This Retreat Is Literally Growing from the Ground Up
At The Retreat Costa Rica, Diana Stobo has created something that feels less like a building and more like a living organism. The new Santosha Clubhouse grows—literally—from a massive Guanacaste tree, with open-air spaces, local materials, and a design philosophy rooted in connection. Think: social wellness meets quiet luxury, all perched on a lush mountain with views for days. It’s the kind of place that makes you reconsider what hospitality can be—especially as we head into Earth Day, when building with nature feels more important than ever.
|
—Little Wing Lee, founder of design practice Studio & Projects and the Black Folks in Design collective
Studio Lourdes Brings Intimate, Luxe Mountain Energy to FoundRae Aspen
Step inside the ultimate tactile journey of FoundRae’s symbolic universe. The brand has officially brought its modern heirloom jewelry to the peaks of Aspen, Colorado, in a store as elevated as the trendy town itself. Interpreted by New York architecture and interior design firm Studio Lourdes as a classic library reimagined, FoundRae Aspen is dripping in leather, brass, sheen, and intimate mountain energy. From hand-blown glass sconces to embossed leather banquettes, every corner whispers stories of mythological symbols and personal tenets.
See Armadillo Rugs in Their Best Light in Their New Manhattan Showroom
New things are brewing for Australian rug company Armadillo. A brand-spanking-new flagship in New York, plus the March debut of LINEA, the brand’s first patterned collection of rugs, have made for an eventful spring. Located in the landmark Townsend Building in the NoMad neighborhood, the 4,000-square-foot retail space was designed in collaboration with Klein Agency and styled by Romilly Newman to take the big box store, with its 19th-century columns and beautifully imperfect pine floors, to new heights of modernity while respecting the building's historic architecture. A series of gentle curves and sculptural walls invite visitors to move intuitively through the showroom as they experience Armadillo’s rugs.
Learn How Gensler Is Rethinking Everyday Material Choices
At Gensler’s scale, even the smallest design decisions aren’t small. Carpet, wall systems, furniture—these everyday choices carry major climate implications. That’s the thinking behind the firm’s Product Sustainability (GPS) Standards, which target 18 high-impact product categories to guide designers toward lower-carbon, healthier, and more circular material selections. Developed through Gensler’s Climate Action Studio, the framework simplifies sustainability while sending a consistent signal to manufacturers. The result? A shift from one-off project goals to system-wide change—where better specs don’t just improve buildings, they help reshape the product marketplace.
Five Questions With Bernie de Le Cuona
For Bernie de Le Cuona, design is rooted in experience—shaped by travel, culture, and a deep respect for nature. The South African-born, British-based textile designer is known for organic linens that balance luxury with performance, relying exclusively on natural fibers for their authenticity, durability, and evolving beauty. Her work reflects a duality of rawness and refinement, guided by sustainability and intention. Grounded in craftsmanship and honesty, she believes great design reveals itself over time—quietly, thoughtfully, and with enduring impact.
Rewriting the Rules: Anduba Wallcoverings Sets the Standard for Design Equity
Inspired by the public storytelling of Diego Rivera’s murals, Flavia Pereira founded Anduba to bring indigenous art into everyday spaces while challenging long-standing industry norms. The wallcovering company ensures its artists retain full copyright and earn royalties well above the standard rate. Appropriately dubbed The Brave Ones, the first collection features work by indigenous artists from Brazil, Mexico, and the United States and explores themes of interconnectivity and cultural continuity. Produced sustainably and made to order, the line reflects a deeper commitment—not just to environmental responsibility, but also to equity, transparency, and community impact. Anduba is proving that design can be both beautiful and radically fair.
6 Outdoor Products that Play Hard and Work Even Harder
The demand for more outdoor spaces is a natural progression of the green design movement. Biophilia was already expected in many commercial interiors, and then the pandemic activated a craving for more fresh air. Any old furniture won’t do. Performance and style set the table for an extraordinary outdoor experience. Here, we present outstanding seating and tables from six brands: Tupelo, Soho Home, Andreu World, Room & Board (shown above), Lebello, and Tribù.
An Oasis During Milan Design Week
With an event happening on almost every city block during MDW, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, so visitors are always eager for a moment to catch their breath. Dutch designer and maker Rick Tegelaar offers that respite with "OASIS," his first-ever solo show in Milan. Described as “part studio, part landscape, part sensory reset,” OASIS invites visitors to step out of the frenetic pace of Milan Design Week and into a 270-square-meter immersive exhibition. The heart of the show features a curated selection of works spanning Rick’s career, including the energy-innovative Ceiling Cam Fam and the Tabby lighting structure made of birch strips and brass wires woven into a tight modular grid.
Grotto Glam on the Italian Coast at W Sardinia
Meyer Davis brings W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu to life as an immersive, sun-drenched, myth-driven escape
Collaboration, Connection, and Canines at FreshPet
Studio 1200 designed FreshStep's new community-driven NJ HQ with a strict dogs-allowed policy.
Cerno Channels Laguna Beach Into Lighting
Three childhood friends turned a slow surf day into lighting brand, Cerno, inspired by their hometown.
Julia Watson's Explores Indigenous Water Systems in Lo—TEK. Water
Submit Your Best of NeoCon Product by May 1!
Meet the Team
Share your thoughts with us:
What would you like to see us cover in The Comm Sheet?
Sign Up for The Comm Sheet Newsletter
You have successfully signed up for The Comm Sheet newsletter.
The Comm Sheet celebrates the commercial design world while sparking community connection. Our twice-monthly newsletter delivers bite-size content—including insights from top designers; spotlights on new projects and innovative products; and deep dives into topics like neurodiversity, inclusivity, environmental sustainability, and democratization in design—all in a sharp, lively, easily digestible format.