Perched above Seattle’s Alki Beach, Alki Lookout is a century-old home that has traded conventional coastal style for a palette of saturated colors, playful patterns, and warm wood. With sweeping views of Puget Sound, Bainbridge Island, and the Olympic Mountains, the home already had a spectacular setting. The interiors, however, lacked the same sense of character. Originally built as a log cabin in 1910 and remodeled twice over the years, the house lacked a cohesive identity. Seattle-based Shed saw an opportunity to transform the 2,706-square-foot residence into a playful retreat that reflects its surroundings without relying on familiar seaside motifs.

Photography by Rafael Soldi

“Our initial impressions of the home were that the home was perched above Alki Beach with a spectacular view of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains but that it was fundamentally a home without a strong character,” says Prentis Hale, principal at Shed. Working within a budget that required retaining much of the existing structure, the team approached the renovation with targeted architectural changes and a more adventurous use of materials and color.

Photography by Rafael Soldi

The homeowners, who had both lived in Southern California, envisioned a home that captured the warmth, sunshine, and spontaneity of their shared beach experiences. Shed translated that vision into what the designers playfully describe as “a serious surf palette,” combining saturated colors, expressive patterns, and natural wood finishes.

Photography by Rafael Soldi

The transformation began with a deceptively simple move: swapping the kitchen and dining areas. Previously, the dining room occupied an awkward circulation zone, disconnected from the views that make the property so special. Now, a built-in dining banquette sits beside the window, where the family can gather and watch ferries cross Puget Sound.

Photography by Rafael Soldi

The reconfiguration also improved circulation, increased kitchen storage, and strengthened the connection between the cooking, dining, and living spaces. Custom vertical-grain fir cabinetry brings warmth to the kitchen, while pink Concrete Collaborative countertops and Zia Tile’s Pink Dahlia backsplash introduce a contrasting layer of color.

One of the home’s defining features is a tiled fin wall that helps organize the main living level. Clad in Alex Proba’s Moroccan Mix tile for Concrete Collaborative, its abstract shapes and soft salmon, yellow, and blue tones establish a palette that carries into the surrounding rooms.

Photography by Rafael Soldi

“The owners fell in love with the Alex Proba–designed ‘Moroccan Mix’ tile by Concrete Collaborative; the tiles then set the tone for the project,” says Hale. The team carried the colors throughout the house, establishing a sense of cohesion among the varied patterns and finishes.

In the living room, a pink sofa, custom fir screens, and built-in window seating create places for conversation and quiet moments overlooking the water. The warm wood surfaces and white oak flooring provide a quieter counterpoint to the home’s more expressive details.

Photography by Rafael Soldi

The bathrooms take a similarly playful approach. In the guest bathroom, undulating blue-and-white Zia Tile meets Hygge & West’s Underwater World wallpaper, bringing an abstract interpretation of the marine environment indoors. Elsewhere, geometric tile, terrazzo surfaces, and warm wood cabinetry extend the material palette into more private spaces.

Photography by Rafael Soldi

Upstairs, the primary suite demonstrates that practical improvements can be just as transformative as bold finishes. By reworking the stair area, Shed increased storage to approximately two and a half times its original capacity, incorporating closets, cabinetry, and a custom built-in bed with concealed drawers. A mirrored transom above the bedroom entry reflects light and creates a greater sense of height.

Photography by Rafael Soldi

The exterior’s most colorful addition emerged unexpectedly. When construction revealed that the siding needed replacement to resolve a waterproofing issue, the homeowners saw an opportunity to extend the interior’s personality outdoors. They commissioned Seattle artist Stevie Shao to create a vibrant mural celebrating local wildlife, including whales, osprey, and cranes, with an axolotl added at their daughter’s request.

Photography by Rafael Soldi

Visible from the beach below, the artwork transforms the home’s facade into a public-facing expression of the family’s personality. As Hale explains, the mural expresses the homeowners’ desire to share their creative spirit with the surrounding community.

At Alki Lookout, a relatively modest reconfiguration of the floor plan has an impact as significant as the bold material palette. Rather than simply framing the coastal landscape, Shed has found a way to bring its energy inside.

West Coast modernism has a distinct flavor—that blurring of lines between architecture and nature so exalted by mid-century practitioners is made manifest here. The style is most associated with California, especially the Pacific Palisades, but also much appreciated in British Columbia, where the weather, while not quite as warm year-round, is mostly mild. From north to south, the backdrop of ocean, mountains, and urban life makes for a compelling canvas for indoor-outdoor living. In Victoria, B.C., a home designed by architecture firm BoForm with interiors by Bidgood channels the best of California modernism while adapting to its rugged, nature-embedded site.

Photography by MMK Creative

Perched above the water with a view of the Salish Sea toward the U.S. mainland, the 400-square-meter home spans three levels that cascade along the hillside. While bringing the outdoors in—through expansive glazing around the home’s perimeter—was paramount, so was imbuing the spaces within with a contemporary take on mid-century modernism.

Photography by MMK Creative

The primary living spaces are arrayed across the main floor: the living and dining areas, the main kitchen and butler’s kitchen, a powder room, and the garage. Step down to the level below, and you enter the more private spaces, including the primary bedroom (and walk-in closet), a guest bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, a home office, another powder room, and more.

Photography by MMK Creative

The lowest level is dedicated to guests and wellness; here, there are two additional guest rooms, a gym, a full bathroom, and mechanical space. The gym and guest rooms open onto a terrace with an outdoor kitchen, hot tub, and lounge area.

Photography by MMK Creative

The rooms are characterized by exposed beams, brick walls, quality millwork, and furnishings. “With the architecture and space plan established, our role was to refine the interior—developing all interior elements and ensuring a cohesive, intentional flow from the exterior inward,” says Kyla Bidgood, creative director and founder of Bidgood.

Photography by MMK Creative

Terrazzo, stone, and wood complement the blond brick, which also wraps the benches along the windows and the fireplace. The washrooms and millwork became “moments of expression,” where the design team opted for bolder surfaces and more vivid palettes.

Photography by MMK Creative

The owners, originally from Quebec, sought “warmth, earthiness, and a strong sense of place,” says Bidgood. Her firm delivered on crafting an expansive yet homey setting, where the owners’ own impressive art collection completes the scene.

Photography by MMK Creative

Scandinavian design is celebrated for light-filled spaces, pale woods, clean lines, and a sense of calm. Translating that aesthetic to a cruise ship, however, presents a spatial challenge—particularly when compared with the backdrop of the oversized, ornate interiors typical of mass-market cruise liners.

Sunlight pours through the lounge’s expansive windows, illuminating pale wood, textured upholsterery, and warm leather furnishings that lend the space a residential feel. Photography courtesy of Viking.

Viking has made Scandinavian modernism central to its fleet’s design identity, creating onboard spaces that feel less like conventional cruise ships and more like considered residential interiors. Across the vessels, the design language reflects a contemporary interpretation of Scandinavian aesthetics, sometimes called “New Nordic,” through natural textures, tactile materials, subtle color, and sculptural, carefully proportioned furnishings.

A sculptural wood lattice ceiling beneath expansive glazing brings natural light and organic forms into the Wintergarden lounge. Photography courtesy of Viking.

“Although ‘new Nordic’ is not terminology we use formally, traditional Scandinavian principles have evolved and are being interpreted for how people live and travel today,” says Richard Riveire, founding principal of Rottet Studio and the designer of Viking’s river, ocean, and expedition ships. “There’s still a strong sense of restraint, but it’s balanced by a feeling of being lived in. These days, Scandinavian design is less about minimalism and more about creating spaces that feel welcoming, thoughtful, and enduring.”

A deep blue built-in bookcase displays books, maps, shells, coral, and collected objects, connecting the residential atmosphere of Viking’s interiors with the theme of exploration. Photography courtesy of Viking

Drawing On Nordic Principles

Instead of treating Scandinavian design as a static visual style, Riveire and his team anchored the fleet’s interiors around five underlying principles: residential modernism, nature, craft, heritage, and exploration. This framework establishes a restrained architectural foundation, while fabrics, upholstery, rugs, and furniture introduce warmth and texture. “These tactile details make each space feel inviting and personal, while preserving the simplicity that is so central to Scandinavian design,” says Riveire.

An artwork depicting a figure on a beach anchors the atrium stairwell, bringing Nordic art into one of the ship’s main circulation spaces. Photography courtesy of Viking.

Tapping Into Nordic Heritage

Throughout Viking’s fleet, Nordic heritage appears in a collection of regional artwork, including pieces by celebrated Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. Textiles and decorative objects extend those cultural references, featuring fabrics by Dutch designer Hella Jongerius alongside tabletop accessories by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.

“That heritage connects the design to Norwegian culture and folklore, while exploration reminds us that this is a ship designed for people who are curious about exploring the world,” says Riveire. “So maps, globes, libraries, constellations and other references to exploration play a meaningful role in our designs.”

A traditional Norwegian Marius blanket brings a familiar geometric knitting pattern into the staterooms, referencing a longstanding Norwegian textile tradition. Photography courtesy of Viking.

Mastering Materiality and Craft

Material choices help give Viking’s expansive public spaces a more intimate, residential character. Light woods, natural woven textiles, and stone bring warmth, texture, and visual depth to the staterooms and public areas. “Craftsmanship is fundamental because it gives a space a sense of humanity and authenticity,” says Riveire. “Our design calls for furniture, artwork, textiles, and decor that evoke handmade traditions or honor historic craftwork.” These references to craft appear throughout the ship, in details such as woven leather lounge chairs in the living room areas, the intricate ceiling latticework, and sculptural wood wall accents.

Dramatic glass walls surround the spa’s hydrotherapy pool, pairing natural stone, sculptural driftwood, and wood loungers to create a serene retreat that brings Scandinavian simplicity indoors. Photography courtesy of Viking.

Integrating Biophilic Design

The Nordic landscape—where birch trees, flora, and wildlife symbolize renewal—informs both the materials and sensory details throughout the ships. References to driftwood, lichen, and moss can be found in staterooms and lounges. In the public bathrooms, guests hear birds softly chirping in the background, while birch tree branches in planters and floor-to-ceiling forest wallpaper appear throughout the common areas and spa. “It’s where the landscape and wildlife outside become part of the indoor experience,” says Riveire.

In the spa, amenities such as a snow grotto, cold plunge, and thalassotherapy pool draw on Nordic bathing traditions. “Water reinforces the connection to the outdoors, making the spa an extension of the Nordic design philosophy,” says Riveire. Slate, stone, and glass reinforce the spa’s restrained, minimalist material palette.

Navy and slate blue stripes add a measured dose of color to the upholstered headboard, complementing the stateroom’s otherwise understated palette. Photography courtesy of Viking.

Layering Subtle Color

Rather than relying on stark whites or an entirely neutral palette, the ship’s interiors layer warm creams, sandy tans, and other earthy tones drawn from nature. Navy and slate blue stripes appear on upholstered stateroom headboards, while translucent aqua glass side plates and water glasses introduce light-reflecting accents to restaurant table settings. Orange and rust accents in throw pillows and carpets provide contrast without disrupting the overall palette. “These touches reflect a more expressive side of Scandinavian design,” says Riveire. “We want guests to experience color, but without introducing a lot of visual noise.”

A wall of glass frames ocean views from the pool deck, where pale loungers, blue-and-white textiles, and natural wood maintain the understated palette. Photography courtesy of Viking.

Framing the Natural Landscape

Floor-to-ceiling windows do more than admit daylight; their placement turns the passing landscape into a focal point of the interiors. “A Norwegian fjord, European river, or Antarctic landscape becomes part of the room, an ever-changing piece of art within the interior,” Riveire says. Sightlines and spatial planning help connect the rooms to their changing surroundings.

On land, designers can anticipate the position of the sun and how daylight will move through a home or building. “At sea, the sun is far more variable—not only in direction, but also in duration,” Riveire says. “During Arctic summers, for example, it may never set.” The interiors must therefore accommodate changing light conditions throughout a voyage. Architectural openings, curtains, and shades adjust as conditions shift, balancing dynamic daylight with interior comfort and privacy. “Spaces are connected to the world outside, while also creating more intimate moments indoors,” says Riveire.

A large window frames the passing river landscape, while pale wood, soft neutrals, and streamlined furnishings keep the suite’s interior visually quiet. Photography courtesy of Viking.

Concealing Technology and Softening Acoustics

A residential atmosphere depends on more than visual details. Sound, temperature, and lighting also shape how comfortable a space feels. To the interiors’ uncluttered appearance, technology is integrated discreetly into wood joinery and architectural details, such as underfloor heating in stateroom bathrooms or subtle lighting controls. Acoustic design plays an equally important role in creating a sense of hygge at sea; sound-absorbing textile wall panels, acoustic carpet underlays, and upholstered surfaces help reduce ambient noise in public areas. “In the Scandinavian tradition, design serves human comfort without demanding attention,” says Riveire. “Technology and acoustics are integrated so subtly that you don’t notice how the space functions—only how calm it makes you feel.”

Maritime artifacts, books, a globe, and warm wood shelving create a residential-style display that reflects Viking’s Scandinavian emphasis on craftsmanship and history. Photography courtesy of Viking.

Designing Intimate Spaces at Scale

Capturing a lived-in, residential warmth can be challenging on a vessel with expansive public areas like multi-level atriums, especially when Scandinavian design favors intimate and approachable spaces. “Creating a residential feeling within a ship requires careful attention to proportion,” says Riveire. “At Viking, we subscribe to a ‘cocoon’ principle—a house-within-a-house concept—where the interior provides a quiet and serene onboard environment, rather than constantly competing for attention.” This principle guides the arrangement of open, social hubs and smaller, quiet seating nooks. “Every furniture grouping has been carefully considered for how guests actually move through and use the space,” adds Riveire.

Rooftop lounges are mainstays of the Miami skyline offering open-air escapes above the bustle of the city. For the first U.S. outpost of Japanese restaurant Mimi Kakushi, London-based design firm Pirajean Lees brings together the vibrancy of Miami, the glamour of 1920s Osaka, and the cinematic allure of old Hollywood.

Photography by Robert Reiger

Clémence Pirajean and James Lees, who also designed the restaurant’s Dubai location, drew inspiration for the Miami interiors from the Japanese silent film actor Sessue Hayakawa.

Located on the fourth floor of the Delano Miami hotel, the indoor-outdoor restaurant takes cues from an imagined life for the actor, envisioned as a world traveler whose surroundings reflect different sides of his personality.

Photography by Andrea Di Lorenzo

That fictional narrative takes shape through a mix of period-inspired details and open-air spaces that connect the restaurant to its coastal setting. The terrace accommodates different dining experiences, from casual gatherings to more intimate meals, and is reserved for hotel guests and Delano Members Club members.

Photography by Robert Reiger

The open sushi counter places food preparation at the center of the dining experience, giving guests a view of head chef Henry Park’s team at work. A DJ station sets the rhythm throughout the day and evening service, while the bar takes an unconventional approach to presenting its cocktails. Instead of a list of signature cocktails printed on paper, patrons are handed a vintage View-Master to click through reels of drinks featuring botanicals associated with East Asian flavors.

Photography by Robert Reiger

Lush greenery strategically placed screens divide the terrace into smaller seating areas, providing a sense of enclosure while maintaining ocean views. Counter seating and upholstered banquettes accommodate different ways of dining, whether it’s full-course meals or a selection of shared plates of sashimi and tempura.

Sunlight filters through timber bead curtains and stained glass, casting shifting patterns across a palette of warm browns and creams. Fringed throw pillows add texture, while hand-painted landscapes and custom furniture introduce references to traditional craftsmanship.

Photography by Robert Reiger

Together, the layered materials, shifting daylight, music, and open-air setting create an atmosphere that changes throughout the day. The result is a restaurant that draws on the theatricality of its cinematic inspiration while remaining connected to Miami Beach.

Perched above 41 acres of rugged Wyoming terrain, a cantilevered, boomerang-shaped residence folds into the mountainside. Designed by CLB Architects, the home makes an unforgettable impression, a quiet marvel of restraint and precision framed by sweeping vistas.

Photography by Matthew Millman

Spanning 7,000 square feet, the Boomerang Residence serves as the owners’ contemporary holiday home. Conceptualized as a simple, broken line, the boomerang-shaped plan wraps around the hillside to create a central courtyard. The main level sits above a concrete plinth, establishing a dialogue between the drama of the expansive views and a quieter, inward-facing focus.

Photography by Matthew Millman

This sense of duality inspired the home’s design. “We were tasked with maximizing the potential of this site, while still sitting lightly on the land,” says Eric Logan, partner at CLB Architects. “The form of the building allowed us to create apertures inside for experiences and outward-facing views.”

Photo by Matthew Millman

Arranged across two levels, the floor plan establishes a natural division between public and private spaces, with circulation playing a key role in the overall layout. At the heart of the home, the main level’s kitchen and dining area serve as the epicenter of family activity.

RELATED READING: CLB Designs a Multigenerational Mountain Home in Wyoming

Off the garage, a ski room features a floating fireplace and built-in seating. The lower level accommodates guest suites, an infinity pool, and a gym with views toward one of North America’s highest peaks, providing a home base for the family’s active, outdoor lifestyle.

Photo by Matthew Millman

Integral to the design, the residence incorporates an energy-efficient air-source heat pump system that uses 30% less energy than conventional heating and cooling systems. Hydronic flooring and a highly insulated building envelope, complete with triple-paned windows, further enhance thermal regulation and reduce energy costs.

Photography by Matthew Millman

Rooted in the rugged terrain, the material palette creates a tactile conversation between earth and architecture. “There’s a deliberate experience as you circulate through the house, which centers on the common materials of wood, steel, and concrete,” says Bryan James, principal at CLB. “It’s like a modern chalet.”

Photography by Matthew Millman

Douglas fir flooring and ceilings, treated with a soft whitewash, bring a sense of calm to the contrasting blackened steel and board-formed concrete elements. Together, the organic palette and abundant natural light create a sense of depth that shifts throughout the day.

Photography by Matthew Millman

With interiors that feel akin to a living gallery, every detail has been carefully considered, allowing the residence to feel both unique and deeply connected to the client. A dichroic sculpture by Soo Sunny hangs suspended over the central stair, while a 20-foot-long island snakes its way through the kitchen.

Photography by Matthew Millman

For Sarah Kennedy, principal and interior design director at CLB Architects, the palette was intentionally understated. “The goal was to let the architectural materials be very quiet and ramp up the interior experience with artful furnishings.”

Photography by Matthew Millman

A refined sanctuary, the Boomerang Residence is as dynamic as the land itself. Viewed from across the valley, its shadowed wood exterior blends into the landscape. For the team at CLB, this was the goal.

“The home is doing its best to keep its head down and let the natural context be the star,” Logan says.

Photography by Matthew Millman

On a wooded, irregularly shaped lot in the Hamptons, Victory Lap Residence is a 7,000-square-foot home designed by The Up Studio, which also oversaw the interior architecture. A dramatic pitched roof rises above the main gathering space, nearly doubling the area of the second floor while keeping the house within local zoning restrictions.

Photography by Will Ellis

The clients are an active couple who plan to age in place, and the program called for gathering spaces where they could host family, friends, and the wider community. The primary suite sits on the ground floor, along with the kitchen, dining room, living area, and a dedicated wellness wing. Keeping these everyday spaces on one level also allows the home to accommodate live-in elder care in the future. Upstairs, a guest suite and two private offices offer a quieter retreat, with terraces overlooking the surrounding woods and pool.

Photography by Will Ellis

The team carefully positioned the house to preserve as many of the property’s mature trees as possible. A rear wing follows the path of the sun across the site, and its glass doors open onto outdoor spaces that feel sheltered while remaining connected to the landscape. The house also includes covered outdoor dining and seating areas. The wellness program moves between inside and outside, with a pool, a hot tub, an outdoor shower, and a home gym designed to open to the landscape year-round.

Photography by Will Ellis

Brava siding clads both the facade and roof gables, carrying one exterior material from the walls up into the pitched roof. Materials throughout the house are natural and low-maintenance, and the palette stays within warm, soft, neutral tones.

Photography by Will Ellis

For the interiors, Eddie Lee Inc. worked with a palette of warm wood, stone, and soft, neutral tones. In the kitchen, designed for everyday use and family gatherings, flat-panel wood cabinetry sits against warm stone, with oak floors underfoot. The dining room is wallpapered in organic patterns.

Photography by Will Ellis

Despite its size, Victory Lap was designed to feel intimate for two while accommodating larger gatherings. The result is a home that balances the couple’s current lifestyle with the flexibility to adapt as their needs change.

A once-ordinary restaurant begins a new chapter in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing cities. Designed by FictionWorks, Napa Bistro and Wine Bar Stonecrest draws inspiration from the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting, blending the aesthetics of a French bistro with the subtle charm of a Napa Valley farmhouse.

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

“The goal was to create a restaurant that feels approachable enough for a casual weeknight dinner while offering the sense of occasion people look for when celebrating a great meal and a bottle of wine,” say FictionWorks co-founders Andrea De Camps and Olivia King.

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

With architecture by In Situ Studio, the 6,500-square-foot space is organized into a series of connected rooms, each defined by its own character. A curved, vaulted ceiling with a system by Baswa Acoustics softens the sounds of a busy dining environment while also contributing to the interior’s spatial rhythm. Thoughtfully scaled dining rooms feature intimate seating areas with worn leather upholstery, inviting guests to settle into their surroundings.

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

Perhaps one of the restaurant’s biggest roadblocks was working within an existing structure. Transforming a former taco restaurant into a warm, wine-focused destination, FictionWorks strategically invested in high-impact elements. Completed in under nine months, the renovation required intentional coordination, smart budgeting, and a clear design hierarchy. The result is a transformation of a flat, open layout into a layered sequence of rooms that echo the coziness of a Napa Valley farmhouse.

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

“We put the money into the details that would really make an impact—the stained-glass installation, custom lighting, and millwork,” the team at FictionWorks says, “and we stayed more practical with the secondary elements—the tabletops, mosaic flooring, thrifted artwork, and accessories.”

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

Drawing on three key influences, the color palette reflects the verdant vineyards of Napa Valley, the warmth of 1970s interiors, and the refined character of a Parisian bistro. Deep greens and warm wood tones are accented by shades of amber and bronze, evoking the richness of aged wine without feeling dated. Classic black-and-white tiles from Daltile’s Keystone collection ground the design, providing a unique mosaic floor pattern that contrasts sharply with the more natural materials.

For De Camps and King, every “design decision, from the architecture and materials to the artwork and guest experience, supports a deeper appreciation of food, wine, and the history that inspired the brand.”

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

Crafted from hand-blown rondels, the custom stained-glass installation references 1970s glasswork and takes the form of a wine bottle punt. Custom lighting, linen pendant fixtures, and sculptural chandeliers are arranged to complement natural light while creating intimate, moody vignettes. A series of distinctive photographs and digital artwork by California artist Julia Crane are intertwined with pieces by Charlotte-based creatives, connecting the space back to its local community. The result? A materiality that tells a story that goes far beyond the menu.

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

Modeled after a global wine competition that transformed the perception of Californian wines, Napa Bistro and Wine Bar builds its identity around the spirit of that event. For the team at FictionWorks, the restaurant is a celebration of challenging expectations. “That same spirit shaped every aspect of the design,” they explain. “The restaurant draws from this spirit of transformation, not to recreate history, but to honor and reimagine it.”

Ever since Mattel released Barbie’s DreamHouse in 1962, it has served as a backdrop for young designers to play, experiment, and bring their imaginations to life. Now, thanks to a new collaboration between Barbie and Pinterest, that same spirit of exploration can come to life in real homes. With Pinterest’s Restyle tool, users can reimagine their actual interiors through five distinct DreamHouse-inspired aesthetics.

Launched last month in beta, Restyle lets design enthusiasts of all ages virtually experiment with interiors through AI-powered visual technology. Users can upload a photograph of their own space and explore different design directions.

Pinterest’s Restyle tool reimagines a dining room in the Modern Coastal Barbie DreamHouse style. Rendering courtesy of Pinterest.

“People come to Pinterest with a vision for how they want their spaces to look and feel, but it’s not always easy to imagine how those ideas will translate into their own homes,” explains Sara Pollack, VP, Global Head of Consumer Marketing at Pinterest. “With Restyle, we’re helping bridge that gap by giving people a way to experiment with different design styles, see how furniture, colors, and decor work together in their actual space, and discover products that bring their vision to life.”

The Barbie collaboration introduces five DreamHouse-inspired styles: mid-century Americana, chalet chic, superstar glam, Victorian romance, and modern coastal. Each offers a different starting point, moving beyond Barbie’s signature pink to explore a broader range of interiors, from retro influences to more relaxed, contemporary spaces.

Video courtesy of Pinterest

After selecting a style, users can refine the room by adding or swapping furniture and decorative accessories. Restyle also allows users to remove existing objects or describe changes through text prompts.

While the fascination with Barbie’s DreamHouse may begin in childhood, it’s clearly not something everyone outgrows. According to Pinterest, searches for “Barbie DreamHouse aesthetic” have increased 72%, while searches for “pink apartment ideas” and “pink dorm aesthetics” have risen 224% and 120%, respectively. More specific design elements are also gaining traction, including pink wallpaper, lighting, rugs, and decorative mirrors.

The Barbie collaboration allows Pinterest users to explore how design ideas might translate into their own spaces, rather than remaining on carefully curated inspiration boards.

Pinterest’s Restyle tool reimagines a dining room in the Superstar Glam Barbie DreamHouse style. Rendering courtesy of Pinterest.

“Our collaboration with Barbie makes that process even more playful, bringing five distinct DreamHouse aesthetics into an experience where people can explore, personalize, and ultimately create a space that feels uniquely theirs,” Pollack says.

The Barbie experience is available through official Barbie content, select Pinterest searches, curated boards on Barbie’s Pinterest profile, and even a 26-foot-long pink Barbie truck. Through October and November, the truck will stop in New York City, Dallas, and Los Angeles, where visitors can step inside to try Pinterest Restyle, explore interactive installations, and enter giveaways.

Editorial Transparency: This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools, which may have been used for research, outlining, editing, or copy refinement. Reporting, fact-checking, and editorial decisions were made by the Design Milk editorial team.

Green has become a familiar fixture in the annual color forecasting cycle, but Benjamin Moore is looking beyond the latest trends for its 2027 selection. Webster Green (HC-130), the paint brand’s Color of the Year, draws on the enduring appeal of a classic, mid-tone green, offering a shade that feels equally at home in historic interiors and contemporary spaces.

The paint brand’s choice reflects a growing interest in colors with staying power. Webster Green has a muted, slightly gray quality that softens its richness without diminishing its presence. It’s substantial enough to envelop an entire room, yet restrained enough to work alongside architectural details, natural materials, and other colors.

Photography courtesy of Benjamin Moore

“For 2027, our focus centered on the green color family,” says Andrea Magno, VP of brand, color, and integrated marketing at Benjamin Moore. “When we looked across the past, present, and future of color trends, variations on green consistently demonstrated remarkable staying power.”

Magno describes Webster Green as a color that balances familiarity with a sense of possibility. “Its composed nature feels both rooted and forward-looking, while enhancing spaces that feel distinctive, collected, and continually new,” she says.

Photography courtesy of Benjamin Moore

In one setting, Webster Green envelops a traditional library, unifying its shelving, paneled walls, and fireplace surround. Elsewhere, it brings a more contemporary sensibility to a bedroom when paired with crisp white trim and a pale blue ceiling. The color’s versatility lets it move comfortably between traditional and modern interiors.

Photography courtesy of Benjamin Moore

Webster Green anchors Benjamin Moore’s Color Trends 2027 palette, a collection of eight hues selected from the company’s library of more than 3,500 colors. The seven accompanying shades include White Down, a soft off-white; Nelson Blue, a pale, watery blue; and Shakespeare Tan, a golden neutral. Wild Aster introduces a muted pink with gray undertones, while Antique Copper brings a warmer, reddish-brown note. The deeper end of the palette includes Durango, a dark neutral with olive undertones, and Townsend Harbor Brown, a burgundy that leans toward brown. Together, the colors offer opportunities for both subtle combinations and more expressive contrasts.

Photography courtesy of Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore also commissioned illustrator Tanu Vasu to create a series of hand-drawn illustrations exploring the palette’s inspiration, reinforcing its connection to historical design and personal expression.

With Webster Green as its 2027 Color of the Year, Benjamin Moore makes the case that a color doesn’t have to be new to feel relevant.

Photography courtesy of Benjamin Moore

Editorial Transparency: This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools, which may have been used for research, outlining, editing, or copy refinement. Reporting, fact-checking, and editorial decisions were made by the Design Milk editorial team.

“Warm, moody colors dominated the aisles of Cersaie 2026 and the windows of almost every storefront in Bologna,” notes Danielle McWilliams, principal at Novità, the communications agency for Ceramics of Italy. “Just like in fashion, Italian tile manufacturers debuted collections in deep burgundy, luxurious browns, earthy terracottas and vibrant reds and yellows.”

Era by Faetano mimics the look of terracotta and comes in six natural and neutral colors. Photography courtesy of Del Conca.

Besides color, large-format tiles, texture and dimension, intricate digital printing, and natural material effects were top trends at the 43rd edition of Cersaie, held for five days at the end of September in Bologna, Italy. The annual trade show brings together manufacturers, architects, and designers to explore the latest innovations in ceramic tile, architectural surfaces, and bathroom furnishings. This year’s show drew more than 90,000 visitors to see ceramic and porcelain surfacing materials from 600 exhibitors across 24 countries.

There was an energy to this year’s fair, and not just from the bustling crowds. That palpable buzz was reflected in the temporary showrooms displaying bold, exciting products.

Photography courtesy of Antiche Fornaci D’Agostino

1. Color Makes a Comeback

While stark white and neutral tiles will always be in fashion, ceramic makers did not shy away from richer, more saturated hues this year. “We are certainly seeing a renewed confidence in color,” says Benedetta Borghi, of external affairs at Atlas Concorde. “There is a much greater willingness to use stronger colors as part of the architectural palette.”

Photography courtesy of Atlas Concorde

Combining bright hues with neutral and warm white tiles offers a refreshed aesthetic. Atlas Concorde’s Boost Hux pairs warm natural tones with accents of green, red, blue, and ember, while Vivia features vivid glazed colors inspired by Italian ceramics. “For us, color is increasingly becoming a design tool rather than simply a decorative accent,” Borghi says.

Cristina Faedi, tile trend expert, consultant to Confindustria Ceramica, and founder and art director of Infinite Possibilità, agrees: “There are Italian companies that have even doubled the colors in their range, and others have made three densities of the same color.”

Photography courtesy of Ceramica Fioranese

2. Green Takes Root

Could the popularity of rich-colored tiles be the pendulum swinging back after muted tones and neutrals have been in favor? Maybe. But Faedi also sees the chaotic state of the world influencing tile palettes, citing the seven chakras, which correspond to the colors of the rainbow. Green, for example, represents empathy and emotional healing.

The Eterea collection by Gardenia&Ariana includes onyx-inspired tiles for floors and walls, plus a complementary 3D fluted wall tile called Righe. Photography courtesy of Gardenia&Ariana.

So it makes sense that green is having a moment. “It’s a color that clearly gives a lot of calm and is inspired by nature,” Faedi says. “It’s a narrative of landscapes, of places, of wild herbs, but also of thermal waters and even of oceans.” Along with shades ranging from deep forest to pale sage, earthy palettes of terracotta and other natural tones also stood out.

Plinth by Terratinta Group’s Sartoria, shown here in Moss, Stone Green, and Off Stone. Photography courtesy of Terratinta Group.

Glossy finishes amplify the colors and make them pop. Plinth from Sartoria, part of the Terratinta Group, comes in two shades of green, Moss and Stone Green, and features a 3D surface that adds texture and dimension to walls.

3. Playing with Perception

“Ceramic is no longer simply reproducing a material: the surface itself is becoming an architectural element,” Borghi says. “That’s an interesting evolution.”

Photography courtesy of Marca Corona

Marca Corona’s Multiforme Mira wall tiles complement its concrete-effect porcelain floor tiles. The Tassello decorative variant features small, three-dimensional tesserae arranged to create the appearance of a continuous mosaic, with glossy and luster-glazed details set against a matte background.

Photography courtesy of Cerasarda

As part of The Nesting Room collection, Moooi Ceramic Surfaces, in collaboration with ABK, designed Hypnotic Owl, a floor and wall tile with a tactile 3D-relief surface created using ABK’s 3DTECH technology. This proprietary process digitally applies glazes and textures to porcelain stoneware.

Photography courtesy of Moooi Ceramic Surfaces

Gruppo Bardelli brand Appiani introduced Lamiere, part of its Pastelli Strutture collection. Inspired by sheet metal, the through-body ceramic tiles use the chiaroscuro effect to create the illusion of a 3D surface. I found the interplay of light and reflectivity particularly impressive, even mind-bending: the tiles look dimensional but feel flat to the touch.

Photography courtesy of Appiani

4. Nature, Reimagined

When real stone or marble isn’t durable enough for a project, or is simply too expensive, ceramic offers the aesthetics of natural materials and the performance of porcelain. While this has been a trend for years, advances in technology have made the effects increasingly realistic.

Magma by Flaviker features the look of slate and lava stone in its color-body porcelain stoneware; it comes in indoor and outdoor versions up to 48 inches. Photography courtesy of Flaviker.

“We are talking about controlled chaos,” Faedi says of tiles that mimic natural stone. “Technology can create this apparently chaotic mix of colors, hues, and shapes, but with a great visual impact, thanks precisely to modern techniques.”

Photography courtesy of Verde

Gruppo Romani brand Verde introduced Essenziale, a glazed porcelain stoneware that mimics the materiality of limestone. Its Contour Tech 3D printing process colors the ceramic body at different depths to reflect the irregularities of sedimentary stone.

It’s hard to believe the Marble Boutique collection from Del Conca isn’t actual marble or onyx. The line includes three finishes—Shine, Natural, and Structured—and six new material options with enhanced colors and veining. Its large-format slabs, measuring 48 by 110 inches, are also on trend.

Photography courtesy of Del Conca

5. Sizing Up

Large-format tile stood out at the show, even though it has been trending larger for years. “We see large slabs as a way to create greater continuity across different elements of a space, from floors and walls to kitchen countertops, islands, and furniture,” Borghi says.

Photography courtesy of Cotto D’Este

European manufacturers, particularly in Italy and Spain, pioneered oversized formats in 2001 by using advanced pressing techniques that moved beyond the traditional 12-by-12-inch tile.

In the U.S., the American National Standards Institute officially defined large-format tile in January 2025 as tile with a facial dimension of 23 inches or larger. Many exhibitors at Cersaie showcased extra-large formats, including several collections featured here. Solaris by Cotto D’Este is one of them; it comes in formats up to 24 by 128 inches.

6. From Paint to Pixels

Other products that resonated with me at Cersaie were colorful, intricate decorative tiles made using both high-tech processes and traditional hand-painting. I appreciated the juxtaposition of new technologies and traditional techniques.

Photography courtesy of Ceramica Bardelli

Ceramica Bardelli’s Tulipani, designed by Ronald van der Hilst, features floral decoration in three patterns created using different technologies, from cold digital printing to laser engraving. The brand also introduced the eye-catching Searcus, designed by Riccardo Capuzzo, with two patterns inspired by the sea and the circus, made using cold digital printing.

Photography courtesy of Ceramica Bardelli

In direct contrast, Ceramica Francesco De Maio’s Three Elements, One Matter collection was designed and hand-painted by architect Kengo Kuma. “I sought to let nature emerge through the hand, where each tile carries a continuous human gesture, sometimes as light as rain, sometimes as soft as mist, sometimes as grounded as earth,” Kuma says. “Material, movement, and landscape quietly become one.”

Photography courtesy of Ceramica Francesco De Maio

In contemporary interior design, the rug has quietly transcended its conventional role as a soft buffer between furnishings and hard floors. Today, recognizable names across architecture, design, and fine art are embracing the medium, reframing the floor as the room’s proverbial fifth wall: an expansive, horizontal canvas ripe for visual expression.

For both designers and homeowners, rugs offer a relatively low-risk way to experiment with bold colors, complex geometries, and rich textures. While painted feature walls or custom cabinetry can feel daunting, a removable floor covering can introduce depth and personality without requiring a permanent commitment. A rug can anchor an entire room or introduce an unexpected visual element, transforming the floor into a space for cultural and personal storytelling.

What makes this movement so compelling is the diversity of designs and production methods available, from bespoke, research-driven one-offs and small-batch heirloom weaves to scalable, high-performance collections. Across these 10 recent releases, historic ornamental details, personal memories, and traditional craft techniques meet computational design and innovative fiber technologies. Whether translated from works on paper, inspired by microscopic structures in nature, or knotted using techniques once reserved for royalty, these collections demonstrate that rugs can hold as much artistic and aesthetic weight as any framed piece on a gallery wall. Given the centuries-old tradition of hanging tapestries, perhaps they always have.

10 New Artful Rug Collections

Photography by Harry Crowder

1. Beni x Colin King: The Chelsea Collection

Morocco-based BENI’s ongoing collaboration with artistic director and self-described “placer of things” Colin King has produced The Chelsea Collection, an interpretation of heirloom construction once reserved for palace interiors. The eight designs are the first to feature Royale, Beni’s adaptation of an ancient hand-knotting technique historically practiced for Moroccan nobility. Requiring months of work by skilled artisans, the exceptionally dense weave allows for intricate patterns and a refined, tapestry-like surface.

Drawing inspiration from the hidden gardens of European cities, the collection translates architectural motifs such as wrought-iron gates, garden layouts, and ornamental details into contemporary compositions. The palette of deep blacks, browns, and greens further emphasizes the designs’ intricate geometries, demonstrating how centuries-old craftsmanship can produce something distinctly contemporary.

The Chelsea Collection from Beni x Colin King is available at benirugs.com.

Photography by Matthieu Lavanchy

2. Nordic Knots: Dancing Flower & Matches

Stockholm-based Nordic Knots introduces Dancing Flower and Matches, two expressive rug designs that draw inspiration from Swedish Grace, a design movement that emerged in the 1920s and combined classical proportions with modern simplicity. Crafted primarily from wool, the designs translate botanical silhouettes and geometric motifs into rich, tactile surfaces.

Dancing Flower features a playful, organic pattern, while Matches takes a more structured approach with rhythmic geometry and touches of bamboo silk. Balancing soft backgrounds with bold linework, the designs bring warmth, artistic character, and visual rhythm to contemporary interiors while celebrating Sweden’s decorative arts heritage.

Dancing Flower and Matches from Nordic Knots are available at nordicknots.com/us.

Photography courtesy of Armadillo

3. Armadillo: Venezia

Marking a material milestone, Australian rug maker Armadillo introduces Venezia, its first collection crafted entirely from pure silk. Inspired by the shifting light of Venice and the way it plays across surfaces, each piece is hand-knotted in India to create a single, uninterrupted field of luminous color.

Defined by a low pile and refined profile, the collection shifts subtly in response to ambient light and perspective. Offered in five stocked colorways—Biscuit, Rosewood, Vermilion, Caper, and Serpentine—alongside 15 made-to-order hues, Venezia demonstrates how monochromatic silk surfaces can anchor living spaces with subtle warmth and visual depth.

The Venezia Collection is available at us.armadillorugs.com.

Photography courtesy of The Rug Company

4. The Rug Company: Silk Textures

Part of The Rug Company’s

Part of The Rug Company’s Colour in Residence series, Silk Textures explores the expressive qualities of silk and nuanced tertiary color palettes. Comprising 20 handmade rugs across two distinct finishes—Vara (a handloomed wool-and-silk blend celebrating gentle irregularity) and Caliche (a luminous 100% silk weave)—the collection was fittingly photographed at Malta’s Baroque Villa Bologna.

The rugs feature individually developed colors inspired by mineral tones, from earthy clay to tranquil sage. Through subtle variations in texture, sheen, and color, Silk Textures offers an exploration of how a seemingly simple surface can influence the atmosphere of a room.

Vara and Caliche from the Silk Textures collection are available at therugcompany.com.

Photography courtesy of Patterson Flynn

5. Patterson Flynn: Abstraction

Expanding the possibilities of natural fibers in rug design, Patterson Flynn introduces Abstraction, a series crafted from durable abaca. Reframing the material through a contemporary lens, the collection reinterprets traditional decorative arts and artisanal techniques—such as Italian marbled paper and straw marquetry—through bold, graphic designs.

Conceived as individual works of art rather than conventional repeating patterns, each piece makes use of abaca’s natural sheen, dimensional texture, and interaction with light. The result is a collection that transforms a material often associated with more traditional interiors into something distinctly contemporary.

The Abstraction collection is available at pattersonflynn.com.

Photography courtesy of Christopher Farr

6. Sara Story x Christopher Farr: Hill Country

Interior designer Sara Story’s collaboration with rug maker Christopher Farr draws deeply from personal memory. Titled Hill Country, the three-piece collection—Spider, Landscape, and Grid—translates the sun-washed terrain of Story’s Texas upbringing alongside references to Louise Bourgeois’ monumental spider sculptures.

Hand-knotted in wool and silk, the collection balances architectural geometry with painterly abstraction. Spider, for example, uses raised lines to suggest the form of an arachnid, referencing Bourgeois’ work without reproducing it literally. Rooted in both personal history and artistic influence, Hill Country demonstrates how rugs can introduce a narrative element into contemporary interiors.

The Hill Country collection is available at christopherfarr.com.

Photography courtesy of Nanimarquina

7. Nanimarquina: Lucia Eames Collection

Spanish brand Nanimarquina partnered with Eames Office and Form Portfolios to adapt seven original artworks by Lucia Eames, daughter of Charles Eames and stepdaughter of Ray Eames, into expressive rugs.

Rather than simply reproducing the original graphics, designs such as Echo, Rooted, and Sunbirds translate Eames’ organic compositions into tactile surfaces using techniques including hand-tufting, hand-knotting, sculptural relief, and hand-braided jute. Defined by earthy tones and fluid silhouettes, the collection brings a lesser-known chapter of the Eames family’s creative legacy into contemporary interiors.

The Lucia Eames collection is available at us.nanimarquina.com.

Photography courtesy of Jaipur Living

8. Jaipur Living: CallaLuxe

Demonstrating how expressive design can coexist with everyday practicality, Jaipur Living’s combines performance materials with traditional craftsmanship. Spanning 75 designs, the series incorporates solution-dyed fibers to create durable, easy-care rugs with the softness and visual appeal of natural textiles.

Produced through a combination of hand-knotting, hand-tufting, and handweaving, the collection offers rich patterns, subtle gradients, and dimensional textures without sacrificing practicality. With options suited to high-traffic areas, CallaLuxe demonstrates that visually compelling floor coverings need not be reserved for spaces where durability is less of a concern.

The CallaLuxe collection is available at jaipurliving.com.

Photography by Danica Taylor

9. Nomadory Rugs: Plot

Created for the outdoor Verdant Phenomena, an outdoor group exhibition in Sonoma, California, the Plot rug by Nomadory responds to the relationship between natural growth and the geometry of the built environment. Developed in collaboration with The Bureau and artist Gigi Allen, the design takes inspiration from rectangular planter boxes and the organic forms that emerge within them.

Subtle variations in pile height and contrasting stitch patterns emphasize this juxtaposition, translating the relationship between cultivation and structure into a woven surface. Made from recycled polyester for outdoor use, Plot suggests how the visual language of a garden can be carried into other spaces through textile design.

Inquiries about the Plot rug can be made at verdantphenomena.com.

Photography by Narendra Shrestha

10. Creative Matters x RDAI: Zoometry

Melding computational design with traditional craftsmanship, Toronto-based Creative Matters teamed up with Paris architecture practice RDAI to create Zoometry. Inspired by microscopic biological structures—including butterfly wings, spider webs, and coral—the six designs translate digitally generated compositions into intricately hand-knotted rugs.

Crafted in Nepal using Himalayan wool and Chinese silk, the collection uses material contrast and subtle shifts in color to evoke the iridescence and complexity of natural forms. Each digital composition serves as a detailed guide for the artisans, with approximately 1.8 million individual knots required for a 2-by-3-meter rug. Positioned as an experimental, research-driven collection, Zoometry demonstrates how computational precision and artisanal expertise can work together to transform natural geometry into tactile works of art.

The Zoometry collection is available at creativemattersinc.com.

An exclusive semi-rural enclave in California, Los Altos Hills is known for its dense woodlands, rolling hills, and stunning panoramic views. A short commute to Silicon Valley, it’s also a private haven for the tech industry. It’s within this community that Sonoma-based firm Hommeboys Interiors has completed an overhaul of a home for a young couple in tech and their children.

Photography by Adam Potts

Founded by partners Alex Mutter-Rottmayer and Austin Carrier, Hommeboys Interiors has an inherent talent for dissolving the barrier between indoors and outdoors and crafting layered, textural interiors that emphasize organic materials with a modern sensibility. For the homeowners, who were looking to create a family home that was “grand without feeling cold,” Mutter-Rottmayer and Carrier were a natural choice.

Photography by Adam Potts

A complete gut remodel, the 6,000-square-foot home was reimagined both inside and out, with the exterior shell reworked to better suit its surroundings. Now clad in stone and timber, the structure was modified to accommodate an expansive gable window wall at the back of the home, allowing ample natural light to penetrate deep into the interior.

Photography by Adam Potts

Once inside, the connection to the natural world is immediately evident through the carefully curated material palette. Wood and stone once again play major roles, cladding most surfaces and lending warmth and texture. With a pronounced grain, the oak paneling on walls and ceilings throughout is rich with character and diffuses light to create an inviting atmosphere.

Photography by Adam Potts

Natural stone walls impart a subdued ruggedness that is countered by more refined materials like the various dramatically veined marbles, hand-applied plaster, and patinated steel.

Photography by Adam Potts

Special attention was paid to the three fireplaces that anchor as many rooms. In the living room, an angular, plaster-clad fireplace was intended to be the “showpiece of the space and to be a functional sculpture,” the designers say. “It sets the tone for the entire room, and the curvature inspired a lot of the furniture.”

Said furniture includes a number of tactile pieces from the designers’ own Haus of Hommeboys line—such as hide- and velvet-covered poufs and castellated planters—along with classics sourced through their atelier, like a vintage Julep sofa from Tacchini and a Raymonde Leduc coffee table.

Photography by Adam Potts

In the family room, hand-patinated Corten panels cover the entire fireplace wall and lend the space a “warm, moody, and intimate” ambiance. “We love playing with materiality, and the way the steel fireplace meets the plaster walls has both a beautiful symmetry and tension,” the designers say. The third fireplace, in the primary bedroom, is also finished in hand-applied plaster with a linear texture that creates a bold contrast to the otherwise serene interior.

Photography by Adam Potts

The true heart of the home, the kitchen exemplifies Hommeboys’ unique ability to use natural materials and texture in unexpected ways. Featuring oak paneling, striking Calacatta Monet marble, and natural stone, the kitchen is open and inviting and the perfect place for the family to spend time together and entertain guests, something the couple loves to do. A spectacular 15-foot-long, custom-designed lighting fixture from Ovature Studio defines the room, providing a graphic counterpoint to the organic materials.

Photography by Adam Potts

“The house is definitely modern, but we leaned into natural materials to add an organic, timeless quality that felt warm and inviting, not fixed and sterile,” the designers say. Approachable, sophisticated, and replete with natural light, the home is now the perfect foil for the family life that unfolds within.