Mentally, I am here. 👆🏼

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 a really rich issue of content from around the globe.

Take the jaw-dropping geometric architecture of the Laiva Hotel in San José del Cabo, Mexico, by RA!. The structure itself is a work of art, and our fantastic writer Nicole Haddad takes us inside this immersive hotel experience.

Then we hop over to London to see Pollini at Ladbroke Hall, a refined spot that reimagines what fine dining really means. Our new writer Catherine DiPersico (whom we are so lucky to have!) explores the transformation of a former car factory into a layered space, “where art and style meet and balance each other naturally," says Chef Emanuele Pollini.

Back stateside, luxury Italian furniture brand Henge opened its second U.S. location in Luminaire Chicago in River North. Veteran writer and trained architect Murrye Bernard showcases this stunning display of contemporary design that made leaving The Mart during NeoCon well worth the trek.

Speaking of NeoCon, we promised exciting product debuts throughout the summer. Check out Arkemis Paint, the women-owned company behind the first mineral-based formulation to earn Cradle to Cradle certification for paint. It's a great story, eloquently told by Diana Mosher.

At NeoCon this year, I finally got to meet the impressive architect Samantha Josephat-Medina in person after admiring her work from afar and corresponding via email for years. It was a highlight for me, so I wanted to give you a glimpse of the person behind the architecture in our Fab 5.

My longtime colleague AnnMarie Martin shares a round-up of five Certified Autism Resource (CAR) products, as designated by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), that resonate with her as the mother of an autistic child.

Finally, our super-savvy social media manager Meredith Constant tries her hand at writing, introducing us to the striking Axia chandelier that Lodes launched at Milan Design Week 2026.

From hospitality and adaptive reuse to product innovation and inclusive design, I'm proud of the range of stories in this issue. I'm also incredibly grateful for our amazing roster of writers at The Comm Sheet. Whether I strong-armed you into helping me with a budding newsletter (Dalene, I'm talking to you!) or you reached out with interest in contributing (which blew me away), I'm in awe of your talent and deeply appreciative of your conscientious work.

On that note, I'll sign off... Happy Summer to you all!

XO...danine

danine@thecommsheet.com