This week in design, Meghan Markle’s return to the U.K. has included an extended stay in the Cotswolds—joining a larger American migration to the charming English countryside region. Stay in the know with our weekly roundup of headlines, launches, recommended reading and more.
Business News
As a result of last week’s U.S.–China trade summit in Washington, D.C., during which President Donald Trump hosted President Xi Jinping for diplomatic talks, the countries have reached an agreement to lower tariffs on $30 billion in imports each, AP reports. The new deal, which expires January 10, will reduce the average U.S. rate on Chinese imports to 20.5 percent (from 22 percent). All together, the agreement covers 77 product categories out of China, including small kitchen appliances, tableware and Christmas decorations—though case goods and upholstery were notably absent.
Salone del Mobile has postponed the first edition of its design fair in the Middle East, Women’s Wear Daily reports. The event organizers were scheduled to debut its first full-scale satellite event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this November as part of its world tour, which began on September 18 with a presentation at Indonesia Design Week. Now, the Riyadh edition has been postponed until 2027; fair organizers did not specify the exact date. The decision, made alongside Saudi Arabia’s Architecture and Design Commission, comes amid ongoing conflict in the region.
Eddie’s Furniture Company in Holyoke, Massachusetts, is closing after 91 years in business, Furniture Today reports. The retailer’s origins date back to 1870, when current owner Job
Hicks’s great-grandfather built and operated the barn as a workhorse business. By 1935, Hicks’s father, Eddie, began selling furniture from empty stalls, eventually taking over the leadership and later handing the reins over to him in 1977. According to Job Hicks, the decision to close was made in response to worsening economic conditions, including rising prices and a lack of funding for the state-supported housing the company sold much of its furniture to. Eddie’s will now hold a going-out-of-business sale, remaining open until all merchandise is sold, after which Hicks will put the property on the market.
A pilot program at a Lowe’s location in North Carolina is allowing customers to receive products via drone, Retail Dive reports. The new feature, launched in partnership with DoorDash and Alphabet’s Wing, allows eligible customers near the store in Matthews to order products through the DoorDash app and select drone delivery via Wing. From there, the retailer can transport items under 2.5 pounds—like screwdrivers, painter’s tape and caulk—in as little as 20 minutes.
Rayon, a French software company that makes browser-based CAD drawing tools for designers, announced an $11 million Series A fundraise. The investment will go toward integrating AI into the platform, as well as adding 3D functionality. The round was led by Paris-based venture firm Partech.
Launches and Collaborations
MacKenzie-Childs has tapped Grammy Award–winning country music singer Lainey Wilson for the launch of a new home collection. Handcrafted by artisans in Aurora, New York, the assortment features an array of ceramic vases and dishes that incorporate a cowgirl boot motif and the American heritage home decor brand’s signature check patterns in various colorways.
New Orleans–based home brand Fleur has reunited with designer Cece Bowman for a second collaboration, featuring two new mirror styles. Coquina is inspired by the seaside glamour of Palm Beach, where Bowman’s firm is based; and Meadow Blooms nods to the designer’s new studio in Connecticut, its floral motifs derived from Northeast summer blossoms.
Recommended Reading
Neighbors might just be one of the biggest gambles involved in the homebuying process—their disposition could mean the difference between lifelong friendships and social isolation. For The New York Times, Conor Dougherty writes about a new master-planned community concept that aims to foster connection among residents, part of a growing trend toward “community as an amenity.”
Two years ago, Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction across North Carolina—particularly in hard-hit Asheville, where countless small business owners and design community members spent months picking up the pieces. For The Wall Street Journal, Matt Grossman writes of the region’s turnaround, driven largely by local shopkeepers and artists who have rebuilt their businesses from the ground up.
Call for Entries
Revival Rugs has launched its inaugural Ugly Floor Contest. Participants can submit a photo of the ugliest floor in their home for the chance to receive a $1,000 Revival gift card and a free design consultation.
In Memoriam
Ed Marin, the second-generation leader of the decorative-art and wall-decor supplier Soicher Marin, has passed away at the age of 68. Marin joined the Bradenton, Florida–based family business in 1980, succeeding his father as chief executive officer in 1995. In the decades to follow, he made a name for himself in the industry—maintaining a regular presence at High Point Market, developing a keen eye for design, and honing an unmatched instinct for pieces that would resonate with the market. In 2025, his own sons, company president and CEO Alex Marin and vice president Nick Marin, became owners, and he oversaw the transition from an advisory role as Soicher Marin’s third generation took over the reins. “My father was my best friend and my mentor. Working with him was one of the greatest joys of my life,” said Alex Marin in a statement. “He taught me this business from the ground up, and I feel his presence in the work we do every day. In the days leading up to his passing, he assured me that Nick and I were ready to do this without him. I hope to prove him right.”
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