We spoke with Valgora about the legacy and importance of cities in civic life – and about the many projects he’s taken on to make cities stronger, better places. He also talks about how architects will continue to respond to updated, flexible ideas about what a workspace can be, even as he designs a new studio for his own practice: “Offices and residential environments are converging, and we really need to create new kinds of spaces to work in and collaborate,” he says.

Catherine and VW Fowlkes of their eponymous studio are quite the powerhouse duo. They share about what it’s like working in one of the world’s power capitals and what makes DC architecturally unique from other big cities in America. The couple also explain why they can make bolder design decisions in the homes of historically preserved neighborhoods: “From an architectural standpoint, they tend to be a little bit more traditional in the front, and then clients give us license to be a little bit more daring in the back.”

Step into the dreamy, nostalgically sweet world of Helle Mardahl, who’s inspired by           and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory when designing her glass collections. The creative director reminisces about the exact moment that inspired her to create her work and how she now designs for all her senses. “Basically I think the more you can get of that, the more fun you can have, there’s so many layers to it. I’ve always thought like that: The more, the merrier,” she shares.

Founding Principal of the LA architectural practice OWIU (Only Way Is Up) Amanda Gunawan is very inspired by the aesthetic culture of Japan: “It’s their passion and their dedication to craftsmanship that really impresses me.” This mindset is what Gunawan caries over to OWIU Goods, her line of ceramic works. She also shares a helpful strategy for trying to get everything done: “I don’t aim for 100 percent. I never do – I [usually] aim for 80%. My work, or my life, is a marathon. And because of that, I kind of have to pace everything out.”

Lora Appleton is the founder of kinder MODERN, a contemporary and vintage design gallery and design studio that makes and showcases work for children. In this episode, she talks about how her son has taught her new ways of looking at design by seeing how he interacts with the built environment around him. “I thought that was really fascinating – the memory, the + of thinking, all of that really connects with kids in a way that before being a mom, I didn’t really understand,” she explains.

We step into the ceramicist’s studio in Queens, New York where she creates her highly regarded work: mugs and cups, plates and bowls, and – our favorite – her colorful tiles. Levi talks about her breakthrough moment, a chance encounter with famed retailer Steven Alan. She reflects that “since I had been making pottery for a very long time as a hobby, it kind of lit a little light bulb in me that maybe this was a path that existed.” Levi also shares how she splits her artistic identity between potter and photographer (spoiler alert: she settled on “pot-ographer”).

Like many architects, Aron Himmelfarb has been inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s work which has instilled within him a love for a total experience of design, from the blueprints to the window trim. “What’s funny about Wright is that it’s almost unfashionable to appreciate his work – or maybe easy to overlook in contemporary architecture, due to his popularity,” Himmelfarb says. “But as I’ve grown in my practice, I really find myself looking to his work for inspiration a lot more, maybe with a more mature eye.” Also in this episode, the architect expresses a love for work – his own or others’ – that deepens over time.

Rimes imparts invaluable advice and insight behind her practice: how she ensures that her design world expands rather than shrinks with time – reusing familiar ideas, practices, and motifs – and how her time at Auburn University’s acclaimed Rural Studio has informed her priority of building relationships with the members of the communities who share their lives with her buildings. She also shares how traveling influences her work: “Having just returned from Japan, I’m already seeing how some of those experiences are influencing my design work, whether it be lighting design, or transparency in architecture or connection to nature.”

Trends aren’t a priority for the Yale-trained architect. The designer, who appeared on Bravo’s Top Design in 2007, is instead focused on solving problems as part of a holistic experience. “My big thing about interior design is the whole picture,” he says. “So the mentality of à la carte is really difficult for me to kind of understand and fix. When you’re looking at interior design, I think you should step back and take a look at how things relate to each other in a larger picture.”

And the most popular DMTV Milkshake episode of 2023 is…

You all loved this chat with the CEO and founder of Gantri, the San Francisco-based lighting brand that partners with designers from around the world – like Oakland’s Prowl Studio, Felix Pöttinger in Munich, Heitor Lobo Campos in Brasilia, and former Milkshake star Bradley L. Bowers in New Orleans – to create their modern fixtures at a reasonable cost. “At Gantri, we’re rethinking how lighting is designed, made, and sold using 3D printing,” he says. “We’re supporting independent designers and studios – and making great lighting designs more accessible and more sustainable.”

Check out the rest of Design Milk’s end of the year coverage here!

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She’s probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.

While Last Ditch Design may be in a nascent stage, founder and craftsman Todd Hewitt brings three decades of fabrication and production experience to the expansion of his already robust catalog with the introduction of four new pieces: the Silas Daybed, Annie Stools, Gallatin Bed, and BeBop Ottoman. Like the range they join, these fresh furnishings give form to a mid-century modern ethos distilled through a minimalist lens with a look that evokes a sense of future nostalgia.

“My process first comes from a form or shape that sparks something within me. I am often looking outside of furniture for inspiration and find that tech products demonstrate a great use of shape and pattern that I can, with luck, translate into a piece of furniture,” Hewitt says. While some contemporary artifacts strive to be avante-garde for the sake of social currency, his form-first approach does not detract from function, nor does it trade merit for novelty. “I do aspire to honor the past while seeking fresh approaches to my designs. And I also hope these leave a lasting impression for generations to come while telling a story unique to those who live with them.”

The BeBop Ottoman featured in Love House Flatiron

This formula for longevity is equal parts functionality, endearing visual identity, and sustainability. A deep respect for the primary resource and its procurement inform the material palette. Hand-applied finishes of ash, oak, and walnut complement the wood’s natural properties and prove easy to maintain over time. Fabric selections will be broadened in the near future adding to the current earthy hues that further the aesthetic.

The main components of every object offered are conceptualized and created in California by Last Ditch, but in cases of experimentation Hewitt finds himself collaborating with artisans local to his Los Angeles studio. These particular additions are representative of the self-taught woodworker stepping out from his comfort zone to practice with stone, steel, and upholstery. “This education sparks passion, keeps me motivated, and is the reason why I quietly buzz with joy when I see a design take shape,” Hewitt continues. And it is clear his competitive résumé aids in the development of a visual language that carries over from one classification to another.

The Craftsman, designer, and founder behind Last Ditch Design, Todd Hewitt, sitting on his Nostromo Bench

But what’s in a name? Their quirky identities reveal Hewitt’s inspiration as his portfolio grows, pulling various monikers from mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, and trails local to his home state of Wyoming. Other historical references include “Silas,” which is contracted from “Silvanus,” Roman mythology’s god of the forest, as with 80’s pop culture pulling from the Alien franchise to name the Sulaco collection and Nostromo Bench whose sculptural forms are reminiscent of iconic spaceships from the movies of his youth.

Exposed wooden architecture, geometric forms, and the unique integration of upholstery employed in the Silas Ottoman and Lounge Chair echo in their new sibling. A modern interpretation of the classic sleigh bed, the Silas Daybed introduces a regal new form adorned with solid satin brass foot caps.

The Silas Daybed

The Silas Daybed’s geometric cushion and architectural detailing

Multifunctional by design, the Annie Stool is minimalist in its well tailored composition to perform as an object of utility and beauty. The tubular design is softened by upholstery and can be fixed atop a powder coated steel or solid wood base.

The Annie Stools

Detail of the Annie Stool’s upholstered tubular design

Soft yet strong. Bold yet understated. The Gallatin Bed boasts a sculptural wood frame that articulates a natural composition of pattern and flow from within the lumber. The fully upholstered headboard provides contrast to update a classic silhouette into a modern statement piece.

The Gallatin Bed

The Gallatin Bed upholstered headboard in contrast to the wood connection

Somewhere between mid-century modern and Neotenic design stands the oddly proportioned yet adorable BeBop Ottoman. Cousin to the Pouf, it assumes a wide stance on three legs with a low center of gravity and a flat top. It is available in 3 sizes, 7 wood finishes, and 15 fabric options.

The BeBop Ottoman

The BeBop Ottoman’s leg detail

For more information on the expanded collection, visit LastDitchDesign.com.

With professional degrees in architecture and journalism, Joseph has a desire to make living beautifully accessible. His work seeks to enrich the lives of others with visual communication and storytelling through design. A regular contributor to titles under the SANDOW Design Group, including Luxe and Metropolis, Joseph serves the Design Milk team as their Managing Editor. When not practicing, he teaches visual communication, theory, and design. The New York-based writer has also contributed to exhibitions hosted by the AIA New York’s Center for Architecture and Architectural Digest, and recently published essays and collage illustrations with Proseterity, a literary publication.