We all love a beautiful wood design element, and celebrities are no exception. A viral TikTok video catalogs the best celebrity wood boasts on home video tours: a table from Winston Churchill’s yacht, a 300-year-old backyard tree, doors from all sorts of historic homes, and lots and lots of teak. Stay up to date with our weekly roundup of headlines, product launches, events, recommended reading and more.
business news
Online retailer Overstock announced plans to move its operations to the Bed Bath & Beyond website – a decision made shortly after acquiring the bankrupt company’s intellectual property last week. As The New York Times reports, customers who visit Overstock’s website will be redirected to Bed Bath & Beyond’s, and Overstock’s mobile app and rewards program will also be rebranded as Bed Bath & Beyond. The transition should be completed by August. Overstock CEO Jonathan Johnson told the NYT that the retailer will consider a full rebrand of its business — part of its ongoing effort to update its image as a former liquidator.
Despite the increasing threat of hurricanes and extreme weather conditions, a growing number of luxury buyers are driving up South Florida home prices, reports The Wall Street Journal. According to a new report by Zillow, the Neapolitan communities of Port Royal and Aqualane Shores were among the areas with the highest typical real estate values in the country, outperforming traditional luxury hotspots like San Francisco, Manhattan and the Hamptons. In Port Royal, which ranked second on the list, typical home values in April were $16.46 million, almost double January 2020.
North Carolina-based textile manufacturer Glen Raven has agreed to sell its Strata geosynthetic products and related construction business to Hella Infra Market Private Limited, an India-based online procurement marketplace for construction materials. The terms of the contract were not disclosed. Strata, a solutions provider to the construction industry, was initially acquired by Glen Raven in 2007 as part of a major acquisition. According to Glen Raven CEO Leib Oehmig, the sale will allow the company to focus on its core portfolio of substances with no expected job losses or disruption to Strata’s operations.
Serta Simmons Bedding exited Chapter 11 status after completing its financial restructuring, which reduced its funded debt to $315 million from approximately $1.9 billion. Looking ahead, the company has a number of strategic initiatives planned to drive growth, including refreshing its product portfolio; increasing marketing investments; use of direct-to-consumer platforms; and improving its supply chain and manufacturing network.
According to Semafor, TikTok plans to open an online retail store and launch its own goods in a new offering separate from the existing TikTok shop feature. The company buys its own inventory for the site – including a range of toys and kitchenware – from manufacturers in China. Users can shop the selection through a dedicated e-commerce tab within the app, as well as through the TikTok Shop, which typically allows brands to pay a commission for selling their products on the platform. The feature will be available in the US version of the app and could launch as soon as next month.
Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland are partnering with Harris County in their hometown of Houston to open a permanent condominium complex, reports The Real Deal. The Knowles-Rowland project is estimated to cost $8.4 million and will be funded by the American Rescue Plan and other donors. It will create 31 new housing units in a complex designed to support residents with resources such as psychological and behavioral health counselors and transportation services. It’s not the couple’s first outing in Houston — in 1998, they used funds from their hit single “No, No, No” to build a youth center in the city.
Airbnb has listed a life size version of Barbie’s dream home in Malibu, CaliforniaCourtesy of Airbnb
Market launches and collaborations
Just in time for the release of the upcoming Barbie movie, Airbnb’s latest limited edition offering is a pink, life-size version of Barbie’s dream home in Malibu, California. According to Dezeen, the waterfront property includes an outdoor disco, infinity pool, outdoor kitchen and more. Originally opened in 2019 to celebrate Barbie’s 60th anniversary, the home has been decked out through Ken’s eyes, with elements like a western-style bedroom, cowhide rugs and horse-themed throws meant to evoke the character’s love of cowboy culture. Listing is available on July 21st and 22nd for up to two guests each, booking starts July 17th.
Californian design studio Commune is renewing its collaboration with 75-year-old heritage brand Heath Ceramics for a new line of tableware. The collection includes seven different bowl, cup and plate designs, available in three different neutral shades. A portion of every purchase benefits Art Division, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and supporting underprivileged youth studying fine arts.
Literature Recommendations
While developers typically aim to highlight luxe amenities like swimming pools and swanky gyms, a new generation of apartment complexes are targeting spend-conscious and sharing-friendly consumers. As Julie Lasky writes for The New York Times, more and more rental buildings have “commons,” which allow tenants to borrow common items — from vacuums and blenders to bikes, scooters, and trolleys — or rent them with the help of startups such as Brevvie, which allows buildings to install large vending machines for temporary use of household and leisure items.
After World War II, famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed a whopping 120 homes in 31 states. Today, a New Yorker named Roland Reisley is the last original owner of a Wright-designed home and still resides in the space the architect designed specifically for his family’s needs (changes included an additional broom closet, bookshelves, and more children’s bedrooms) . For The Wall Street Journal, Fred A. Bernstein talks to the retired physicist as he reflects on the 71 years he’s spent in the home, the community of Wright enthusiasts he’s befriended along the way, and about why he thinks beautiful surroundings are beautiful have contributed to his longevity.
State the applause
ASID announced the winners and scholars of its 2023 One to Watch program, designed to recognize emerging talent from underrepresented communities in the design industry. The program allows up to 20 winners and eight scientists to participate in ASID events and conferences, mentoring programs and networking opportunities. For the full list of winners click here.
Homepage Image: Californian design studio Commune has teamed up with Heath Ceramics for a new tableware collection | Courtesy of Heath Ceramics
