This week in design, the New York brownstone depicted as Carrie Bradshaw’s Sex and the City abode is a favorite among fans of the show—who may soon have to enjoy the view from behind an iron gate as the building’s resident of two decades seeks some privacy. Stay in the know with our weekly roundup of headlines, launches, events, recommended reading and more.
Business News
Wildfires continue to endanger Los Angeles, causing at least 24 deaths, damaging more than 12,000 structures and burning nearly 40,000 acres of land. Among the buildings destroyed by the blaze are a number of historically significant works of architecture and design, the Los Angeles Times reports, including architect Robert Bridges’s iconic Brutalist house; the Keeler House, designed by modernist architect Ray Kappe, founder of the Southern California Institute of Architecture; and the Zane Grey Estate, designed in 1907 by architects Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Meanwhile, the active fires continue to pose a threat to the city’s countless other architectural gems, including buildings by Richard Neutra, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Charles and Ray Eames.
Wayfair is exiting the German market, with CEO and co-founder Niraj Shah citing a poor outlook for long-term growth due in part to “weak macroeconomic conditions” for the home category in the region. The move will lead to layoffs for roughly 730 employees, or 3 percent of the company’s global workforce, though Wayfair aims to eventually relocate half of the impacted jobs to other outposts. As Retail Dive reports, Germany was part of Wayfair’s initial international expansion 15 years ago, but the country has failed to yield the same returns the retailer has seen in foreign markets such as Canada, the U.K. and Ireland.
Canada-based Kuzco Lighting has acquired New Mexico–based commercial architectural commercial lighting manufacturer Insight Lighting, Home Accents Today reports. The purchase adds to Kuzco’s portfolio of brands (California-based outdoor lighting brand Auroralight among them) and marks an expansion of the company’s U.S. presence, which includes showrooms in Dallas, New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Following the acquisition, Insight’s co-president, Geoff Patterson, will remain in his position, and the brand’s current sales representation will stay on.
Hospitality-focused e-commerce platform Amenie, part of the Zogics stable of cleaning supply companies—has announced its acquisition of Bloomist, the nature-inspired home and garden decor brand. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Under its new ownership, the direct-to-consumer brand has revamped its website and e-commerce platform—adding gift guides, curated bundles and shoppable mood boards—along with debuting an expanded assortment of products and upgraded features for trade customers. Moving forward, Bloomist plans to further expand its product portfolio through new collections and collaborations.
On January 22, financial expert Julia Nikishina, who specializes in interior design accounting, will share insider tips and proven strategies to maximize your tax deductions, so that you can keep more of what is rightfully yours. Click here to learn more and remember, workshops are free for BOH Insiders.
Investment firm Gordon Brothers has completed its acquisition of Big Lots following an agreement late last month that will see the beleaguered retailer’s intellectual property, inventory and stores change hands to other companies. The exact purchase price was not disclosed, but as Furniture Today reports, it included a debt payoff of no more than $304 million, $17 million in unpaid rent, $42 million for asset purchase agreement administration, $7.5 million in escrow for professional fees, and $125 million to cover the wind-down costs, according to documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The deal will see the return of Big Lots stores following its bankruptcy and near-liquidation, with retail operator Variety Wholesalers set to acquire and operate at least 200 of the outposts from Gordon Brothers.
Launches and Collaborations
Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen and LoveShackFancy have teamed up again, this time for a spring collection imbued with the apparel and home brand’s romantic, floral aesthetic and pastel palette. The product assortment ranges from tabletop decor and decorative accessories to seasonal items like Easter baskets and bunny ears.
Jonathan Adler—which was recently acquired by consumer investment company Consortium Brand Partners—joined forces with wall decor brand TilePix to create the Jet Set collection, prints inspired by Adler’s world travels. The prints feature bold, striking colors and simple iconography evoking beachside scenes and destinations like Tokyo, Aspen and Capri.
Room & Board has debuted its first collaboration with global architecture firm Gensler, which utilized its research into projected living and design habits in 2025 to inform the direction of the partnership. The result is the Lincoln collection—a configurable sit-stand wood desk and a console, each designed to accommodate the need for hybrid work models.
Showhouses
The eighth-annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach will take place next month in the city’s Providencia Park neighborhood, at a home that will be reimagined by a group of 23 designers from across the country—among them, Caroline Gidiere, Laure Nell and Erin Shakoor. The space will be open to the public starting February 21, and will run for three weeks. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club’s primary fundraising initiative and the organization’s Palm Beach County arm.
Recommended Reading
A recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data revealed something peculiar about households across the country—the number of empty bedrooms reached an all-time high in 2023. Nationwide, there were 31.9 million excess bedrooms in homes, marking a steep increase from a little over 4 million in 1970. For The New York Times, Matt Yan surveys the data, which reveals that declining household sizes have fueled the shift in living habits and space usage.
As wildfires continue to devastate Los Angeles, many homeowners are becoming aware of the dangers that such disasters pose to their houses and communities. For The New York Times, Josh Ocampo provides a primer on home modifications that can help protect a property in the event of nearby wildfires, covering everything from the installation of fire defense vents to swapping out the roof, gutters, fences or deck with nonflammable materials.
Call for Entries
New York–based art and design showroom Lyle Gallery and public relations firm Hello Human are now seeking submissions for a collaborative exhibition set to debut this spring at New York Design Week. The exhibit, which will run May 8 to June 1, will showcase the work of makers who identify as “outsiders”—those who have had to navigate systemic barriers to enter the industry, or who work with experimental materials or rely on self-taught art and design practices. Pieces submitted for entry should represent an unconventional approach, a marginalized perspective, or an idea shaped around belonging and cultural heritage. For more information, or to apply before the January 31 deadline, click here.
U.K.-based festival Clerkenwell Design Week, in partnership with Sandow Design Group, has announced the launch of the CDW Product Awards—a new program spotlighting the industry’s best interior design products and solutions. The contest is open to product manufacturers from all sectors, with categories including furniture, lighting, flooring, acoustics, kitchen and bath, surfaces, outdoor, textiles and storage, along with distinctions for innovation in sustainability, accessibility, technology, integration and modularity. Submissions for the 2025 awards open on January 20; to submit an entry before the March 28 deadline, click here.
Cue the Applause
Dallas Market Center and the creative home furnishings network ART have announced the recipients of the 35th-annual ARTS Awards. This year’s honorees include Christi Barbour of Barbour Spangle Design for the overall interior designer award, and Amber Lewis of Amber Interior Design for the product designer award. For the full list of recipients across all categories, click here.
In Memoriam
Peter West, the co-founder of San Francisco–based multiline showroom Hewn, has passed away. For more than 15 years, West built his expertise working under several high-profile furniture designers in the Bay Area in roles spanning everything from production to national sales. In 2012, he teamed up with his partner, Jeff Holt, to open Hewn. “Peter’s boundless kindness, generosity, and compassion touched everyone fortunate enough to know him,” reads a tribute on Hewn’s site. “His vision and creativity were the foundation of Hewn, but his legacy goes far beyond his work. He built more than a company—he built a community rooted in care, respect and a shared passion for craft and beauty.”