This week in design, a daring interior designer made headlines for his heroism after landing a plane when the pilot became incapacitated. Whatever happens next, stay tuned with our weekly roundup of headlines, releases, events, recommended reading and more.
Business News
Financial pressures from inflation are a concern for the majority of US consumers, according to a new study by payment network Affirm — and with costs rising, home purchases are the number one category Americans plan to prioritize, with less money being allocated to restaurants, entertainment and beauty. Rewards. The report found that 73 percent of millennials and Generation Z consumers, and 66 percent of consumers in general, are concerned that rising costs will prevent them from paying for things this year. By contrast, the bulk of Gen Xers and Boomers – a whopping 81 percent – plan to spend the same amount or more despite inflation.
In a move aimed at addressing the shortage of starter homes in the United States, the Biden administration announced plans to expand federally backed funding for affordable housing, along with issuing new grants to sites that encourage construction, The Wall Street Journal reports. Changes include local land use improvements to boost “density and revitalization of rural high streets,” testing pilots to provide funding for small home development and a potential increase in the availability of manufactured homes, which are produced in factories and then shipped to the destination rather than built on site.
Ikea owner Ingka Group has announced plans to accelerate expansion, investing more than $3 billion in new and existing stores by the end of next year, Home accents today reports. As part of the investment, the company will also stick to some of the new formats it has been experimenting with in recent years, including smaller urban stores, which will soon lead to new downtown locations in Stockholm and Toronto.
York Wallcoverings was acquired by Evanston, Illinois, private equity firm Industrial Opportunity Partners, which also owns Brewster Home Fashions LLC and Fine Decor LTD. The deal will unite the three brands under a new comprehensive entity called The Bersham Group, with Brewster’s Paul Feinstein To serve as CEO of the extended organization. In addition, Bersham Group will continue to operate the brands represented by York Wallcoverings, Brewster Home Fashions and Fine Decor, including Roommates Décor, York Contract, Hytex, A-Street Print, Wallpops and Fine Décor.
Upscale furniture brand Maitland-Smith – part of the Rock House Farm Family of Brands, the parent company of brands like Century Furniture and Hickory Chair – has acquired Scarborough House, Today’s Furniture reports. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. As part of the purchase, the High Point showroom at Scarborough House at 200 Steele will be converted into a Maitland-Smith showroom. In addition, the brand will debut the Scarborough House Collection for Maitland-Smith on June 1, containing more than 150 unique items.
Carnegie Fabrics, a manufacturer of sustainable textiles and space management solutions for interiors, has acquired acoustic solutions manufacturer Kirei. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. After the purchase of the president and founder John Stein He will remain in the role of Executive Vice President of Kirei Corporation, which will continue to operate from its San Diego headquarters.
Airbnb has revealed a redesign of the platform’s interface, with a major change to the property search functionality: Instead of entering a city or town, users can now choose from 56 categories, including home designs, activities, and public locations such as a seaside or vineyard. . According to The Verge report, the overhaul was implemented to encourage users to look beyond well-traveled destinations and instead plan trips around interesting amenities, attractions and local properties — specifically, focusing on the design category that comprises More than 20,000 homes with outstanding architecture and interiors such as Frank Lloyd Wright And Le Corbusier. Other updates include a new Split Stay option that will allow users to split their time between multiple stays in the same area, as well as a free protection plan called AirCover to guard against scams and false ads on the site.
West Elm partnered with Christopher Griffin (also known as Plant Kween) for a capsule collectionCourtesy of West Elm
Launch and Collaboration
West Elm has teamed up with gardening expert and influencer Christopher Griffin (also known as Plant Kween) 12-piece capsule set from Planters and Breeding Systems. Available in neutral, vibrant greens, the cuttings were made with Griffin’s gardening ethos—”plant care is self-care”—in mind and paired with a variety of plant-related tips on the retailer’s website.
Suggestions for reading
When it comes to finding a purpose at work, design icons Ray and Charles Eames The journey toward satisfaction has taken place with three main audiences – the customer, the community, and yourself. for quartz at work, Anne Keto He revisits a doodle dating back to a 1969 exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris where the husband and wife design team demonstrate their approach to achieving success in any project – a strategy that includes finding common ground with clients and avoiding empty marketing tools.
in the last year , Elisavita M. Brandon She outfitted her home with a number of pieces of furniture and décor—among them a chair, two desks, mirror, cupboard, lamp, TV, and even a piano—all acquired within her own apartment building. at fast companyIt makes the case for building forums (sort of like a digital bulletin board) as the future of used furniture, arguing that it offers a very local option for resale furniture that completely reduces any climate negative shipping costs.
cue clap
The Black Interior Designers Network has announced its 2022-2023 list of the Top 10 African American Interior Designers. Set includes Ron WoodsonAnd Tavia Forbes And Masters Monet Forbes + Masters, Tiffany BrooksAnd Sean McClain BergillAnd Daniel ColdingAnd Danny ArpsAnd Corey Damen JenkinsAnd General JuddAnd Michelle Smith Boyd And brigitte romanicThey were all celebrated at a ceremony at the New York Design Center on May 12. Kimberly Ward It was originally posted on her blog, Pinkeggshell, to the organization’s highest honor.
Formica has announced the winners of its 5th annual FORM Student Innovation Competition, selecting them from over 100 applications to design student furniture from across the United States and Canada. Sarah December And Wenhan Chang The School of the Art Institute of Chicago have been selected as grand prize winners for their presentation of Twins Tables – a multifunctional piece of furniture geared toward urban living. Their work will be shown at NeoCon in June.
Entry request
The Miami School of Architecture has teamed up with floating architectural brand Go Friday in a competition in which students will be challenged to create a floating home design that responds to weather conditions such as intense heat and rising sea levels. Winners will receive a trip to Lisbon, Portugal, a cash reward and the chance to meet the Go Friday team to discuss their proposal. To apply before the July 1 deadline, click here.
Homepage image: Pieces from Queen’s Factory in collaboration with West Elm | Courtesy of West Elm
