This week in design, those looking to purchase an English country home are in luck: The market is overflowing with price-reduced properties—if you can stomach the growing maintenance costs and increasing taxes. Stay in the know with our weekly roundup of headlines, launches, recommended reading and more.
Business News
President Trump proposed new tariffs last week against the European Union and 59 additional countries that he claims have failed to uphold bans on imports made with forced labor, The New York Times reports. In an attempt to revive the sweeping import duties struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this year, the Trump administration has turned to a new legal justification, known as Section 301. Under the provision, Trump plans to invoke a 12.5 percent tariff on imports from countries like China, Brazil, South Korea and the U.K., while the European Union, Canada and Mexico would face a 10 percent duty. The new proposal marks Trump’s third attempt at reviving his sweeping tariff policies after the Supreme Court ruled against both his original rollout and the global 10 percent duty he subsequently sought to implement under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which was struck down in May. U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer’s office is scheduled to hold hearings on the proposed tariffs on July 7, with the policies expected to take effect sometime afterward.
Pace Gallery, a major contemporary art gallery with seven locations worldwide, announced last week that it is cutting 50 artists from its roster and laying off 50 staff members, The New York Times reports. In an interview, chief executive Marc Glimcher cited a desire to back away from broader industry trends favoring mega-galleries and growth at all costs, stating that “the whole art gallery art system became too big, too commercial, too impersonal and too corporate.” Pace was also not immune to the economic challenges—including higher interest rates, inflation and consumer uncertainty—that have caused small and midsize galleries to close and consolidate in recent years. According to Pace, the gallery’s total number of artists will fall 30 percent, from 135 to 85, and its staff cuts represent a 20 percent reduction, from 250 to 200.
Global container rates rose 23 percent in supply chain analytics firm Drewry’s June 4 assessment—the fifth consecutive weekly increase and largest surge since the Iran war began, Home Accents Today reports. Shipping companies are raising prices in the face of supply chain uncertainty, with spot rates on Asia-Europe routes up 15 percent, to $2,773 per container, and Trans-Pacific routes up 2 percent from Shanghai to New York and 1 percent from Shanghai to Los Angeles. Rates are expected to continue climbing, as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI) remains near levels last seen in late 2022.
Cadogan Tate, a global specialist in storage and logistics for art and interior design, has acquired Phoenix, Arizona–based Fully Loaded Deliveries, which offers luxury moving, storage and design installation services. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The purchase marks Cadogan Tate’s eighth acquisition since coming under the ownership of private equity firm TSG Consumer. For the company—which is headquartered in the U.K., with flagships in major U.S. markets like New York, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles—the deal also represents a significant move into the Southwest market.
Furniture brand MotoMotion, part of the China-based manufacturing company HHC Group, has acquired one of its longtime upholstery suppliers, Palliser, Home News Now reports. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, though the company noted that Palliser’s Canadian manufacturing operations, owned and operated by EQ3, were not part of the purchase. There will be no immediate changes to Palliser’s leadership team.
North Carolina retailer Biggerstaff Furniture is closing after 78 years in business. Founded in 1948 by Raymond Biggerstaff, the furniture store has been led by the Biggerstaff family for nearly eight decades, originating in a small storefront and more recently operating out of a 15,000-square-foot showroom. Now, as third-generation owner Ray Biggerstaff prepares for retirement, the company has partnered with Planned Furniture Promotions to coordinate its going-out-of-business sale.
Launches and Collaborations
CB2 has teamed up with menswear brand Todd Snyder for the debut of a 65-piece assortment of home items. The Townhouse collection spans furniture, lighting and decor, drawing inspiration from Savile Row craftsmanship and historic New York townhouses for details like hand-aged materials, atelier-style lighting, and herringbone upholstery fashioned after suiting fabrics.
Colonial Williamsburg has named San Francisco designer Heidi Caillier as its third Designer in Residence. In her role, Caillier will reimagine the interiors of the historic Charlton House, an 18th century building on Colonial Williamsburg’s campus that once served as the home of wigmaker and barber Edward Charlton, with the final reveal taking place in mid–2027.
Recommended Reading
In England, the tradition of thatched roofs is older than the country itself, providing a locally sourced architectural solution to the region’s rainy climate. But increasingly, long straw is being replaced by imported reed—an enduring point of contention among the master craftspeople who specialize in this type of historic construction. For The New York Times, Rukmini Callimachi dives into the decades-old feud between two types of English thatchers, whose opinions over material sourcing have caused fierce debate (and, on at least one occasion, a physical altercation).
Beach-house decor has long been defined by the sunniest days by the shore—with palettes full of ocean blues, sandy neutrals and bright whites (as seen in the so-called “coastal grandmother” style). For The Wall Street Journal, Cecilie Rohwedder explores the rising tide of designers and homeowners who are now channeling stormy seas when designing beachside homes, turning instead to navy, sage green and dark brown hues.
When Everlane was acquired by fast-fashion giant Shein last month, it seemed to be a fall from grace for a brand that once prized itself on high-quality materials and supply chain transparency. For The New Yorker, Kyle Chayka writes about “the death of the ‘good’ millennial lifestyle brand,” analyzing the rise and fall of businesses like Allbirds, Blue Apron and Outdoor Voices—and from the home world, Food52—to examine how the optimistic consumer culture of the previous decade has devolved into a defining term of the past few years: slop.
When it came time to sell his family’s home in Hudson Valley, New York, Stuart A. Thompson decided to bypass the traditional process of hiring a Realtor, and instead relied entirely on the help of an AI chatbot—from the listing process, to setting a price and, later, managing negotiations to lock in a sale. For The New York Times, he penned a step-by-step accounting of his experience, ending with the conviction that “A.I. may well transform real estate agents into something more like travel agents.”
Cue the Applause
The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center has announced the 2026 winners of the Southeast Designers & Architect of the Year Awards, which recognize standout firms and design professionals across the region. This year’s winners are Melanie Turner Interiors in the Residential Design category; D. Stanley Dixon Architect in the Architect category; and The Design Atelier in the Contract Design category. All three are based in Atlanta.
Call for Entries
High Point Market Authority’s Diversity Advocacy Alliance committee is now accepting nominations for its annual awards program. The organization will select honorees in three categories—Open Arms, Mentorship and Social Responsibility distinguishing industry professionals for excellence in promoting diversity and mentorship and championing societal changes, respectively. For more information or to submit a nomination, click here.
In Memoriam
MacKenzie Johnson, senior marketing manager at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, passed away last month. For nearly two decades, Johnson served a pivotal role within ADAC, spearheading markets, events and industry partnerships, and maintaining deep ties within the design community nationally. In honor of her legacy, ADAC is collecting cards and notes for Johnson’s family, and opening its door to those who would love to stop by and share memories. “Her warmth, grace, generosity and unmistakable light left a lasting impact on so many people and so many moments within our industry,” read a tribute from the organization.
