The Comm Sheet

Editor's Note: June 30, 2026

I'm freshly back from an impromptu Caribbean getaway (adults-only—woohoo!), and my mind is still at the beach. But, alas, there's work to do. So I'm here bringing you an issue chock-full of really rich content that you just have to see.…

RA!'s Latest Hotel Design Is a Geometric Gem

Can a hotel be both a sanctuary and an extension of the city itself? We think RA! studio’s latest hospitality project answers with a resounding YES. At Laiva Hotel in San José del Cabo geometric architecture meets local heritage to create an immersive, context-driven experience.

It’s Not About Selling Furniture. It’s a Whole Vibe—the Henge Way

Some brands don't chase attention—they command it. That’s Henge. The Italian furniture company has opened a dedicated space inside Luminaire Chicago, the city's expansive luxury design destination in River North. Following its first permanent U.S. showroom in Miami, Henge chose Chicago for its rich architectural legacy and thriving design community. Debuting during Design Week Chicago, the immersive space invites architects, designers, and clients to experience the brand's sculptural furniture, extraordinary materials, and unmistakable approach to contemporary interiors.

Pollini at Ladbroke Hall's Next Chapter Feels Like Home

White tablecloths? Sure. White-knuckling over which fork to use? Nope, not here. Pollini at Ladbroke Hall has unveiled its next evolution with refreshed interiors by Linda Boronkay that swap stuffy for warm sophistication and make the restaurant feel more like an impossibly chic living room than a formal dining room. Housed within a restored 1903 automobile factory, this London destination blurs the lines between hospitality, art, and design, proving that today's most luxurious spaces aren't the ones that make you sit up straighter, but the ones that invite you to settle in and stay awhile.

Fab 5: Samantha Josaphat-Medina

Samantha Josaphat-Medina almost walked away from architecture after years of feeling undervalued in the industry. Instead, she founded STUDIO 397 Architecture, named for her distinction as the 397th African American woman licensed as an architect in the U.S. Here, she reflects on resilience, why clients should value design beyond the drawings, and the importance of creating spaces that balance exploration with rest.

Alkemis Paint Keeps Microplastics Out of the Ocean. Can Your Paint Do That?

Paint has come a long way (baby) since the days of oil-based solvents. In 2021, Maya Crowne and Price Latimer rolled out their new wellness paint, called Alkemis, which distinguishes itself as being supremely eco-friendly. This Cradle to Cradle Certified paint is mineral-based, so it inhibits mold growth. Even better, it ditches the VOCs and toxic synthetic pigments, and zero microplastics end up in the ocean. Now, we can all breathe easier.

5 Furniture Picks for a Growing Demographic You Shouldn’t Ignore

Who isn’t looking for solutions that cut through the noise when it comes to product specification—especially for the autistic set? The IBCCES's Certified Autism Resource (CAR) product designation helps specifiers find products that have been rigorously vetted by a board of experts that includes autistic self-advocates. From Orangebox's modular acoustic pods to Creative Activity's fully customizable sensory rooms, these six furniture selections prioritize universal design principles for the wave of neurodivergent individuals soon to be entering the workforce.

Axia Invites You to See the Chandelier in a New Light (Or Not)

The Axia Chandelier isn’t trying to make a statement, nor does it seek to disappear into the background. By reinterpreting a classic fixture, the Italian lighting brand Lodes, in collaboration with Martinelli Venezia, brings the chandelier into a new light—or lack thereof.

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 same 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.

A Vintage Naples Vacay Spot Gets a Four Seasons Makeover

Old Florida vibes, revived! The Naples Beach Club features a major expansion of a longtime local favorite with lots of luxe enhancements, including a new hotel and residences. Hart Howerton’s master plan, architecture, and landscape design, plus gorgeous interiors by Champalimaud Design, have delivered a fresh interpretation of this vintage waterfront gem, where guests can kick back with a cold drink and catch that heavenly Gulf Coast breeze.

Bright Colors, Big Heart, Courtesy of Dvira Interiors

Community centers don't always get the design-star treatment. But the Jewish Youth Network's new home, designed by Dvira Interiors, is a welcome exception. Filled with punchy colors, flexible gathering spaces, playful graphics, and subtle nods to Jewish culture, the project was created to support everything from learning and socializing to artistic expression and community events that help young people feel connected.

Move Over Men: HOK Is Designing an Elite WNBA Training Center

For decades, women athletes have been expected to make do with less. The Toronto Tempo’s new performance center, designed by HOK and set to open in 2028, flips that script with private changing spaces, hydrotherapy pools, a mother’s room, and a design philosophy centered entirely around top-performing women athletes and the community that supports them.

Wellness Is at the Heart of These Chicago Design Week Product Debuts

What makes YOU feel good at work? Research shows it varies from person to person. But sometimes we don’t need science to tell us that the built environment is sick. If you walk into a space and feel the ick, chances are that human and environmental health were not top of mind when those interiors were being put together. At Chicago Design Week, however, wellness was a recurring theme. From true circularity to hip hop vibes, these "feel-good” products from Turf, Momentum, Levitask, Boss Design, Loll Designs, and Model N are just six of many that stood out.

She Turned Away From Her Korean Heritage. Architecture Brought Her Back.

Some leave home because they think their future exists somewhere else. For Juhee Lee-Hartford that “somewhere else” was architecture itself. The River Architects founder was just a teen when she turned away from her Korean culture in pursuit of becoming an architect. Years later, she found herself pulled back toward the very heritage she thought she'd left behind.

Choose Your Own Adventure With DuroDeco’s Customizable Furniture Kit

Say hello to DuroDeco, the new furniture studio from the design minds behind Dunham Robinson. Born from the frustration of fitting all manner of tables into challenging corners, this brand treats customization as the standard rather than a wallet tax. The inaugural line consists of a modular “kit of parts” that allows for creating custom pieces impeccably made to fit your unique interior space.

Fab 5: Janet Simpson

What does it take to reinvent a legacy design firm? Ask Janet Simpson. As the first woman to lead TVS, she discusses servant leadership, creating spaces that make people feel good, and the boldest design risk she’s ever taken.

Editor's Note: June 16, 2026

Danine is back from NeoCon and ready to share her take on the goods she saw there.

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.