AD’s Gift Guides & Shopping Ideas

With Marissa Hayes opening her totally contemporary mind up to a hugely colorful and sensibly patternistic designing world, she would know when it would actually be necessary to take a back seat and allow simplicity to pull through. Founder of the luxury brand Lark & Coast, which is known for very bright prints yet organizes its collections in mostly minimalist silhouettes, Hayes has basically shaped her field around building pieces that say something. At the same time, though, within that sprawling mega-structure in Santa Monica is one completely different approach: this 1,500-square-foot mid-century bungalow, shared with her partner, filmmaker Adam Hayes, now serves as the ultimate peaceful retreat.

Grace Langley, a renowned interior designer, set up this tile-surfaced loft at the Brooklyn place to develop it into a beautiful, peaceful retreat reminiscent of the deserts. The journey starts with simply a card-gift from a very dear friend on a definite milestone in her life. Grace, the artistic friend, painted a gentle watercolor card in appreciation. Such little appreciation turned out to be in a way the beginning of a strong and wonderful project together. The friend mustered courage and asked if Grace would help in designing her invitations for her ceremony in a very private rustic desert retreat. The seed for a beautiful design partnership was planted right there.

Exploring the emotional connection, cultural significance, and sustainable future of America’s most cherished home decor pieces.

Each one is lovely, but good design is a lot more than aesthetics; it speaks of history and the craftsmanship behind which the story of our relationship to the past is woven with emotion. Over the years, certain pieces have remained unsurpassed in home decor; their very presence in American homes speaks of tradition and culture, not to mention the changing tides of sustainability. These best-selling-these are not merely decorations for a space but become storytellers and connectors while paying homage to the tradition of craftsmanship.All these creations and influences shaped American life; it is with them that we are able to confer substance upon their existence.