This week in design, dedicated Magnolia Network fans may have a new collectors item to add to their shopping list: a Joanna Gaines Barbie doll. Stay in the know with our weekly roundup of headlines, launches, events, recommended reading and more.
Business News
Leggett & Platt, a 142-year-old Missouri-based furniture and components manufacturer, is set to lay off nearly 100 employees when it shutters its factory outside of Lexington, Kentucky, the Courier Journal reports. The company attributes the closure to lower customer demand and challenges related to tariffs on imported components. In December 2024, it had 119 facilities in 18 countries and employed 17,700 people, most of whom held production roles.
While new tariffs on home products have left many companies in a state of uncertainty, some domestic manufacturers are positioning themselves to meet the moment. According to Furniture Today, Glen Raven, which produces Sunbrella performance fabrics, has recently expanded operations at its specialty yarn facility in Burlington, North Carolina. The manufacturer is now creating new jobs and implementing 24-hour operations five days a week, with the addition of a third shift—a push that follows the $250 million multiyear initiative the company launched in 2020 largely in order to grow its stateside operation. Joseph Davis, president of Glen Raven Material Solutions Group, told FT that in categories like performance fabric, where buyers have historically been reliant on lower-cost imports, U.S. producers may see a lift over time.
The 2026 edition of the Stockholm Furniture Fair, set to take place in February, has been canceled. According to an announcement from the event’s organizers, it will relaunch in 2027, after which it will be held biennially, with plans for additional “activities and initiatives” to take place between editions. The organizers cited the desire to “align the fair’s schedule with the industry’s development cycles and the international trade fair calendar.” Stockholm Design Week will follow the same schedule.
The American Society of Interior Designers has released its “2025 State of Interior Design Report.” The study reveals that the average salary for interior designers was $71,430 in 2024—an increase of 2.1 percent from the previous year, considerably less than the 11.4 percent growth between 2023 and 2024. For 2025, it says the number of interior design firms is expected to reach 17,500, a 3.4 percent increase from last year; and payroll for interior designers providing professional services is projected to be $2.23 billion.
Emerald Expositions announced it is postponing the Kitchen + Bath Canada show—which was originally scheduled to take place at the Toronto Congress Centre this November—to 2026. The move allows the new owner more time to plan a novel experience for attendees and exhibitors. “We have received significant interest and support from the market for this event,” Emerald executive vice president Brian Pagel said in a press release. “However, scheduling conflicts have made it challenging to secure the desired lineup for 2025. This strategic pause will allow us to deliver on our commitment to presenting a world-class showcase that meets the high expectations of the industry and reflects the expo’s revitalized brand.” The company has yet to announce a venue or date for 2026.
Launches and Collaborations
Serena & Lily has announced the launch of a new event series called Dress the Table, in which tastemakers will transform dining vignettes into holiday-themed entertaining spaces in five of the brand’s retail shops along the East Coast. The cohort selected to present each store’s unique tablescapes includes Lilly Pulitzer chief creative officer Mira Fain (for the Palm Beach location); novelist Elin Hilderbrand (Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts); event and wedding planner Augusta Cole (Westport, Connecticut); Savannah College of Art and Design president and founder Paula Wallace (Atlanta); and interior designer and author Shelley Johnstone (Naples, Florida). Their seasonal designs will be displayed starting in October and continuing through the holidays.
Avocado has teamed up with fellow sustainable sleep brand Coyuchi to offer a curated selection of the latter’s bedding, both online and in select stores. The assortment includes organic sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, blankets and hand-stitched quilts.
Framebridge, the U.S.-based custom framing company, partnered with Farrow & Ball on a new collection of painted frames. The assortment boasts two frame styles (one thin and architectural, the other larger and more ornate) finished in one of the British paint brand’s signature colors (School House White, French Gray, Green Smoke, Stiffkey Blue, Railings, India Yellow and Etruscan Red), as well as seven complementary mat pairings.
Recommended Reading
As recently as two decades ago, ranch houses were a housing market pariah. Now, the architectural style is experiencing a resurgence—in fact, the homes have appreciated nearly 45 percent over the past six years, more than any other home type, according to Realtor.com. For The Wall Street Journal, Antonia van der Meer writes about why the style, which proliferated across the country in the postwar years, is appealing to homebuyers today.
The first U.S. edition of the Mexico Design Fair took place in Austin last month, spotlighting a lineup of contemporary Mexican furniture and industrial designers. For Dwell, Jack Balderrama Morley reports on the top takeaways from the three-day event.
Since the pandemic, home office design has been top of mind for consumers, especially with continued remote and hybrid work arrangements. For its latest Great Spaces roundup, T Magazine featured 17 standout offices in abodes across the globe, from Pennsylvania to Sweden to Japan.
With the rise of AI in everyday life, demand for smart home products like Amazon Echo and Google Home has stalled since its peak in 2021, with half of internet-using households in the country owning at least one smart speaker. Now, the new AI-powered editions are on the horizon—including Amazon Alexa+ and Gemini for Google Home, and new features like the latter’s enhanced camera that tells you what’s happening in the frame—signaling the next wave of smart home devices. For the The Wall Street Journal, Nicole Nguyen and Wilson Rothman explore whether Americans will embrace the latest innovations.
Call for Entries
Pennsylvania–based appliance brand BlueStar is now accepting submissions for its annual Kitchen Design Contest, which honors designers for outstanding kitchen projects throughout the United States. The competition is open to professional designers, architects, builders, remodelers and kitchen dealers for projects completed no earlier than 2024 that incorporate at least one BlueStar cooking appliance. To submit an entry before the May 20, 2026, deadline, click here.
Cue the Applause
Dwell released its annual list of the 24 emerging designers you need to know. From furniture and lighting craftspeople to ceramists and woodworkers, this year’s roster includes through lines of surrealism and materiality. Among the featured artists are Seoul-based metalworker Sisan Lee, Nigeria-based furniture studio Heph and the Palestinian furniture studio Rejo.
