
Leading the charge is the manufacturing sector, where spending is projected to increase more than 50% over last year’s exceptional performance. Healthy gains are expected across all sectors, including commercial, institutional, and industrial construction categories, with each projected to increase at a double-digit pace.

I usually know in advance if a project will be going into the queue for a design competition or not. I did have one surprise though this year. I was really excited to submit a beautiful kitchen we did with incredible metal sculptures but it just didn’t photograph well. The cabinets had a shine and the light was too reflective. I was so disappointed.

Inspired by the time-honored ikat dyeing technique where dye penetrates unevenly and creates a blurred, hazy effect, the 18”x18” pillows in the collection feature a printed ikat design in double-sided, soft-sueded velvet with a concealed zipper. The pillows are available with or without a luxurious down-alternative vegan insert. All SmithHönig pillows are hand-sewn and made-to-order in the company’s Dalton, Ga. facility.

The intertwining of restaurants, gyms, homes, hotels, and residences is emblematic of a larger narrative. Our lifestyles are evolving. They are influenced by the fluidity of contemporary living, the pursuit of individualized experiences, a focus on wellness, and the commercial opportunities arising from this symbiosis. What emerges is a mosaic where the traditional demarcations between hospitality, design, and what it means to live well are redefined, offering a glimpse into the future where spaces are not confined by their initial purpose, but rather thrive on their ability to adapt and transform.

Consumers who wanted to shop in-store sometimes and online at other times forced retailers to become omnichannel, offering their wares through brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce sites. But omnichannel is not enough. Consumers increasingly want to shop in the “phygital world,” where technology speeds and improves the in-store browsing and buying experience.