The Comm Sheet

History Meets Maximalism at The Painted Lady in Birmingham

In a world of boring beige and greige, Birmingham’s newest gem, The Painted Lady, is leaning into its colorful and slightly scandalous history. Designed by Fifth Dimension and housed in the historic Eyer-Raden building, this 22-room boutique hotel trades cookie-cutter vibes for "Victorian maximalism," inspired by the city’s legendary madam-turned-nurse, Louise Wooster. Expect floral wallpapers, artifacts like turn-of-the-century liquor bottles found during demo, and a Michelin-selected seal of approval. Located in the heart of the vibey Southside, you’re just steps away from 11 Michelin-recognized eateries. It’s a bold, whimsical history lesson you can actually sleep in.

Productivity and Wellbeing Go Hand in Hand at nanimarquina’s Barcelona HQ

Barcelona-based rug company nanimarquina has earned its avant-garde reputation. The brand is known for artist collaborations, non-traditional patterns, and experimental techniques. Since the beginning, the company has worked to elevate the rug from a purely functional object into a central design element that transforms spaces and creates atmosphere. But for the redesign of its HQ offices—across the floor from the creative studio—a more serene aesthetic was needed. The renovated HQ is designed to reduce stress while increasing concentration, well-being, and creativity.

Fab 5: Michael Johnson II

Michael Johnson II, FIIDA, AIA, NOMA, approaches design as a form of emotional storytelling rather than decoration. The associate principal and director of interiors at Hickok Cole applies that philosophy across projects ranging from corporate interiors to cultural spaces, always with wellness, diversity, equity, and inclusion in mind. In this Fab 5, the D.C. native discusses designing with curiosity instead of judgment, why “safe” spaces are forgettable, his dream of learning furniture-making, and how Outkast’s Aquemini fuels fearless creative thinking.

Dial Up the Drama With Artistic Tile's Donghia Textile-Inspired Mosaics

Artistic Tile has unveiled one of the most fashion-forward tile collaborations we’ve seen in a minute. Partnering with heritage textile brand Donghia, the tile company has transformed iconic woven patterns into jaw-dropping natural-stone mosaics named Casino Royale and Decadence. It's graphic marble shapes, moody color palettes, and the kind of craftsmanship that makes you want to touch every surface immediately. Artistic Tile’s Zach Epstein says the collaboration is all about honoring Donghia’s textile legacy while pushing stone in a more contemporary direction. And these luxe mosaics feel equally at home in boutique hotels, statement bathrooms, and ultra-glam restaurant interiors.

Craving Take-Out? Landscape Forms Has Got You!

Landscape Forms’ popular Take-Out collection of lightweight, reconfigurable connected seating was designed to reclaim the outdoors during the pandemic, helping people to socialize, repopulate public space, and feel part of the city again. However, there’s always room to improve on the original. The Kalamazoo, Michigan-based brand has expanded the collection to include a Tall option with an integrated footrest, a Mini version ergonomically scaled for K–5 education, and Wedge, a shape that encourages more natural, conversational postures.

Whenever, Wherever: These 6 Ergonomic Chairs Promote Posture and Productivity

Ergonomic seating is a must in the workplace—whether you work in a corporate office or at home. Today’s tremendous selection of task chairs makes it easy to specify the right look and feel for any contract setting. Besides offering a wide variety of colors and shapes, the current crop proves circularity has finally gone from theory to action, with exciting sustainable materials like upcycled marine litter as part of the story, too. All along, ergonomic experts have been building on the important work of Bill Stumpf in his 1976 Ergon Chair with Herman Miller. Spinal health, comfort, and adjustability continue to be top concerns. It’s easy to find a great-looking task chair, but ergonomic seating continues to be serious business—especially with the current focus on wellness.

Exploring the Mind of Hella Jongerius at Vitra Design Museum

The Vitra Design Museum is about to become a must-visit destination for design nerds everywhere thanks to Whispering Things, the first major retrospective dedicated to Dutch designer Hella Jongerius. Featuring more than 400 works pulled from Hella’s newly acquired archive, the exhibition dives deep into her world of textiles, ceramics, furniture, color studies, prototypes, and wildly experimental material research. Expect everything from giant installations of hand-worked vases to emotionally charged ceramic creatures called Angry Animals. More than just a career retrospective, the show explores Hella’s belief that objects can communicate quietly, thoughtfully, and emotionally—if we actually slow down long enough to listen.

AAHA Studio Transforms a 1930s Police Gym into a Luxe Wedding Venue

Not just another wedding venue, Wedgewood Weddings at The Headquarters by Los Angeles-based AAHA Studio is a full-scale transformation of San Diego’s historic former police gymnasium. Completed in 2025, the 14,000-square-foot adaptive-reuse project reimagines a 1939 Deco-era registered landmark as a flexible, multi-level event venue that includes a lounge, a grand event hall, bridal and groom suites, sales offices, and a commercial kitchen.

The Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove Feels Like Home, Inspired by the Monterey Peninsula

Blending serene coastal inspiration with residential warmth, Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove offers a nuanced hospitality experience that sits somewhere between escapism and comfort. Designed by Narrative Design Studio, the property reflects the Monterey Peninsula while also incorporating brighter hues, curated local artwork, and tactile, home-like details. The result is a space that feels personal, place-driven, and quietly (maybe surprisingly?) luxurious.

Tihany Design's New Rome Studio Preserves the Past With an Eye on the Future

The napkin sketch proves again and again that inspiration can strike anywhere. But who wouldn’t do their best work in a fabulous, 19th-century palazzo with soaring 15-foot ceilings, expertly restored frescoes, and bespoke furniture? That’s what the Tihany Design team in Rome gets to enjoy every day in the space they conceived and designed themselves under the direction of Alessia Genova, owner of Tihany Design. In the brand's new home just steps from Piazza Navona, the Rome studio continues to serve as a strategic hub for New York–based Tihany Design's international practice, overseeing projects across five continents.

Peru’s Past Powers Bethesda’s New Hotspot

On a busy Bethesda corner, Pisco y Nazca is doing the absolute most—in the best way. Designed by //3877, the 5,500-square-foot gastrobar pulls from Peru’s Nazca lines in to shape everything from the guest journey to the artwork. A neutral, desert-inspired base sets the stage for bold textures, glowing gold ceilings, and a woven bar canopy that steals the show. Add in a hummingbird mural, a mobile by Roberto Sayas, and plenty of playful details (hi, llama figurines), and you’ve got a space that feels equal parts cultural deep dive and really great night out.

Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026: 6 Funky Finds for Bold Commercial Spaces

While I was thrilled to jet off to Milan to attend Salone 2026 in search of the coolest new products, I did not expect the unbridled joy and energy that emanated from every corner. It was a stellar year for design—beautifully proving creatives’ essential nature. This year’s show saw a rejection of digital artifice and a return to narrative-based materiality, indulgent tactility, bold, warm colors, and playful, kinetic designs that encourage human connection.

From Style to Sustainability, Bolon’s New BKB Colorways Check All the Boxes

Commercial interiors see all the action every day, but they can never show it. That’s why so many specifiers rely on Swedish manufacturer Bolon’s BKB collection of high-performance woven flooring. By merging the durability of resilient flooring with the comfort and acoustic benefits of soft surfaces, BKB delivers a practical solution for high-traffic commercial interiors. Bolon’s products are manufactured in Sweden using 68% recycled material, renewable energy, and a commitment to circularity that resonates strongly with North American specifiers. Now, Bolon has expanded its BKB product line with four new sisal-inspired colorways that build on the product’s signature texture while expanding its range. Sisal Umber, Sisal Loam, Sisal Fawn, and Sisal Dune are intended to add warmth and depth to interiors for designers working with layered, tonal schemes.

Yes! Concrete Can Be Charming: The Double Tee Table Recasts a Classic Form

With subtle curves, hand-finished surfaces, and tonal variation, the Double Tee Table collection is challenging concrete’s reputation as a purely brutalist material. Designed by MANOS and STRANG, the line reinterprets an iconic architectural move, the double tee beam, which was made famous by midcentury architect George Leedy. The result is a refined, yet approachable table series that is versatile enough for indoor and outdoor use. Making its official debut at NYCxDESIGN, Double Tee showcases how material innovation and thoughtful design can reshape even the most rigid of typologies.

Fab 5: Alessia Genova

Alessia Genova’s career path is the stuff dreams are made of. At 19, the future owner of Tihany Design approached legendary designer Adam D. Tihany and told him she wanted to work for him one day. That bold introduction reshaped her career. In this edition of Fab 5, the Italian-born, New York–based designer reflects on timeless interiors, sensory-driven hospitality, the value of restraint, and why the best spaces feel layered, intuitive, and emotionally resonant rather than trend-driven.

Beyond the Hype: Milan Design Week’s Most Poignant Exhibitions Yet

Stop scrolling, and put down the phone. This year, Milan Design Week was all about being present. Layered, narrative-driven spaces and installations that sparked imagination and invited contemplation—that is what moved the needle. From Ai Weiwei’s subversive use of silk at Rubelli to Maison Numéro 20’s “architectural fiction” at Salone, and an emotional look at the artisans of Karakalpakstan, these are the exhibitions that traded hype for heart.

From Refugee to Architect of Hope in LA

Nerin Kadribegovic doesn’t just design buildings—he designs second chances. In this candid Q&A, the founder of Kadre Architects reflects on how his experience as a refugee has shaped his deeply human approach to architecture, why dignity should never be value-engineered out, and how projects like The Woodlands are rewriting the narrative around housing for formerly unhoused families. Creating adaptive-reuse projects with bold, joy-filled designs, Nerin makes a compelling case that good architecture isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. And yes, he’s doing it all with a whole lot of heart (and color).

Boneli Turns Stone Scraps into Design Gold

Ever thought about stone scraps being… chic? Well, check out Boneli, a new online marketplace that’s turning leftover marble and natural stone into customizable, design-forward pieces—while connecting designers, fabricators, and builders in one streamlined platform. Users can browse real remnant inventory, purchase materials, or transform them into furniture and fixtures with just a few clicks. Even better: Designers can upload their own concepts and earn passive income when their designs are selected. It’s sustainable, yes—but it’s also a smarter, more creative way to source materials that were once overlooked. Waste, officially rebranded.

Get a Handle on These 7 New Hardware Collections

If you’re missing the glamour of the 2026 Hollywood awards season, we’ve got you covered. Consider this: seven new hardware designs that are far more practical than an Oscar, BAFTA, or Golden Globe. Here, we spotlight the “winners” (plus one honorable mention) among the best new handles, pulls, and more. Products from Richelieu, Bankston Architectural, Rocky Mountain Hardware, Art & Forge, QuadroDesign, and Lo & Co Interiors demonstrate excellence in accessibility, innovation, aesthetics, and practicality.