This week in design, bad news for fans of wood-burning fireplaces: Building a hearth fire may be a “vanishing art.” Stay in the know with our weekly roundup of headlines, launches, recommended reading and more.
Business News
Michigan-based furniture giant Haworth has acquired Heller. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. John Edelman, who purchased and relaunched Heller in 2022, will become creative director for the brand, while the company’s chief operating officer, Andrew McPhee, will take on the position of general manager. Edelman will also take on an expanded role at Haworth, serving as president of North & South America for the conglomerate’s luxury Lifestyle Design division, a group that includes Cappellini, Cassina, Ceccotti, Poltrona Frau, Janus et Cie, and Zanotta.
Earlier this month, Brooklyn- and Columbus, Ohio–based home goods brand Areaware announced that it will be winding down operations. As The Strategist reports, the company debuted in 2005 with the goal of licensing the work of independent designers and producing small housewares on a commercial scale. Its portfolio expanded to thousands of items in the two decades that followed, ranging from puzzle toys to candles, planters and textiles. The company’s strategy of placing relatively small orders on a diverse array of items with manufacturers in China, India and Southeast Asia made it particularly susceptible to the disruption of President Donald Trump’s trade policies. “When the tariffs came, what was already a fragile business model just collapsed,” said Areaware co-founder Noel Wiggins.
After recently passing the first two bills in decades to address the nation’s housing shortage, the House and Senate are working to merge them into one proposal to send to President Trump, The Wall Street Journal reports. Among other measures, the combined legislation transfers federal funding from cities that are behind in building housing to those that are building faster; simplifies the environmental review process for new developments; and expands access to mortgages that are less than $150,000.
Textile recycler Circulose, formerly known as Renewcell, is reopening its Sundsvall, Sweden, factory—the world’s first commercial-scale textile recycling plant—just under two years after shutting down and filing for bankruptcy, Business of Fashion reports. The company underwent a restructuring phase after being acquired by Stockholm-based private equity firm Altor and will restart production of Circulose, a recycled material made from discarded cotton textiles. The relaunch follows commitments from nearly a dozen fashion brands, including H&M, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Bestseller, C&A, and Reformation, which have pledged to incorporate the reclaimed pulp into their collections. “The plan was to align the production restart with confirmed demand,” CEO Jonatan Janmark told BoF. “With commitments from 11 brands, we are now moving forward with confidence.”
Horchow is shutting down after more than 50 years, as part of the Chapter 11 reorganization of parent company Saks Global, Home Accents Today reports. Founded as a catalog in 1973, the company was acquired by Neiman Marcus in 1988; 14 years later, it pivoted to e-commerce, specializing in high-end furniture, home decor, lighting, rugs and more. Saks Fifth Avenue’s 2024 acquisition of Neiman Marcus ultimately plunged the conglomerate into bankruptcy, sealing the fate of Horchow. Beginning February 19, the home retailer’s website will direct viewers to NeimanMarcus.com.
Launches and Collaborations
Pure Salt Interiors has partnered with Leftbank Art for the debut of a new collection inspired by the firm’s coastal Southern California aesthetic. Aly Morford and Leigh Lincoln, founders of the Newport Beach–based design studio, drew upon their surrounding environment for the creation of Still Earth, a series of original artwork depicting organic landscapes, soft botanicals and abstract compositions.
Showroom Representation
Finch Hudson will now carry Danish furniture brand Naver Collection online and at its showrooms. The modernist line features a range of pieces—dining tables, lounge chairs, sideboards, coffee tables and more—crafted in Denmark by cabinetmakers using heritage-inspired techniques.
Baker-McGuire announced wallpaper brand Milton & King will now be available through curated installations at the furniture company’s locations across the country. The collaboration debuts at Baker’s Dallas Design Center showroom, allowing the boutique brand’s statement-making prints to shine alongside the contemporary furnishings.
Recommended Reading
According to data from Coldwell Banker Realty, the listings for roughly 45 percent of luxury homes sold last year included a reference to privacy or security—an increase from 38 percent in 2024. For The Wall Street Journal, Katherine Clarke and E.B. Solomont examine why the uber-wealthy are fortifying their high-end homes now more than ever, with features like guardhouses, laser-beam alarm systems, and casino-grade cameras.
Travertine was first mined by ancient Romans in the third century B.C. and later used to construct the Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basilica. Now it’s trending once again. For Women’s Wear Daily, Sofia Celeste explores why the stone is being embraced by designers today, most recently taking center stage at Paris Design Week in inventive new forms.
Additional reporting by Aidan Taylor
