April 2026 Editor’s Letter
Mixing It Up
Architects—particularly of the modern persuasion—don’t necessarily have a straightforward relationship with interior design. Blame Adolf Loos, I guess—his dictum about ornament and crime has scarred many an architect. My own apartment sits largely unfinished while I overthink the choice of each piece of furniture or the placement of each piece of art. (But, then, I once had an architecture professor whose house was completely unfurnished!) For now, I live with the textiles and accessories of another Austrian (later Swede), Josef Frank—a contemporary of Loos but his complete antithesis—until I make some decisions. When I first came upon Frank’s work years ago during a trip to Stockholm, I was entranced. For so long, I would not succumb to such ornate patterns and vivid colors. But, as our annual Interiors issue illustrates, it’s good to mix things up!
In the April, 2026 issue, we explore interiors that run the gamut from an over-the-top garage-turned-Mexican-restaurant in Midtown Manhattan and a futuristic-looking Cleveland library (on the cover) to a serene office space in a little brick building in Brooklyn.
Our Kitchen & Bath section likewise embraces minimalism and maximalism. An updated Brooklyn brownstone is inspired by clean Finnish design while an Aspen ski house contrasts luxuriant materials in a restored Victorian structure with stark finishes in its contemporary brick-clad addition.
Of course, tastes change and preferences about how things look and feel evolve over time. A prime example is Apple, the design-conscious company that celebrates its 50th anniversary this month. We look back at some of the earliest stores, the incredible innovations (particularly in glass), and new directions the tech giant is taking with the adaptive reuse and greening of its retail spaces.
Amid the variegated grouping, our House of the Month is a small abode in a quiet enclave in Mexico designed by an architect for himself. But 2024 Design Vanguard Rogelio Bores didn’t seem to have any neuroses about what to do. Because he felt potential clients would not be interested in his experimentations with subtle spaces, the deeply spiritual architect crafted his own Zen-like residence on an extremely tight budget.
As for my place, the constant roar of New York City traffic with its ear-piercing sirens erases any Zen aspirations. At this point I’d be happy if I could just decide on a paint color! And it doesn’t have to be white.
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