Pratt President Emeritus Thomas F. Schutte Dies At 89

Despite his busy career, Schutte always found time for other pursuits. A champion of civic engagement, he founded the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership and established initiatives like the Center for Equity and Inclusion and the Design Incubator for Sustainable Innovation. He also had a playful side with his love of dogs, being appointed to the American Kennel Club’s Museum of the Dog Board of Directors, and even serving as the emcee with Food Network’s Chopped host Ted Allen to kick off the LEGENDS gala honoring David Easton.

Bronet concludes, “His incredible passion for education, dedication to innovation, and care for and commitment to the Pratt community, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, and New York City are a tremendous legacy that will continue to resonate for years to come, inspiring all of us at Pratt as we work together to forge the future of the Institute he loved so much.”

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Tess Lansing Schutte; sons Douglas and David; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister, Caroline Chandler.

Honoring The Legacy Of Thomas F. Schutte 

12 Ski Chalets That Double As Winter Wonderlands

For ski enthusiasts, it’s always the perfect time for a winter getaway. Discover these stunning ski chalets, from a luxurious three-level ski haven in Aspen to a breathtaking all-glass sanctuary in Quebec’s Lanaudière region. Here are 12 modern ski homes that embrace the magic of winter in style.

Chic Meets Snow In These Innovative Ski Chalets

1. Aspen Ski Chalets Referencing Alpine Architecture

The Aspen, Colorado, ski chalet of a hospitality-centric art collector swings in a bold new direction thanks to Ghislaine Viñas and S2 Architects. Reimagining the three-level, nearly 6,000-square-foot-structure, the low-pitched hipped roof was swapped for a strikingly contemporary gabled one that extends out from the living room, creating deep eaves over a cantilevered balcony with glass balustrade. Taking inspiration from Aspen’s early Swedish settlers, traditional Alpine architecture and vintage ski bum culture, the entire southern façade is dominated by expanses of glass with views of the snowy landscape outside. Read more about this Aspen ski home here.

2. Ski Straight Into This Rustic-Chic Aspen Home

Explore how this three-level ski chalet in Aspen, Colorado, inspires visitors to hit the slopes. The rustic 1990’s stone-and-glass dwelling presented a sensitive fit with its mountain surroundings, but it was also ripe for modernization. Rowland+Broughton’s architectural interventions include expansive, view-enhancing windows and sliding doors and the careful editing out of mullions on existing glazing. ⁠Read more about this luxury ski chalet interior.

3. Feel The Winter Spirit At This Luxury Ski Chalet Interior Design

Located high on a hillside in the Laurentian Mountains, Chalet Bertha, a family weekend ski chalet in Baie-Saint-Paul, Canada crafted by Perron, is full of clean lines, inviting textures and lots of light. Inspired by the Alpine goddess in Germanic mythology, the idea was to “feel the winter spirit indoors and be warmed by the joy of company.” Embracing the natural beauty of the area, the three-level, 7,500-square-foot snow chalet enjoys panoramic views of the surrounding forested landscape and the mighty Saint Lawrence River beyond. Explore this ski haven in Canada.

4. Indulge In Cozy Ski Chalets With A Spalike Bath In Norway

When Snore Stinessen Architecture began concepting a cabin in the Lyngen Alps, the client couldn’t help but imagine the potential for a ski chalet-style lodge where guests could enjoy the world-class skiing, glacier trekking, and wildlife spotting the land provides. After purchasing the surrounding 600 acres, architect and client started designing a place that would provide luxury hospitality without disturbing the pristine surroundings. Simple, earthy materials further emphasize a connection with the landscape, while floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panoramic view from every angle. Discover this ski chalet-style lodge in Norway.

5. Relax In A Rustic Cabin Blending The Old And New

This ski chalet in Breckenridge, Colorado, needed plenty of TLC, so Amy Pigliacampo got to work on a warm and cozy renovation. But updating the structure built in 1976 was no small feat. Not only is the mountain cabin challenging to access at an elevation of 11,000 feet, but its interiors needed some serious attention, too. Painting the original pine paneling bright white, she opened up the lofty space by building a window above the kitchen counters and added warmth with various furnishings. Bits of cain, caramel leather, creamy wool, and wood in a variety of tones and colors are found throughout, styled to accomplish an aesthetic Pigliacampo has coined “1970s Modern Alpine Chalet.” Take a look inside this cozy ski chalet in Breckenridge.

6. A Winter Wonderland In Western Siberia

Studio Shoo’s hotel in Kogalym, Western Siberia, for Ibis Styles—a French brand of no-frills budget destinations owned by Accor—was slated to open to the public in 2020 but, for obvious reasons, never did. However, its 7,600 square feet are primed and ready to go, conceived as a winter wonderland that draws inspiration from the location’s subarctic climate. Walk through this modern ski chalet in Siberia.

7. Step Into The ‘60s At This Modern Ski Lodge Interior Design

When the Voyager Inn was built in the Canadian ski town of Banff in 1964, road tripping was all the rage and motor lodges were opening in vacation destinations to cater to the traveling public. By the time Canalta Hotels bought the property in 2016, however, the Voyager—or the Voy, as locals called it—was seriously rundown, best known for its dive bar, liquor store, and budget accommodations for group bus tours. But its handsome, low-slung bones were still very much intact. Now, after a $30 million overhaul helmed by Workshop/APD and Metafor, it has been reinvented as the Moxy Banff, combining the cheeky personality of the Moxy hotel brand and the outdoorsy spirit of Banff with the building’s own mid-century roots. Go snowboarding at this retro-chic ski lodge.

8. Stunning Views Make This Park City Property Pop

The Park City Mountain resort in Park City, Utah, by CLB Architects offers drop-dead views of the Wasatch Mountains and hotel-worthy amenities, raising the bar for residential design. Collaborating on the interiors with the client, Iluminus co-founder and creative director David Ostrander, the goal was to create a focused aesthetic with the materials. The building’s exterior establishes the material palette used throughout: Croatian limestone, shou sugi ban cedar cladding, steel-framed windows, and a copper roof. And since the house is built into the hillside, Ostrander also added a pop-up perch where residents can take in 360-degree views, referencing the forest-fire watchtowers in national parks. Observe the breathtaking views at this mountain resort in Utah.

9. Embrace Nature In This Hudson Valley Hotel

This Hudson Valley hotel embraces an Alpine-inspired, homey vibe thanks to Loren Daye of Studio Love is Enough. Tapped by restauranteurs Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegman to transform their newly acquired Hudson Valley country inn into an Alpine-inspired, 14-room ski hotel, tavern, and bar, Daye’s subtle makeover includes walls clad in reclaimed mushroom boxes, checkered daybeds, Isamu Noguchi lanterns, and custom maple furniture made by a local woodworker. Take a look inside this ski haven.

10. A Modern Ski Retreat Facing The Pacific Crest Trail

When architecture and design connoisseur Massy Mehidpour wanted help crafting her Martis Camp retreat, she turned to veterans Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and the Wiseman Group. Located on 2,100 High Sierra acres in Truckee, California, a few miles from Lake Tahoe, this 12,200-square-foot, three-level ski residence carefully sits on the lip of a west-facing crescent bowl lined with evergreens. And to take advantage of the spectacular views of the Pacific Crest Trail, the west-facing face is almost all glass with a public façade of long, overlapping cedar screens for privacy. Take a hike at this Martis Camp winter chalet.

11. Herbert Bayer’s Mid-Century Ski Chalets Undergo A Refresh

Two of Herbert Bayer’s seminal mid-century buildings at the Aspen Institute in Colorado got sympathetic makeovers in recent years. The first, the 1973 Boettcher Building, was renovated by Rowland+Broughton, enclosing the open courtyard to serve as the nucleus of the building while keeping its connection to nature. The second was the three International Style “ski chalets” for the Institute’s Aspen Meadows Resort, with the interiors reinvented by Michael Suomi who used legacy pieces of furniture nodding to its Bauhaus origins. Discover these two winter mid-century ski chalets today.

12. Relax In This Single-Story Glass House by ACDF Architecture

Set on a 6-acre forest plot in Quebec’s Lanaudière region, this single-story snow chalet by ACDF Architecture masterfully highlights the nature surrounding the home. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows let in abundant natural light and allow for sweeping views of surrounding trees. To emphasize those views, and the connection to the natural world, furniture was kept minimal with muted tones. Polished concrete flooring is also neutral. Ceilings incorporate wooden planks, with half-inch gaps between them to soften direct sunlight. With spaces for both connectivity and privacy, it is perfect for a growing young family. Explore this beautiful glass ski house here.

Design Visionary Klaus Nienkämper Passes Away At 84

German-born designer Klaus Nienkämper, founder of his Toronto-based namesake firm, recently passed away at the age of 84. A pioneer in creating sleek yet functional furnishings for commercial spaces, Nienkämper was known for championing innovative Canadian design and supporting blossoming talent.

Nelda Rodger, who served as editorial director and chief content officer of Azure before she died last year, says in the foreword of a book honoring his illustrious career, Nienkämper: 50 Years of Excellence from Design to Delivery: “If I were to describe Nienkämper, I’d choose adjectives such as modern, innovative, steadfast, progressive, design-driven… and those are the same words I’d use to describe Klaus himself.”

Exploring The Life Of Klaus Nienkämper

Nienkämper, a born innovator, was design-driven his whole life. Born in 1940 in the industrial city of Duisburg, Germany, Nienkämper grew up around his family’s antique business—a foundation that led to him to pursue the field of design. Eager to learn more about how furnishings and objects were made, he took up a design apprenticeship at an agency for Knoll International in Düsseldorf, followed by a stint in Finland with the brand Asko. He then worked with Finnish designer and sculptor Tapio Wirkkala, eventually graduating as a trained merchant with an interior and textile design background.

Inspired by design visionaries Charles Eames and Florence Knoll, Nienkämper moved to Toronto in 1960 at the age of 20, bright-eyed and ready for what the future would hold. After working a variety of jobs, which included “rear-right vacuum cleaner” at Farb’s Executive Car Wash, he pitched himself to design and manufacturing brands like J.J. Brook, eventually receiving a commission to furnish the Commissioner General’s Suite in Moshe Safdie’s Habitat complex at Expo 67, which ultimately opened doors into the Toronto design scene.

In 1968, Nienkämper, his wife Beatrix, and friend Don Wallace, purchased and restored a Toronto building built in 1845 to house a showroom for his new venture, Nienkämper. Initially assembling and selling furniture parts in small shops around the city, the brand grew and built a factory in Scarborough, licensing pieces by classic European brands like de Sede, and collaborating with famed architects like Arthur Erickson, Ronald Thom, and Mario Bellini on a multitude of well-known commissions, including Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s office, Toronto’s Roy Thompson Hall, and the Embassy of Canada in Washington D.C.

Always aiming to elevate design from Toronto, Nienkämper sponsored design exhibitions at the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario, as well as a nationwide student lounge-chair competition in 1989 to find the best emerging industrial-design talent. As a brand, Nienkämper prioritized championing designers from all over the world, becoming an agent of change.

Discovering the Brilliance of Klaus Nienkämper’s Legacy

Today the company is recognized for producing sought-after commercial and residential furniture, debuting collections at widely attended trade shows, such as NeoCon. Ever passionate about design, shortly before his passing, Nienkämper attended a sold-out screening at the Arthur Erickson Foundation for the film Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines, which he appeared in and helped sponsor. Nienkämper’s remarkable journey from a young apprentice in Germany to a visionary entrepreneur in Toronto leaves a legacy that continues to shape the world of contemporary furniture and inspire generations to come.

Nienkämper is survived by his wife Beatrix, son Klaus II, and daughters Ottilie and Rebecca.

Get Cozy With Benjamin Moore’s 2025 Color of the Year

Adding to the allure of the crisp fall air, which ushers in a season of warmth, cozy gatherings, and richer colors, is Benjamin Moore’s 2025 Color of the Year, Cinnamon Slate 2113-40. With a delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown, the shade echos the confidence of the brand’s ethereal 2024 Color of the Year Blue Nova but with a more understated approach, bringing a soothing familiarity and rootedness to interiors.

“Cinnamon Slate is an inviting hue that offers enduring style and modern sensibility,” Andrea Magno, color marketing and development director at Benjamin Moore, said in a statement. “Its depth and richness bring an air of approachability and sense of comfort throughout the home, making it a new favorite for years to come.”

The shade reflects a nuanced refinement, adding richness and depth to communal and private areas alike. Adaptable yet distinct, Cinnamon Slate pairs exceptionally well with Benjamin Moore’s Color Trends 2025 palette, consisting of ten hues that range from soft neutrals to moodier tones. Each quietly colorful hue offers a balance of vibrant and subtle notes, creating a harmonious color story led by Benjamin Moore’s 2025 Color of the Year.

Cinnamon Slate Captivates With Its Quietly Colorful Hue

Step Back In Time At This New York Restaurant That Channels 1920s Glamour

Behind a discrete anonymous façade on East 45th Street in Manhattan lies Veerays, an upscale Indian restaurant and cocktail bar inspired by the mysterious speakeasies of the U.S. Prohibition Era mixed with delectable fares and Bollywood beats. Designed by Anne Carcelen and Vinciane Albrecht of OulipO architecture studio, with lighting and craftsmanship by Baptiste Foulquier of Maison Paul Bonnotte, the venue vibrates with timeless elegance and the rebellious spirit of this era.

Guests enter through a secretive alleyway that leads to an out-of-time anteroom before meeting the restaurant’s dimly lit dining area that oozes sensuality and clandestine charm. Building off the existing structure and its unique constraints, this sequencing of rooms helps progressively transport guests back in time to the 1920s.

“When Michelin-starred Indian chef Hemant Mathur and restaurateur Sonny Solomon showed us the place they had selected, we naturally first looked for the constraints,” Albrecht says. “Three stood out: an unremarkable blank facade opening on a strange-stepped corridor leading to a 7.5-foot-low ceiling room. Within an instant, we knew which concept we would embrace: the romantic mystery of a speakeasy.”

This speakeasy ambience is amplified by the custom-made pieces for the space, from the detailed leather sigils on the greeting podium to the individual lamps designed by Maison Paul Bonnotte to the swanky velvet banquettes and black-and-white marble panels. Even the blend of materials, which includes brass, leather, and red velvet to name a few, enhances the sultry mood of the space.

“The classic craftsmanship is celebrated in every piece that we designed and fabricated for this very space,” Foulquier says. “We distilled the essence of Art Deco through a contemporary lens to create lamps that embody both beauty and uniqueness.”

Adding to the success of Veerays is the longtime partnership OulipO has with Maison Paul Bonnotte. In fact, Albrecht and Foulquier share an even stronger connection—they are siblings—making their design process intertwined. In this case, “Baptiste [was] involved in the project as early as the schematic design phase,” Albrecht says.

The design of Veerays is complimented by chef Mathur’s delicious dishes (including Camel seekh kebab and Avni’s Prohibition bhaji) and revived Prohibition-era cocktails (including the Bugsy Siegel and Machine Gun Kelly). So, make your way to this classy restaurant and ask for the Cocoon in the back. We promise you won’t regret it.

Dive Into Veerays Restaurant + Cocktail Bar

Eclectic Interior Designer Paul Siskin Passes Away At 77

Take his 2,300-square-foot home in Hudson, New York—a charming property nicknamed Brokeback Manor that’s perched atop a ridge in a residential enclave known for its largely gay and lesbian community. Studded with stucco and glass, Siskin has called the home “a Palladian pavilion reimagined by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.” Free-flowing with a loftlike interior, the kitchen, dining and living areas are seamlessly integrated and furnished with assorted pieces and unique antiques Siskin collected—a detail also seen in his New York office.

“In my early days as editor, I still remember how thrilled I was to publish his live/work apartment full of the most eclectic and curated objects he loved (think oversized chemist flasks, and a stop dead-in-your-tracks angelic ceiling mural) that somehow all grouped together looked like art,” adds Allen.

Exploring The Life + Lasting Legacy Of Paul Siskin

Born in Los Angeles in 1947, Siskin came from a furniture family dating back to his grandfather. His family successfully ran Angelus, one of the largest furniture manufacturers west of the Mississippi before the company expanded into the retail world. Interested in pursuing a path in the decorative arts instead, Siskin moved to New York in 1974 to study at Parsons School of Design.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Interior Design, he soon took a job working with Hall of Fame member John Saladino at his firm in 1977, where he would meet lifelong friend and fellow Hall of Famer Laura Bohn. Hired around the same time, Siskin and Bohn bonded instantly, keeping in touch even when the former left the firm to start up Siskin-Valls. The two would continue to be close friends, frequently collaborating on product launches, meeting at The Plaza Hotel in New York, and sharing a love of always “trying something new.” In the spring of 2024, Siskin visited Bohn’s Chateau in Blois, France, and spent two weeks marveling over the architecture and its 17 bedrooms.

Bohn recalls Siskin’s keen eye for design stating, “His Kips Bay Showhouse room, created with his partner Perucho Valls in 1988, is still legendary.” The room featured an embroidered slip-covered chair with a crinoline train, and was an early manifestation of the fashion-décor alliance seen today.

In 2020, Siskin relocated from New York to Santa Fe, where he continued his interior design practice and promoted his metal furniture collection, Angelus Furniture. Up until his passing, Siskin continued to combine grandeur with definitive comfort, leaving a legacy defined by his creative spark and stellar work.

“Paul was always a kind, dear, generous, sweet, loving, and enormously talented person. His work is brilliant, he was very knowledgeable about antiques, and he was really a special kind of designer,” Bohn recalls fondly. “He was different from everybody else; he had different tastes and different ideas, and he was fun. Paul will be missed.”

“Paul wasn’t just my brother; he was my best friend. He was a friend to many throughout his life, from childhood through his adult and professional life,” Janie Siskin, Paul’s sister, also adds. “Paul was warm, kind, humble, and generous. He was also incredibly funny and fun to be around. Additionally, he was exquisitely talented and loved his work. He brought joy and laughter to all of us, and we are heartbroken by his loss.”

Siskin is survived by his sisters, Dorothy and Janie, and nieces, Barbara and Sharifa.

Ring In Behr Paint Company’s 2025 Color Of The Year

Rumor has it that Behr Paint Company announced its 2025 Color of the Year. So what is this mystery color? It’s Rumors (MQ1-15), a deep ruby red that adds warmth and allure to any space.

“We’re seeing people embrace color like never before,” said Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services. “Rumors is a modern take on the timeless red that creates an energetic appeal to make a lasting statement in a stunning way.”

While Behr’s Color of the Year 2024, Cracked Pepper, evoked moody and meditative vibes, Rumors plays to rich hues, reflecting those found in a glass of red wine. It also makes a confident addition to the Behr 2025 Color Trends Palette, an annual selection of forward-looking colors, from soft neutrals to bold hues, for DIYers, designers and paint professionals. From eye-catching curb appeal on a front door to a dramatic four-wall drench in a bedroom, Rumors is a color that encourages self-expression and is adaptable to any design style.

The selection of Rumors for the 2025 Color of the Year aligns with research done by Behr, which shows that red paint palettes are on the rise. According to the brand’s data, 76% of Americans say they would consider painting a room or wall a shade of red. Rumors, with its unique balance of warmth and vitality, invites endless possibilities. The study also shows that consumers recognize the versatility of red hues and many agree that Rumors, in particular, offers a feeling of a stepping into a high-end hotel or hospitality locale.

“Our Color of the Year empowers consumers to use color with confidence,” said Andy Lopez, senior vice president, head of marketing. “Rumors is undoubtedly a color that inspires creativity while being versatile enough to transform a space through large and small projects.”

See How Rumors Brings Rich Allure To Interiors 

Witness The Archi-Folies For Club France At The 2024 Paris Olympics

In celebration of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Ministry of Culture called on 20 French architecture schools—also known as the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture (ENSA) or École Spéciale d’Architecture (ESA)—to design and build environmentally-friendly pavilions in the Parc de la Villette. Named “Archi-Folies,” in reference to the famous Folies created by veteran French architect Bernard Tschumi—who also designed the Parc de la Vilette—these showstopping structures served as a cultural hub to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, Club France, and various French sports federations or the Fédération Française (FF).

Each pavilion is designed with an ecological approach and built with biodegradable materials that can be reused in future construction. In line with the Legacy and Sustainability Plan of Paris 2024, the pavilions will be dismantled and relocated after the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the benefit of local authorities and other partners.

Undertaken by teams of 15 students, each ENSA worked with different French federations to ensure that the pavilion properly represented each sport while maintaining functionality. The students also worked with a variety of different project leaders and partners to set up the regulatory framework of the operation, garner financial assistance from sponsors, and coordinate the different phases of prefabrication and construction.

Fully integrated into the existing framework of the park, each pavilion is distributed along two structuring axes. On a square plot measuring 11.25 meters (approximately 36.9 feet), the structures homage Tschumi’s Folies through different heights and forms. After two years of planning, the prefabricated pavilions were assembled on site in just nine days. Through vivid photography by French architect and photographer Aurélien Chen, explore this showcase of pavilions, which is a highlight of the Cultural Olympiad.

Peek At These Ephemeral Pavilions For The 2024 Paris Olympics

Papillon by ENSA Lille

Inspired by the architecture of tropical regions, the umbrella structure of this pavilion is formed by radiating porticos made of bamboo canes. The space under this canopy is left open for circulation, which makes it perfect for basketball games.

Surf La Kaz by ENSA La Reunion

Designed from bamboo, this pavilion is inspired by seaside surfing and what those in the sport refer to as the “green room,” the inside of a barrel that is produced by a wave. Bamboo, a biosourced material, is symbolic for this pavilion as its flexibility recalls the undulations of the ocean and how surfers are adapting to a constantly changing marine environment.

Les Ram’eaux by ENSA Nancy

Imagined as a “reverse” representation of a row boat, this pavilion has a nautical edge. The beams and skiffs create the basic framework of the “boat,” while the posts, which support a three-dimensional trellis, symbolize water in motion. The skiffs and the trellis assembly nodes were made using an innovative process called “stratodesign,” which required advanced digital modeling work.

Coup De Poing by ENSA Paris-Val de Seine

The architecture of this pavilion highlights the duality of boxing. It’s a light, three-dimensional wooden structure that responds to the fluidity of boxing movements and how boxers dodge. Paired with a massive, opaque wooden brick wall, this connection symbolizes the power of a striking blow given to an opponent.

Le Triangle by ENSA Strasbourg, INSA Strasbourg and the Compagnons du Devoir

Three schools came together to design this pavilion for FF Triathlon: ENSA Strasbourg, INSA Strasbourg and the Compagnons du Devoir. The triangular frame evokes the three disciplines of triathlon: swimming, cycling and running. The open space is punctuated by small section posts, supporting a frame of lattice beams with a pleated zinc roof.

Vélodôme by ENSA Clermont-Ferrand

What inspires this circular structure? A bicycle wheel, which nods to the simplicity of the sporting practice. There is a particular focus on the materials used from natural and local sources, with Douglas Fir wood coming from the Massif Central and the base made of the structure made of massive volcanic stone from Cantal.

Le Manège by ENSA Versailles

The refined architecture of this pavilion evokes the shape of riding arenas. Made up of bales of straw strapped together and stacked in a staggered manner, while supporting a sheet metal roof pierced through its center, it embodies both agriculture and equestrianism. The structure also showcases how straw, an environmentally friendly material that is largely uncommon in construction, can be used in architecture.

La Routine by ENSA Saint-Etienne

Designed as a circular open-air platform and can accommodate group gymnastics lessons, this pavilion plays with the idea of intimacy that is created by the microperforated canvas walls. Inside, a ribbon of solid wood recalls certain gymnastics equipment, like the ribbon and trampoline, and the diversity of the gymnastics moves that are performed.

Pavillon Du Rugby by ENSA Toulouse

Evoking an active rugby field, this structure features stands spread out around the central posts. The red brick, with the color emblematic of the Toulouse Rugby team, is used here as the ballast and bracing for the pavilion. In addition, there is small built-in wood section, which represents the principle of the rugby collective: “Unity is strength”.

Up’N’Out by ENSA Paris-La Villette

Resembling the geometry—and lexicon—of a wrestling match, this pavilion is cheekily called Up’N’Out: Up for verticality, Out for opening to the outside. The light steel frame and the stretched lycra of the cylinder also convey the agility and flexibility of the wrestler.

L’Envol by ESA

With its light, almost ethereal appearance, this pavilion is inspired by the most important parts of badminton: the shuttlecock and the racket. Its periphery is surrounded by “feathers” made from recycled hot air balloon fabric, in reference to the goose feathers on a shuttlecock. The oak truss symbolizes the racket sieve, and the frame of the racket is symbolized by an aluminum circle that is fixed under the canopy.

Ty-Arc’h by ENSA Bretagne

Inspired by the old shelters that archers previously used to practice archery outdoors, this structure features cork and wood with braided rope walls that reference bowstrings. Made up of three volumes organized around a central space, the floor is covered with recycled concrete slabs.

While it’s currently closed to the public due to the 2024 Paris Olympics, these structures will be open for visitors to peruse after the conclusion of games, from August 28 to September 3, 2024.

13 Breezy Homes Embracing Coastal Interior Design

Evoking memories of seasonal getaways and beachside retreats, coastal interior design draws inspiration from the beauty of nature and the ocean’s rich hues. Picture deep navy blues, crisp whites, and an abundance of rustic elements like wooden beams and floors, washed linen, and plaster walls. From a lakeside retreat in Michigan to a modern Vancouver Island home, here are 13 timeless coastal interior design ideas that capture the essence of the seaside.

Explore These Stunning Coastal Interior Designs

1. Embrace Nature In This Home On The Hills of Lake Michigan

Explore this Lake Michigan retreat by dSPACE Studio that strikes all the right notes. With a minimalist palette of oak, porcelain stoneware, and eco-friendly glazing, this artfully composed two-level home’s coastal interior design draws the eye to breathtaking views. Elegant furniture and custom fixtures blend seamlessly, epitomizing the non-compete aesthetic and immersing the space into the grassy landscape.⁠ Read more about this lakeside home.

2. California Cool Meets Swiss Precision In This Coastal Interior Design

Soak in the sunshine and the wire-brushed Douglas fir planks that make up the flooring and ceilings at this beach getaway in Malibu, California. A collaboration between designer Cliff Fong of Matt Blacke studio and architect David Montalba, this 2,950-square-foot, three-bedroom house is carefully curated, yet effortlessly relaxed. It’s the perfect place where the family could kick back, relax, yet still be able to entertain. Learn more about this coastal retreat.

3. This Dubai Villa Offers an Artful Take on Tropical Modernism

After relocating from Hong Kong to Dubai, a young couple with a penchant for collecting art moved into a 6,600-square-foot, six bedroom villa in the city’s Meadows neighborhood. They loved the views of the lake, but longed for a cozier house. Nakkash Design Studio’s design director, Omar Nakkash, knew just what they needed: A poetic take on Tropical Modernism that made room for a family—and their ample art collection.⁠ Read more about this Dubai villa.

4. A Landmarked Sydney Cottage Gets a Coastal Addition

Carved out of sandstone bedrock, this 19th-century cottage renovated by Carter Williamson Architects has 150 miles of convoluted shoreline, providing the city with a wealth of enviable building sites, from imposing promontories and cliff-lined coves to rocky bays and sandy beaches. This cottage costal interior design responds with sensitive imagination to its harborside location, transforming the property into a sophisticated family residence as glamorous as its setting.⁠ Dive into this coastal Sydney cottage.

5. Discover This Coastal Interior Design Living Room

Tucked into a wild, rugged setting—a steep hill on windswept Belvedere Island near San Francisco—this house by Aidlin Darling Design is at once resolutely modern and yet looks as if it’s always been there, with crisp stone walls and deep timber overhangs that seem rooted in the earth. The 7,170-square-foot interior encompasses a series of linked rooms with equal stature, each element deferring to and segueing into the others. It’s characterized by a layering of subtle texture, the inviting warmth of the materials, and meticulous attention to detail. Read more about this Bay Area coastal home.

6. This New York Weekend Home Reflects an Elevated, Oceanside Vibe

Spread over approximately 7,000 square feet, this modern coastal interior design by Thomas Heine Architect and Cardel Development features an open-plan living area on the ground floor sans formal walls, allowing one room to flow seamlessly into the next. With such close proximity to the ocean, designer Monica Fried drew inspiration from the natural landscape, introducing a palette of blues, ivories and sand tones, which happen to be the homeowners’ favorite colors. To bring interest and texture into the space while adding warmth, the designer turned to a mix of natural oak for the window frames, doors, and ceiling details. Check out this oceanside Hampton home.

7. This Award-Winning Beach House Surprises in More Ways Than One

At the hands of Interior Design Hall of Fame members Steven Harris and Lucien Rees Roberts, this 13,800-square-foot, glass-and-brick residence, perched on a lushly landscaped property in Bridgehampton, New York, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, is all clean lines and rectilinear forms in the tradition of mid-century modernism the clients admire. Inside the main house, sculptural forms meet sweeping green and blue vistas, and high art blends with everyday life. Flooring of textured Grigio Olivo stone unites the courtyard, interior, and pavilion deck, creating the impression of a continuous beachlike expanse underfoot. Get ready to relax at this lush beach home.

8. A Vancouver Island Home Blends Japanese and Scandinavian Influences

Taking cues from Canadian countryside houses built from bricks, this 10,000-square-foot, two-story home features a contemporary vibe that fits its location in coastal Victoria, British Columbia. One of the biggest challenges for designer Andrea Rodman consisted of reconciling the homeowners’ tastes and design visions—one leaned toward a more classic aesthetic while the other favored a modern look. Mixing Scandinavian and Japanese design styles together, she went with a white palette accented by oak tones, natural stone, and rattan, enabling the interiors to feel airy and connected to the outside. Stroll through this Vancouver Island home.

9. Visit A Coastal Oasis In California With Striking Interiors

To match the home’s sweeping views this along the California Coast, Hawk & Co. utilized the structure of the house, designed by Brandon Architects, and its simplicity of materials as a starting point. Then, looking to nature as inspiration, she ensured the home has plenty of natural light and indoor-outdoor living spaces. Skylights, such as the one in the primary bath, further harness the power of natural light to regulate circadian rhythms and barely perceptible kitchen cabinets are veiled by a staggered batten wood-paneling exterior. Peek at this California coastal interior design.

10. This Tropical Modernist Miami Home is at One With its Surroundings

While Miami typically conjures up visions of South Beach residences packed on prime palm-tree-lined waterfront properties, Strang Design wanted to create something altogether different for a family relocating from Brazil. On an estate-sized oak grove just 20 minutes from downtown, the modern coastal interior design accurately reflects the couple’s heritage in everything from the layout and materials to the landscaping and furnishings. Read about this modernist Miami home.

11. Step Inside This Lakefront Property in Florida

As visitors approaches this lakefront property by Steven Harris Architects, a simple white-stucco facade conceals the spatial complexity and nuanced sophistication lying beyond. Crossing the shell-paved entry court, guests are greeted—à la Odysseus—by a live oak growing through one wall. They’re then guided to a glass-walled courtyard enclosing more ancient oaks, native plantings, and a lap pool, its surface fairly reaching the stone-slab floor plane of the airy spaces shimmering alongside it. Nearly every room in the 8,000-square-foot, single-story house looks out over the lake, sky, and sloped site. Tour around this lakefront property.

12. A Contemporary Beach House with Modernist Allure

This 6,000-square-foot striking, contemporary beach home by Montalba Architects is an exercise in problem solving, with the resulting Manhattan Beach residence boasting a striking and spacious feel. From outside, the abundance of glass, paired with a pared-down palette of plaster, Douglas fir for the roof overhang, and Western red cedar for a textural screen wall, hints at the voluminous presence. Inside, any sense of compression dissipates. That is mainly because the plan is organized around a double-height interior courtyard open to the sky. Dive into this beach home with contemporary coastal interior design.

13. Journey Inside This Malibu Marvel

The sea and sunsets are not the only spectacle at this crisp white tri-level dwelling on Escondido Beach in Malibu. Indoor drama comes from the generous spiral stairway as tri-level connector. The pièce de résistance, it is steel framed, fabricated in pieces, and was plastered on site during assembly. Replacing three in the house’s previous incarnation, the element is one example of Oppenheim Architecture’s “search for the essential.” Vacation away at this coastal chic interior design.

Designing Serenity: How Vedic Meditation Inspires Creative Solutions

Imagine the sound of waves crashing over white sand beaches, softly chirping birds, and meditative Om chants coming together in a harmonious symphony while sitting alongside fellow designers and creatives. Welcome to the Fifth Floor Meditation Retreat in New York’s Fire Island, a space that invites inward explorations run by weaver, textile artist, and Interior Design Hall of Famer Suzanne Tick.

Now a certified Vedic Meditation teacher in New York City, Tick first turned to the practice when she realized how stress was hindering her work, and happiness. After learning about the mantra-based practice, which is done twice a day for 20 minutes to take practitioners into a deep, restful state, she realized Vedic Meditation can relieve stress and help open the doors to creative thinking. After being initiated in India into the Saraswati tradition and meeting fellow practitioners like designer Gala Magriñá, founder of her namesake studio, Tick started her own meditation studio, Fifth Floor Meditation Center. She also shares her practice widely via webinars and events, like the group meditation held at Interior Design’s recent Giants and Rising Talent conference.

Tick’s outreach caught the interest of designers like Mary-Ann Agresti, principal and owner of The Design Initiative, Suzanne Dean, founder of Suzanne Dean Interior Design, and Annie Mock, cofounder and principal of Chan Mock Architects, who now practice Vedic Meditation. “Meditation has improved the way I listen to others, [and] also how I respond to day-to-day situations,” Dean adds. “It gives me more space to consider the outcomes and then direct clients to better solutions.”

Designers Share Insights into How Vedic Meditation Fuels Creativity

Understanding the Science Behind Meditation

From reducing stress to enhancing mindfulness, those who meditate claim the practice brings deep rewards. For instance, Tick says she has noticed a “chemical shift from stress to bliss in [her] physiology.” But what’s the science behind it? Neurologist and Harvard Medical School associate professor, Sara Lazar, states in her research that meditation can physically change the size of key regions in the brain.

Normally, as people start to age, the cortex of the brain, which carries out essential functions like memory and problem-solving, starts to physically shrink, which is why it gets more difficult to remember events later in life. But Lazar’s research shows that some 50-year-old meditators have a cortex that functions similar to those seen in 25-year-olds who do not meditate. Evidence like this, Lazar theorized during a talk at Harvard last year, suggests that “meditation maybe had preserved the thickness of the brain region.” In doing so, meditation also helps practitioners become more empathetic, compassionate, and resilient under stress.

Igniting New Design Ideas Through Meditation

As for the connection between meditation and creativity, Tick claims she is more aware of how she hears, feels, and sees, which helps her with product ideation. “This enlivens me and my studio to have the capacity to develop products and colors that are more and more relevant for what is needed at any given time,” she says. For Tick, design and meditation are tightly woven together, which is made clear at Tick Studio, the creative’s townhouse that also operates as her living space, weaving workshop, and meditation center.

Designers who have developed their own Vedic Meditation practice after working with Tick, like Agresti, say it helps clear the noise that builds throughout the day. This, in turn, helps her formulate ideas that might have been blocked otherwise. “I’ve used the pause to rediscover some unique ways of sketching with collage and three-dimensional material studies which has strengthened my creative practice,” she says. Through Vedic Meditation, Agresti has rediscovered new ideas for material sketches that touch on nature and help with her design research.

How to Develop a Meditation Practice

Getting started with a meditation practice begins with a curiosity to learn more. Magriñá, a holistic interior designer who finds Vedic Meditation to be transformative, suggests trying out different techniques to learn more about which type of meditation resonates. “Try an app, or sit in on a class that sparks your curiosity,” she says. “There are many types of techniques and for it to stick—and for you to want to practice daily—it’s all about finding the best technique for yourself.”

Meanwhile, designer Annie Mock, also introduced to the practice via Tick, encourages first-time practitioners to find someone to help guide them through the process and open their minds to different meditation paths. “Find a good teacher who will answer your questions and support you. In Vedic meditation, all genuine questions are worthy inquiry, which is highly valued in the tradition,” she says. “With an open mind, adaptation skills and the desire to grow and explore, life is less of a struggle and more fun.”

Peek At Projects Sparked By Vedic Meditation