This week in design, graduation season often results in household items hitting the curb as students move out—which means big business for sidewalk scavengers. Stay in the know with our weekly roundup of headlines, launches, events, recommended reading and more.
Business News
Craft chain Michaels has acquired the intellectual property and private label brands of Joann, just a few months after the fabric retailer announced that it was going out of business and shuttering all of its approximately 800 stores. The announcement marks the latest development in Joann’s recent decline, which the 82-year-old company attributed to waning consumer demand, inventory shortages and growing competition, leading to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in January (the retailer’s second within a year) and closure announcement in February.
Deco USA has acquired various assets of home furnishings importer UMA Home Decor, according to a letter obtained by Home News Now. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Following the purchase, Deco USA will move headquarters from Chino, California, to Erlanger, Kentucky, and operate as Deco Marché. The UMA leadership will not remain with the company.
Salt Lake City–based manufacturer Ciana Lighting has acquired Varaluz, roughly a year after the Las Vegas-based lighting and decor company filed for bankruptcy, Home Accents Today reports. Following the acquisition, Varaluz will continue operating under its own brand name while Kevin Plumb, co-CEO of Ciana, will step in as CEO of Varaluz. Both brands are set to debut new offerings at Lightovation in Dallas later this month.
“Digital detox” is going to be a major theme this season, according to Pinterest’s “2025 Summer Trend Report.” Searches for “digital detox vision boards” and “digital detox ideas” are up by 273 percent and 72 percent, respectively, with a focus on reading, communing with nature and drawing inspiration from “farmhouse cottage interiors”—particularly through elements like wood, brick and thrifted decor (the latter saw a 314 percent increase among Gen Z). Another booming search term: “Martha Stewart aesthetic," which shot up 2,889 percent as users search for ideas on backyard vegetable gardening, chicken coops and homesteading. Elsewhere, the platform uncovered growing interest in garden parties (34 percent), the hue “soft summer green” (62 percent), and book club decor (up 67 percent for Gen Z).
Chanel has announced the launch of a new business-to-business hub for circular material development called Nevold, investing between 50 million and 80 million euros to get the division off the ground, Women’s Wear Daily reports. The entity will focus on scaling the reuse of materials used in the luxury sector and the apparel industry at large, and it will operate separately from Chanel to invite collaboration from other brands. It will also fold in a number of other ventures the luxury brand has invested in or originated in recent years—including L’Atelier des Matières, a collector of deadstock, production offcuts and unsold items; Filatures du Parc, a wool-spinning mill specializing in recycled yarns; and upcycled natural materials provider Authentic Material—while seeking new acquisitions to aid in research and development. The Nevold hub aims to scale enough to reduce production costs for recycled textiles, ultimately making the materials more affordable than their plastic counterparts.
Launches and Collaborations
Benjamin Moore and Williams-Sonoma have announced the launch of a new multiyear partnership. The legacy paint brand and Williams-Sonoma’s family of companies will collaborate on color palettes matched to seasonal furniture and decor (a new initiative that already debuted with Pottery Barn); and Benjamin Moore’s design and color tools will roll out at Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm and Rejuvenation retail locations.
MillerKnoll has unveiled a new archival space located within its Michigan Design Yard headquarters. The 12,000-square-foot facility will contain the entirety of the brand’s collections, totaling over one million objects. Designed as a platform for research and a look at the evolution of works produced by both brands, the center will include an exhibition space, an open-storage furniture display and a reading room. The inaugural exhibition, titled “Manufacturing Modern,” will examine a selection of designs created by Florence Knoll, George Nelson, Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, Harry Bertoia, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Marcel Breuer.
In celebration of Pride Month, Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen has partnered with 1stDibs to offer 14 pieces of furniture from his personal collection—along with sharing his picks from the platform’s Pride collection and other items designed by his favorite LGBTQ+ designers. Running through June 30, the sale will benefit the New York–based nonprofit Housing Works, which provides services for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. It will also serve as a preview for a July 22 shopping event at the nonprofit organization’s thrift shop in Chelsea, which will feature an expanded selection of pieces from Cohen’s home.
Serena & Lily has debuted a new editorial section on its website, which will delve into design and decorating, Furniture Today reports. The Library will be curated by Olivia Hosken—former deputy managing editor at House Beautiful and style and interiors writer at Town & Country—and will incorporate insights from designers and other industry experts to home in on five key topics: design history, decorating with character, the art of hosting, personal stories and field guides.
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker has teamed up with Wallshoppe for the debut of a new wallpaper line. The Mysa collection was created in collaboration with Eric Hughes—who serves as both Parker’s interior designer and Wallshoppe’s co-creative director—and includes a variety of patterns, from plaids and florals to bold, colorful graphics.
Recommended Reading
For decades, the U.S. textile industry has been in decline, with production shifting overseas to China and Vietnam. For wool in particular, fewer than five domestic mills are known to be capable of spinning yarn, weaving and finishing fabrics. In The New York Times, Steven Kurutz profiles the owner of one such mill—American Woolen Company—providing a look at the deep well of challenges faced by those who establish domestic manufacturing operations.
Americans spent over $147 billion on their pets in 2023, with a growing portion of those funds allocated toward animal-friendly home decor and renovations. For Elle Decor, Rachel Silva profiles homeowners and designers who are taking that trend to the next level with dedicated “dog rooms” where their canine companions can enjoy features like custom bunk beds, tiled showers, built-in feeding stations, and TVs streaming shows geared specifically toward their species.
For some homeowners and design enthusiasts, visible air vents provoke a strong negative reaction—as designer Annie Elliott says: “An air vent in the middle of a wall is like a wart on the face of an otherwise beautiful person.” For The New York Times, Dina Cheney explores the many ways in which decorators have creatively masked unsightly HVAC utilities without compromising airflow.
