Photos courtesy Katrien Van Der Schueren.

Katrien Van Der Schueren is the founder and creative visionary behind Voila! Creative Studio, a visual laboratory where she envisions, creates and fabricates a full range of bespoke fine art, objects, furnishings, lighting, event and stage sets, and accessories.

In the grand scheme of her career, designer/artist Katrien Van Der Schueren says that her move to America in 2002, specifically Los Angeles, was the first main challenge she met that led her to where she is now. With her experience working in a variety of fields, from the European Commission to marketing, she says that she felt obliged to reinvent herself and that this new world gave her “the opportunity and the audacity to follow a new path.”

Through perseverance, courage and a “huge learning curve,” she remains the leader of Voila!, known as a visual laboratory with endless possibilities. “We are storytellers and translate it into material form. We are creative problem solvers that make the project happen,” says Van Der Schueren.

What about art and design draws you into doing it every day?

It’s an intuitive thing, I think.… I didn’t really think it through. It just felt natural to me and I followed my path of learning and exploring and fine tuning the direction as I went along.

I love working and exploring materials and their possibilities. I love discovering new textures, new techniques, new colors, new color combinations, new designs, new styles … and in my job the learning and discovery is endless. I love the storytelling [aspect] when we work on projects. Imagining the environment pieces will go to, who will use it, look at it and how to tell that story and make that story happen with shapes and form and materials.

What influence, if any, do you get from living in California?

So many things. California is such a melting pot of cultures providing so many creative impulses on a daily basis. There are so many different influences to draw from here that it’s hard not to get inspired every day. I still strongly feel like an immigrant on Discovery Road. 

Since we arrived in LA, the city has evolved so much. It breathes artistic energy in so many domains, from food to music to artisanal crafts to high-end design. Nature is another big part of California’s inspiration. The ocean, for example, I mean who can resist its magic? And what about the vastness of land in between places when you drive out of the city and what about the evenness of the light and its brightn

When it comes to designing art for a project, what is the most important element you have to remember? Does this differ depending on the type of space you are working in?

Each project is its own. When we start an art project, I look at the story first. The visual story (the interior design choices and the environment and architecture) as well as the audience it’s for. Those parameters will define the art choices. Of course, the location and the environmental conditions are often key as well when it comes down to choosing the materials to work in, and the type of use will also define possibilities.

Is there a piece of art in your
own home that you would never consider selling?

Almost all of them. The pieces I have at home are part of the fabric of my life. I am emotionally connected to them and they make a lot of sense in my home visually.

While man grapples with the fear of the unknown such as stronger hurricanes and solution to rising seas that they worry will eventually turn inland cities such as Orlando and Philadelphia into beachfront property, a Florida company has found a solution for the very wealthy: the houseboat of the future. Equipped to run on shore power or the sun, Arkup’s “first electrical livable yacht” combines a luxury yacht, waterfront villa and self-sustainability into a glamorous floating-motoring home. Able to run completely off grid via 2,300 square feet of rooftop solar panels, the boat has four spuds that can lift it above the water on its automated hydraulic pilings. It can withstand a Category Four hurricane and provide a grand lifestyle off the grid almost anywhere there is water. With no yard work or property taxes.

For the Night Owl:

The Table Torch from the award-winning lighting brand Stickbulb makes a great gift for a minimally minded individual in need of a desk or bedside lamp.

Available in 2-foot- and 3-foot-tall options, these sleek, linear LED module lights are elegantly held in place by a simplistic yet high-quality steel base.

The wooden component is offered in sustainably sourced maple or walnut, reclaimed heart pine, ebonized oak, or reclaimed water tower redwood. The metal base is available in powder coated white, slate grey or matte black, hand-blackened steel, polished nickel or brass, or brushed nickel or brass.

Perfect for anyone looking to dress up their desk and enhance their wellbeing at work, the Nova task light offers adaptability and comfort in a striking, sculptural form.

Energy Star 2.0 certified, the inventive, ergonomic design protects the eyes against strain, faithfully renders colors and produces a single shadow on a work surface, so the hard worker in your life need no longer complain about a headache after a long day at work.

Humanscale’s new Horizon 2.0 also checks all the boxes for the eco-conscious individual who loves iconic design and technology. Improving upon the prestigious Red-Dot award-winning Horizon task light from Michael McCoy and Peter Stasis (featured in the MoMA permanent collection), Horizon 2.0 implements the latest LED technology to produce its signature, ultra-thin plane of light with greater efficiency.

Energy Star 2.0 certified, Horizon 2.0 uses only healthy, sustainable materials and is available in five vibrant colors: Bronze Gold, Silver, Jet Black, Arctic White, Twilight Blue and Morning Pink.

Left & Bottom Right: True Residential’s Undercounter Beverage Dispenser. Top Right: True’s Dual Zone Wine Cabinet. Photos courtesy True Residential.

With an upbringing immersed in creativity, designer, maker, crafter and artist Jesse Ede has been surrounded by design and art for as long as he can remember.

Drawn to more natural materials, Ede focuses on being completely unique and not fit into any particular aesthetic. This sense of originality is prevalent in his numerous collections of lunar-themed art and fixtures, particularly the “Orbit” collection.

An evolution from his first light piece called “Eclipse,” “Orbit” is inspired by the “beautiful movement of the galaxy’s moons around their planets,” according to Ede. The piece features elegant metals like bronze and brass that add a dimension of color and texture to the moon-like piece.  

Ede prefers to “capture the rough nature of organic surfaces,” he says. He does this by manipulating them to expose the contrast between the material itself and the man-made processes that form them into sculptures. Ultimately, he looks to celebrate the rawness of uncontrollable outcomes, from processes that are uncommonly used.

Much of his life has been spent in workshops and studios, allowing him to naturally acquire a vast range of skills. “My father was an artist and carpenter, so I grew up in and around his studio from a very young age,” says Ede. “I often feel as though I was born to do this, as though it was entirely predetermined for me.”

Though he spent eight years traveling and working, even working as a carpenter for an Antiguan boat-building, much of Ede’s main inspiration comes from space and the universe, as well as looking to nature itself.

“It’s so tempting to draw your inspiration from other artists’ work, but I discovered at a young age, the natural world itself provides all the inspiration you could ever need, and you never run the risk of looking like one-of-many,” he says.

With an assortment of other moon-themed pieces, including a new cantilevered bronze and stone coffee table entitled “Venus,” Ede continues to work and display his strength in creativity.

Liquefy Table
Patricia Urquiola, 2017

Patricia Urquiola continues to produce timeless, contemporary designs. Each are defined by a stunning sense of color, texture and material that creates beautiful and functional works of art. Her latest collaboration with Glas Italia comes in the form of the Liquefy Table, an elegant set of tables that evokes a feeling of fluidity. Available as a high or low table and in two different colors, Liquefy is a dynamic design and an instant statement piece.

Model 71
Bodil Kjær, 1959

Bodil Kjaer’s iconic upholstered series produced a variety of career-defining designs, including a sofa, lounge chair, bench and low table designed for use in public spaces of contemporary architecture. The Model 71 lounge chair exudes a classic, Mid-Century elegance through impeccably tailored loose cushions and a unique polished metal vaulted leg adding additional comfort and stability while creating a floating effect, a common thread throughout Bodil Kjær’s work.

Miira Suspension
Sofie Refer

Miira is a series of lamps in a simple and timeless design, embracing Nordic design’s commitment to both elegance and function. The neatly mouth-blown glass and processed metal give the design balance and depth, while soft light shines from the glass globes creating a warm and unique atmosphere within a room. Shapely and subtle, Miira is brought to life by its fine curves and thin neck, adding to its graceful appearance. Available in a variety of configurations.

Eloïse Sok, Concept Creator in the SageGlass Europe & Middle-East Team, says the concept of biophilia was first written in 1984 by biologist Edward O. Wilson, in which he described the concept as to how humans have an innate connection with nature and with other living systems. This connection continues to thrive in assorted cultures, including Japanese culture where people have been been aware of the restorative effects of nature on health for a long time. An example of this takes the form of the Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to “forest bathing” and means a walk in the woods, Sok explains. This type of “bath” has been explored in several scientific studies that show how this practice can improve mood and sleep, reduce stress, decrease heart rate and blood pressure, boost the immune system and accelerate recovery from certain illnesses.

Sok explains that though this term has been known for many years, it has recently resurfaced with a revival of interest in prioritizing health and overall comfort in buildings, particularly in the architectural field. In order to bridge a better connection to nature from the indoors, the idea of biophilic design has further developed, “integrating elements into buildings that can directly or indirectly reconnect us with nature.”

Above Photo and Featured Image by Michael Christo.

Making an iconic design statement in a minimal aesthetic, the Dawn to Dusk lighting fixture is the newest product released by the award-winning London-based design studio haberdashery that invites you to experience the magic of sunrises and sunsets from right inside your home.

The intricate design was inspired by the “the memory of the sun” and creating a strong connection with this memory, according to Ben Rigby, creative director and co-founder of haberdashery.

“We want to reach beyond the industry’s current expectations for a lighting product and push for a more ambitious blend of quality, creativity and narrative-driven design all wrapped up in an iconic, useful and aesthetically beautiful design statement,” says Rigby.

To do this, Rigby and other designers chose to work with an uncomplicated design to demonstrate the clarity of a rising sun, as well as identified the perfect color range that would create a strong, emotional resonance.

Available as a table and floor-standing lamp, the diffused circular light source explores a palette of warm colour hues during its transit of the vertical stand, delivering these as direct light, or as a flood of light on a wall.

Motu Tane, a 9.6-acre private island located in the lagoon of Bora Bora, is dotted with 1,500 coconut palms and native flora, and 22 separate structures to create a remote, garden-like retreat.

Owned by cosmetics mogul François Nars, Motu Tane features two luxurious 2,500-square-foot suites, each with a sunken lava bathtub, shower and dressing area, as well as panoramic views to the garden, the beach and the main island.

“The island is a uniquely realized meld of striking natural beauty, world-class beaches and dream-like views, complemented and enhanced by the visions of François Nars, Parisian landscaper Pascal Cribler and interior designer Christian Liaigre, who together created the ultimate luxury retreat,” says listing agent Bob Hurwitz of Hurwitz James Company.

Throughout the island are nine beach bungalows to accommodate up to 20 guests, a library with Polynesian art and artifacts, a photography studio, a chef’s kitchen featuring commercial-quality equipment and two staff quarters. The great room, perfect for small gatherings or formal entertaining, and the adjacent dining area featuring extra-large, custom-made tables, are surrounded by the garden. Custom-crafted furniture made from rare tropical wood and natural fabrics can be found in rooms throughout the island, listed at $42 million.

“Traveling is my longtime passion and I have both marketed and vacationed on some of the most beautiful and pristine properties on earth,” says Hurwitz. “This includes a large number of jaw-droppingly beautiful islands. Among the many privately owned islands I have visited, Motu Tane stands alone at the top of the list.”

“For the rare individual who has the money to buy whatever he or she wants and has already done so, there still remains Motu Tane. Anyone who can afford it and visits it will buy it,” says Hurwitz. — Kelly Potts

This article orginally apeared in the

Ultimate 2018 edition of Unique Homes. 

Gallery-Style Spaces
The character of a home is often shaped by the items inside it, including art or artistic detailing. Helping to define a home’s character, high ceilings within the home allow ample wall space for art lovers to adorn their walls with prized masterpieces. One example is seen in this Artefacto-designed residence in Bal Harbour, Florida, which boasts 10-foot-plus ceilings with customized panel backlights and recessed lights. The Oceana Bal Harbour unit also features floor-to-ceiling windows framing the breathtaking ocean and Intracoastal views.

Embracing the Outdoors
A space can evoke different feelings depending on the environment, both inside and out. To embrace the elements, some spaces utilize the outdoors by bringing them in. Miami’s Brickell City Centre boasts a $30 million climate ribbon, a steel-and-glass elevated trellis that hovers over the retail center. An achievement in artistry and first of its kind, guests and residents of Reach and Rise can gaze at the sculptural element, as it protects them from inclement weather, captures sea breezes to regulate air flow and temperature, collects rainwater for reuse and allows them to enjoy natural light in an open-air environment.

Smiling at the Past
Historical architecture is highly appreciated in the design industry, as it creates a traditional atmosphere for designers to either enhance or refresh with modern additions. These traditional styles of architecture extend into the home, seen through classic ceilings that add a unique element to the space. Residences at 62-66 North Third in North Williamsburg, New York, feature exposed, high concrete ceilings as a nod to the neighborhood’s industrial past. The residences embody a sense of character, design, and detail that combines modern and traditional Williamsburg in these expansive homes.
Another example with an authentic ceiling design is in this top-floor townhouse at the Residences at Prince Street, formerly part of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. The gabled ceilings with exposed wood beams reflect an authentically of the period; existing moldings and details were replicated throughout to create a top-floor living area with skylights and a cozy feel.