A quick google search and you’ll find that there aren’t many modern playhouses on the market. Most of them look too kiddish or dated. Some of them have out-of-touch, gendered design elements that are truly cringe-worthy. For the more contemporary options, you’ll have to employ some DIY skills, or pay a premium for the ready-to-build – and you still have to put it together yourself! When we found out about HAUS, we got excited because it solved all these pain points. Designed by Janos Stone, HAUS is a unique playhouse that acts as a blank canvas for kids to explore their creativity and imagination. Its design is rooted in Bauhaus principles that believe kids develop their academic, social and emotional skills from tools and environments that encourage exploratory play. Stone, whose grandparents Gyorgy and Juliet Kepes were members of the Bauhaus movement, designed this playhouse to carry on their … Read the rest

Francis Mallmann

As long-time fans of Chef Francis Mallmann, we jumped at the opportunity to interview him for TASTE. Sure, as food designers we are fascinated by his theatrical cooking methods, his expansive contraptions dripping in spectacle, all while rooted in culinary history. But in digging a little deeper, it is clear that chef has more to offer us. His insight on listening to the planet, embracing mistakes, stopping to smell the Basmati rice… A chef full of passion, lessons, and willingness to eat with his hands, we hope to share the poetry of Francis Mallmann’s primal and honest approach to food and life.

What makes a food experience memorable?

What makes a good experience memorable is the spirit, art and inspiration of sharing. That’s the only reason to sit down and eat. It’s not about the food or the wine (if by the way they are both … Read the rest

Are Spring plans for your outdoor living space still in the inspiration phase? Ours too, but we have our eye on some bright new colorways for outdoor kitchens from Danver Stainless Outdoor Kitchens, Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens and Trex Outdoor Kitchens. Thirteen new cabinetry colors bring a shot of bold, unexpected color to an industry you might associate with plain stainless steel. These new additions bring their collective color offerings to a whopping 59 finishes.

Curated by the Creative Director of the trio of brands, architect and designer Daniel Germani, the colors build on current trends in fashion, art and the design world. “Color is emotion. Color is light. Color brings projects to life,” Germani says. “Many of these new hues push the design envelope and were selected to inspire homeowners to be bold and create a space that is both eye-catching and sophisticated.”

New colors to the … Read the rest

The kaleidoscopic sculptures of Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1922-2019) are currently on view at both locations of the James Cohan Gallery in New York. These incredible works hold thousands of mirror sections that dance like a diamond under a microscope. Ignited by your own abstracted reflection they offer an otherworldly surprise with every step.

Both locations of the James Cohan Gallery are worth a visit. The Tribeca gallery is the most dazzling, showcasing several large three-dimensional sculptures and the inescapable “Maze” works. The Lower East Side location dives deeper into Monir’s practice of works on paper along with additional mirrored works.

Installation view, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Mirror-works and Drawings (2004-2016), 48 Walker St

Born in Iran, Monir’s devotion to mirrored sculpture began after a visit to mirror mosaics of Shah Cheragh Mosque in Shiraz, Iran. Additionally involved and inspired by the New York art scene, her works dance between the principles … Read the rest

The following post is brought to you by Lexus and the new Lexus IS sport sedan. Our partners are hand picked by the Design Milk team because they represent the best in design. Just as Lexus went all in on their new sport sedan, the designers featured here go all in on their passion.

Imagine this: you’ve been offered the opportunity to redesign, redecorate and completely reimagine a room within your home limited only by your own originality and efforts. The premise, while simple, presents an unusual challenge when offered to a professional stylist typically employed to realize other people’s aspirations. It’s somewhat analogous to asking an architect to design their own home or a chef to improvise a holiday meal for their own family – a straightforward request complicated by the reality that a creative’s most discerning critic is typically themselves. Ironically, a no limits, all in proposition … Read the rest

FUZL is a new crowdfunded start-up focusing on responsible, sustainable furniture from concept to construction and beyond. Every piece in their flat-packed plywood collection is made with 100% sustainably sourced materials within the UK, using a made-to-order model to cut back on production and transportation costs. The self-assembly bench, chair and table designs have been kept ‘tool free’, with no little parts to keep track of, as well as free of synthetic glue and varnish. Instead of nuts and bolts, they rely on specially designed QIK-Clips to hold each piece of furniture together. Yet another resource is saved with online assembly instructions replacing traditional printed pages.

Original Bench, Moss Green

By creating well-made furniture that can be refurbished over time, the studio is making their environmental design mark loud and clear. And when it comes to the furniture designs, we know you’ll appreciate the little details FUZL has included – … Read the rest