newest status symbol.View full post on TiktokA dog room's scale can range from a small nook under the stairs to a full-on suite complete with built-in feeding stations, toy storage, grooming areas, and plush four-poster beds. Some include tiled dog showers, temperature-controlled flooring, and built-in cabinetry. Others have more indulgent luxuries—like a TV with DOGTV, a streaming channel with programming designed specifically for canine attention spans. Think: dogs playing in fields, soothing nature sounds, and friendly humans doing relaxing things with pets. It’s ambient TV, but for your hyper-active schnauzer.For Moriarty, the trend taps into a bigger cultural shift. “There’s a continuing movement toward including pets more fully in people’s lives—as real family members,” he says. “Social media has poured gas on the fire. Everyone’s showing off these amazing pet spaces, and it’s inspiring others to level up.” The result is a growing “barkitecture” trend, where design for pets isn’t an afterthought—it’s part of the floor plan from day one. “We’re in the process of finding or building a more permanent home,” he adds, “and a huge part of that decision is based on what the dogs need—a pool, a yard, a room of their own, space to add a dog wash station.”Ken FulkKen Fulk’s three cream golden retrievers found a home in the curry colored library of his Provincetown home, overlooking the harbor in an antique captain’s daybed. Interior designers are seeing a rise in the trend, too. And some are even participating themselves. Ken Fulk, who shares his Provincetown home with four dogs—three English cream golden retrievers (above) and a wirehaired Dachshund named Wiggy—says one room evolved into their dedicated canine space, though it wasn’t premeditated. “Our often-photographed curry colored library became a de facto nursery,” he says. “Soon, no one would come upstairs with us to bed. They preferred their perch overlooking the harbor in an antique captain’s daybed.”Matt McWaltersKen Fulk’s L.A. shop sells wicker dog beds. And for those not ready to sacrifice a spare room? You don’t have to ditch your home office to make your pets feel like part of the design. Fulk says more clients are requesting pet-focused features, like custom dog beds, built-in food stations, and dog-wash areas in stylish mudrooms. At his new shop in Los Angeles, Fulk even offers wicker dog beds upholstered in outdoor fabric, including his own Designer Dogs print for Pierre Frey, as well as an Air Blue and Indigo Stripe. In a world where dogs are living better than their owners, what's next? "I got some very positive feedback on my idea of our doggy hotel called DEN," Fulk laughs. "It was dreamed up as an April Fool’s joke, but there just might be something there."Rachel SilvaAssociate Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publication’s 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 16 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. 

Courtesy of IKEAFurnishing the first place you call your own is a big deal. It needs to be more elevated than your dorm room, but the pieces also need to be affordable. You want quality furniture that will last well beyond your first lease, but it also needs to be adaptable to suit your ever-evolving style. The foolproof solution to all of these needs? IKEA. The retailer has long mastered Scandinavian simplicity, with functional, budget-friendly furniture that works with a range of styles. Here are seven selects to make your first apartment feel like home. The best part? These are proven favorites, with ratings of 4+ stars out of 5 from hundreds, if not thousands of reviews—so you can trust that each and every one will deliver both quality and style.1KALLAX Shelf Unit$80 at IKEAYour dream of built-in bookshelves may be a few years (or decades) away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fake it. Use the adaptable KALLAX series to build a shelving display that suits your space by combining different-size units.2MALM Bed Frame$219 at IKEAFeaturing clean lines and an unfussy design, the MALM is an IKEA classic, available in three sizes (full, queen, and king) and four finishes (white, blue, and dark brown or oak veneer). The high headboard offers ample back support for those work-from-bed days, and the sides can be adjusted to fit varying mattress heights. If you need extra storage, just add the rolling MALM underbed storage boxes.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3ÄLVDALEN Sleeper Sofa$449 at IKEAIt’s guaranteed that your friends will want to come for an overnight visit in your first apartment, and you’ll want to do them one better than a blow-up air mattress to sleep on. Enter the attractive and comfortable ÄLVDALEN sleeper sofa. It easily folds out to a full-size bed, and even features storage under the seat to hold the bedding. Plus, it comes with a 10-year limited warranty, so you can trust its durability for years to come.4MICKE Desk$90 at IKEAA full-blown home office may not be in the cards for a first pad, but a sleek workspace that won’t detract from the vibe of your living room certainly is. The streamlined MICKE desk features a long tabletop (at nearly 56 inches, it can fit two chairs) and a cable compartment to keep cords hidden away.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5LACK Wall Shelf Unit$100 at IKEA“Highly aesthetic,” “modern and so practical,” “sturdy and well-designed”—these are just a few of the comments from 1,300+ reviewers about why they love this shelf unit so much. Use it to turn unused vertical wall space into an artful display of ceramics, photos, and books. Hung vertically, each shelf can hold up to six pounds.6STORKLINTA 3-Drawer Chest$120 at IKEASimple, modern, and highly functional, the STORKLINTA dresser features integrated handles on the upper edge of the drawers for a hardware-free design. The anchor-and-unlock feature reduces tip-over risk by requiring the chest be anchored to the wall for more than one drawer to be opened at once.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7NISSAFORS Utility Cart$30 at IKEAWhether you need more storage in your tiny kitchen or you’re simply looking for a minimalist bar cart, the NISSAFORS is the answer. It’s made of powder-coated steel, it’s available in four finishes—sophisticated black is our favorite—and it’s been tested to IKEA’s strictest standards for stability and durability, so you know it’s built to last.

“Was your interior designer Ayn Bland?” Barely ten minutes into Mountainhead, the first feature film from Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, the viewer is confronted with one of the film’s central tenets: beige is bad.Articulated by Jeff (Ramy Youssef), the movie does a lot to engage this train of thought. Its central characters—tech bro founders Randall (Steve Carrell), Hugo (Jason Schwartzman), and Venis (Cory Michael Smith)—are pitted against not just each other, but the world writ large as it begins to crumble around them, mostly thanks to their own machinations.But when did our current beige malaise set in? Much of the recent divisiveness might be attributed to the Kardashians, whose homes are synonymous with muted putty tones: “less is more” taken to its only logical conclusion—least is best. The aesthetic has occasionally gone viral, with the TikTok account Sad Beige even garnering notoriety for documenting the lifelessness of children’s retail offerings in the voice of German documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog.Warner Bros.The cast of Mountainhead, the new HBO Original film from Succession creator Jesse Armstrong.Social media is as much a progenitor of the trend as it is the platform to document it and repackage it for frictionless consumption. Beige is safe, easy, legible—if your entire house has been unpacked from Amazon boxes, why fight the natural inclination to just live in one? The Mountainhead home might be the lair of a fictional tech boss, but the aesthetics remain the same up and down the corporate ladder.The color family has its own troubled history: “khaki,” which is derived from the Urdu term for “dusty,” originated in mid-19th-century colonial India, as the critic and author Andrea Codrington noted in an eerily prescient 2001 essay for Cabinet magazine that further elaborates on beige’s latent potential for evil. Mountainhead, then, sees the hue returning to its roots, becoming shorthand for what Armstrong sees as everything that’s wrong with the world: complacency, exhaustion, and boredom.MACALL POLAY. SMPSPAnother beige couch in the Mountainhead house. Armstrong’s camera treats the home, designed by local Utah firm Upwall Design, as a character in and of itself, with lingering shots of quietly humming servers, spiraling staircases and vacant driveways presenting solitude and menace as two sides of the same coin. Town & Country reported that production designer Stephen Carter liked the property for its The Shining-esque vibes. He wasn’t wrong. “There’s a solitary nature to that house, too,” star Steve Carrell told The Salt Lake Tribune. “You feel like you’re away from everything.”Another word for that feeling—articulated by scenes of the men laying about the home glued to their phones as scenes of worldwide terror stream in—would be dissociation. Think home is where the heart is? Mountainhead makes a compelling case that it's often just another a bad trip.Sean SantiagoDeputy EditorSean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality and travel, culture, and luxury shopping. Since starting his career at an interior design firm in 2011, he has gone on to cover the industry for Vogue, Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, PIN-UP and Domino. He is the author of The Lonny Home (Weldon Owens, 2018), has produced scripted social content for brands including West Elm and Streeteasy, and is sometimes recognized on the street for his Instagram Reels series, #DanceToDecor

Nichols Canyon cuts through the south side of the Hollywood Hills, stretching from Hollywood Boulevard in the south up to Mulholland Drive in the north. Made famous by David Hockney, whose 1980 painting of the canyon sold for just over $41M in 2020, the area remains a thriving artist's community. What better place for Elle Decor A-List designer Oliver Furth to build a "creative cottage" for his partner, The Culture Creative founder Sean Yashar?Furth and Yashar, who've been together 14 years, met in the industry and purchased their home 7 years ago. When the lot next door—a pines-filled acre with a tiny house on it—came up for sale, the couple jumped at the chance to buy. "Anyone else would've torn it down and built something bigger," says Furth. "We replaced the windows and redid the kitchen and bathrooms, but we leaned into its size." Now drenched in Yashar's signature "eau de nil" pastel tones, the cottage embraces the character of its original 1940s structure while serving as a cutting-edge space for creativity.Kort HavensIn the sitting room, a Philippe Starck chrome side table from the original Royalton Hotel, from 1988, holds a place of pride with a group of Peter Shire and Ron Arad vintage chairs and a Rachel Shillander pyramidal lamp. Art includes greats of LA’s past and present: a Laddie John Dill mixed media, a Sam Falls tapestry, a Tom Holland metal relief, and a Strauss Bourque-LaFrance painting."All of my work is really portraiture." —Oliver Furth"My clients are all muses to me," says Yashar, who provides consulting services for designers. "I have to be a good listener and understand who the client is and how they connect to decorative arts history, so I spend a lot of time researching. How else can I be an authority?"To that end, the space is designed to provide a moment to reflect and the fodder to rev into high gear in equal measures; to facilitate rest as much as the chance to recharge. Following in the footsteps of Albert Hadley and Tony Duquette (who once declared malachite a neutral), Furth color-drenched the space in a mint green. "That color is the envelope—that's what I call it," says Furth. "We kept it very tight by lacquering the floors, the walls, and the ceiling in that color. Even the cabinetry and the appliances are in that mint. It allows us to have this object-driven interior space by unifying everything with color."Kort HavensA vintage Joe D’Urso for Knoll desk, Sam Maloof desk chair, Christopher Prinz stool and felt-clad speaker by Studio AHEAD create a sleek composition under an Ingo Mauer chandelier in the office. Art includes a triptych of photographs by David Benjamin Sherry, and framed magazine ads from Yashar’s parents’ furniture store, Moda Italia, from 1990.The seafoam hue unites not only the interior, but also decades of decorative history: Yashar found that the architect Paul Williams, who worked in LA in the 1940's and 50's, used a similar shade in many projects. "There's a lot of history and narrative within this color that maybe not everyone will be able to know, but hopefully everyone can feel," says Yashar. Clocking in at roughly 1,000-square-feet, the interior is now a mixture of millennial aesthetics, showcasing Yashar's love for design culture icons like Mario Buatta and Saul Bass. The entry sets the tone with its metal-and-glass Dutch door. A mixed-use meeting room offers a blend of contrasts, from Buatta-inspired shades in a Dickies-esque khaki twill to antique Chippendale chairs juxtaposed with 1990s Marc Newson tables. "All of my work is really portraiture," says Furth, "so this was an opportunity to help create this sort of portrait of Sean and his business." "Sometimes things just resonate...you just know when it's right." —Sean YasharThe sitting room features iconic design pieces, including a worn black leather sofa from the 1980s and a Philippe Starck table from the Royalton Hotel. Peter Shire and Ron Arad chairs are paired with conceptual furniture inspired by Dan Friedman. The kitchen celebrates postwar and ’80s influences with Smeg appliances and works by Soft Baroque and Patrick Nagel, grounded by a custom table from Studio MUKA. "A lot of people know me for my interest in eighties and nineties design culture," says Yashar. "But when I think eighties or nineties, I don't think of one thing. I don't want to choose. So I want to have Joe D'Urso high-tech track lighting, and I want it against these Mario Buatta-style balloon shades. I like that duality."Outside, a Persian-inspired courtyard nods to Yashar's heritage while offering dining and lounging areas that showcase rare 1980s furniture, including a Peter Lane ceramic table and one-off mint-colored Richard Schultz seating. The courtyard’s natural and faux vine murals create a satirical trompe-l’oeil effect, celebrating real-versus-virtual artistry. "I think we're both big believers in feeling," says Yashar. "Sometimes things just resonate. You can't really put your finger on it, but you just know that it's right."Sean SantiagoDeputy EditorSean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality and travel, culture, and luxury shopping. Since starting his career at an interior design firm in 2011, he has gone on to cover the industry for Vogue, Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, PIN-UP and Domino. He is the author of The Lonny Home (Weldon Owens, 2018), has produced scripted social content for brands including West Elm and Streeteasy, and is sometimes recognized on the street for his Instagram Reels series, #DanceToDecor

Some designers are lucky to find projects with excellent beginnings. That was Jessica Helgerson's experience when the Oregon and Paris-based designer, who launched a line of flatweave rugs this month, began a recent gut renovation for a family of five in Portland.With views of the Willamette River and the peak of Mount Hood, the early 1900s home was designed by famed Northwest architect Wade Pipes, who spread a style of architecture across the area that emphasized natural materials, known as Arts and Crafts residential architecture.Aaron LeitzHelgerson added the breakfast nook to the original footprint of the house. The artwork (left) by Miró served as the reference for the colors of the ceiling and banquette. Helgerson, who describes her design approach as “responsive,” expanded Pipes’ original design by building a new three-car garage and converting the existing one into a mudroom and laundry room. She also added a breakfast nook to the kitchen. The clients brought their museum-worthy collection of art into the home, including an extensive collection of over 30 pieces by Alexander Calder, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso. Those works were the inspiration for the design that followed.“I wanted the art to settle in and not fight with the space, but feel held by it," Helgerson said, describing the project as an opportunity to discover how to include the art in a manner that felt intentional but "didn’t dominate the whole thing."Aaron LeitzIn the attic bedroom, Helgerson opened up the ceiling, taking it to its peak, and designed the metal beams for structural support. The beds are antique. To accomplish that goal, Helgerson pulled the primary colors from the bold artworks and carried that scheme throughout the house. Walking through the front door, you're greeted by Benjamin Moore’s Evening Dove, a gray-blue shade that makes a welcoming statement. The blue theme continues into the dining room and bar area with Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue, a more muted blue, accented by Calder’s Windmill and 2 Suns artworks. In the living room, she planned the room renovation around the placement of Miró's Sur Quatre Murs, a focal point above the fireplace mantle. Soft blue sisal by Holland & Sherry covers the walls and acts as a backdrop to the Calders dotted around the room. The dark stained fir walls in the family room are livened up with a colorful Miró. And, a bifold panel above the mantel strategically hides the television so that the room can function as both a place to unwind and to entertain guests.The kitchen breakfast nook and cabinets mirror the blue and muted red in Miro’s Constellations Pochoir, which hangs "I love the design puzzle and how to solve it in a way that feels nice and authentic," Helgerson said. Take A Look Inside This Portland, Oregon House

Even the most gracious host can be thrown off by a well-meaning—but ill-timed—gift. Just ask Ina Garten. During a recent Sunday Sitdown with TODAY’s Willie Geist, the beloved entertainer and cookbook author known by her blog name, Barefoot Contessa, shared her top two dinner party don’ts—and they’re more common than you’d think.Geist mentioned that there can be a "gift that messes with the plan of the evening," noting, "in other words, don't show up with chips and guac to a dinner party." Garten agreed and added in some other common dinner party blunders. “There are two things that I don’t think you should ever bring to a dinner party—and they’re so common—is something that the host feels like they should serve," she said, adding that Jell-O salad first comes to mind. "What are you going to do with that?" she adds. The second faux pas? Loose flowers. “Don’t ever bring flowers that aren’t in a vase,” she advised. “You're there. You're like, everyone's arriving, and then all of a sudden you’ve got these flowers and you have to figure out what to do." John M. Hall for ELLE DecorIna Garten’s lush garden in East Hampton.Garten knows a thing or two about effortless entertaining. In her hit series Be My Guest, viewers got a peek into her many gatherings at her verdant East Hampton garden, which features a kitchen garden, flower beds for miles, and an orchard with 25 crab apple trees—all thanks, in part, to landscape designer Edwina von Gal (who she was introduced to by Martha Stewart). There's also a wood-shingle farmhouse on the property that is prime for dinner party moments, which she had shared with many of her famous friends on the show, including Wendell Pierce, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Stephen Colbert—even Geist and his wife, Christina.In 2022, Garten appeared on the TODAY show with cohosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, teaching them how to how to set a table for a dinner party. “The first thing about a dinner party is it can be four people," she said in the show . "It doesn’t have to be 12; it’s overwhelming, even for me,” she said on the show. Rachel SilvaAssociate Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publication’s 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 16 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. 

It started in 2020. Or that’s where the wax-breadcrumb trail seems to lead: Back to the early days of the pandemic that forced everyone to take up hobbies, and then all the days afterward that gave them time to perfect those hobbies. Among those hobbies was candle-making. And eventually, food-shaped candle-making. Now, you can get a candle that looks like a martini. Or a piece of cake. Or a sausage. Or a bowl of cherries. And you can get them from many, many brands. In fact, it might be possible to get a candle in the shape of almost anything. (Is it cake or is it a candle?) The only problem with the trend, as far as we can tell, is that most of these candles seem too magnificent to burn. But they also seem primed to ritualize: How about a cake candle that you light only on each birthday? Trying not to eat sugar for a year? Buy a candle that looks like dessert, and light it 365 days from now. The world is your oyster-shaped candle.Below are a few of our favorites to get your collection started. 1InfinCreats Fruit Loops Candle Bowl$20 at AmazonThis bowl of Fruit Loops has the benefit of a vanilla scent. The candle sits inside a real glass bowl with an actual metal spoon, drop it on the table amid bowls of actual Fruit Loops and it'll seem even more realistic. 2Fried Chicken$38 at gohar.worldOn the quirkier end of the spectrum are these fried chicken thighs. Put them on a cake platter in the middle of a table for dramatic effect. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3The martini$22 at EtsyStrikingly realistic, right? This martini comes in a glass that could conceivably be refilled (though we don't recommend it). Try serving these two guests, unlit, before the actual cocktails come out. The gag potential for food-shaped candles is high. 4Riviera Spaghetti Lobster Candle$70 at Moda OperandiThis wax candle was handmade in Italy by a family of wax shapers that goes back six generations. But it's not actually recommended to light this candle and we're happy to preserve its adorable look.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Sandwich Candle$40 at cloveandcreek.comOnce upon a time, kids wanted six-foot-long subs (or hoagies or Italians, depending on the region) for their birthday parties. Problem was, kids could never finish six feet of sandwich. Solution: The candle sub. No soggy buns. 6Tinned Fish Candle$26 at shopgenara.comIt comes in a paper wrapper! And a real tin! Bonus, it does not smell like fish, but "garden-fresh tomato leaf." Ideal for picnics and that friend who went through a tinned fish phase a couple years ago.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Fruit Bowl Food CandlesNow 45% Off£33 £18 at choosingkeeping.comThis cornucopia is handmade in Italy. And though it will be hard to see them go, the spectacle of melting fruit is sure to be a hit at your next dinner party. 8Nissin Nissin Cup Noodle Candle$12 at japantrendshop.comLooking for a clever gift? Try this hyper-real Cup of Noodles candle. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Hot dogs and fries (with pickles)$46 at EtsyPerfect for barbecues, this hot dog candle kit is a decor wink that looks just like summer.10Espresso Pot Candle$32 at John DerianAn espresso pot candle that sadly does not smell like coffee. But, it'll still fool anyone in your kitchen.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11T-Bone Steak Candle£75 at choosingkeeping.comThis T-bone steak calls to mind Dutch vanitas paintings, wherein perfectly rendered organic matter is depicted gently rotting, alluding to the brevity of life. Pair a steak with fruit candles, baguette, and cheese, and invoke this still-life tradition in the middle of your dinner table. No conversation starters required. 12The Olive Candle$30 at bignightbk.comMaybe not as realistic as some of the others, but the charm of this olive is undeniable. Bonus, it has a nice smell (without a base of brine): "neroli, jasmine, and orange blossom."Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13The croissant$12 at EtsyBreakfast foods and candles go together like jam and jelly. This croissant, made from soy and beeswax, brings the full equation. 14Cherries (Set of 10)$32 at bignightbk.comOf all the food-shaped candles out there, these win "most likely to be burned" because how cute would they look on top of a cake? Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Cupcake$78 at gohar.worldWax lends itself to the seductive ripples of well-spread frosting, no? Stack a tray full of these candle desserts at your next festive gathering. Looking to create a centerpiece for your farm-core picnic? Try corn candles. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Mushroom Candles$16 at EtsyThere's a seasonal quality to mushrooms that make them just right for a fall dinner table setting. 18Ramen$37 at EtsyPerhaps you'd like something more high end than the Cup of Noodles candle. Here, we present a ramen bowl version. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Iced Coffee $35 at EtsyThankfully, these candles look and smell like iced coffee. Perfect for a morning pick-me-up. 20Banana Split Candle$46 at John DerianWhich kid in your life needs this candle immediately? We say all of them.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.It only makes sense to preface this story by admitting that I don’t think a person can ever have too many candles. Some might call this a bias. I call it stumbling upon the truth, like the Da Vinci Code for people who dream of one day having a candle closet. Ok, maybe we'll hedge and call it a self-fulfilling prophecy.One might argue that, of the five love languages—words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts—a candle can tap into (or at least gently singe the edges of) three. A candle can be a gift, sure, but also quality time, since scent is so closely tied to memory, triggering happy thoughts of a time, place or person. Lastly, depending on how you spin it, physical touch. Doth a flame not burn?Home fragrance has become its own all-consuming category. To that end, a candle is not quite an end but the means to it, the end being a home that feels distinctly grown up. So is gifting a candle not also an act of service?Cire Trudon Cire Classique$140 at trudon.comSophie Bille Brahe Nuage Madison$295 at sophiebillebrahe.comMoro Dabron Cecile Candle$185 at moro-dabron.comA lot of the apprehension around candle gifting seems to suppose that the giver doesn’t have taste. Which could be a real issue. But not for ELLE Decor readers. Many candles are simply too desirable to dismiss out of hand. Moro Dabron’s candles come in a fine white porcelain vessel, the delicate form of which is inspired by 8th-century stem cups. (A great gift for any history buffs you may know.) They arrive in a substantive green clamshell box that’s too pretty to throw away; shoppers can also opt to include a hand-written note at check out.Jewelry designer Sophie Bille Brahe’s Nuage Madison candle, available in the designer’s “Cellophane” opal pearl-inspired iridescent glass, is more sculpture than tchotchke. Then there are Loewe’s popular garden-inspired candles, which encourage mixing and matching in their colorful vessels and particular scent profiles—think mushroom, wasabi, and tomato—or Dior’s classic scents, which come in a “giant” size that weighs over 3 pounds and can be used indoors or out. If the recipient’s palette is more attuned to caviar than couture, Petrossian for some reason makes unexpectedly chic candles that smell like fruit and flowers, not fish roe.Ginori Oriente Italiano Scented Candle$210 at ginori1735.comDior 30 Montaigne Giant Candle$650 at DiorLoewe Small Wasabi Candle$130 at LoeweBeyond scent, there is the primal draw to that tiny flame. As TikTok knows, gay men don’t do overhead lighting, and candles emit a dim, warm, and most importantly flattering glow. What dinner party wouldn’t benefit from a set of slim Diptyque tapers? Or votives in Ginori’s Oriente Italiano porcelain?There are candles to help someone wean themselves off a crystal habit (a new line from Foundrae taps into spiritual tenets); candles that support causes (proceeds from Cire Trudon’s new beeswax-scented candle save the bees); and candles that say you sympathize with your friend who is a vegan who lives on the Lower East Side (Boy Smells’s reformulated LES candle).What I’m trying to say is that a candle is so much more than a candle, and if you’re worried about it being the worst gift you've ever given, you might just need to take a look in the mirror.Sean SantiagoDeputy EditorSean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality and travel, culture, and luxury shopping. Since starting his career at an interior design firm in 2011, he has gone on to cover the industry for Vogue, Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, PIN-UP and Domino. He is the author of The Lonny Home (Weldon Owens, 2018), has produced scripted social content for brands including West Elm and Streeteasy, and is sometimes recognized on the street for his Instagram Reels series, #DanceToDecor

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.At the recently reopened Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco, a custom, hand-painted mural hangs above the dining room tables. And across the country, in The Otter, opened in late 2024 in New York’s Manner Hotel, a regal mural spreads out above the restaurant’s banquettes. If you haven't noticed, restaurant murals seem to be making comeback. And for good reason. These one-of-a-kind, site-specific works add something to a space that no replica, or digitally crafted work, ever could. “Hand-painted work carries emotions and warmth that printed graphics simply can’t replicate,” says Mirim Yoo, a visual artist and creative director of Shirukuro restaurant. Opened this spring, Shirokuro caused a splash online with its fully hand-painted interior—not just the walls but the floors, chairs, and tables—that made it look like a 2D illustration. “There’s a human rhythm in every brushstroke,” says Yoo. “That’s something no machine or print could ever mimic.”Courtesy Yeon J YueDetail of a wall, tables, chairs and floor in Shirokuro, hand-painted by Mirim Yoo. ’Murals on restaurant walls are nothing new. For decades, tourists have flocked to spaces famous for them. Like the King Cole bar, in New York, whose mural was painted by Maxfield Parrish in 1906, originally for John Jacob Astor’s hotel The Knickerbocker (and later moved to its current location, the St. Regis, in 1920). Likewise, Bemelmans Bar, inside the Carlyle, opened in 1947, is famous for walls decorated by its namesake, Ludwig Bemelmans, the writer and illustrator of the Madeline books. But works like these were made in or around what some consider a heyday for the mural, when artists were commissioned to decorate the walls of fine dining rooms and other commercial spaces such as banks and building lobbies. For years, the practice was largely dormant as other trends like wallpaper, faux-finishes, or just bare-bones walls (minimalism and its endless hangover) dominated. William Jess LairdA mural by artist Matthew Benedict is painted around the walls of the dining area and bar on the first floor of Izzy’s Steaks and Chops, in San Francisco. In the last few years, however, there’s been a noticeable uptick in large-scale murals in restaurants and bars. In San Francisco, the recently updated Izzy’s Steaks and Chops has one that depicts the owner and other notables, painted by renowned artist Matthew Benedict above its dining room and bar. At Cecchi’s, opened in 2023, in New York, a mural by rising star Jean-Pierre Villafañe inflects the space with Art Deco grandeur.By Yeon J Yue courtesy ShirokuroDetail of a wall in Shirokuro, painted by Mirim Yoo. Though these murals take cues from the ancient tradition of telling stories through large-scale paintings, a new class of mural-makers is going about it in new and innovative ways. For example, the hand-painted wallcovering in the Wayfare Tavern was custom made by De Gournay, with input from the restaurant's designer, Jon de la Cruz of DLCID, who wanted to tap into local history—in particular, old San Francisco, the Barbary Coast, and the California Gold Rush—through the painting’s narrative. Starting with one of their design templates, called Voyage of the Pacific, de la Cruz and team worked with De Gournay to craft a custom scene, which was then painted directly onto gold, gilded paper. “So the installation process was as direct as conventional rolled wallpaper,” de la Cruz tells us. Likewise, for The Otter, Spanish architect-turned-painter, Elvira Solana made what would become the restaurant’s mural on canvas in her studio in Madrid. When it was done, the canvas was rolled, shipped and mounted by a crew inside the restaurant. ELLE Decor A-Lister Hannes Peer’s design for the space was inspired by “1960s French Riviera with Italian Mediterranean modernism,” according to his website, and Solana’s mural draws on the mediterranean-modernist palette through its shapes and colors. View full post on Instagram At Shirokuro, Yoo’s work puts a spin on classical mural-making by covering the entire interior of the space. The original concept for the restaurant was inspired by Take On Me, the ‘80s music video by the band A-ha, and a 2D cafe that owner and founder James Eunsuk Lim visited in Korea. Yoo leaned on these references as she sketched and refined the design in a notebook. “Since the restaurant first opened as a sushi-focused omakase, I incorporated drawings inspired by Japanese culinary culture,” says Yoo, as well as Japanese sumi-e ink paintings. From start to finish, it took Yoo just under three months to complete the painting inside Shirokuro. The result is impressive, but not without the inconsistencies only a human hand could make. And that’s the point. “The hesitation when I was afraid of making a mistake, the slight imperfections, the uneven lines—all of that holds emotion,” says Yoo. “I think guests can truly feel my presence in the space. It creates a more personal, more alive experience.”Artist Erin Lynn Welsh feels similarly. “To me, a mural is not just decoration—it’s an emotional extension of a space,” she says. “A painted wall can be beautiful, but it often serves a more surface-level or aesthetic purpose. A mural, on the other hand, tells a story. It’s site-specific, intentional, and rooted in both the architecture and the cultural context of the environment.” By Alan Tansey, Courtesy Erin Lynn WelshArtist Erin Lynn Welsh at work on the Anagram Nomad Hotel lobby mural. One of Lynn Welsh’s first major murals was made inside the lobby of the Anagram Nomad, in New York. Another is in the Hotel Lucile, in Los Angeles, opening in July. In all of her work, she draws inspiration from the landscape, particularly that of Southern California, and florals, especially arrangements made by Fox Fodder Farm. Ultimately, though, it’s the architecture of a building, and the light inside it, that informs what she’ll paint there. “I approach each mural site-specifically so that the work doesn’t end up feeling like generic wall art. My goal is always to create something unique, truly responsive, and fully integrated into its surroundings.”“Murals are part of the woodwork of a building—there’s no hiding, no taking them down,” she continues. “You have to make the right decisions in real time or embrace the flaws and transform them into something meaningful.”As we careen toward a digital future filled with AI everything, the palpable presence of an artist’s hand—the choices made, and the mural's integration with the constraint's of a space—is only going to become more precious, and desirable. “In our fast-paced, high-tech world—where everything is instantly accessible—there’s something profoundly special about hand-painted murals,” says de la Cruz. “They’re slow, intentional, and completely bespoke.”

Sagrada Familia, the Catholic church designed by Antoni Gaudí, isn’t hurting for visitors. Any tourist knows where to go first on their trip to Barcelona. But far fewer are aware of the smaller inventions of its architect. For instance, the Batlló chair, originally designed by Gaudí in 1906, was reissued by BD Barcelona in 2024. After seeing it at the Milanese design fair, Salone del Mobile, that same year, interior designer Giancarlo Valle and his editor wife Jane Keltner de Valle pursued a partnership with BD Barcelona. Now, for the first time, the chair is coming to the US. Gaudí acolytes can see and even sit in one at Casa Valle, the pair's gallery in New York City.“There are so many inspiring and celebrated architect-designers,” says Keltner de Valle, “Josef Hoffmann, Josef Frank, Gio Ponti. But Gaudí, though prolific and arguably more famous than any other, is often overlooked in that context. His furniture has never been exhibited in New York before and many people aren’t even aware he designed furniture.”Courtsey of Casa ValleThe Batlló chair by Antoni Gaudí, produced by BD Barcelona for Casa Valle.At first glance, the chair reads as vaguely anthropomorphic, with a form that calls to mind snails or bones. Fittingly, the house Gaudí built for the Batlló family, Casa Batlló, is known colloquially as the “Casa Dels Ossos” or “House of Bones”, due to its façade of broken ceramic tiles. First built in 1877 for Lluís Sala Sánchez, the house was bought in 1903 by textile industrialist Josep Batlló. Gaudí convinced Batlló to remodel it rather than tearing it down, and by 1906 had finished a complete overhaul of the structure, encouraged by Batlló to design something completely free and without restriction. Gaudí saw to the house in detail, including designs for built-in and free-standing furniture.The Batlló chair started its life in Casa Batlló’s dining room. Fifty oak chairs of the same design, with a new ebony finish, are available through Casa Valle. Seeing the nearly $9,000 price point might prompt the curious to ask if they’re buying a name and legacy or artistic genius and quality. The answer is: All of the above. For starters, each chair is meticulously constructed in Barcelona and takes eight to ten weeks from beginning to end. “Gaudi’s furniture today is crafted exactly as it was in 1906 with the same methods and materials and a certificate signed by the director of the Gaudi Cathedra,” says Valle. “You can very much feel that connection in the works.” Is 100 years of innovative Catalan design worth that price tag? We think sí!

Explorations in material take on a deeper meaning in the work of these four talented makers, whose collectible objects are as functional as they are covetable. We sat down with Chuma Maweni, Osanna Visconti, Simone Bodmer-Turner, and Ombia Studio Founder Cristina Moreno to talk about unexpected sources of inspiration, pivotal career moments, and experiences that shaped who they are and how they create today. Chuma Maweni The South Africa–based ceramist has put his stamp on traditional Zulu and Xhosa techniques.Gerheardt CoetzeeChuma Maweni in his Cape Town studio.When did you first think of yourself as a creator?CM: There wasn’t a defining moment that I remember, more a realization a few years ago that people, from curators to collectors to family, had started to take notice of my work and wanted to know more about it. That was a very affirming shift for me, particularly in terms of how my parents saw me.Lea CraffordChuma Maweni’s Zoliswa (Qavashe), a rounded mirror with a frame made of clay tiles.What would surprise people most about your process?CM: People are surprised when they realize that my works are made from clay. They often think they’re made of wood. When people think about ceramics, they tend to think of sculpture and vessels, not furniture.Delaire GraffiSibane (Maweni) in glazed stoneware, glass, and steel.What was the last trip you took that sparked your creative output?CM: Going home to Mthatha is always inspiring for me and my work. When I’m there I can practice smoke-firing using cow dung. I can literally watch the cows in the field while I work! There’s something very interesting about this idea of going back to the source.Hayden Phipps and Southern GuildThe installation iMvelaphi, on view at Southern Guild in Cape Town in 2024.Who is your dream collaborator?CM: Within the stable of my gallery, Southern Guild, I would love to collaborate with Adam Birch and Zanele Muholi. Osanna ViscontiThe Milanese metalworker is well known for her elegant pieces made with the lost-wax casting technique.Federico VillaVisconti in her Milan studio. When did you first think of yourself as a creator?OV: Ever since I was a child. At school I would take pliers, thin golden thread, and beads into the classroom and produce pieces to share with my classmates.Osanna ViscontiOsanna Visconti’s Bambù bookshelf in natural bronze.What would surprise people most about your process?OV: My eclecticism, just like the matter I shape. I am an artisan and an artist, and my practice spans art and technique, beauty and function. I am not a sculptor nor an industrial designer, even though I share my approach and quest for meaning with design.Osanna ViscontiVisconti’s cast bronze Campanula floor lamp.What was the last trip you took that inspired your creative output?OV: It was in a weekend house, looking at a magnolia tree of considerable size, with branches touching the windows. I grasped the life cycle of a flower, nature’s most exquisite creation, and it inspired my Magnolia collection of furniture in natural bronze.Osanna ViscontiVisconti’s cast bronze Bambu armchair. What music do you listen to while you work?OV: All piano concertos by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Simone Bodmer-TurnerWorking in rural Massachusetts, Bodmer-Turner’s studio practice manages to span mediums and meanings.NEIGE THEBAULTBodmer-Turner applying a glaze to one of her chairs.When did you first think of yourself as a creator?SBT: I’ve always known one of my skills was being creative, but saying it out loud to my family, with the intention of doing creative work as my profession rather than as an extracurricular, set me on the path I am now on.What would surprise people most about your process?SBT: I do absolutely nothing with a computer or any technology—except email. Marco GallowayLamps from the Tulip series.What was the last trip you took that inspired your creative output?SBT: My partner and I have been learning to sail. Being on a boat in the middle of the ocean brings clarity, and the multipurposeness and collapsibility of spaces within a boat is so inspiring.What advice would you have for your younger self?SBT: Don’t tell yourself you can’t create something you’re passionate about just because you haven’t seen someone structure a practice that way before. Your gut will always know what’s right for you. Ombia StudioFrom her studio in Los Angeles, Cristina Moreno makes sculptural furniture in clay and wood.Courtesy of OmbiaOmbia Studio founder Cristina Morenoin her L.A. studio. When did you first think of yourself as a creator?CM: I started painting when I was two years old and have known ever since that creativity would forever be a part of me.David William BaumOmbia Studio’s Arena side table in ceramic.What would surprise people most about your process?CM: The technicality and how physically difficult it is to make these tables. When I have friends come by the studio, they’re always amazed—they never thought each piece could take so many steps and require so much muscle.David William BaumCleo, a five-legged ceramic side table.What was the last trip you took that impacted your creative output?CM: Production trips to Mexico City are always fruitful. Places that have a deep artisanal ancestry remind me that there is so much to learn, and beauty in the handmade. I’m still thinking about my trip to the gold museum in Bogotá, Colombia.David William BaumMusica, a sculptural dining chair.What was the last work of art you saw that inspired your output, and how?CM: I wouldn’t say art directly inspires my output. At least not consciously. I usually find that ancient functional objects are what really inspire me. This story originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBE

Say the name Isamu Noguchi and the designer-artist’s iconic lanterns spring to mind. Their flattering glow and unfussy shapes in washi paper and bamboo don’t define the cultural zeitgeist so much as thoughtfully accentuate it. (Just ask Michael Kors, who crowned the runway for his fall/winter 2025 collection with outsize Akari globes.)Courtesy Noguchi Museum ArchivesAn exhibition of Akari lanterns in 2018–19 at the Isamu Noguchi Museum in Astoria, Queens. The lamps are just one small part of the illustrious legacy of this Japanese-American creative who found acclaim in everything he did—from sculpture to furniture, and even landscape design. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum in Astoria, Queens, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this month, is a testament to his vision. Its heart is a 27,000-square-foot red brick building that dates from 1929, when it was home to a photo-engraving supply company.Courtesy Noguchi Museum ArchivesAn interior of the building in 1974, just after it was purchased by NoguchiWhere there was once a gas station next door, there is now a concrete viewing pavilion. Inside, the former industrial workspaces, with exposed steel and wood beams, are now galleries that host revolving exhibitions, as well as displays of Noguchi’s organic sculpture in carved stone. The yearlong celebration will showcase works from Noguchi’s original installation, along with performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company. (The artist designed numerous sets for the legendary choreographer over the course of a friendship that spanned decades.)Courtesy Noguchi Museum ArchivesAn interior of the Isamu Noguchi Museum in Astoria, Queens.“The museum’s legacy is a testament to Noguchi’s visionary approach,” says its director, Amy Hau, “where art becomes an immersive experience that connects with both the mind and the spirit.”Courtesy Noguchi Museum ArchivesAnd exterior view of the building in 1931, when it was Demgen & Balletto Photo Engraver’s Supply Co.; the building’s façade today.This story originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBESean SantiagoDeputy EditorSean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality and travel, culture, and luxury shopping. Since starting his career at an interior design firm in 2011, he has gone on to cover the industry for Vogue, Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, PIN-UP and Domino. He is the author of The Lonny Home (Weldon Owens, 2018), has produced scripted social content for brands including West Elm and Streeteasy, and is sometimes recognized on the street for his Instagram Reels series, #DanceToDecor

As we move through the year, interior designers are making thoughtful choices about which trends to embrace and which to leave behind. “No Buy 2025" movements are gaining traction across social media, and sustainability becomes ever more important. So, we asked designers which items they're deliberately leaving off their shopping lists this year—and what they're investing in instead. Their answers reveal a collective shift toward authenticity, longevity, and personal expression over fleeting trends and mass-produced pieces. Here's what designers are saying "no" to this season.Fast FurnitureDesigners are unanimously turning away from poorly constructed, mass-produced pieces that lack staying power."The trend towards turning to 'fast furniture' to impulsively replicate every viral look is one I don't love," says Kathy Kuo, founder of Kathy Kuo Home. "My personal ethos is all about choosing timeless, well-made, and sustainable furniture and decor pieces, rather than the 'fast', disposable pieces."Philip Thomas Vanderford of Studio Thomas James agrees: "I'm consciously moving away from pieces that feel generic or purely utilitarian,” he says. “'Filler furniture'—those uninspired consoles, mass-produced side chairs, and forgettable accent tables—simply don't belong in well-curated homes."Instead: Invest in quality pieces with character and provenance. Look for artisan-made or vintage furniture that tells a story and will stand the test of time.Bouclé OverloadFollowTheFlow//Getty ImagesDesigners are now reconsidering the nubby texture that dominated interiors for years."This may not be a popular opinion but anything in a cream or white colored bouclé fabric is outdated to me these days and I have stopped sourcing that look for projects," says Aimee Meisgeier of AM Interior Design.Jen Baxter of Baxter Hill Interiors is skeptical of things that feel algorithmically overexposed, like scalloped detailing and white bouclé. “If it's everywhere now, there's a good chance we'll be cringing at it in 18 months,” she says.Instead: Meisgeier suggests alternatives like "sterling or mohair. Those fabrics also provide a beautiful warm and inviting texture but have not been so overused that they are now oversaturated in the design world."Matching Furniture SetsInstead of buying a matching set, some designers now prefer more eclectic, collected spaces.For Kerith Flynn, principal and founder of Margali & Flynn Designs, "buying full living or bedroom sets can make a room feel staged or uninspired."Instead: Flynn recommends you "mix materials and styles, like pairing a modern sofa with an antique side table, to create a more organic, collected look."Non-functional PiecesDesigners are tired of seeing spaces that sacrifice function for Instagram appeal.Whats out? "Design that's only made for the Instagram grid," interior designer Lori Evans tells us. "I'm talking about the kind of things that look great in the photo but don't really make sense to actually live with. A good example would be a sculptural chair that you can't sit in."Instead: "What I'm into for 2025 instead are homes and spaces that work for your real life, whatever that is," she says. "Livable, layered and personal over trendy and disposable any day."Overly Themed RoomsDesigners are tired of spaces that adhere too strictly to a single aesthetic."Rooms that stick too literally to one decor theme, like rope mirrors in every coastal home or Edison bulbs in every 'industrial' loft, feel kitschy and predictable," Kerith Flynn says."Farmhouse is top of my list," says interior designer Lori Evans. "It's run its course and honestly if you don't live on a farm you probably don't need an actual farm-looking house. Artwork of cows, galvanized tubs, mason jars, barn doors, you name it."Instead: Flynn suggests using "layered, eclectic storytelling. We like to draw inspiration from a style without copying it wholesale... The best-designed rooms today blend influences and reflect the personality of the people who live there, not just a Pinterest board."Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand's social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. 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, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.

Blue-greens are interior design's perfect paradox: statement-making but soothing, trendy but timeless. They're the colors that clients request when they can't quite articulate what they want, but know they need something "not boring" and "actually livable." They’re equally at home in a sun-drenched beach house as they are in a moody Manhattan apartment, and they shift their personality with the light while maintaining their inherent sophistication. Below, we've tapped our network of designers and color experts to reveal their go-to blue-green paint colors.Jack Pine by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“Jack Pine is a gentle green with a hint of blue underneath. It feels calm and timeless,” Ariel Darmoni of 123 Remodeling tells us. “I’ve used it in living rooms and bedrooms, especially when clients want color without going too bold. It works with both classic and modern styles, and it looks beautiful with wood furniture or warm lighting.”Paint Color: Jack Pine by Benjamin Moore (692)Sea Salt by Sherwin-WilliamsCourtesy Sherwin-Williams“One of my favorites if you're after something a little more soft and more on the green side is 'Sea Salt' by Sherwin-Williams,” interior designer Courtney Cole tells us. “It's great for traditional homes, but will look particularly great if you want to create a coastal-style aesthetic.” Paint Color: Sea Salt by Sherwin-Williams (SW 6204)Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowWellfleet by Portola PaintsJoyelle West Photography“I love Wellfleet by Portola Paints,” Hannah Oravec, owner at Lawless Design says. “It's a deep hued limewash paint that subtly changes throughout the day. We used it in a dining room, which creates a calming, moody aesthetic.”Paint Color: Wellfleet by Portola PaintsTwilight by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“This jewel-toned shade strikes the perfect balance between calming blue and invigorating green, giving it a rich, sophisticated feel. We recently used this color in a child’s bedroom, knowing it would grow with him for years to come,” Malka of Think Chic Interiors tells us. “The dynamic hue shifts beautifully with the light, reading as either blue or green depending on the time of day.”Paint Color: Twilight by Benjamin Moore (2058-10)Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowSage Wisdom by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“I love the name and the color! It is beautifully complex, feeling both uplifting and soothing at the same time,” interior designer Gala Magriñá says. “I would use it on a focal wall in a WFH office or the living room for a fun, creative grounded mood boost.”Paint Color: Sage Wisdom by Benjamin Moore (CSP-775)Studio Blue Green by Sherwin-WilliamsCourtesy Sherwin-Williams“For a more bold, moody space, Studio Blue Green is gorgeous,” interior designer and certified True Color Expert Leigh Ann Raines says. “It's not overly saturated, so it can easily be continued onto the ceiling making the room both playful and soothing simultaneously.”Paint Color: Studio Blue Green by Sherwin Williams (SW 0047)Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowBoca Raton Blue by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“This color brings a soft, grounded feel to any space, making it perfect for rooms where you want to unwind,” says Isfira Jensen, CEO and principal interior designer at Jensen & Co. Interiors. “One of my absolute favorites!”Paint Color: Boca Raton Blue by Benjamin Moore (711)Oval Room Blue by Farrow & BallCourtesy Farrow & Ball“I love this for formal dining rooms, paneled libraries, or bedrooms with antique brass and deep walnut,” says interior designer Rachel Blindauer. “It carries history in its tone, but feels utterly modern.”Paint color: Oval Room Blue by Farrow & Ball (No. 85)Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowCastle Walls by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“I love using Benjamin Moore Castle Walls on bedroom walls—it has just the right amount of color saturation combined with hints of gray for a sophisticated and calming look,” Jennifer Jones, principal designer of Niche Interiors says.Paint Color: Castle Walls by Benjamin Moore (1573)Palladian Blue by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“One of the first colors I fell in love with as a child was the iconic Tiffany Blue. So it’s no surprise that my more refined, grown up palette has landed on Benjamin Moore’s Palladian Blue as a new favorite,” Elena DeStefano of Atelier Interiors tells us.Paint Color: Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore (HC-144)Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand's social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. 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, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.

Erik BenjaminsThere is always a message in the medium. Designer Nifemi Marcus-Bello has attracted acclaim in the global design community over the last few years for a practice that relies as heavily on his expansive interior universe as it does on a sophisticated and ecologically conscious selection of materials. (Case in point: his bamboo pavilion for the 2023 Sharjah Architecture Triennial.)Jide AyeniThe "TM Moon" in cast aluminum from Marcus-Bello’s Oríkì series (Act II). The piece can function as a room divider.Jide AyeniMolten aluminum being poured into the mold for the "TM Moon" in Lagos, Nigeria.Born and bred in Lagos, Nigeria, Marcus-Bello drew on his country’s centuries-old legacy of artistic metal-smithing and cultural affinity for innovation to create his series Oríkì. In three acts, Marcus-Bello tackled bronze, aluminum, and copper, the last of which was shown at Marta Gallery in Los Angeles earlier this year. (He is pictured above sitting on a daybed from that exhibition.) “I was thinking of how Africa can play a role in the refinement of its own materials and the layers of conversations that can be had,” he says. “Not just from a material standpoint but from a -socioeconomical, cultural, and -identity-based standpoint as well.”Jide AyeniA copper headrest from the Oríkì series (Act III).The designer has been welding since he was 14. His Lagos studio looks to what surrounds it, using materials from the continent and collaborating with local artisans. “I don’t see craftspeople as outsiders,” Marcus-Bello says. “Many of the welders I work with have known me since I was a child. I approach them with an idea, and it ends up being a conversation.” It’s a conversation institutions, galleries, and collectors are only too eager to have, as a recent MoMA acquisition shows. “I am interested in the why of everything,” he says. “Things should not exist for the sake of existing.” ◾This story originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBE

A long, winding dirt road leads to Contrada Conazzo, a farm in the Enna region of Sicily that is owned by Sara Prato and her family. The ruin of the 14th-century Castello di Pietratagliata hulks in the distance, but the land is otherwise dominated by this masseria (a fortified Sicilian farmhouse), one of the most unexpected properties photographer Guido Taroni and I came across while researching our -forthcoming book, Inside SicilyIn the entry hall of Sara Prato’s 1940s country home in Sicily’s Enna region, a marble staircase leads to a landing with a soaring rectangular window in glass block. The adjacent fresco, original to the house, features imagery of workers in a wheat field; the floor features a mix of marbles.Inside Sicily$75 at AmazonThe house, built in 1943, is a relic from a time of transition, when new industrial methods were being pioneered to uphold an older mentality, in which every element—from the foundation to the furniture—was designed and crafted for its purpose. Prato remembers when her family moved into the masseria. “The house was new,” she says. “We must have been the first people for miles with running water and electricity.” While she and her late brother, the architect Antonio Prato, were alive during the construction of the house, their family has been farming the land for generations.Designed by the chief municipal engineer of Palermo, the home is strikingly modern, with a few whimsical flourishes characteristic of Italian Art Deco. The gatehouse is adorned with medieval-style fishtail merlons, a gesture that acts as a feint: Once you’re in the courtyard, decoration has been reduced to classical elements as seen through the filter of Italian rationalism. The main structure is flanked by stables on one side and a dopolavoro on the other—a space where workers gathered after long days in the fields—and the five-sided semicircular archway is made from blocks of actual travertine as well as a trompe l’oeil version made of concrete.Guido TaroniIn the kitchen, cornflower-blue subway tile contrasts with cabinetry, woodwork, and a table painted in a brighter shade of cyan. The floor is terrazzo.Inside, much of the original decoration was entrusted to Carmelo Comes, a midcentury painter and ceramist whose work can be found in many public buildings across Sicily. He created frescoes throughout, depicting allegorical figures and laborers tending the land—idealized visions of Sicilian rural life. Comes also designed the elaborate ceiling murals, including a zodiac-patterned one in the sitting room. Everything, from the oak table with aluminum legs to the terrazzo floors to the etched glass and chrome chandeliers, was custom made for the house in the 1940s. In an approach reminiscent of Piero Portaluppi’s Casa Corbellini-Wassermann in Milan, the property is a true gesamtkunstwerk: entirely conceived and designed at a time when the term “modernity” was still finding its definition.Around 80 years prior to the construction of Contrada Conazzo, Sicily was conquered by Garibaldi and unified with Italy. Prior to that, the native Sicilians had been dominated by waves of Phoenician, ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, French, and Spanish invaders. It was only in 1946 that Sicily was made an autonomous region within Italy. When this house was built, anxiety and aspirations for the future were held in equal measure. The visionary design of the home seems especially courageous against that backdrop.Sara and her daughter Marianna Nicolosi Asmundo today continue their family’s stewardship. And while the land remains an active farm, the property no longer hums with daily activity. Even in this quieter state, the masseria retains an energy: a readiness for renewal. ◾This story originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBE

For a designer obsessed with detail, it’s a fantasy to find a friend, much less a client, with the enthusiasm and stamina to sustain an 80-email thread about one fabric trim. But this was the level of unrushed, joyful consideration that ELLE Decor A-List designer Nicholas Obeid shared with homeowner Deirdre Brodie while working on her historic townhouse in Albany, New York. After completing a gut renovation on the 1875 home, which abuts the city’s 90-acre Washington Park, Brodie and her husband Dan Odabashian tapped Obeid to create some enchanting cohesion among the home’s three floors, and to delight in the details—and emails—alongside her.William Jess LairdSage-green walls create a relaxed mood in the dining room, where a vintage burlwood table is surrounded by French Art Deco chairs with upholstery in Zak + Fox fabrics. Antique rug from Upstate Rug Supply.It was important to Brodie, an Albany native who has lived within the same square mile for two decades, to establish a forever home for her and her husband that was at once welcoming and exciting and that turned the spotlight on local artisanship. Together, designer and client saw the home’s three 19-foot-wide stories as the chapters of a book: a vibrant first floor for hosting and community; a serene second floor for the primary suite, outfitted in soothing brown tones; and a top floor with two guest rooms to suit different design moods. (Brodie says invited couples sometimes happily opt to split up to better relish their preferred quarters.)The stairwell, with original steps dating back to the late 19th century, serves as the book’s binding. A mural composed of large-scale Greek keys, applied by hand using custom-engineered rollers by local artist Nina Stanley, ties the landings together. “It’s a representation of how we wanted the floors to communicate to each other,” says Obeid, who pulled from classical elements in the architecture to create a unifying iconography that draws on Greek and Egyptian motifs, as well as motifs by the Art Deco rug designer Ivan da Silva Bruhns. “The pattern is very classic, but seen in a fresh way,” he says.William Jess LairdIn the stair hall the custom mural features classical motifs and was hand-painted by Nina Stanley.Obeid drew on the strict yet expressive forms of his own furniture line to inform the artful geometries that repeat throughout the interior. “At two feet or 20 feet, every view is totally interesting,” Brodie says. Prized rugs, artworks, and two antique Fortuny chandeliers served as creative fodder for Obeid, who prioritized working with pieces purchased by Brodie’s mother at estate sales and on Facebook Marketplace, transforming them into new family heirlooms. “He was so generous in honoring that,” Brodie says. “My mother’s sense of how beautiful hospitality could be is what made me excited to have the opportunity to do this house.”Other bits of sentimental flotsam and jetsam were taken in decorative stride, like a box of vintage orange Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper that Brodie rescued from an architectural parts warehouse. When she brought the dusty box of “crazy orange” (her term—his was “bananas”) wallpaper to Obeid, she recalls him saying, “This is not exactly my comfort zone, but that’s why I want to do it.” The saturated hue appears in a guest room, tempered with tasseled green curtains in a custom Rule of Three hand-marbled -malachite-like silk.Obeid anchored the space with a chaise longue covered in a striped velvet by Misia, rescued and revived from a cat-ravaged past in storage. But the focal point of the room is a set of seven bespoke decorative plates by the artist Shane Gabier, designed to echo the wallpaper in tones of olive green, butter yellow, and an ultra-classic Parisian blue checkerboard. It’s just one more detail in which to delight in a home punctuated by craft, care, and a commitment to circling back. ◾This story originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBE