The American Society of Interior Designers, a leading professional association for this industry, just released its 2025 Trends Outlook Report, which is chock full of wellness design points. In addition to covering the mainstays, this new edition reveals four emerging wellness design trends that are worth exploring. I asked three designers from three different regions of the country how these trends are showing up in their projects. They are: I review association reports like this one to spot emerging trends that can contribute to safety, health, accessibility, comfort and resilience. Here are what these three pros are seeing related to…

On February 3rd, it was announced that the LA wildfires, both in the Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fires, were officially contained. Now that many displaced people are returning to the wreckage and deciding what to do next, they face some tough decisions and a whole lot of red tape. While Governor Gavin Newsom halted insurance cancellations and non-renewals in Los Angeles wildfire and adjacent zones, those dropped for reasons other than being in a fire zone may not be covered. Attorney Steve Mehr, Sweet James Co-Founding Partner says, “If they wrongfully dropped your policy or acted in bad faith,…

A recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute estimates generative artificial intelligence could generate between $110 billion to $180 billion in value for real estate in nearly every area of the industry. The dozens of different applications are only just beginning to show how versatile this tech wave will be. With all the real estate tech trends I’ve seen come and go this one feels different. It has the nimbleness the industry requires for the breadth of use-cases and it returns its output quickly so agents can adjust to the constantly changing landscape of buying and selling homes. AI just…

During the past year, the US healthcare sector has been the one bright spot in the US economy. While the number of all other jobs increased just 1 percent in 2024 (and jobs in business services – usually one of the strongest sectors – didn’t increase at all), the number of jobs in healthcare grew 4 percent. It now provides one in every ten jobs. The growth of the sector over the past 30 years has been driven by better medical knowledge, better technology, an aging population and greater concern for personal and public health. These trends have also resulted…

Among several emerging trends revealed in JLL’s Third Quarter 2024 Retail Outlook, few seem more intriguing than the resurgence of retail, retail rent growth, and walkable open-air retail in Sunbelt settings. The mix of the three trends can be seen at a number of the nation’s high-profile projects. Especially notable: Downtown Summerlin, outside Las Vegas, and Fenton, a mixed-use district in Cary, N.C., outside Raleigh-Durham. Until its construction was halted by the Great Recession of 2008, Downtown Summerlin had been envisioned as The Shops at Summerlin Centre, a commercial office and indoor mall to be developed by General Growth Properties…

Philippe Ziade was born in Lebanon. He grew up there during the civil war and spent much of his impressionable childhood years in bomb shelters. That experience is the foundation for his passion for creating a comfortable home, for using the far stretches of our imagination to create custom experiences, for letting technology serve those experiences to make them all unique. His TEDx talk features how and why we should embrace technology and AI in our home environment to make our homes a more personal, comfortable, convenient place. Now, Ziade is the founder and CEO of hospitality company Otonomus and…

Who hasn’t delighted in the fragrance of roses wafting through an open window or the aroma of freshly brewed coffee? These can add pleasure to our home environments and stir joyful memories. Scents and our sense of smell are underrated wellness powers. The Science Of Scent According to Sandeep Robert Datta, a neurobiology professor at Harvard Medical School, brain cells that connect with our sense of scent – called olfactory sensory neurons – fire electrical signals to different parts of our brain. These travel to areas involved in learning, emotions and memories. Those coffee aromas may trigger memories of happy…

We’re a bit over halfway through the ski season, and many enthusiasts may be feeling fatigue—not from the slopes themselves but from crowded runs and packed lift lines. In the quest for open trails, savvy skiers and boarders opt for lesser-known destinations, where the same fresh powder, dramatic vistas and fireside warmth await without the press of the masses. Here’s a curated selection of seven such understated ski havens with a glimpse at some of their most prestigious properties, all worth a try before buying, or as an investment. Grimentz, Switzerland Though recognized by outlets like CNN and National Geographic…

Every residential real estate transaction, whether on the buy-side or the sell-side, involves different components unfolding at different rates. While much has been written about the hard facts of interest rates, inventory fluctuations, and the importance of proper pricing, far less attention is paid to the equally important (but less easy to quantify) “soft” impediments that buyers and sellers frequently experience. As these buyers and sellers go through the multiple decisions that comprise the transactional process, experienced agents can provide guidance and support for them in acknowledging these less visible challenges. Among the most significant are: 1. The psychological transition…

Renowned artist, designer, and Forbes Next 1000 honoree, Elizabeth Sutton has mastered the art of licensing her work while cultivating a career as a celebrated fine artist. Now, Sutton is setting the table—literally—with the launch of her highly anticipated dinnerware collection, a project eight years in the making. For Sutton, timing is everything, and her latest venture reflects her knack for blending artistry with functionality. Here’s what you need to know about the artist’s latest launch and what makes these future heirlooms a true must-have for any home. Bringing Art to the Table Sutton’s dinnerware collection features ten unique patterns,…