Mirrored ornaments and reflective lights are visible in nearly every room, inviting viewers to see themselves in the White House, and find themselves “in the great story of America,” as the Bidens stated in a welcome letter in the 2022 White House Holiday Guide.

“The soul of our nation is and always has been ‘We the People,’” Dr. Biden says. “And that is what has inspired this year’s White House holiday decorations. The values that unite us can be found all around you: a belief in possibility and optimism and unity. Room by room, we represent what brings us together during the holidays and throughout the year.”

“We may celebrate different holidays, we may sing different songs or say different prayers, but our shared American values endure season after season. May the promise of ‘We the People’ light our path forward into the new year and bring us together always.”

The East Wing represents “Honor and Remembrance,” featuring bells to symbolize the unifying, healing power of music. The columns and beams of the East Wing Lobby are lined with greenery and red cardinals, which signify the presence of lost loved ones. The first Christmas trees featured on the White House Tour are covered in mirrored Gold Star ornaments inscribed with the names of fallen service members. In the East Colonnade, wintery birch trees, glowing lanterns, and handmade woodland animals evoke the feeling of tranquility after the winter’s first snowfall.

The Library features decor inspired by literature, history, and education alongside a copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed circa 1845. In the Vermeil room, a theme of “Kindness and Gratitude” comes together with piles of gifts from Operation Gratitude, a non-profit organization that delivers packages to deployed troops, first responders, and military families. If you look closely, you’ll see illustrations of the Biden family’s pets, Commander and Willow.

The China room evokes family traditions passed down through generations, with decor inspired by a grandmother’s baking tools. In the East Room, “Nature and Recreation” are honored with groupings of snow-covered fir trees and representations of National Parks from around the country. The decor in the Green Room is inspired by familiar carols, with sleigh bells, hand bells, and jingle bells all around.

In the Blue Room, “Unity and Hope” are represented by renderings of the official birds from all 57 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. This room features the grandest centerpiece of the White House holiday season, an 18.5-foot Concolor Fir from Auburn, Pennsylvania. The Red Room projects the comfort, peace, and strength we find in faith, while the State Dining Room embodies the idea of “We the People’” as the promise of the next generation, featuring ornaments crafted as self-portraits by the students of the 2021 Teachers of the Year from across the country.

A menorah created by the Executive Residence Carpentry Shop was a new addition to the decor this year, made of wood removed from the White House in the 1950s during the Truman renovation. Finally, the 2022 Gingerbread White House adds a sugar cookie replica of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall alongside the White House replica. Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed at Independence Hall.

Planning for the White House holiday theme began back in the spring, and Dr. Biden chose the theme by June. It always takes months of preparation to conceptualize and create a holiday display of this scale and prestige. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, more than 150 volunteers spent countless hours decorating the public rooms. The decor includes 77 Christmas trees, 83,615 holiday lights, 25 classic wreaths, and thousands of garlands, ornaments, and displays.

The annual White House gingerbread house is made of 20 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 30 sheets of gingerbread dough, 30 pints of chocolate, 100 pounds of sugary pastille, and 40 pounds of royal icing.

The post Jill Biden Unveils 2022 White House Holiday Decorations with “We the People” Theme first appeared on Dornob.

To create the Hidden Valley Home Collection, the brand teamed up with Dani Dazey, an interior designer known for her over-the-top, graphic, and incredibly bright style. The results are the opposite of minimalist, including wallpaper, tablecloths, a fleece throw, placemats, notebooks, and more in two of Dazey’s custom prints. One print features bottles of Hidden Valley ranch dressing and slices of ranch-covered pepperoni pizza, all in shades of blue, green, and orange, while the other is just a tad more subtle with a repeating ranch bottle motif in green and blue tones.

You could ranch up your dining room with the placemats ($30 for a set of two), the coaster set ($20 for four), the 100-percent cotton tablecloth ($90), and the wallpaper ($75 for a two-by-eight-foot panel). Extend the theme to the bathroom with the ranch-themed shower curtain and bath mat set ($60). Set yourself up for sweet dreams of cool ranch flavor with the 100-percent cotton bed in a bag set (starting at $190 for a comforter, shams, and a throw pillow).

The sherpa blanket ($65), acrylic trays ($40), ranch art print ($30), notebook ($18), and pouch ($20) round out the collection. And lest you wonder whether anyone is a big enough fan of the pizza-and-ranch combo to buy the couch that serves as the centerpiece of the Hidden Valley Home Collection, we’ll let this tidbit of information speak for itself: it’s sold out. Bright yellow with a cute rounded back, it comes with matching ranch-bottle-shaped throw pillows.

Dani Dazey’s eye-popping interior decor has been a big hit on TikTok for a while now, but she got an even bigger boost after serving as the primary designer of Trixie Motel. Her process of custom-creating all of the decor for drag queen Trixie Mattel’s renovated Palm Springs resort was documented on the 2022 Discovery+ reality series Trixie Motel. Dazey certainly isn’t new to attention-grabbing designs, so it’s no surprise that Hidden Valley chose her to bring their concept to life.

Dazey told Today that she thought her style was perfect for the collaboration. “I could not believe it when Hidden Valley Ranch asked me to design a home collection for their brand because I’m such a huge fan,” she said, adding that the “bold flavor” of the dressing matches her design aesthetic. In this case, “maximal design meets maximum flavor.” Dazey drew from influences like Andy Warhol and his famous Campbell’s soup can when coming up with her graphic prints.

“We enlisted Dani Dazey for her colorful and bold designs,” says Deb Crandall, Hidden Valley Ranch’s Marketing Director. “In addition to the pieces Dani Dazey designed, Hidden Valley Ranch extended the home collection with even more items designed with even more ranch because when it comes to ranch, more is always better.”

The post Hidden Valley Drops Surprise Ranch-Themed Decor Collection first appeared on Dornob.

PB Teen has the best selection of Harry Potter home decor you’ll find anywhere, and they just dropped some new additions you don’t want to miss. This year’s collection brings the magic of the Wizarding World to your home in the form of some surprisingly sophisticated items, including a range of seasonal decor that’ll make your space feel like Christmas at Hogwarts. Categories include Yule Ball Delights, Deck the Halls, Wizarding Wonderland, Magical Plants & Potions, and more, including all the heraldry you can handle from each of the Hogwarts houses. Here are some of our favorites, but be sure to check out the lookbook for plenty more!

Seasonal Wizarding Wonders

Harry Potter Sorting Hat Tree Topper

This Sorting Hat Topper is the perfect way to top off your holiday tree for $69. You might just be tempted to take it down every time a guest comes over to discover which house they belong to.

Seasonal Tree Garland

Cast a spell on your holiday decor with a fun Harry Potter tree garland spelling out words like “accio” and “lumos.” It comes in brilliant scarlet with golden embroidery for $49.50.

Dark Arts Ornament Set

This set of three Harry Potter holiday ornaments includes Nagini, the Deathly Hallows, and the Dark Mark in various metallic tones for $49.

Marauder’s Map Heat-Sensitive Mug

This magical mug reveals a secret message when you pour a hot beverage inside: “I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good.” Made of durable stoneware with a real gold rim, it’s $24.50.

Spooky Delights for the Witching Hour

Castle Light-Up Blackout Drapes

Whether you want to sleep tight or sleep bright, these magical Harry Potter drapes can either black out the sun or illuminate with a Hogwarts Castle print using built-in LED lights. Prices start at $213.

Dark Mark Glow-in-the-Dark Pillow Cover

When the lights go out, the Dark Mark appears on this black velvet pillow made of cotton canvas, $59.50.

Brass Nagini Wall Hook

Lord Voldemort’s snake and loyal servant Nagini makes a gilded statement on the wall with four hooks, $199.

Deathly Hallows Bookmark Table Lamp

This frosted Harry Potter table lamp in the shape of the Deathly Hallows featuring the Invisibility Cloak, Stone of Resurrection, and Elder Wand, $199.

The Magical Atmosphere of Hogwarts

Hogwarts Castle Night Sky Projector

Take in the night sky over Hogwarts after dark with this golden castle projector made of resin, which casts an enchanting glow onto the ceiling and walls, $16).

Hedwig Beaded Velvet Jewelry Box

Hide away all your most precious treasures in this luxe velvet jewelry box embroidered with an image of Hedwig, Harry’s owl. Get it for $69.

Herbology Wallpaper

This awesome herbology-inspired wallpaper is printed with mandrakes and other wizarding flora, with a peel-and-stick design for easy application, $99.

Wizarding World Phoenix Table Lamp

How gorgeous is this Phoenix Table Lamp? It’s rendered in gilded metal with a linen shade, perfect to settle into a comfortable chair and read while drinking tea, $249.

The post PB Teen’s Latest Harry Potter Home Decor is More Magical Than Ever first appeared on Dornob.

This might just be the most fun twist on traditional Delft pottery you’ll ever see. Dating back to the 16th century in the northern part of The Netherlands, the very Dutch craft involves artisans hand-painting intricate scenes of landscapes, windmills, and houses in beautiful Delft blue. Calamityware’s version takes those idyllic scenes and inserts Sasquatch, giant frogs, pirates, sea monsters, cephalopods, and a “devil blob,” among other horrors.

Available as sets of two or more cups and saucers, or saucers alone, the 8-ounce teacups add a new option to Calamityware’s previous 12-ounce “Things Could Be Worse” mugs. They’re all made and decorated at the award-winning Kristoff porcelain workshop in Poland using the traditional in-glaze technique and are food safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe.

By the way, Calamityware has a host of other “Things Could Be Worse” products on their website. To go with your new teacup set, you can purchase four different bundles of matching tea accoutrements, including a teapot, sugar crock, and creamer carafe. A special holiday edition of the mugs introduces giant robots, pterodactyls, and zombie poodles into a festive winter scene alongside Santa, Christmas trees, and giant gingerbread men.

As their Kickstarter page says, “Your Things-Could-Be-Worse Teacups and Saucers are sure to become treasured family heirlooms cherished for their beauty, utility, and humor. Plus, these teacups help you achieve inner peace by keeping life’s setbacks in perspective and promoting a healthy attitude of gratitude. Things could be worse. In-glaze porcelain is fired at extra-high temperatures to allow the image to melt slightly into the surface of the plate. Connoisseurs will appreciate the beauty of the in-glaze technique which the artists at Kristoff have been refining since 1831. This is the look of porcelain you see in museums. Sweet.”

The teacups are expected to be available in the shop later this year. A set of 2 teacups and 2 saucers sold for $68, while a full set of 8 of each cost $264. The original Calamityware mugs and other products are available on the company’s website starting at $21.

About Calamityware

The company website explains that “Calamityware is a tiny, five-person, one-dog company headquartered in Pittsburgh. We love bringing the darkly whimsical view of our founder and chief monster-maker, Don Moyer, to life. Our products are high-quality, meticulously manufactured items that make wonderful gifts for you and other weird-adjacent people in your life. Our goal is to make you smile.”

The post Things Could Be Worse: Teacups Adorned with Trolls, Zombies, UFOs, and Other Terrors first appeared on Dornob.

Augmenting Sobel Westex’s classic sheets are the textural woven Galaxy Throw, a comforter set with matching shams, decorative throw pillows, and the Jedi Ancient Text Towel featuring the Star Wars alphabet Aurabesh in sculpted hi-lo jacquard cotton. Each collection has its own color scheme and unique designs for the throw pillows and bedding. Each piece is also available individually, so you can mix and match to customize the themes if you like.

Naturally, The Dark Side is the most dramatic of the bunch. “At the dark heart of our collection is the ultimate package to transform your bedroom into the lair of the Sith Lord. Immerse yourself nightly in the interior details and body armor of Darth Vader with a rich jacquard front comforter featuring a pattern inspired by the Death Star corridor, a modern interpretation of those dark, labyrinthian halls. Offset the dark tones of the comforter with two standard and two Euro pillow shams, and two decorative pillows, one quilted faux leather and one satin flocked, that boldly repeat interior details of the Death Star space station. The comforter set is available in full/queen and king sizes.”

As The Dark Side’s counterpoint, the Jedi collection is calm and contemplative in neutral hues. The kimono-style comforter is inspired by the simple styling of the signature Jedi robe, the throw pillows feature familiar motifs, and the matching Galaxy Throw in dune pulls it all together. Similarly, the Tatooine theme has a soft vibe in soothing desert tones, bleached-out colors, and the texture of natural surfaces inspired by Luke Skywalker’s home.

The Astromech collection stands out as vibrant and fun. The seven-piece bedding set features a geometric comforter in shades of blue referencing the mechanical components of R2-D2, as well as a satin flocked throw pillow with an instrument screen graphic pattern and a “red eye” round toss pillow.

“Of course, R2-D2 is among everyone’s favorite droids. To celebrate this wonderful character, Sobel Westex designed the Star Wars Astromech collection, a bright, cheerful reflection of the joy the little guy brings to the Star Wars world. The spirit of faithful R2-D2 is artfully recreated in our Astromech bedding collection fabrics and forms. The metallic blues and rounded designs of this stunning collection will catch the eye and help you recall the movie character’s spirit and adventures.”

Check out all the available collections at the Sobel Westex website, along with other themed collections like Hard Rock and Disney Resort.

The post Sobel Westex Has the Grown-Up Star Wars Home Decor You’re Looking For first appeared on Dornob.

Not many people outside Nvidia’s employees will ever be able to get the full experience, but CNET got an exclusive tour of the interiors that gives us a pretty good idea of what it would be like to work there. A walkway lined with trees and shaded with solar panels leads from the Endeavor to the Voyager, and just inside the entrance, you’ll see what looks like a series of jagged mountain-shaped structures inside the main envelope of the building. A stairway scales the central “mountain,” which is where employees meet up and work.

Climb to the top of that mountain, and you can gaze out at the interior landscape of seating areas covered with pergolas to shield them from the afternoon sun. White multi-level mezzanines on either side contain more conventional office spaces. Grasses, vines, and shrubs spill out of long built-in planters that cover virtually every surface of this space, including a sizable green wall. Triangular skylights overhead allow daylight to pierce the roof and keep the plants happy.

At the peak of the mountain is a faceted black structure meant to evoke the image of an abstracted volcano. Inside this “caldera” is a long live-edge wooden table for meetings. As you climb down the back, you see more seating areas, conference tables, and an amphitheater where employees watch presentations. Outside the Voyager but beneath the “trellis” (a canopy covered in solar panels), employees enjoy elevated “bird nest” areas to meet and lounge. These circular enclosures contain sculptural benches, café tables, and an open roof that floods the space with sunlight. Four acres of garden separate the Voyager from the Endeavor.

It’s an unusual design, but Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang wanted a building that gave every employee a view. All offices face outside windows, and employees can choose to work anywhere on campus, not just at stationary desks. The plans were launched well before the pandemic began, but now that the campus is complete, Nvidia sees it as a worthwhile investment. Sure, a lot of employees are choosing to work from home, but if you want to draw your employees back to the office, a gorgeous design like this one is a great way to do it.

If you haven’t seen inside the Endeavor, it’s pretty worth checking out. Architecture firm Gensler designed it around a glass-enclosed elevator core that whisks employees up from an underground parking lot and into a faceted black metal “cocoon” that forms the heart of the building. Just like the Voyager, the Endeavor features a multitude of skylights.

“We worked hard to get the right specifications of glass makeup to allow us the right quality of diffused and soft sunlight in the space,” says Hao Ko, principal and managing director at Gensler. “The final result — where the daylighting is evenly dispersed throughout and evenly experienced by everyone — is a testament to the upfront work we did in design.”

Check out the full tour of the new Voyager building over at CNET.

The post Nvidia’s Voyager HQ Seduces WFH Employees Back with a Dazzling Design first appeared on Dornob.

“As our homes are now more important than ever, we wanted to introduce a new homeware brand that brings iconic Disney storytelling into everyday living spaces,” the entertainment conglomerate said in a press release. “The result is Disney Home.”

The furniture and house goods collection will include all their current offerings but will also add new bespoke furnishings and textiles. For example, one dresser is covered in Marvel comics, a nursery crib sports faces and paw prints of beloved animated Disney animals, and a wall mirror combines three circles to form the iconic Mickey Mouse head. Themes will incorporate all franchises under the company umbrella (i.e., classic eponymous animation, Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar).

“From Minnie Mouse’s polka dots to the bold lines of The Millennium Falcon,” says Liz Shortreed, Disney’s category Vice President, “Disney Home products have been thoughtfully designed to put the fun into functionality.”

The company also promised that there would be partnerships with well-known designers and artists.

“This newly defined interiors brand encapsulates homeware products from a range of our licensees and retailers and will also include new products such as aspirational furniture and one-off collaborations,” added Shortreed.

One unique piece is a life-size rendering of Mickey Mouse by interior designer Kelly Hoppen. Working with pop sculpture studio Leblon Delienne, the artist has also created a number of other Mickey figurines included in the Disney Home collection.

The company has also partnered with Ruggables to provide more than a dozen Mickey and Minnie-themed rugs. They span from overt designs of mouse heads and faces to more subtle and abstract motifs. The Mickey Doodles rug features loosely drawn outlines of the famous mouse in black lines on a white pile, while the Mickey Persian Sapphire rug has mouse head silhouettes hidden within its traditional-style weave.

The media magnate has assured customers that its furnishings will be available on some scale to all its fans. “Disney Home offers families, fans, and interiors enthusiasts the chance to style a little magic into their homes. We know that Disney storytelling has ignited imaginations for nearly a century, and this new brand brings together home decor inspired by some of our beloved characters from across our brands,” Shortreed explained. “However, there is one shared ethos — all products under the Disney Home brand are created to complement every interior style and budget.”

This Disney Home announcement comes on the heels of the company’s decision to build resort-like residential communities across the U.S. The first Storyliving neighborhood will be located in California’s Coachella Valley, Walt Disney’s own so-called “laughing place.” That community’s estates, single-family homes, and condos can now be covered with Disney inside and out thanks to this newly released Home collection.

The post Disney Launches Home Goods Line of “Aspirational Furniture” first appeared on Dornob.

Founded in 2018, Bosie is a Gen Z-oriented brand aimed at “constantly exploring fashion that is suitable for both men and women. Through retro childlike fun and unique products, we can break the shackles and boundaries and show the innocence, seriousness, freedom, and romance of adults.” The Huaihai Road store is their 27th retail location and the fifth to be designed by Leaping Creative, but it’s certainly the most noteworthy of them all.

“The retail trend in China nowadays is day by day focusing on offering an exciting and fresh shopping experience. By working closely with the brand founder, we approached the design by defining the actual customer expectations for a shopping destination,” adds Zen Zheng, the Design Director of Leaping Creative.

And what is it that Gen Z wants? Novel experiences that take you on a journey. Bosie isn’t just a clothing store — it’s also a supermarket, ice cream café, pet supply store, and multimedia museum. The clothing isn’t categorized by gender or even type of garment. The displays are a lot more fluid than that, following particular moods and themes. As shoppers wind their way through the new flagship location, they’ll find a Jetsons-like setting designed to make them feel like they’re traveling through space and time.

The design embraces a slightly retro-futuristic vision of space travel. Reflective stainless steel sheets and lots of glass frame minimalist clothing displays and oversized decor, including an installation resembling a rocket engine. At the entrance, two semicircular glass elevator shafts have been modified into floor-to-ceiling LCD screens playing Bosie lifestyle content to draw passersby inside. A set of spiral stairs shaped like a UFO lead to the escalators. Conveyor belts, capsule-shaped fitting rooms labeled “no gender border,” and porthole windows add to the effect.

Even the restrooms, water dispenser, and vending machines look like they came from a 1970s sci-fi movie. Upstairs, the Bosie brand mascot, a goose, is reinvented as a 17-foot-long fiberglass machine. There’s a pet hotel so shoppers can drop off or interact with dogs and cats, and a photo booth labeled “Time Machine.”

The mannequins don astronaut helmets, and accessories are displayed in a high-tech laboratory-style environment. All of these elements come together to produce exactly the kind of space young people flock to for TikTok content, drawing even more attention to Bosie, which is quickly becoming a cult favorite. It’s a great example of what we can expect to see from retail design over the next decade as more brands embrace the idea of shopping as an interactive experience.

The post Bosie’s New Shanghai Store is a Space-Themed Interactive Experience first appeared on Dornob.

Balenciaga’s Spring 22 collection features wide-legged pants full of rivets, overstuffed jackets, trench coats galore, and garments that brush the floor with their length. If the baggy, puffy silhouettes of these pieces are any indication, it looks like the future is going to be a very cold place.

But the real scene-stealers of Balenciaga’s new fashion look book are the robotic masks added to every outfit and the exoskeleton suit designed by Japanese cybernetic artist Hiroto Ikeuchi.

Photographed by Andrea Artemisio, pictures posted on the company’s Instagram page show face and head pieces constructed from electronic odds and ends like cameras, Bluetooth headphones, virtual reality glasses, phone cases, and telescopes. Some masks completely encompass the head while others let only the eyes peek through.

In one sense, designer Ikeuchi’s headgear is a statement on the lack of privacy in today’s hacker-filled world, giving “us the ability to protect ourselves from new threats such as face recognition by hiding our eyes,” he said in an interview with CYBR magazine.

Alternatively, these masks could also be hinting at the fact that humans are so dependent on technology now that we will even allow it to provide our daily view of reality. Or perhaps the face coverings are expressing a desire for a time when homo sapiens will be fused and enhanced with tech, becoming something like super versions of themselves.

And then there’s the real show-stopper: Ikeuchi’s exoskeleton. Manufactured by robotics firm Skeletronics, the suit consists of a white metal frame that wraps over the head and shoulders and extends into an extra set of mechanical arms for the wearer. Named the MPS-15sk “Multi,” the harness with its built-in tablet and shoulder speakers furthers Skeletronics’ goal to “support the evolution of humankind by launching a new era of technology that expands the range and function of our movements.” The futuristic contraption is juxtaposed with the model’s casual outfit of a branded red sweatshirt, a pair of shapeless acid-washed jeans, and black running trainers.

The robotic art elements of the Spring 22 collection will be available to view at each of the Balenciaga flagship stores in Japan, as well as the company’s Paris Montaigne shop. The exoskeleton will be displayed in the Tokyo Aoyama locale as a way to celebrate its reopening.

For those interested in the more traditional fashion components of Balenciaga’s latest design, creative director Demna Gvasalia collaborated with Copenhagen-based video artist Yilmaz Sen to put out a two-and-a-half minute movie that follows Spring 22-beclad models through identical white-walled rooms.

As one model struts through a door to the adjacent space, he or she morphs seamlessly into a new cyberpunk model, as does the scene outside the windows, flashing everything from shining urban skylines to serene beaches to deserts with sneaker sandstorms to lunar surface landscapes. The video ends with the phrase “HERE IS ANYWHERE,” reminding followers that the future is now, and the possibilities – including ones with cybernetic face coverings – are really what we make of them.

The post Dystopian Cyberpunk Themes Dominate Balenciaga’s Spring 22 Campaign first appeared on Dornob.

Sitting among a group of midcentury buildings in Midtown with views of Central Park and One World Trade Center, the new headquarters hosts 1,250 employees from the office of the commissioner and MLB Advanced Media. Studios Architecture’s managing principal architect Joshua Rider and associate Jordan Evans were tasked with adapting the building’s deep floor plates into a hierarchal, layered program that places functions that don’t require natural light, like tech rooms, multimedia screening rooms, and broadcast studios, in the center of the building. That leaves the beautifully day-lit perimeter for spaces that bring the community together.

A triple-height, stadium-like central volume called the Concourse invites employees from all the various departments to a coffee bar, with staircases leading up and down and a full-height, faceted white feature wall upon which live MLB updates, statistics, and game content can be projected. This space is full of triangular patterns abstracted from the shape of a baseball diamond. From this social hub, employees and visitors filter into open offices and flexible meeting areas, each equipped with five different types of mix-and-match workstation models to fit the needs of each department.

“The building also offered top-tier amenity opportunities critical to a headquarters of this size and stature, including terraces and a double-height auditorium now called the Ponti Pavilion,” the architects say. “But these are just the start to a rich variety of flexible gathering and entertaining spaces to support internal events as well as community initiatives, like its Youth and International programs working to broaden the appeal of baseball. A large-scale café with grab and go and food hall options sits in a unique corner of the building, allowing the seating area open to all to hover five floors above sixth avenue — with views of the bustling streets, but also a front row seat to the iconic Radio City Music Hall sign and views extending down to One World Trade and up to Central Park.”

All those oversized baseball graphics might not be subtle, but the architects incorporated baseball themes throughout the building in other, less obvious ways. Red stitching mimicking that on a baseball accents a leather-wrapped reception desk the color of a baseball glove, and seven types of ash wood on the walls and ceilings nod to the baseball bat. Plus, the more you look, the more you’ll find iterations of the diamond shape.

“The end result is a perfect embodiment of our philosophy of One Baseball,” says Pat Courtney, Chief Communications Officer of Major League Baseball. “This sport is meant for everyone, and we want each person who comes to our offices to feel a part of the game.”

The post Studios Architecture’s Major League Baseball Headquarters Embodies a Unifying New Mantra first appeared on Dornob.

The Pikachu two-seater sofa (199,100 yen, or about $1,755 USD) and chair (154,000 yen, or about $1,358 USD) are two major standout items. Featuring wooden frames in a simple midcentury modern style, this seating offers cushions upholstered in what looks like a conventional pattern from afar. Even better, they pair perfectly with the Pokéball side table (111,100 yen or about $980 USD), which has a similarly subtle design (relatively speaking, at least).

The cutest piece of all has got to be this Snorlax rug (44,000 yen, or about $388 USD), depicting the wild creature snoring away as always, with its two little fangs sticking out. Four other available rugs include a Gengar ghost pattern, Eevee, Ditto, and a Partner group of Venusaur, Charmander and Squirtle, all for 9,350 yen (about $82).

The Pokémon themed bed linens are also available in two sizes: twin (4,950 yen or $44 USD) and double (10,450 yen or $92 USD). Prints include a blue Ghost pattern, Pikachu, Eevee, and Partner Pokémon. You can also get pillowcases and blackout curtains to match each one.

If the prices seem a little high, that’s because furniture in Japan tends to be more expensive than it is elsewhere in the world, and Karimoku is a leading manufacturer of high-quality items. It’s unclear whether either the Pokémon Center or Amazon Japan will ship items from this Pokémon collection overseas, so if you’re intent on getting your hands on some of these pieces, you might have to get a little creative to import them.

While these particular pieces are pretty unique, there’s no shortage of Pokémon-themed decor on sites that do ship to the United States and elsewhere outside Japan. At the American Pokémon Center website, items for the home include a giant 45-inch tall Ditto bean bag chair, some equally cute abstracted Pokémon graphic rugs and throw pillows, a Snorlax wall light box, and many more themed objects like pool floats, string lights, pot holders, and mugs. And don’t forget to cruise Etsy for handmade versions from small creators all over the world, including an enormous plush Snorlax, a Pokécube lamp, Mewtwo furniture pulls, and a neon Bulbasaur sign, just to name a few.

PokemonCenter-Online.com is the official online store for authorized Pokémon merchandise, including an authentic collection of plushies, clothing, home goods, and accessories. It launched in Japan in 1996 and has more than a dozen physical retail locations throughout the country.

The post Pokémon Center Teams Up with Karimoku to Offer Furniture and Decor first appeared on Dornob.

While we (sadly) can’t all live in the USS Enterprise, we can still bask in the creativity of these fab apartments, and perhaps find our own inspiration for creating quirky and fun spaces of our own.

A Bachelor Pad of the Future

When Tony Alleyne got divorced, he decided to turn lemons into lemonade by turning his Leicestershire, England apartment into a Trekkie’s paradise. Over a period of 10 years, he tricked out his apartment, doing the work himself without the aid of contractors or builders, and created the ultimate ode to Star Trek. A full-scale replica of the Enterprise’s iconic console, Scotty’s iconic transporters, and a plethora of architectural details and beautifully recreated items plucked from the famous fictional ship complete the Trek-lover’s space.

This Way to the Mushroom Kingdom

Love Super Mario Bros? Sure, we all do! But not all of us have the space or resources to turn our apartments into a tricked out Nintendo nation fit for the iconic brothers themselves. Located in Tokyo, this space is available to rent from Airbnb so anyone can get a taste of living inside a kitschy (yet fab) version of one of the most iconic games ever. The devil’s really in the details at this apartment, from yellow question blocks to mushroom patterned fabric and all the other little quirks that make it any Mario fan’s dream.

Steampunk Savvy

Straight out of a Miyazaki film like Howl’s Moving Castle, this steampunk-themed apartment ticks all the boxes. Zeppelins? Check. Submarine-style front door? Got it. Metal gears and industrial fixtures pulled from actual foundries? You know it. This 1800 square-meter New York City apartment is authentically steampunk, from the largest items like the 500 pound gears on the ceiling to the tiniest details like old wrenches used as cabinet door handles. The bed can even be raised and lowered using a switch made from a deactivated bomb!

Superhero Swag

Marvel’s juggernaut franchise The Avengers is represented perfectly in this chic decor that’s bold yet sophisticated. Singapore’s Absolook Interior Design created this Avengers-themed apartment whose over-the-top details, like the S.H.I.E.L.D symbol in the living room, and the iconic Avengers “A” in the dining room, fit perfectly with the clean lines, sharp angles, and subtle pops of color present in the rest of the space. Who wouldn’t want the world’s finest superheroes watching over them while they have dinner, or have Hulk glowering in the kitchen while they fix a midnight snack?

A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars fans are known to have some pretty cool swag — but most of them don’t devote their entire apartment to Lucas legend. Collector Choo Wong managed to turn his space into an ode to Star Wars that’s chic and packed with goodies without seeming cluttered. Darth Vader himself would be proud of the sophisticated home set-up, including black cabinets eerily lit from above and a decidedly Sith Lord vibe. Wong displays his collection with style and an eye for design that creates a space that’s livable and fun. Just check out the shelf that’s an ode to the galaxy’s most famous gangster himself: Jabba the Hutt.

These five themed apartments are all over-the-top in their own way, but any lover of pop culture will appreciate the attention to detail and kitschy design touches put into them.

The post These 5 Over-the-Top Themed Apartments Will Make You Want to Redecorate Pronto first appeared on Dornob.

In honor of Lowe’s and Apfel both celebrating their 100th birthdays this year, her collection will focus on highlighting the most iconic color trends of the past century. Apfel defined the retailer’s first-ever “Centennial Color Palette,” choosing shades from each decade and demonstrating how to integrate them into fresh, modern decor, including a custom color exclusively inspired by the designer’s imagination. The palette is pretty fun to explore, offering a series of shades for each decade that feels right on target, like the Memphis Design-inspired pastels chosen for the 1980s.

Apfel’s curation includes three other themes: “Palm Beach in Your Backyard,” a tropical oasis inspired by the beachy pastel vibe of South Florida; “Modern Maximalism,” which embraces her mindset that “more is more and less is a bore”; and “Statement Making Style,” a guide to expressing yourself by mixing colors, textures, and patterns with eye-catching statement pieces.

To craft each collection, she selected pieces from favorite Lowe’s brands like Grayson Lane, Safavieh, and Allen + Roth. If you’ve ever wished you could snoop on the shopping process of the outrageously fashionable, that’s pretty much what you get here. Seeing how Apfel mixed and matched different pieces for each theme, like a black and white abstract vinyl wallpaper layered with a colorful print, might even help spur your own risk-taking design ideas.

“We know that stylish home decor doesn’t always feel attainable for consumers,” said Marisa Thalberg, Lowe’s Executive Vice President, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer. “Just as Lowe’s has been at the forefront of home for the much of the past 100 years, Iris has been at the center of style for much of the past 100 years – and through her impeccable design eye, we hope to enable consumers to see how their dream spaces can be created with the products we sell every day.”

“I’ve always believed that one of the most important elements of home design is letting yourself shine. For me, that means experimenting with unapologetic colors, eye-catching patterns, and being totally original,” says Apfel. “As Lowe’s and I both celebrate our centennial birthdays, I hope we keep inspiring people to be bold and take chances on style for the next one hundred years.”

More “Lowe’s House of Curators” collections will be launched throughout the year, and the rest of the tastemakers are yet to be revealed. With Iris Apfel opening the series, there’s a good chance we’ll see a few more big names and unexpected choices, so it’ll be fun to see who’s next. Keep tabs on the Lowe’s website for updates.

The post Lowe’s Makes Great Design More Accessible with “House of Curators” Series first appeared on Dornob.

Mostly, vignettes draw the eye, creating interesting focal points within a space. And while they can make for a great way to proudly put your prized possessions on display, vignettes can just as easily turn into overcluttered eyesores. These pointers will help you assemble well-designed vignettes that look natural rather than staged.

Focus on Style

While your vignette could comprise a collection of similar items, it doesn’t have to. Feel free to lay out your sand samples from around the world, but pull together a look by also adding some shells and a starfish, or a framed photo of the family on the beach. After all, the whole idea of style is to group like items without singling out too much of the same thing.

Image via Mercury News

This is true for any type of display pieces. For example, if you collect historic artifacts, putting them all on a shelf together can get overwhelming quick. Instead, try placing all the pieces from particular eras together in smaller groups. If you only have a few pieces, couple them with framed artwork, historical information, or tapestries.

As another example, say you want to feature a cultural theme such as Hawaiian or Spanish. Vignettes offer the opportunity to bring in elements that create discussion without completely smothering the space in the theme. So instead of parrots on a wire and sombreros hanging from the ceiling, place your favorite Mexican souvenirs in a grouping that will naturally bring out the wanderlust in any visitor.

Add Spacing

Image via HGTV

Pay special attention to how you place items together. Always make sure your vignettes are adequately spaced, and do your best to avoid blocking one item with another. If you have too many items for one area, create two vignettes instead!

Create Height

Image via Smitty’s Fine Furniture

Items that are all the same size and shape are boring for the eye. Instead, vary the heights of everything in the display. Even if the entire collection is made up of seashells, you can still put them in vases of various sizes, with taller ones in the back and loose shells in the front. If your items truly are all the same size, consider adding risers to the back row to at least create multiple tiers.

Texture

Image via StyleBlueprint

Again, mix it up! Along with the smooth glass of pictures and jars, throw in some coarse fabric and a candle. You’ll likely find your collection already provides a variety of textures. For example, a tribal vignette might house a wood mask, a ceramic plate, and a woven basket. Although very different in the materials, the different textures add depth and visual interest while the common theme holds it all together.

Colors

Image via Houzz

Make sure there’s some color contrast between the background and the display. Let’s face it: all white animal figurines against a white bookcase just aren’t going to make much of a statement. Instead, place a colorful image against the back panel to accent the white items in the front.

Personalization

Image via TLC

Remember to make your vignette your own. It should bring you joy. If it doesn’t, consider if it’s because it’s too cluttered, too boring, or too unorganized. Also add those items that make it personal to you. The fun roller coaster pic from an amusement park, a keychain you bought from a beach vendor, the portrait drawn by a local street artist, the mug given to you by an AirBnb host – all of these things will allow you to relive happy, meaningful memories every time you enter the room.

Top image via HGTV

The post 6 Tips for Creating Showroom-Worthy Interior Vignettes in Your Space first appeared on Dornob.

Every year, Finland’s Lapland Hotels SnowVillage carves incredible sculptural scenes into the ice and snow that makes up the walls of its hotel, restaurant, and bar. They’ll be opening as normal for the 2020-2021 season on December 20th with the theme “Winter Illusions,” a celebration of optical illusions that looks like it’ll be pretty cool in its own right. But it’s hard to imagine anything topping the Game of Thrones theme the hotel chose two seasons in a row, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.

In the corridor, guests found a recreation of Braavos’ Hall of Faces. Massive dragons overlooked the bar, glowing eyes and all. In one of the guest rooms, the Night King loomed menacingly over the bed, which must have been quite a sight to wake up to. Many of the spaces are carved to mimic the most stunning castles in all of Westeros, from Winterfell down to King’s Landing. And of course, there’s an all-ice Iron Throne guarded watchfully by Gregor Clegane.

The other guest rooms featured such notable characters and objects as white walkers, Drogon, Wun Wun the giant, the Weirwood Tree, and Ghost, Jon Snow’s white dire wolf. The ice restaurant, temporarily named “The Sept of Baelor,” offered such delicacies as hot berry juice and reindeer steaks.

Set in the village of Kittilä nearly 125 miles above the Arctic Circle, the hotel is rebuilt every year using about 44 million pounds of snow and 771,000 pounds of natural ice. Ice sculptors are flown in from around the world months in advance to complete the temporary architectural wonder, which features 24 total rooms including 10 guest rooms, a chapel, and a movie theater.

Unlike most hotels, the SnowVillage doesn’t encourage you to stay more than one night due to the extreme conditions. Obviously, there’s no indoor heating, since that would melt all the creations the sculptors worked so hard to build. Those hardy enough to sleep on a slab of ice in freezing temperatures get high-quality thermal sleeping bags and faux fur throws, and warming cabins are available if you need to take a break from feeling like you’ve ventured too far north of the Wall.

If you don’t think you can hack an overnight stay, day passes are available for $18. The SnowVillage also offers guests snowmobile tours to view the region’s stunning Northern Lights, reindeer sledding excursions, and ice sculpting classes.

Not everything can be Game of Thrones, but in the weeks to come, the SnowVillage will debut additional photos of this year’s sculptures. Most of us aren’t traveling this winter, but you can check them out virtually on the hotel’s Instagram, @SnowVillageFinland.

The post Venture North of the Wall to this “Game of Thrones” Themed Ice Hotel first appeared on Dornob.

The items run the gamut between wholesome fall embellishments like wicker pumpkins and all the spooks, skeletons, and spiders you need for a full house of themed decor. They’re split into three categories: the Halloween Shop, the Harvest Shop, and Fall Front Door Decorating. If you’re looking to move beyond the plastic, single-use kind of stuff typically found in the holiday aisles of big-box stores, Pottery Barn’s 2020 Halloween goods definitely represent an elevation in both quality and style, just like always.

Some of them are even worthy of year-round display. The Buffalo Check table throw and table runner, for instance, serve as a complementary backdrop for additional holiday-specific items, but can also transition into winter with ease. The Booker Hurricanes candle holders look appropriately eerie next to antiqued mosaic glass pumpkins or handmade raven statues, but aren’t too macabre to earn a permanent home on the mantel, either.

Spookier items include the cute Spider Candlestick in matte black aluminum, Haunted House Placemats made of cork, a doormat covered in glowing eyes, and a brass skull votive holder.

One standout item, the Pre-Lit Black Glitter Branches with Bats, makes a big impact when stuck into a planter by the front door. The product description reads: “Flying bats set a perfectly eerie tone at Halloween festivities. Place this Lit German Glitter Bundle in one of our galvanized vases (sold separately) for an easy and fun seasonal touch.”

There’s a whole series of skeleton-themed tableware like a punch bowl, cake stand, wine glasses, and what has to be the sturdiest skeleton hand bar tool set you’ll ever find. Need a creepy carafe? A condiment server? There’s no shortage of spine-tingling, guest-impressing items for your party, which we’re guessing will probably be held outdoors and involve layering face masks under your costumes this year.

Witchy wall art, stately gray candles, tombstone serving platters, and ghost-shaped mugs are among the other items rounding off the collection. And if you love the look of carved pumpkins but would prefer to avoid the mess, the Metal Jack O’Lantern Candle Holders are a great way to go, ranging in size from a mini 6.5 inches to a larger 14-inch diameter.

Whether COVID-19 effectively cancels trick-or-treating and other fun aspects of Halloween probably depends on where you live and your personal risk tolerance. But even if the usual festivities are toned down, decorating for holidays and safely participating in seasonal events might help us all get through this extraordinarily long, strange year. And, hey, if Halloween isn’t your thing, Christmas decorations will be on the shelves in no time flat.

Need some more Halloween decorating inspiration? Check out these modern glam mantels, witchy apothecaries, and haunting table settings, featuring all kinds of opportunities to get crafty and DIY.

The post Howling for Halloween? Pottery Barn’s 2020 Collection is Finally Here first appeared on Dornob.