This week in design, the 2026 Winter Games may be over, but design enthusiasts can keep the Olympic fun going with Swedish designer Gustaf Westman’s Curling bowl. Stay in the know with our weekly roundup of headlines, launches, recommended reading and more.
Business News
Shortly after the Supreme Court struck down his administration’s sweeping levies last Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order implementing a new 10 percent tariff on most global imports, effective on February 24. Because the order invokes Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974—rather than the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the administration’s previous legal justification for the so-called “reciprocal” tariffs—the new levies have a 150-day time limit, with an extension requiring congressional approval. The following day, Trump went a step further and announced on social media that global tariffs would be increasing to 15 percent “effective immediately.” According to a notice released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Monday, imports are now subject to an additional tariff rate of 10 percent; however, as The New York Times reports, a White House spokesperson said that the administration is still working on the larger increase but did not offer a timeline.
Instead of risking the elevated mortgage rates and taxes associated with buying a new property right now, high-end homeowners in Los Angeles are embarking on large-scale renovations—opting to tear down their starter residences and rebuild new multimillion-dollar homes, The New York Times reports. According to data from L.A.’s Department of Building and Safety, the number of major remodels of single-family homes in the city has more than doubled in recent years: 476 such permits were issued in 2025, up from 177 in 2019. The shift follows a nationwide trend in which homeowners are veering away from purchasing flipped homes and increasingly preferring to conduct refurbishment projects on existing property themselves.
Taylor Swift has successfully blocked New York–based textile maker Cathay Home from trademarking the brand name “Swift Home,” BBC reports. The pop star made an appeal to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office earlier this month to stop Cathay Home from securing the name for a line of bedding products, claiming that there were similarities between its proposal and her trademarked designs—including their cursive lettering. A representative for the manufacturer confirmed to the BBC that the brand had rescinded its application in response.
A U.S. bankruptcy court judge has approved $1 billion in financing for Saks Global, which will use a majority of the funds to resolve concerns from vendors about goods shipped before the department store chain filed for Chapter 11 last month. As Reuters reports, the company will direct nearly $600 million of the new financing to make good with vendors, with roughly $330 million in payments set to go out in the next two weeks. The retailer’s overall $3.4 billion debt includes numerous outstanding payments to luxury brands—including $136 million owed to Chanel, $60 million to Kering and $26 million to LVMH. The rest of the new financing will be used to make rent payments and refinance preexisting debts.
Launches and Collaborations
Product visualization platform ALL3D has debuted a new platform that allows brands and retailers to create AI-generated lifestyle imagery. The site uses inputs like existing product images and creative inspiration to generate 3D models, which can then be utilized for e-commerce, marketing or social media purposes. Hooker Furniture is the first company signed on to utilize the tool for imagery on its website.
Showhouses
The ninth annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach has debuted to the public, showcasing two reimagined properties—the Intracoastal House and the Palm Cottage—in the West Palm’s Northwood Shores neighborhood. The 23-person designer cohort selected to participate this year includes Amy Lee McArdle of Amy Young Designs, Danielle Balanis, Lisa Erdmann, and more. Open to the public through March 24, proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. For more information, click here.
Recommended Reading
The home and fashion industries have long shared aesthetic inspiration and creative talents across disciplines. For T magazine, Kate Guadagnino examines how literal that cross-pollination has become in recent years, with fashion brands sending decor-inspired pieces down the runway—think lampshade hats and kitchen utensil–adorned garments—and furniture and home textile designers incorporating apparel into their newest pieces, including curtains shaped like clothing, rugs made from sewn-together socks, and seating composed of resin-encased T-shirts.
The latest interior design microtrend has revitalized a motif once favored by high society doyennes of the 1960s: cabbage-inspired earthenware. Dubbed “cabbagecore,” the trend is surging on social media: Searches for “cabbageware” went up 250 percent on Pinterest last year, and #CabbageCore increased 115 percent on TikTok over the last three months. For Elle Decor, Rachel Silva explores how an 1880s Portuguese potter spun the style into an enduring tablescaping fixture.
Consumers typically decide to purchase new appliances following major housing moves or remodels—activities that have been sluggish in recent years. For The Wall Street Journal, John Keilman examines how U.S. manufacturers in the home industry are feeling the effects of a downturn in demand, and why some are optimistic that the market is on track for a turnaround.
In Memoriam
Antiques dealer Randall Tysinger has passed away at the age of 76. A native of High Point, North Carolina, Tysinger opened an antiques importing company in his hometown in 1980, and quickly became a go-to resource in the design industry, sourcing European pieces from the 17th through mid-20th centuries for a global clientele. Over the years, his success necessitated the expansion of his business, leading to the debut of new branches in Atlanta and New York, and opening the door to the development of his own line of antique reproductions for EJ Victor. His memory was commemorated by British antiques dealer and longtime friend Spencer Swaffer, who wrote on Instagram of Tysinger’s wit, warmth and generosity: “Randall’s taste was ahead of his time. Almost the first to recognise the joy of combining the sharpness of mid century modern with the more naive charms of English vernacular furniture.”
