The Comm Sheet

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.

FAB 5: Siobhan Barry

Architect Siobhan Barry approaches design as a balance of instinct, storytelling, and human experience. Known for large-scale projects like the Delta One Lounge at JFK Airport, she blends tactile materiality with a strong narrative thread. Influenced by a creative upbringing and her artist husband, Siobhan embraces risk and rejects the ordinary. In our Q&A, she discusses empathy as action, design as a living force, and the evolving ideas shaping her practice.

More Than Just a Pretty Stage: Inside the Bronx Music Hall

The Bronx Music Hall gives the birthplace of hip-hop and salsa a dedicated home for its next generation of talent. Designed by WXY architecture + urban design, the 14,000-square-foot venue anchors the Bronx Commons development and offers a 300-seat performance space, rehearsal rooms, and a professional recording studio. More than a venue, it functions as a flexible, community-driven hub, with spaces that shift between performances, exhibitions, and gatherings. With design elements that reflect local culture, BMH both honors the borough’s musical roots and supports its creative future.

A Boston Workplace That Clicks Like a LEGO Set

If your office isn’t this fun, we have questions. The LEGO Group’s new Boston headquarters, designed by BDG architecture + design, transforms the workplace into a vibrant, flexible ecosystem built for creativity and collaboration. Think curved walls, high-impact zones in saturated hues, modular meeting spaces, and playful details that nod to LEGO’s iconic design language, without feeling gimmicky. Spanning multiple floors, the space encourages movement, interaction, and adaptability, offering everything from high-energy collaboration areas to quiet, wood-lined focus rooms. It’s not just an office—it’s a built environment that works the LEGO way: creative, flexible, and always evolving.

Atari Hotels Phoenix Will Be Designed by räkkhaus as a Playable Dreamscape

The upcoming Atari Hotels Phoenix is rewriting the rules of hospitality—and it’s about time. Designed as a fully immersive, playable environment, the project blends gaming, nightlife, and architecture into one glowing, high-energy destination. Think e-sports arenas, concert venues, LED-lined passageways, and rooms that feel more like interfaces than interiors. As Zac Cohen of räkkhaus puts it, people aren’t paying for rooms anymore—they’re paying for stories. And this hotel delivers one at every turn, signaling a bigger shift toward experiential design that’s about to hit everything from retail to real estate.

Dauphin’s Little Perillo, Reimagined—and Greener Than Ever

Dauphin revisits its iconic Perillo chair with the Little Perillo ECO, a scaled-down, lightweight, earth-friendly version designed for greater versatility across hospitality, outdoor, and multi-use spaces. Originally created by Martin Ballendat in 2009, the updated design retains its signature sculptural form while embracing sustainability through a composition of recycled post-consumer plastic. Produced by breaking down materials into granules and reforming them into a sinuous shell, the chair is fully recyclable at end of its life span. Available in multiple configurations and soft, gelato-inspired hues, it brings a fresh, eco-conscious edge to a familiar favorite.

Studio Lourdes Brings Intimate, Luxe Mountain Energy to FoundRae Aspen

Step inside the ultimate tactile journey of FoundRae’s symbolic universe. The brand has officially brought its modern heirloom jewelry to the peaks of Aspen, Colorado, in a store as elevated as the trendy town itself. Interpreted by New York architecture and interior design firm Studio Lourdes as a classic library reimagined, FoundRae Aspen is dripping in leather, brass, sheen, and intimate mountain energy. From hand-blown glass sconces to embossed leather banquettes, every corner whispers stories of mythological symbols and personal tenets.

See Armadillo Rugs in Their Best Light at the New NYC Flagship

New things are brewing for Australian rug company Armadillo. A brand-spanking-new flagship in New York, plus the March debut of LINEA, the brand’s first patterned collection of rugs, have made for an eventful spring. Located in the landmark Townsend Building in the NoMad neighborhood, the 4,000-square-foot retail space features a thoughtful design collaboration with Klein Agency, which took the big box store—with its 19th-century columns and beautifully imperfect pine floors—to new heights of modernity while respecting the building's historic architecture. A series of gentle curves and sculptural walls invite visitors to move intuitively through the showroom as they experience Armadillo’s rugs.

A Wellness Clubhouse Rooted in Nature—Literally

At The Retreat Costa Rica, Diana Stobo has created something that feels less like a building and more like a living organism. The new Santosha Clubhouse grows—literally—from a massive Guanacaste tree, with open-air spaces, local materials, and a design philosophy rooted in connection, not isolation. Think: social wellness meets quiet luxury, all perched on a lush mountain with views for days. It’s the kind of place that makes you reconsider what hospitality can be—especially as we head into Earth Day, when building with nature feels more important than ever.

Rewriting the Rules: Anduba Wallcoverings Sets the Standard for Design Equity

Inspired by the public storytelling of Diego Rivera’s murals, Flavia Pereira founded Anduba to bring indigenous art into everyday spaces while challenging long-standing industry norms. The wallcovering company ensures its artists retain full copyright and earn royalties well above the standard rate. Appropriately dubbed The Brave Ones, the first collection features work by indigenous artists from Brazil, Mexico, and the United States and explores themes of interconnectivity and cultural continuity. Produced sustainably and made to order, the line reflects a deeper commitment—not just to environmental responsibility, but also to equity, transparency, and community impact. Anduba is proving that design can be both beautiful and radically fair.

6 Outdoor Products that Play Hard and Work Even Harder

The demand for more outdoor spaces is a natural progression of the green design movement. Biophilia was already expected in many commercial interiors, and then the pandemic activated a craving for more fresh air. Any old furniture won’t do. Performance and style set the table for an extraordinary outdoor experience. Here, we present outstanding seating and tables from six brands: Tupelo, Soho Home, Andreu World, Room & Board, Lebello, and Tribù.

Learn How Gensler Is Rethinking Everyday Material Choices

At Gensler’s scale, even the smallest design decisions aren’t small. Carpet, wall systems, furniture—these everyday choices carry major climate implications. That’s the thinking behind the firm’s Product Sustainability (GPS) Standards, which target 18 high-impact product categories to guide designers toward lower-carbon, healthier, and more circular material selections. Developed through Gensler’s Climate Action Studio, the framework simplifies sustainability while sending a consistent signal to manufacturers. The result? A shift from one-off project goals to system-wide change—where better specs don’t just improve buildings, they help reshape the product marketplace.

An Oasis During Milan Design Week, Courtesy of Rick Tegelaar

With an event happening on almost every city block during Milan Design Week, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, so visitors are always eager for a moment to catch their breath. Dutch designer and maker Rick Tegelaar offers that respite with OASIS, his first-ever solo show in Milan. Described as “part studio, part landscape, part sensory reset,” OASIS invites visitors to step out of the frenetic pace of Milan Design Week and into a 270-square-meter immersive exhibition. The heart of the show features a curated selection of works spanning Rick’s career, including the energy-innovative Ceiling Cam Fam and the Tabby lighting structure made of birch strips and brass wires woven into a tight modular grid.

FAB 5: Bernie de Le Cuona

For Bernie de Le Cuona, design is rooted in experience—shaped by travel, culture, and a deep respect for nature. The South African-born, British-based textile designer is known for organic linens that balance luxury with performance, relying exclusively on natural fibers for their authenticity, durability, and evolving beauty. Her work reflects a duality of rawness and refinement, guided by sustainability and intention. Grounded in craftsmanship and honesty, she believes great design reveals itself over time—quietly, thoughtfully, and with enduring impact.

Pets, People, and the Planet Matter in Equal Measure at Freshpet HQ

The return to office debate just got a lot cuter. Freshpet’s new Bedminster, New Jersey, headquarters is officially trading gray cubicles for green walls and doggie playrooms. Designed by Studio 1200, the workplace actually feels like a community. The 32,000-square-foot space features a two-story town hall and a one-coffee-station rule to encourage natural run-ins with coworkers. With a focus on "pets, people, and the planet," this modern campus blends high-end architecture with plenty of outdoor space for employees and their furry assistants to sit, stay, and actually get some work done.