Things that make us go mm-hmm.
O.M.G.G.
The new Racing Sport Diamond Ultra is the world’s most expensive Apple Watch case with 5.6 carats of VVC diamonds ($20,000; goldenconcept.com)
An Oh My! Gift Guide
I Didn’t Know I Married a Pop Artist
When I married Chuck Middlekauff in 1972, I didn't know he would be a red-hot pop artist. He didn't know it either.
I did know we were both green-eyed left-handers, and I did know we would have the same initials. But I didn't know his heroes were the cowboys in the "Westerns" he watched as a kid—and later the Beatles and Beach Boys. I didn't know he would spend a good part of his hours cruising in—or lying under—old cars. I didn't know he played guitar. I didn't know he would be a weightlifter, that he would spend time in jail, or that he had a serious case of "road rash."
I did know that, after four Navy years, while he mastered drafting school, he was the part-time mail clerk at the insurance company where I was a file clerk. And I did know I fell madly in love with him when our fingers touched as he handed me the mail.
Five months later, we declared our vows. And I began to know about the rest.
Text: By Carol Middlekauff
Photo: Cutie Pie - 40" x 30" - Mixed Media on Paper Mounted on Canvas ($3,850). Image courtesy Chuck Middlekauff
Salone Standouts
This past spring, the eyes of the interior design world were focused on Milan for the 62nd edition of Salone del Mobile, the cornerstone of Milan Design Week. The largest of its kind, Salone drew a record crowd of more than 360,000 attendees (nearly half from abroad), who were looking to glimpse a future of home living as imagined by 1,950 exhibitors representing 35 countries and this year included a particular focus on EuroCucina / FTK, Technology For the Kitchen and International Bathroom Exhibition biennials.
Outside the sprawling Fiera Milano convention complex, fringe events at design districts across Milan, known as fuorisalone, hosted various events, including talks, tours, workshops, exhibitions, open showrooms, and pop-ups. While it’s never easy to play favorites, we tasked members of our editorial team with submitting a few of their favorites to share with you.
Right: Barnaba Fornasetti with Poltrona Frau’s Vanity Fair XC armchair reinterpreted by Fornasetti with the design silk screened onto leather. Limited edition of 50 pieces (poltronafrau.com/us/en)
Inside/Outside
The gradual blurring of lines between indoors and out has led to an increased need for outdoor furniture that looks just as good as its indoor counterparts. That equals high-end, durable, and weather-resistant materials with forms that match or surpass the functional aspect of the designs.
Above: Wabi Sabi four-seat teak sofa, designed by Sutherland Creative Director Eugeni Quitllet with cushions from Perennials Fabric (perenialsandsutherland.com) Left: Native Trails Avalon 72-in concrete soaking tub (nativetrailshome.com)
Warm & Fuzzy
PANTONE Color Institute Selects Peach Fuzz as its 2024 Color of the Year
Image courtesy PANTONE Color Institute
AUTHENTICITY, CONNECTION, IMPACT OF GEN Z INCLUDED IN TOP TRENDS FOR DESIGN IN 2024
2024 ASID Trends Outlook Report Details Key Shifts Impacting the Design Community
Artistry in Engineering
Parisian designers and artisans Franck Genser and Bina Baitel employ a transdisciplinary approach to bring elegant and exciting interiors to life.
