For Lauren Sands, founder of LES Collection, collecting is about forging connections with artists and the objects they’ve created. Born and raised in Rochester, New York, she first began collecting art at 11 years old. Her father, also an art collector, and her mother, a photographer, used to take her to visit ARTISANWorks, a 40,000-square-foot factory that had been converted into a nonprofit art space. “To call it a gallery is an understatement,” she shared. “It is a large park of connected buildings with gallery and office space packed with art. It is 501(c)3, and the founder is a hoarder of art and objects in the best way. There is so much art there that I had to hone my eye early on, learning about my taste.” She credits owner Louis Perticone and ARTISANWorks for her strong knowledge of art and personal preferences. “You can find everything there, from Wendell Castle furniture to large-scale Albert Paley sculptures, to Picasso, to local artists – they even have a dentist’s office from the 1950s and a full-sized fire truck.”

As an adult, Lauren continued to collect, first photographs, and later, ceramics, paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects. Her passion for for it all was influenced by her grandmother, Mickey, herself an avid collector. “She bought pieces she loved for many years. She wasn’t a transactional collector,” she said. Lauren also holds deep affection for the pieces she collects, but more so for the relationships forged with the artists who make them.

“My passion grew over a long time; it came naturally and with force. I always had confidence I would stumble upon the right path, and I would just know when I was there,” she said. Lauren never considered collecting as a career until she had children. “Once I had children, I felt a need to build something with thought and intention that provides community, connection, and value in this world. Throughout everything, one thing remained consistent: my love for art and collecting.”

“I didn’t quite “stumble” upon founding LES Collection, it was done with hard work and intention, but I knew I was on the right path because, despite the stress, uncertainty, and challenges that come with a start-up endeavor, I never think about stopping. It just feels right,” Lauren disclosed.

It first began with an Instagram account, which pleasantly surprised Lauren with how strongly her followers responded to her aesthetic, and to the artists and designers that she promoted. “LES Collection grew organically from my passion and desire to strengthen my relationship with the artists that I had collected for years and forge new relationships with artists I discovered along the way,” she says. “It’s been really hard, but I’ve never wanted to do anything else.” But more so, “I could not have built LES Collection without my team. I knew from early on that investing in people was something that I needed to do.”

Today, the company represents 40 artists located across the world. Along with regularly launching new, exclusive editions by these artists, the company also publishes a bi-yearly volume of art writing. Recently, LES Collection began offering an expanding collection of branded objects, including candles and apparel.

Collecting for the love of it, and hopefully, transferring that love to her clients is the end goal. “The objects we collect finish our homes,” she says. “They convey depth of character and emotion and uniqueness that can transform the way we feel.”

This week, Lauren Sands joins us for Friday Five!

Photo: Courtney Smith

1. Morning Walks

This is an essential part of my day. Getting outside, even if just for 10 minutes, has made such a difference to my energy and sleep at night. I do this within an hour of waking up (weather permitting). I often walk my daughter to school, which is a special time for us.

Everyday Blazer CHOLITA

2. A Good Blazer

My life right now is pretty crazy; between running LES and two young kids, I don’t have time to think about what to wear. So a uniform is essential. For fall, winter, and spring, this uniform centers around a good blazer. My favorites are from Blazé Milano. They are an investment but so worth it. I wear mine over and over again.

3. Candlestick Holders

In the last five years, I have developed an obsession and collect all different kinds. I love to entertain, so I use them all the time. We carry some of my favorites at LES.

4. Museum Wax + Museum Gel

I wanted to maintain the art and decor in my home when I had kids. Making the house “kid-friendly” was something I hoped to avoid. Museum Wax and Museum Gel have allowed me to display my favorite ceramics and sculptures without worry. I use the wax for the candlestick holders, so the candles are secure, and gel for ceramics to ensure that a crazy toddler can not knock anything over.

John-Michel Frank

5. Art + Design Books

I have no formal art and design training, so I am very much self-taught. Therefore, I rely on an extensive collection of art and design books for visual inspiration and reference. We carry both vintage and new art and design books at LES.

Work by Lauren Sands:

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

Neat freak? Perfectionist? Type A personality? Meet Melt, a brand founded by Ben Hopkins of Studio Hopkins specializing in the design and manufacturing of 3D-printed products for work and life. Currently, there are four standard products available, with the option of customization of existing products or custom design and the fabrication of project or brand specific products. The 50/50 Caddy stores your daily work supplies, while three stackable Strap Trays nest together to corral small objects. Slice’s desktop tray supports a cork space divider and headphone hook, and Creature Lamp is articulated lighting available in wall mounted or panel mounted options. It runs on battery powered LED and is rechargeable.

Melt 3D prints with bio-based filaments made from recycled food packaging waste, then combines bio-based filaments with other compostable or renewable materials, such as cork. The manufacturing process uses two types of PLA (polylactic acid) filament, which is plant-based. ReFlow Matte rPLA is derived from cornstarch and recycled food packaging waste, and Polymaker PolyTerra PLA is a bio-based filament with a smooth matte finish. For every spool of material purchased, one tree is planted (in the region where the spools are sold) in partnership with One Tree Planted.

50/50 Caddy

The other main material used in Melt’s products is cork. Natural, renewable, and recyclable, it’s biodegradable and environmentally friendly because only the bark of the cork oak tree is harvested. Did you know that cork trees can live for up to 300 years? One tree can supply us with raw materials for generations!

Strap Trays

Strap Trays

Strap Trays

Slice

Slice

Slice

Task Lamp, Wall Mounted

Task Lamp, Wall Mounted

Task Lamp, Panel Mounted

To learn more about Melt’s product offerings, visit meltmfg.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

On one hand, the Juniper MULTIVERSE System shares many of the hallmark traits of form and function associated with traditional track lighting. But to compare the Connecticut-based company’s architectural technology to its outdated and often maligned predecessor would be doing the low-voltage power distribution system a disservice, as Juniper’s modular and magnetic system lays out possibilities reaching beyond mere illumination, all with a much more aesthetically pleasing package.

Speaking via video chat from the company’s central Connecticut headquarters and showroom housed within a historic mill – Juniper founder Shant Madjarian remotely outlined the MULTIVERSE System’s key components and features, piece by piece to allow for a better grasp of the what, why, and how. Complemented by a sample pack containing several MULTIVERSE track segments and connectors delivered ahead of our chat, Madjarian delved into the inspiration and impetus in designing their innovative approach to a well established lighting solution.

A sample pack of Juniper’s MULTIVERSE System track lighting components, including a pair of ribbon mounted spotlight modules. Ribbon segments secure onto screw mounted clips across nearly any interior surface, with lighting components securing into place magnetically. Photo: Gregory Han

Madjarian cites a concept using tape enhanced with low profile circuitry to deliver power as the inspiration behind the development of MULTIVERSE. The barely-there design was later refined by Madjarian and the Juniper team into a modular system of ribbons measuring a mere 7mm in height with immediate obvious applicability within residential and commercial spaces.

“Looking at [MULTIVERSE] you would not know it’s lighting,” says Madjarian about Juniper’s power delivery system, an impression further emphasized by the company’s catalog of pre-finished colors and materials that inspire possibilities rather than serving mere practicalities.

Ribbons are available in numerous color and material finishes, but can also be painted once installed onto surfaces to further blend into walls.

One intriguing option made possible by the modular and low profile design is the option to run ribbons vertically to add task and ambient ribbon lighting near workspaces. A new linear ambient ribbon element shown above tracks the same 1/4″ thickness for a seamless presence across walls.

Piecing together like architectural playthings, the MULTIVERSE ribbons are designed to be easily and quickly connected at lengths up to 150 linear feet. Powered from a single driver, connected lights are dimmable and can also be operated separately or in harmony using one of two included circuits.

The MULTIVERSE System’s ribbons range from 2-feet,  4-feet, and 6-feet length. Regardless of their length, each piece conceals Juniper’s proprietary 24V high-efficiency dual circuitry. Madjarian emphasizes how the design offers clients the option to discreetly recede the lighting system into an interior space or utilize them more expressively to bring attention to their presence as a bold graphic element.

Traditionally track lighting’s linear path was limited to an em-dash’s length. The MULTIVERSE system’s catalog of curving and connecting components opens the possibility to create a graphical element winding across varying topography, corners, and changing planes for interesting effect.

The MULTIVERSE System’s tracks measure only 1/4-inch thick, a ribbon-like profile that houses 24V high -efficiency dual circuitry. Components connect using a magnetic system allowing up to 15 miniature spot modules that are in turn easily adjusted along the track length and also their angled aim.

An optional suspension ribbon track brings illumination closer to nearby surfaces or aimed away as an ambient light source.

The MULTIVERSE System isn’t limited to wall mounted tracks, but also offers the option to use luminaire adaptors for hanging pendants, stems, and a selection of Juniper’s THIN System fixtures. Juniper recently released new cylinders with reeded glass fittings and 500, 1,000, and 1,500 lumens outputs.

Magnetic adaptors are a key component the Juniper system’s adaptability, subtracting the necessity to run internal wiring when adding additional compatible spots. Which brings up perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Juniper MULTIVERSE System’s future: “We’re investigating partnering with select manufacturers to develop add-on components for the MULTIVERSE,” explains Madjarian. “For example, small audio speakers, security monitoring devices, and other technologies that can be liberated from wall outlets and added where most needed, wanted.”

While Juniper has yet to announce such partnerships, they believe a year from now the MULTIVERSE System will live up to its moniker and expand in scope well beyond lighting and into an entire smart home platform.

Designed as a complementing component, monopoint fixtures can be mounted with or without 5” cover plates to deliver light in support of the ribbon system.

MULTIVERSE architectural track heads feature 1,000-lumen and 1,500-lumen outputs and start at $250 each.

“Juniper is a tech-driven lighting company, and although we like vintage track lighting,” says Madjarian. “We set out to design track lighting that clients want to install rather than need to install.” The Juniper MULTIVERSE System is currently aimed at the trade segment and still requires professional electrician installation, but the company hints of the development of direct-to-consumer products down the line, including the development of a Juniper app intended to integrate MULTIVERSE’s linear luminosity to operate in seamless coordination with other modular additions riding the line of the company’s low-voltage LED power distribution system.

For more information about the MULTIVERSE System visit juniper-design.com or if you happen to be in New York City, appointments can be made at the brand’s SoHo showroom at 1 Crosby Street.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

44 East Avenue is a minimal apartment located in Austin, Texas, designed by Austin- and London-based interior design studio Stelly Selway. The 1,221-square-foot unit comprises two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an outdoor patio. The space serves as both a functional residence and a sanctuary for its owner, a female film producer in her thirties.

The design team maximized impact through deliberate choices in color, texture, and storage solutions. Built-in cabinetry and shelving provided practical utility while adhering to the apartment’s coherent visual narrative. Adding a handmade touch, Stelly Selway designed custom maple plywood shelving units. Here, the designers made the conscious choice to leave the wood’s edge stack exposed, showcasing its unrefined material quality.

“We ended this project sitting at a 100-year-old dining table with our client eating jelly beans from a vintage Japanese tea seat. She was sitting on top of the table laughing while she showed us her collection of fashion designs from the different films she’s worked on, and told us stories about the people who wore them. The most memorable thing was how the space allowed her to express herself freely and be a source of inspiration through this period of her life,” says Stelly Selway.

The apartment is pulled together with walls in a soothing lime-wash hue, charmeuse hemp silk window treatments, earth-toned rugs, and vintage and antique elements sourced from Stelly Selway’s extensive network. Each design choice was deliberately aimed at mirroring the client’s unique interests in nature and the creative arts.

Photography by Austin Leis.

Leo Lei translates his passion for minimalism into his daily-updated blog Leibal. In addition, you can find uniquely designed minimalist objects and furniture at the Leibal Store.

For many the end of summer equals emptying the suitcase. Unpacking after a journey often reveals more than just souvenirs – it unveils the quirky and individualistic items we’ve lugged along “just in case.” From books to pencil sharpeners, our travel companions speak volumes about our priorities and aspirations. My hats go off to those who carry hot sauce and salt, showcasing a commitment to flavor, even on the go.

German designer Jonas Finkeldei, during his tenure at the Academy for Design in Münster, ingeniously crafted a solution for flavor enthusiasts. His brainchild, the Stui dual spice shaker, seamlessly integrates salt and pepper into a minimalist, oak and beech design. Housing two distinct chambers, this travel-friendly companion boasts a color-contrasting slider that regulates the release of your chosen seasoning. Whether you’re a traditionalist or an unconventional coffee connoisseur blending sugar and cocoa, Stui accommodates your palate.

Finkeldei’s creation resonates with practicality. Imagine compact New York City studios with limited counter space, park concert picnics, or adventurous camping trips – all scenarios where space is a luxury. With its versatile design, Stui transcends boundaries, catering to various settings.

TJ Girard is a sought-after food designer and creative consultant, celebrated for staging theatrical, interactive food + beverage experiences. She now resides in California where her creativity is solar powered! TJ writes the Design Milk column called Taste.

Montalba Architects’ redesign of the Nobu Hotel Palo Alto is an architectural project that could be characterized by a sense of delayed gratification – but one worth the wait. While the property opened its doors to welcome guests into the retreat’s ryokan-inspired accommodations appointed in Nobu Matsuhisa’s modern-meets-traditional-Japanese serene aesthetics back in 2020, the architecture practice has only now been able to unveil a centerpiece addition, one notable as much for its active sustainability as its poetically serene atmosphere.

The Nobu Palo Alto Garden Restaurant is a 4,100-square-foot complementary component to the Nobu Hotel Palo Alto, but also exists wholly independent once guests cross into its zen-like confines. Accessible from the hotel’s lobby, surrounding conference rooms and from its frontage on Emerson Street, the indoor–outdoor dining experience is confident in its contrast between traditional Japanese landscaping and contemporary interior architecture and furnishings.

“Contrast” may be a misnomer of a description, except in regards to the span of periods from which each element references. The warmly appointed interior is furnished with seating and tables not dissimilar to the modernity for masses of Richard Meier’s Getty Center or Apple’s best efforts within their retail spaces. Meaning, there’s an unobtrusive air to Montalba Architects’ work permitting the garden to breathe as the centerpiece experience for diners and guests alike.

“Overall the design was driven by ideas of composition and warmth of materiality – thinking about how we consider air, water, light, nourishment, comfort and tranquility of mind when seeking a retreat in an urban setting,” says David Montalba, Founding Principal, Montalba Architects.

Large-format stone tiles extending into the outdoor patio are used as literal stepping stones to connect the architecture to the complementing landscaping. The seating is echoed spatially by vertically arranged boulders sourced from Japan, positioned as an artful garden repose.

While Japanese gardens are traditionally planted with species evolved for plentiful rain, like the rest of California, the city of Palo Alto is suffering to adapt under the duress of drought. Montalba Architects thoughtfully chose to reinterpret their Japanese garden planted with California’s native ground cover. The result is a Japanese aesthetic evolved to flourish with less water and maintenance. The garden planting is designed to change throughout the year to reflect the seasonality of the natural landscape.

“We developed the idea of an integrated garden dining experience well before the pandemic,” added Montalba. “The design was driven by a desire to facilitate natural moments of pause and mental rest. It was important to us that non-patrons be able to experience the space, too – that they come upon this unexpected garden scene while walking along the street.”

Montalba Architects’ design is inviting and relaxing, a lush micro habitat designed to evolve seasonally, an example of contemporary biophilic design incorporated into the sum of an experience rather than a simple window dressing.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

Memorial Art Gallery’s (MAG) Centennial Sculpture Park, located at the University of Rochester in New York, is an incredible space sharing the cultural identity of the community while also promoting social interaction, community engagement, and a sense of belonging. The latest addition to the outdoor space is American contemporary artist Rashid Johnson’s Broken Pavilion, an elongated U-shaped mosaic sculpture wall that features Johnson’s “broken men.”

Measuring in at approximately 1,600 square feet, Broken Pavilion is a feast for the eyes as colors and meticulous patterns made of hand-cut tiles reveal figures within. The sculpture is a 360-degree experience, with artwork covering both sides of its walled facade. Boston-based mosaic manufacturer, Artiac, fabricated the mosaic using their proprietary design software – Tylist – to bring Johnson’s vision to life.

Broken Pavilion now acts as an anchor for the park’s expansion, inviting students and visitors to openly perform, learn, and participate within the space.

Photo: Andy Olenick Fotowerks

Photo: Andy Olenick Fotowerks

Photo: Andy Olenick Fotowerks

Photo: Andy Olenick Fotowerks

To learn more about Broken Pavilion, visit mag.rochester.edu.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

The Eolias collection is above all else versatile, designed with the goal of working indoors and out with a focus on sustainability. Designed by Antonio Citterio for Kettal, the furniture manages to accomplish both with the help of natural and synthetic materials, such as aluminum and wicker. What unites the family as a whole is a tubular aluminum structure that’s the base of every piece, to which “buckets” made from different materials can be added.

The collection takes its unique name from the Aeolian archipelago for their similarities. Both the pieces of the Eolias family and the archipelago’s islands come from the same origin as the others in their respective families, but individual variations make each one individually special.

The variations in each design borrow from the names of the archipelago’s islands according to personality and characteristics. The folding table is named Eolias Lipari after the largest island because of its size. A variant featuring outdoor wicker is Eolias Salina, the heart of the archipelago and the axis of the furniture collection as well. Another variation with outdoor rattan adopts the name Eolias Panarea, after the smallest island that’s also the most loved and busiest during summer.

Eolias includes both indoor and outdoors options of the collection’s pieces. The outdoor family consists of teak tables, stackable armchairs, a club armchair, lounge club armchair in outdoor wicker, and an outdoor rattan dining armchair. The indoor version includes all of the above, as well as an armchair with wheels, dining chair with available seat and backrest cushions, and seat and backrest cushions for the other models.

To learn more about the Eolias Collection of furniture, visit kettal.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

As part of the Nickerson Gardens public housing complex, the renovated 17,656-square-foot Nickerson Gardens Playground is bringing a much-needed space for kids to have fun in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. The playground was designed by architecture and design firm NBBJ and its experience design studio ESI Design offering pro bono design services and direction. To make the project happen, Los Angeles native and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea stepped in as the main benefactor behind the project. Flea leant his vision, helped with fundraising, and was actively involved with soliciting donations to fund the project. The design not only looks cool visually, its adding so much to the historically underserved community of Watts.

There’s no doubt that most of us are addicted to our phones. It’s hard to imagine a time when we didn’t have a phone in our hand, pocket, or within about five feet of our person. Sometimes it feels great to always be connected to friends and family, stay on top of work emails, and have access to just about any information we want, all at our fingertips. But then there are times when I just want to shut down and log off. Punkt’s MP02 New Generation minimalist phone has been out for a couple of years but it’s been updated and released in a new Light Grey color. The Swiss, design-led tech company, with Jasper Morrison in art director and designer roles for the brand, has always had my curiosity piqued, especially in these post-Covid times when we’ve all had to re-learn how to connect with people in person again. I’ve known that I always like to have my phone nearby, but I realized during Covid that it was rarely out of my hand, even if I was watching TV or a movie, or talking to another person. The MP02 phone aims to help you break your screen addiction and focus on everything else around you. The dialed-back design looks like a basic calculator from childhood school days, but its small screen only allows you to make/receive calls, text messages, and see the time. That means no more endless hours of scrolling TikTok, Instagram, X or whatever social media you prefer, no camera, and also no internet searches. While I know it would be extremely difficult, I fantasize about all I could get done if I wasn’t head down staring at my iPhone for so many hours every day.

Photo: Riccardo De Vecchi

Photo: Riccardo De Vecchi

In the historic Dutch city of Delft, Studio RAP outfitted a tunnel with 3D-printed clay tiles that make me want to take a closer look and touch. The project is the studio’s nod to the decorative qualities of the iconic Delft Blue porcelain that’s been around since 1653, which most people know as the popular white dinnerware and objects with hand-painted, deep blue patterns. Studio Rapt created approximately 3,000 unique tiles through 3D clay printing, computational design, and artisanal glazing. The multi-step glazing process of various hues of blue resulted in the rich bold color seen outfitting the tunnel. It’s so visually stunning and I imagine it’s become a popular backdrop for many local’s Instagram photos. For a closer look, check out there video of the project here.

I strive really hard to find a place for everything otherwise it just ends up as clutter. To be honest, I’m not always good at it because I have too much stuff, but I’m always trying to be better. For example, if my desk is in chaos, it distracts me from fully concentrating on work and that just can’t happen. I’ve always loved the Grovemade brand and recently spotted these Desk Trays. I really appreciate how minimal yet functional they are, allowing you a few spaces to hold a little bit of everything you need at arm’s reach. The inside is made from solid cork that’s machined to create the spaces to hold your gear, while the outside tray is made from 5054 aluminum for a sleek look. It comes in three sizes and in a light natural cork or dark that is dyed with Sumi ink.

My love of LEGO and all things puzzles is pretty well known around here, so when Stix + Brix landed in my email, I had to do a deep dive. The Florida-based brand, founded by husband-and-wife professional architects, creates architectural model kits for kids and teens (and probably adults like me). Each kit comes with everything you need, including pre-cut interlocking wood, acrylic, assorted paints, brushes, other decorative bits, and step-by-step illustrated instructions. Currently they have eight models, including two new summer beach houses, as well as the Eco-House (above) and a cool A-frame cabin.

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Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.