ELLE DECOR May 2014

SOMETIMES IT SEEMS THAT WE ALL EXIST IN A VIRTUAL WORLD, where knowledge is conveyed in pixels and gigabytes; music is not played but streamed; data, rather than gold or coal, is mined; and the only games we play involve crushed candies and aggressive birds. Technology is a great thing, but fortunately it is not the only thing. I am frequently reminded, especially when we start putting together this annual issue devoted to rising talents, that many members of the generation that supposedly lives in the cloud are happily grappling with the real and the tactile. I used to worry that no one under the age of 50 had any interest in crafting objects that could be perceived in 3D without special glasses. But we have yet to encounter any…

ANDREW FERREN Andrew Ferren—whose feature on Luis Busta mante's Madrid home begins on page 172—moved to the city in 2002 for a short sabbatical. One year turned into 12. He lives with his Spanish husband and their twins in a house full of furniture and paintings from the city's Rastro flea market, left. "I'd meet friends there every Sunday, and I always dragged something home," he says. Ferren also writes this month's travel piece on Porto, Portugal (page 150). The first time he visited, he says, "I was struck by how improbable the city is—all these gorgeous buildings appear to be tumbling toward the river. You don't see things ahead of you, but above or below you." NANCY HASS "I started writing about design a dozen years ago, soon after…

MAIL Your March issue knocked my socks off. My favorite story was "Cross Currents"—so intelligent and inspirational. It took my breath away. Thank you so much for such a beautiful issue. Julie Pearson, Traverse City, MI There's more to the art world than a Damien Hirst dot painting. I wish that collectors, editors, and designers would take a risk and hang something that really moved us and them. Susan Carter Hall, Los Angeles The Brussels, Belgium, home in your March issue is the height of charm ["Going the Distance"]. French windows that look out over a leafy expanse, soft colors, comfy furnishings, and an interesting and personal collection of paintings and prints—these lucky residents have the perfect touch. Catherine Marshall, via e-mail TWEETS It's like the March issue of @ELLEDECOR…

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF WHAT'S HOT What we loved when 1989 Le Corbusier armchair. 1990 Jay Spectre rug. 1991 Baccarat vases. 1992 Keith Haring for Villeroy & Boch. 1993 Lamp by Villa Associates. 1994 Robert Venturi dinnerware. 1995 Olivier Gagnère armchair. 1996 Robsjohn-Gibbings lamp by Hinson. 1997 Richard Schultz outdoor chair. 1998 Designers Guild blankets. 1999 Max Bill clock. 2000 Luca Trazzi espresso maker. 2001 Christian Lacroix for Christofle. 2002 Oggetti woven-grass chair. 2003 Omnia hardware. 2004 Yves Delorme bedding. 2005 Ralph Lauren Home chair. 2006 Kerry Joyce rug for Mansour Modern. 2007 Neisha Crosland textiles. 2008 Dransfield & Ross chair. 2009 Libeco Home luggage. 2010 Bench by Matter. 2011 Oly Studio chandelier. 2012 Basket by Pacific Connections. 2013 Casamidy table. 2014 Marie Suri mirror.…

OFF THE WALLS From Salvador Dalí's surrealist floorcoverings to Alexander Calder's modern jute weaves, artists have long looked to rugs as a different kind of canvas. Now, Swedish luxury rug company Henzel Studio has collaborated with a roster of contemporary and emerging artists—including Richard Prince, Juergen Teller, and Jack Pierson—to create avant-garde floorcoverings that break the boundaries of traditional shapes and sizes. The wool incarnation of Anselm Reyle's crumpled-Mylar works maintains a surprising three-dimensional look. A Marilyn Minter piece resembles shattered glass; a fringed rug by Linder evokes the artist's punk style and cut-and-paste aesthetic; and street art by Assume Vivid Astro Focus provides inspiration for an intricate assemblage of geometrics (byhenzel.com). FASHION HOUSE The Swan, the Butterfly, and the Four-Leaf Clover—couturier Charles James became legendary for the iconic shapes…

CATCH THE WAVE The rising stars at London design studio Poetic Lab have partnered with venerable Austrian glassmakers J. & L. Lobmeyr on the award-winning Ripple lamp, which consists of two domes of irregular handblown crystal set on brass bases. A 10" h. stationary dome projects halogen light through the larger 18" h. dome, which slowly rotates, casting evocative patterns on nearby walls. The set costs $10,665. 212-226-2921; stillfried.com 1 / BLUE STREAKS For Flaunt, Kelly Wearstler's latest addition to her collection for the Rug Company, bold strands of lustrous blue silk are embedded in a neutral background of hand-knotted Tibetan wool. A 6' x 9' rug costs $8,802; other standard and custom sizes are offered. 212-274-0444; therugcompany.com 2 / SERVING SUGGESTION Åry Trays taps young…