A once-ordinary restaurant begins a new chapter in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing cities. Designed by FictionWorks, Napa Bistro and Wine Bar Stonecrest draws inspiration from the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting, blending the aesthetics of a French bistro with the subtle charm of a Napa Valley farmhouse.

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

“The goal was to create a restaurant that feels approachable enough for a casual weeknight dinner while offering the sense of occasion people look for when celebrating a great meal and a bottle of wine,” say FictionWorks co-founders Andrea De Camps and Olivia King.

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

With architecture by In Situ Studio, the 6,500-square-foot space is organized into a series of connected rooms, each defined by its own character. A curved, vaulted ceiling with a system by Baswa Acoustics softens the sounds of a busy dining environment while also contributing to the interior’s spatial rhythm. Thoughtfully scaled dining rooms feature intimate seating areas with worn leather upholstery, inviting guests to settle into their surroundings.

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

Perhaps one of the restaurant’s biggest roadblocks was working within an existing structure. Transforming a former taco restaurant into a warm, wine-focused destination, FictionWorks strategically invested in high-impact elements. Completed in under nine months, the renovation required intentional coordination, smart budgeting, and a clear design hierarchy. The result is a transformation of a flat, open layout into a layered sequence of rooms that echo the coziness of a Napa Valley farmhouse.

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

“We put the money into the details that would really make an impact—the stained-glass installation, custom lighting, and millwork,” the team at FictionWorks says, “and we stayed more practical with the secondary elements—the tabletops, mosaic flooring, thrifted artwork, and accessories.”

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

Drawing on three key influences, the color palette reflects the verdant vineyards of Napa Valley, the warmth of 1970s interiors, and the refined character of a Parisian bistro. Deep greens and warm wood tones are accented by shades of amber and bronze, evoking the richness of aged wine without feeling dated. Classic black-and-white tiles from Daltile’s Keystone collection ground the design, providing a unique mosaic floor pattern that contrasts sharply with the more natural materials.

For De Camps and King, every “design decision, from the architecture and materials to the artwork and guest experience, supports a deeper appreciation of food, wine, and the history that inspired the brand.”

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

Crafted from hand-blown rondels, the custom stained-glass installation references 1970s glasswork and takes the form of a wine bottle punt. Custom lighting, linen pendant fixtures, and sculptural chandeliers are arranged to complement natural light while creating intimate, moody vignettes. A series of distinctive photographs and digital artwork by California artist Julia Crane are intertwined with pieces by Charlotte-based creatives, connecting the space back to its local community. The result? A materiality that tells a story that goes far beyond the menu.

Photography by Pablo Enriquez

Modeled after a global wine competition that transformed the perception of Californian wines, Napa Bistro and Wine Bar builds its identity around the spirit of that event. For the team at FictionWorks, the restaurant is a celebration of challenging expectations. “That same spirit shaped every aspect of the design,” they explain. “The restaurant draws from this spirit of transformation, not to recreate history, but to honor and reimagine it.”

Ever since Mattel released Barbie’s DreamHouse in 1962, it has served as a backdrop for young designers to play, experiment, and bring their imaginations to life. Now, thanks to a new collaboration between Barbie and Pinterest, that same spirit of exploration can come to life in real homes. With Pinterest’s Restyle tool, users can reimagine their actual interiors through five distinct DreamHouse-inspired aesthetics.

Launched last month in beta, Restyle lets design enthusiasts of all ages virtually experiment with interiors through AI-powered visual technology. Users can upload a photograph of their own space and explore different design directions.

Pinterest’s Restyle tool reimagines a dining room in the Modern Coastal Barbie DreamHouse style. Rendering courtesy of Pinterest.

“People come to Pinterest with a vision for how they want their spaces to look and feel, but it’s not always easy to imagine how those ideas will translate into their own homes,” explains Sara Pollack, VP, Global Head of Consumer Marketing at Pinterest. “With Restyle, we’re helping bridge that gap by giving people a way to experiment with different design styles, see how furniture, colors, and decor work together in their actual space, and discover products that bring their vision to life.”

The Barbie collaboration introduces five DreamHouse-inspired styles: mid-century Americana, chalet chic, superstar glam, Victorian romance, and modern coastal. Each offers a different starting point, moving beyond Barbie’s signature pink to explore a broader range of interiors, from retro influences to more relaxed, contemporary spaces.

Video courtesy of Pinterest

After selecting a style, users can refine the room by adding or swapping furniture and decorative accessories. Restyle also allows users to remove existing objects or describe changes through text prompts.

While the fascination with Barbie’s DreamHouse may begin in childhood, it’s clearly not something everyone outgrows. According to Pinterest, searches for “Barbie DreamHouse aesthetic” have increased 72%, while searches for “pink apartment ideas” and “pink dorm aesthetics” have risen 224% and 120%, respectively. More specific design elements are also gaining traction, including pink wallpaper, lighting, rugs, and decorative mirrors.

The Barbie collaboration allows Pinterest users to explore how design ideas might translate into their own spaces, rather than remaining on carefully curated inspiration boards.

Pinterest’s Restyle tool reimagines a dining room in the Superstar Glam Barbie DreamHouse style. Rendering courtesy of Pinterest.

“Our collaboration with Barbie makes that process even more playful, bringing five distinct DreamHouse aesthetics into an experience where people can explore, personalize, and ultimately create a space that feels uniquely theirs,” Pollack says.

The Barbie experience is available through official Barbie content, select Pinterest searches, curated boards on Barbie’s Pinterest profile, and even a 26-foot-long pink Barbie truck. Through October and November, the truck will stop in New York City, Dallas, and Los Angeles, where visitors can step inside to try Pinterest Restyle, explore interactive installations, and enter giveaways.

Editorial Transparency: This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools, which may have been used for research, outlining, editing, or copy refinement. Reporting, fact-checking, and editorial decisions were made by the Design Milk editorial team.

The lotus—a flower known for blooming in challenging conditions—has long been a symbol of resilience. Now, more than five decades after its original debut, another Lotus is getting a second life. Italian design brand Gubi has revived the sculptural table lamp, bringing Carlo Nason’s 1969 design back into production.

Photography courtesy of Gubi

First introduced by Italian glassmaker Carlo Nason in 1969 as the LT305, the light remained in production for only a few years. Nevertheless, it went on to develop a cult following among design collectors, who nicknamed it the “Lotus lamp,” a moniker that Gubi embraced for the revival.

“It was a very natural decision,” Gubi CEO Marie Kristine Schmidt says of officially adopting the nickname. “Collectors had already given the lamp a name that captures the design beautifully. The name had become part of the design’s identity and history, and we wanted to respect that.”

Photography courtesy of Gubi

The design’s enduring appeal is a testament to just how ambitious it was when it debuted. Growing up in a family of Murano glassmakers, Nason acquired an expert command of the Italian island’s glassblowing traditions. But while most of his ancestors and peers applied their skill to highly decorative forms, Nason was eager to move in more experimental, contemporary directions.

Photography courtesy of Gubi

Influenced by the rise of industrial product design—particularly the Space Age style popular in the 1960s—Nason developed the LT305 lamp with a bulbous, streamlined silhouette. But behind this pared-back profile is some fairly complex glasswork. The light is composed of four distinct mouth-blown shades—each one nested within the next to create an arrangement that calls to mind a lotus flower in bloom. “The four layers of mouth-blown glass give it an almost architectural presence,” Schmidt says.

Photography courtesy of Gubi

This construction method also contributes to the lamp’s carefully calibrated glow, which is free from both glare and harsh shadows. While the design’s opaque central portion, where its four shades overlap, completely obscures the bulb inside, the fixture’s outer curves—expressed with just a single layer of glass—exhibit delicate transparency. 

Photography courtesy of Gubi

Adding to the design’s dynamic sense of depth, each mouth-blown shade is produced using a Murano technique known as “pulegoso,” in which small air bubbles are blown into the glass to give it a textured, semi-opaque appearance. Originally developed in the 1920s, the method further highlights the human skill behind each element.

Photography courtesy of Gubi

“Each of the four shades is mouth-blown, and the natural variations in the glass and the distribution of the bubbles mean that no two lamps are exactly alike,” Schmidt explains. “I think that is an important part of the design’s appeal. The craftsmanship is visible, and it gives each piece its own character.”

While staying faithful to Nason’s original specifications, Gubi did make one contemporary refinement: The lamp’s steel base, which houses the bulb socket and secures the four glass shades, has been re-engineered for greater stability. The updated construction also makes it easier to disassemble the lamp for cleaning and bulb replacement.

Photography courtesy of Gubi

“These are discreet improvements that do not change the expression of the design but ensure that it works beautifully in everyday use,” Schmidt notes. “Whenever we bring a design back into production, our starting point is to understand the original intention and preserve what makes it special. We worked closely with Nason’s son, Alberto, throughout the development process.”

The result is a reissue that preserves the sculptural character that has made Lotus a favorite among design collectors for decades.

Photography courtesy of Gubi

“A design has to earn its place in the Gubi Collection,” Schmidt says. “We look for pieces with a strong identity, a distinct point of view and qualities that make them as relevant today as when they were first created. Lotus has all of those qualities.”

Nason’s death earlier this year gives the revival added significance as a continuation of his legacy. Alberto is especially grateful that Gubi’s reissue will allow a much larger audience to experience his father’s design firsthand.

Photography courtesy of Gubi

“The more you observe it, the more it unfolds, layer by layer, allowing you to discover its beauty over time,” Alberto says. “There is a quiet magic to it: a softness, a depth, a tactile presence that makes the light feel almost like a material in itself.”

Like the flower it’s named for, Lotus is back in bloom.

Photography courtesy of Gubi

The Lotus Table Lamp is available at gubi.com and select retailers.

With a demanding finance career and a parallel practice as a visual artist, San Francisco-based Grace Zhang moves between two seemingly different worlds. But both involve looking for patterns and making sense of complexity. A graduate of Columbia University’s international affairs program, Zhang sees painting as a counterpoint to her work in finance, a “way to decompress from the intensity of the markets.” She also designs original jewelry and fine watches, drawing inspiration from Paul Cézanne’s structural approach to color and form.

Zhang’s paintings reflect a wide range of influences, from her world travels and love of haute couture to Buddhist philosophy and Cézanne. Saturated, contrasting colors, geometric forms, and dot-and-wave motifs appear throughout her work, while her self-portraits nod to Chanel and Dior. Yet the singular creative work that has left the deepest impression on her is Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Fugue No. 24 in B minor.”

“What I love about [that piece] is the balance between structure and emotion,” she explains. “…weaving together into something extraordinarily intricate yet harmonious. I’m fascinated by how something so carefully constructed can also express such profound feelings.”

Photography by Brendan Mainini; courtesy of Grace Zhang and GCS Agency

Zhang also seeks that balance between order and emotion in her paintings, bringing “complexity and order, but also tenderness, passion, and a quiet sense of transcendence” to her work. She explores questions of life and death, the earth and the universe through the lens of Buddhist teachings. Her newest series, Aurora Undae Country Club, brings together her fascination with the cosmos and her love of golf, imagining the sport as “a portal between earthly experience and cosmic space.”

For today’s Friday Five, we spent five minutes with Grace Zhang discussing her current exhibition, Spacetime Monologue, on view at the GCS Agency gallery in San Francisco through Oct. 25.

Photography by Brendan Mainini; courtesy of Grace Zhang and GCS Agency

‘Spacetime Monologue’

Zhang’s first public exhibition of paintings includes 32 works spanning several bodies of work: haute couture-inspired self-portraits, paintings interpreting science and financial markets, and the golf series.

“At the heart of my painting is a search for the underlying structures and principles of the universe, a sense that beneath everything around us lies a deeper truth,” Zhang says. “I embrace the complexity of lived experience: the constant flow of impressions, stories, and encounters, alongside my interests in travel, fashion, financial markets, and much more.”

She describes her work as “Buddhist philosophy meets the structural logic I find in Cézanne.” Her Bloomberg Terminal and canvas sit side by side, “so I’m constantly moving between the two worlds,” she says. “They may seem completely different, but both are about looking for patterns, understanding cycles, and making sense of what can initially feel like chaos.”

Installation view of ‘Spacetime Monologue.’ Photography by Brendan Mainini; courtesy of Grace Zhang and GCS Agency.

What Inspired ‘Spacetime Monologue’

“My paintings seek underlying structures across different disciplines and experiences,” Zhang says. “Some begin with science, others with travel or financial markets, but dots and waves recur throughout the work, connecting these different starting points.”

‘Quantum Whisper’ by Grace Zhang. Photography courtesy of the artist.

The Duality of Light

In the famous double-slit experiment, light passing through two narrow slits produces an interference pattern characteristic of waves. When measured to determine which slit each photon passes through, that interference pattern disappears, revealing light’s particle-like behavior. This sparked Zhang’s curiosity.

“I was drawn to the idea that something as fundamental as light can be both at once, and that the act of looking changes what we see,” she explains. “In Quantum Whisper, dots and waves become a visual language for this duality, shaping both the composition and the painting’s quiet, mysterious atmosphere.”

A view of the Lijiiang village. Photography by Grace Zhang.

The Mountain Sky

While traveling in Lijiang, Zhang was intrigued by Jade Dragon Mountain’s jagged outline against the sky, which led to her painting Jade Hash.

“Its ridgeline reminded me of the market charts I watch every day, from cryptocurrency to U.S. debt,” she says. “In Jade Hash, the mountain’s silhouette becomes a simplified outline of the market’s peaks and troughs, a wave-like form connecting the landscape with the rhythms of finance.”

‘Jade Hash’ by Grace Zhang. Photography courtesy of the artist.

Elliott Wave Theory

Working in finance, Zhang became interested in Elliott wave theory, a form of technical analysis that proposes markets move in recurring wave patterns influenced by collective investor psychology, including fear and greed, despair and euphoria. She says that “the idea that something as chaotic as a market might have an underlying rhythm” sparked her creativity.

“In my paintings, those cycles become waves, rising and falling across the canvas, and they carry the same emotional swings,” she explains. “It shapes both the form of works like Jade Hash and their atmosphere.”

‘Self Portrait I’ by Grace Zhang. Photography courtesy of the artist.

Chanel Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2021, Look 5

“My first Chanel haute couture jacket became the starting point for my first self-portrait, Self Portrait I. I appreciate its wave-like pattern, which I interpreted through the wave nature of light,” Zhang explains. “In the painting, its blue and yellow tones sit against a red, universe-like background, while the jacket’s reflective details are transformed into stars.”

‘Self-Portrait—One Night at Dar El Bacha’ by Grace Zhang. Photography courtesy of the artist.

Chanel Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2024, Look 45

Self-Portrait—One Night at Dar El Bacha features a Chanel look from the SS24 haute couture collection. “I connect it to my travels in Morocco and to the geometric traditions of Islamic art,” Zhang says. “In the painting, the dark ensemble and its colorful embellishments evoke the night sky and humanity’s fascination with the cosmos.”

Five years after its last collection, Apparatus is entering a new chapter. The New York-based design studio has unveiled Act V: Afsaneh, a collection of lighting, furniture, and objects inspired by Persian mythology, personal history, and the cyclical nature of life. Conceived by artistic director Gabriel Hendifar, the collection is both a tribute to his mother and an exploration of the divine feminine as a source of creativity, knowledge, and renewal.

Gabriel Hendifar. Photography courtesy of Apparatus.

The name Afsaneh carries two meanings. In Persian, it translates to “fable,” but it is also the name of Hendifar’s mother. That dual significance provides the foundation for a collection structured as a modern fable, with four interconnected chapters tracing a journey from creation to connection.

Photography courtesy of Apparatus

“Life is shaped by cycles. Creation and destruction. The separation from self and the return,” Hendifar explains. “It’s in these cycles that the collection finds its rhythm. The seed becomes the flower. We gather to celebrate its dance with the sun and breathe in the gift of its scent, however fleeting. And at the center of this beauty is the divine feminine—the source, the creative force, the nurturer within each of us.”

Photography courtesy of Apparatus

Each chapter takes its name from a Persian word and explores a different stage of that cycle. “Esfand: The Seed” represents origins, fertility, and protection. Named for the 12th month of the Persian calendar, Esfand also references a seed traditionally associated with warding off the evil eye. Here, the motif appears in lacquered finishes that evoke the colors of nature, from milk and honey to pomegranate, sky, dusk, and night.

Photography courtesy of Apparatus

“Gol: The Flower” follows the seed into bloom. Its forms explore growth and transformation, with molded fiberglass used to create delicate, membrane-like surfaces. The floral theme extends beyond the physical objects through Afsaneh, a namesake fragrance combining damask rose, oud, and frankincense. Scent becomes another material in the collection, introducing an ephemeral dimension to objects designed to endure.

Photography courtesy of Apparatus

The narrative takes a different turn with “Rahvi: The Serpent,” which represents the pursuit and transmission of knowledge. Water-formed brass and blown glass trace sinuous lines, while semiprecious stones introduce color and symbolic weight. Tiger’s eye, black onyx, quartz, honey agate, red jasper, lapis lazuli, and aventurine appear as amulets, connecting the serpent’s shifting form to ideas of wisdom and protection.

Photography courtesy of Apparatus

The final chapter, “Jahaan: The World,” brings the narrative outward, toward community and gathering. Bronze and aluminum intertwine with cast glass, creating forms that reference the cosmos and the idea of shared experience. Where the earlier chapters focus on origins, transformation, and knowledge, Jahaan considers what happens when those experiences are brought together.

Photography courtesy of Apparatus

Throughout Act V, familiar materials from the Apparatus vocabulary are pushed in new directions. Brass, glass, and bronze remain central, but techniques such as water-forming and fiberglass molding introduce different possibilities for shape, surface, and movement. The resulting pieces move between the architectural and the organic, with curves, suspended forms, and layered materials giving physical expression to the collection’s symbolism.

Photography courtesy of Apparatus

That relationship between objects and the human experience has long informed Hendifar’s approach. Rather than designing individual pieces in isolation, he imagines complete environments in which lighting, furniture, and decorative objects contribute to a shared atmosphere. Act V takes that philosophy further, using a narrative structure to connect the collection’s materials and forms.

Photography courtesy of Apparatus

The story also extends beyond the objects themselves. Apparatus collaborated with the Martha Graham Dance Company on five short films that interpret the collection through movement. For Hendifar, whose work often explores the relationship between objects and the body, dance offers another way to express the ideas behind Afsaneh.

“I consider the heart of my work to be creating the envelope for human experience, and there is no more beautifully distilled expression of that experience than Martha’s language of movement,” he says.

The films will be released episodically beginning in fall 2026, allowing the collection’s narrative to unfold over time rather than through a single presentation.

Photography courtesy of Apparatus

Act V: Afsaneh premiered in New York in October 2026, with subsequent presentations planned for London later that month and Miami and Los Angeles in February 2027. Each city will receive its own interpretation of the collection, extending the idea of a story that evolves as it moves between places.

For Hendifar, Afsaneh is ultimately about the relationship between creation and experience. Its objects carry references to mythology, memory, and the natural world, but their meaning is not fixed. Like the fable that inspired them, they are intended to become part of the stories unfolding around them.

Photography courtesy of Apparatus

Editorial Transparency: This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools, which may have been used for research, outlining, editing, or copy refinement. Reporting, fact-checking, and editorial decisions were made by the Design Milk editorial team.

For Grammy Award-winning music producer Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, creativity doesn’t stop at the recording studio. An avid art collector with a longstanding interest in design, Dean has built a world where music, art, and everyday life intersect. His latest collaboration brings that perspective into the home through Casa Dean, a new furniture and accessories collection developed with CB2 and designer Evan Jerry, founder of Studio Anansi.

Photography by Frank Frances/Art Department

Launched this month, the collection takes its cues from what Dean calls the “Creative Home,” a space where living, making, and gathering are intertwined. Inspired by the way Dean and his family use their own home, Casa Dean translates that philosophy into sculptural furnishings designed to accommodate both creative expression and everyday life.

Photography courtesy of CB2

“The ‘Creative Home’ is something everyone should have, especially people who express themselves through the arts,” Dean says. “I’m thrilled to have partnered with CB2 and Evan Jerry to bring Casa Dean to life. I hope people feel the energy in this collection and are inspired to make it their own.”

Jerry, a member of CB2’s Designer Collective, worked closely with Dean to translate his influences into a cohesive collection. The resulting pieces draw on a mix of design references, from Brazilian modernism to the visual language of music and collecting, with an emphasis on expressive silhouettes and rich materials.

Photography courtesy of CB2

“As a long-standing design partner and member of CB2’s Designer Collective, it was exciting to work with Swizz to translate his ideas, cultural influences, and lifestyle into a collection that felt true to his creative point of view while also working naturally within the CB2 world,” Jerry explains.

Photography courtesy of CB2

Throughout Casa Dean, a moody palette of deep greens, warm woods, and earthy neutrals creates continuity across furniture, lighting, textiles, and decorative objects. Rich green leather, inspired by Dean’s affinity for British racing green, is a defining element, while New Zealand wool rugs introduce softness and texture. Lighting combines swirled white glass and linen shades with textured metal and wood, balancing sculptural forms with a warmer, more atmospheric quality.

Photography courtesy of CB2

Among the collection’s standout pieces is the Kindred Olive Green Velvet Curved Sectional, whose rounded silhouette and modular construction create a sculptural centerpiece for living rooms. The Brainstorm Chair takes inspiration from Brazilian modernism, pairing a boxy wood frame with soft leather upholstery. Meanwhile, the Lam-Louie DJ Console offers a more direct connection to Dean’s musical background, combining tambour-detailed burl wood, deep green leather, and stainless steel with concealed storage and locking casters.

Photography courtesy of CB2

Other pieces include the Baza Ivory Velvet Sectional, Baza Black Leather Sofa, and Dean Inom smoked glass drinkware. Commissioned paintings by artist Megan Gabrielle Harris extend the collection into wall art, reflecting Dean’s interest in collecting and the relationship between art and interiors.

While the individual pieces draw from different influences, the collection is united by an approach that treats furniture and objects as opportunities for personal expression without sacrificing function.

Photography courtesy of CB2

The Casa Dean Collection by Swizz Beatz is available at CB2 stores nationwide and online at cb2.com.

Editorial Transparency: This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools, which may have been used for research, outlining, editing, or copy refinement. Reporting, fact-checking, and editorial decisions were made by the Design Milk editorial team.

In this month’s Taste column, I visit SingleThread Farm for FieldNotes, an annual farm summit, and discover how the design of a centuries-old Japanese clay pot can transform the rituals of preparing, serving, and sharing food.

Walk the grounds at SingleThread Farm in Northern California’s Dry Creek Valley, and you understand why Katina and Kyle Connaughton built a life here. For nearly 10 years, the couple behind Healdsburg’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant, five-room inn, and 24-acre farm have made this a gathering place for people who care how food is grown, cooked, and shared. Alongside co-owner Tony Greenberg, they’ve continued to build on that philosophy, bringing the SingleThread approach to new restaurants and hospitality projects.

They’re not slowing down. SoNoMa by SingleThread, their first international restaurant, opened in March inside Capella Kyoto in Japan. This November, their new book, SingleThread: A Seasonal Approach to Intentional Cooking, Farming, and Hospitality, will hit shelves right before The Selvedge, their bed and breakfast designed in collaboration with AvroKO, opens. Overlooking the Russian River, the property blends modern California comfort, Victorian charm, and British style, all infused with a distinctly punk spirit.

A look inside SingleThread’s first book, capturing a year of seasons, ingredients, people, and philosophies that shape their work. Photography courtesy of SingleThread and Penguin Random House.

I recently learned all this at the second annual FieldNotes by SingleThread, a gathering of chefs, winemakers, farmers, and artisans celebrating land and craft through workshops, shared meals, and conversations at the farm.

In the morning mist, Zach Dorman, director of events and partnerships, and his team greeted guests as they arrived at the farm. After sipping coffee while strolling the fields, we made our way to the demonstration kitchen for Advanced Donabe: Smoke, Fire & Seasonal Technique, a workshop led by owner/chef Kyle.

Photography courtesy of Colin Peck, Joseph Weaver, and SingleThread

A copy of The Fine Art of Japanese Food Arranging by Yoshio Tsuchiya sat on a nearby side table. My partner picked up the out-of-print book, and Kyle couldn’t resist jumping in. He first read it as a child, he told us, and it has long been required reading for every chef who comes through SingleThread. Tsuchiya’s approach to Japanese food and presentation continues to influence his work, including several layouts in his and Katina’s forthcoming book. It was a fitting introduction to a workshop that would reveal just how much thought, history, and material knowledge can be contained in a single cooking vessel.

Donabe means an earthenware pot in Japanese. Similar to a Moroccan tagine, the clay cookware is made for an open flame—the clay walls absorb and retain heat, allowing ingredients to cook slowly and evenly while preserving moisture and concentrating flavor.

A variety of donabe and earthenwares at SingleThread’s Farm Store. Photography by TJ Girard.

The most coveted donabe come from Iga, where Nagatani-en, an eighth-generation family of potters working since 1832, makes them in the Iga-yaki tradition. The secret, according to Kyle, is the clay: “The magic of the Iga clay is really its terroir. The clay in Iga was underwater hundreds of thousands of years ago and is filled with layers of tiny fossils, which leads to the porous nature of the donabe after firing. It’s that porous design that causes donabe from Iga to heat slowly and evenly, and cook so intensely.”

Kyle’s love of donabe began in the early 2000s. While working for Chef Michel Bras, he lived in a tiny coastal scallop-fishing village on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, with Katina and their children. Through the long, cold, snowy winters, the family kept warm with a small kerosene heater and a donabe hot pot on a tabletop burner.

SingleThread owner and chef Kyle Connaughton sharing a meal with Naoko Takei Moore and the Nagatani-en family. Photography by Eric Wolfinger.

Then, in 2011, he traveled to Iga with Naoko Takei Moore, a former student of his who now imports Iga donabe to the U.S. through her Los Angeles company, Toiro. Kyle may have started as her culinary school teacher, but he says she eventually became his. The two stayed with the Nagatani-en family while writing their cookbook, Donabe: Classic and Modern Japanese Clay Pot Cooking, photographed by Eric Wolfinger.

Back inside the farm’s demo kitchen, Chef Kyle was joined by Alex Fuentes, his chef of special projects, to explore one of the oldest forms of cooking technology through a contemporary lens. The demonstrations moved between traditional Japanese techniques and more unexpected preparations, showing just how versatile the donabe can be. The chefs clearly enjoyed cooking together and sharing the theater of each steamy or smoky reveal.

A small bite from the donabe workshop at FieldNotes. Photography by TJ Girard.

Our first bite paired a single potato with a sunflower nori pesto; the second, a smoked salmon cube with a long-scallion shio-koji vinaigrette topped with radish shavings. Both were hot and exceptional. The salmon had the most delicate smoky flavor, thanks to the cherry blossom wood chips placed at the base of the smoker donabe. When the lid lifted, the accumulated smoke and aroma escaped into the room. It was more than a presentation flourish. The anticipation was part of the experience, reinforcing a recurring idea throughout the workshop: The donabe changes the temporal design of eating.

Chef Kyle Connaughton leads the Advanced Donabe: Smoke, Fire & Seasonal Technique workshop. Photography courtesy of Colin Peck, Joseph Weaver, and SingleThread.

Kyle also showed how the donabe can be used beyond traditional Japanese cooking with an almost fondue-like communal dish. He placed a wood-box Camembert, sausage from Sonoma neighbor Journeyman Meat Co, and tinned mussels inside the Ibushi Gin donabe. He then put the lid on and poured water around the rim to create a seal and trap smoke in the vessel. The result was a clever way to breathe new life into the ubiquitous cheese-and-charcuterie board.

Lastly, we watched the two chefs layer ingredients in a pinwheel-like formation for the Duck Hot Pot with Fall Vegetables and Inaniwa Udon Shime. From the rich stock to the seared duck breasts and delicious meatballs, Kyle explained how every part of the duck was used. He then regaled us with the story of how he convinced a local turkey farmer to start raising DuClair ducks for the restaurant, drawn to their gamier flavor.

A spread of smoky, fondue-like cheese, Journeyman Meat Co. sausage, and tinned mussels on the demo counter. Photography by TJ Girard.

Meanwhile, colorful carrots, long beans, and translucent cabbage simmered in the broth. It was lovely to see the pleasure both chefs took in this style of communal cooking, which is inherently hospitable. Kyle used long cooking chopsticks to add the shime, the finishing course of Inaniwa udon, to the broth. Guests were then invited to finish their bowls with homemade kimchi and kanzuri, a fermented Japanese chili paste made with yuzu and koji. “It’s interactive,” Kyle explained. “You keep adding to the broth, sharing it together, serving each other.”

After the donabe workshop, we went to Garden to Glass with Scott Beattie, where we got hands-on experience mixing four seasonal cocktails in the fields. I’m always on the lookout for new garnishes, and, boy, did Beattie deliver with his heirloom pineapple tomato chip. The colors were brilliant, and the crisp texture was mind-blowing. That tomato slice must have spent a month in the dehydrator.

Chef Kyle Connaughton with Chef Alex Fuentes, who provided lunch at FieldNotes by SingleThread. Photography courtesy of Colin Peck, Joseph Weaver, and SingleThread.

At noon, we sat down for a lovely family-style lunch by New Orleans–based, James Beard Award–winning Chef Alon Shaya. From the sablefish chraime with roasted tomatoes to the saffron rice tahdig with blistered Jimmy Nardello peppers, our table of SingleThread fans savored—and gushed over—every bite. To toast the growers, makers, and producers who define the Dry Creek Valley, the meal was complemented by wines from the region.

In the afternoon, Shaya and his wife and partner, Emily, sat down with Katina and Kyle for a keynote conversation on food, memory, storytelling, and connection to place. At the end, Chef Kyle excused himself, as he had to run off to prepare dinner at SingleThread’s downtown Healdsburg restaurant.

Chef Brian Limoges of Enclos chats with Chef Kyle Connaughton in front of the donabe-lined shelves of SingleThread’s open kitchen. Photography courtesy of Colin Peck, Joseph Weaver, and SingleThread

The SingleThread team was joined by Chef Brian Limoges of Sonoma County’s three-Michelin-starred Enclos for a 10-course menu inspired by the farms, producers, and landscapes that shape Northern California. Together, the two kitchens created an evening that celebrated Enclos’ newly awarded third star and reflected a shared commitment to seasonality, sustainability, and a deep sense of place. Shaped by the season’s harvest, the dinner brought the day’s conversations about food, craft, and community full circle.

A taste of the day from SingleThread & Enclos collaborative dinner closing this year’s FieldNotes. Photography courtesy of Colin Peck, Joseph Weaver, and SingleThread.

After such a lovely visit, we couldn’t leave SingleThread without a donabe. After the workshop, we were captivated by the Ibushi Gin smoker, but with guidance from the chefs, we settled on a Mushi Nabe steaming donabe at the Farm Store. Made by Nagatani-en, it features a removable steaming grate for gently cooking vegetables and proteins. It felt like the right choice for the way we like to gather around the table with our family and a couple of friends.

If you turn the donabe over, it reveals another kind of beauty. The unglazed underside of this authentic Iga pot is rough and pockmarked, a result of the porous clay that gives the donabe its remarkable heat retention, as we learned. Before its first proper meal, we gave it the traditional welcome: a simple rice porridge, simmered to season the clay and prepare it for a life of cooking.

A variety of donabe and earthenwares at SingleThread’s Farm Store. Photography by TJ Girard.

Now it sits on our counter waiting to fill our home with aroma and atmosphere. Southern California has a way of keeping autumn at arm’s length. But when November finally brings a chill to the evening air, our donabe will be ready to transform a simple supper into a slow, lingering ritual.

Softville, a 2,500-square-foot art-meets-culinary concept store, is making a colorful entrance on New York City’s Lower East Side. The viscerally striking space hits all the senses brilliantly—as it should. It’s the brainchild of NYC-based multidisciplinary art and design practice Studio Jeremyville and Australian cult-favorite gelato brand Gelato Messina.

Photography by Denise Stephanie Hewitt

Likely thanks to more than two decades of collaboration between the two creative companies, the synergy is palpable at Softville, where a rotating collection of art and purchasable objets d’art is on view. The works are meant to be enjoyed alongside striking edible concoctions from a menu of next-level desserts that are as delectable as they are sculptural.

Photography courtesy of Softville

The space’s design is just as intriguing—Softville is housed in the neighborhood’s former Ben Freedman department store. The owners worked with interior designer Sarah Carpenter to preserve the building’s original 1920s curved glass storefront (which can be spotted in the film Marty Supreme) as a tribute to the neighborhood.

Photography by Denise Stephanie Hewitt

“The Lower East Side has always been defined by its creative energy, independent spirit, and layered history,” says Megan Mair, creative director and co-founder of Studio Jeremyville. “We wanted Softville to feel woven into that fabric rather than imposed on it, which made preserving the architectural character essential. Plus, there’s something magical about old department store windows; they evoke nostalgia, create a sense of arrival, and bring theatre to the street.”

Photography courtesy of Softville

Carpenter carried the restored storefront’s soft curves throughout the space—balancing the movement with angular, warm wood seating and a welcoming vanilla bean palette. A flexible shelving and display system allows for regularly changing exhibitions while protecting the architectural finishes and millwork.

Photography by Denise Stephanie Hewitt

The newly revamped windows now cheekily showcase large-scale, quirky, characterful sculptures designed to draw passersby in. The tantalizing aromas spilling forth from the open kitchen eliminate any lingering reluctance.

Photography by Denise Stephanie Hewitt

Although Softville marks Gelato Messina’s North American debut, the dessert darling is not changing its style—there are no pre-made mixes to be found, and its signature gelato-style soft serve is made with fresh milk sourced directly from the Hudson Valley’s Ronnybrook Farm Dairy.

Photography by Denise Stephanie Hewitt

To add culinary cachet, Softville tapped Eva Wintersteen, former executive pastry chef at the Il Buco family of restaurants, to lead the kitchen. Working alongside Gelato Messina Executive Chef Tom Mitchell, Wintersteen is debuting a menu that pairs the brand’s artisanal approach to gelato-making with her pastry prowess, unconventional flavor pairings, and playful concoctions. It has an “eat your art while you view art” kind of vibe.

Photography courtesy of Softville

“We’ve always believed that creativity doesn’t have to be confined to a gallery or museum,” Mair says. “It can be part of everyday life, experienced through something as simple as enjoying a sundae.”

Of the collaboration, Mair says both companies “share a sense of humor, an appreciation for craftsmanship, and a belief that everyday experiences can be extraordinary.”

Photography by Denise Stephanie Hewitt

Softville will also offer drawing clubs and creative workshops led by Jeremyville (artist and co-founder of Studio Jeremyville) and guest artists, along with an evolving roster of cultural programming.

Softville is open daily at 137 Orchard Street in New York City.

Few vehicles have shaped Cadillac’s modern identity quite like the Escalade. While the hand-built Celestiq electric sedan serves as the brand’s flagship, the Escalade has arguably done more to define its public image over the past three decades. Introduced in 1999, the SUV became a staple of hip-hop culture and a favorite among professional athletes before finding its way into the garages of C-suite executives and celebrities alike. Now, as Cadillac prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2027, the automaker is marking the occasion with a limited-edition Escalade that draws on its performance heritage through a series of carefully considered design details.

Photography courtesy of Cadillac

The 2027 Escalade-V 125th Anniversary Collector Series starts with an already formidable foundation: the Escalade-V, the SUV’s most powerful version, thanks to a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 producing 682 horsepower. Rather than dramatically altering the vehicle’s familiar silhouette, Cadillac has concentrated its changes on materials, finishes, and details that distinguish the Collector Series from the standard model.

Photography courtesy of Cadillac

Carbon fiber appears across the exterior, framing the grille and covering the mirror caps, lower rear fascia, and engine cover. Unique forged 24-inch wheels are paired with blue brake calipers and dark-finish badging, while heritage V-8 puddle lamps add another commemorative touch. Buyers can choose between two contrasting exterior finishes: Vibrant White Tricoat or Midnight Stone Frost, a color exclusive to the Collector Series.

Photography courtesy of Cadillac

Inside, Cadillac takes a more deliberate approach to color. The black-and-Sheer Gray interior comes alive thanks to Santorini Blue seat belts and stitching, creating a sharp contrast against the otherwise restrained palette. The shade draws from the blue in the Mondrian-inspired pattern of Cadillac’s V-Series emblem and was developed to visually connect the brand’s fifth-generation performance vehicles with its V-Series.R race car. First introduced on the Project GTP concept, Santorini Blue has since appeared across Cadillac’s road cars, racing program, and concept vehicles.

Photography courtesy of Cadillac

That connection between past and present continues through the smaller details. Illuminated sill plates commemorate the anniversary, while exclusive interior badging, floor mats, and a blue key fob complete the treatment.

Photography courtesy of Cadillac

Exclusivity extends beyond the finishes. Cadillac will produce just 252 examples of the Escalade-V 125th Anniversary Collector Series, with buyers able to select their vehicle’s identification number and corresponding serial number. Each exterior color will feature vehicles numbered from 1902 through 2027, referencing the years of Cadillac’s history.

Photography courtesy of Cadillac

Unveiled ahead of the 2026 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, the special edition also arrives as Cadillac expands its presence in motorsports with its entry into Formula 1. Pricing starts at approximately $239,000, roughly $70,000 more than the standard 2027 Escalade-V. It’s a substantial premium for a vehicle whose mechanical performance remains unchanged, but the Collector Series is ultimately about something other than horsepower: translating 125 years of brand history into a contemporary expression of Cadillac’s performance identity.

A site that once supplied limestone for the Acropolis of Lindos now hosts a contemporary resort. Set on a private peninsula, Amoh, a Luxury Collection Resort on the Greek island of Rhodes, draws on the surrounding ancient coastal stone quarry to create a hotel where landscape, materiality, and Greek craftsmanship intertwine.

Photography by Christos Drazos

With interior architecture by London-based Studio Lost, the hotel channels the island’s rugged coastal landscape through a restrained Mediterranean design. Clean lines, flat roofs, and recessed openings create a low-rise silhouette that sits comfortably within its surroundings. Arranged in village-like clusters, the resort’s 197 rooms and suites bring a more intimate scale to the property.

Photography by Christos Drazos

The site’s quarrying history informs much of the material palette. Monumental carvings, monolithic columns, polished vanities, and marble furniture pieces reference its history of stone extraction and craftsmanship. The use of stone evokes a “sense of permanence and timelessness, telling the story of Ancient Greek heritage and craftsmanship like no other material,” says Studio Lost founder Constantina Tsoutsikou.

Photography by Christos Drazos

Another connection to the island’s craft traditions comes through the use of Rhodian pebble mosaics, a technique native to the region. One of the island’s remaining master craftsmen hand-laid the flooring, drawing on a practice traditionally associated with local courtyards. Pebbles were individually selected for their shape and color, then arranged into intricate patterns.

Photography by Christos Drazos

Dark-stained timber introduces warmth alongside wallcoverings by French design house Casamance. A continuous herringbone pattern extends from the interiors to the exterior spaces, reinforcing the connection between the two. Large-format limestone tiles by Atlas Concorde further establish the resort’s stone-led material palette.

Photography by Christos Drazos

For Tsoutsikou, the bespoke timber joinery is not only functional but also an integral part of the resort’s architectural language. The design team used timber to introduce warmth and contrast against the more substantial stone elements.

“It connects craftsmanship to a sense of place,” says Tsoutsikou. “From the intricately detailed VIP pergolas to sculptural screens and bespoke latticework, the joinery establishes a new benchmark for contemporary Greek hospitality design.”

Photography by Christos Drazos

Inspired by the vivid tones of the Aegean Sea, Studio Lost incorporates dark blues and emerald greens throughout the interiors. Weathered earth tones and bronze accents balance the richer colors, while honeyed stone and oxidized metal finishes reference the weathered surfaces of the surrounding quarry.

Photography by Christos Drazos

Soft pastel tones and warm oak establish a quieter atmosphere in the resort’s spa. Featuring seven treatment rooms, a wet lounge, an ice fountain, a steam room, and a dark timber sauna, the space introduces delicate shades of green that complement the broader material palette.

Photography by Christos Drazos

Anchored by a light-filled pavilion, the pool serves as the hotel’s social hub. The central bar’s timber lattice screens reinterpret Greek geometric patterns, creating a focal point framed by cabanas and expansive water views.

Photography by Christos Drazos

The resort’s four restaurants each interpret the broader design language differently. An open-air restaurant, with canvas canopies and colorful terrazzo dining tables, recalls the spirit of early 20th-century archaeological expeditions. At Glaze, the ceramic-firing process inspires an open kitchen that puts food preparation on display. A soaring atrium defines Lithos, where stone-clad walls and custom suspended timber screens bring texture and intimacy to the space.

Photography by Christos Drazos

Oversized artwork and handcrafted objects appear throughout the interiors, adding a more personal dimension to the resort’s monumental stone architecture.

“Rather than relying on familiar Mediterranean clichés, we celebrated the richness of Greek craftsmanship,” Tsoutsikou says. The result is a resort that draws on the island’s history without attempting to recreate it, allowing traditional materials and techniques to find new expression in a contemporary setting.

Even for those deeply familiar with the watch industry, Roger Dubuis has a knack for releasing watches that shock and surprise. The results occasionally cause collectors and enthusiasts to do a double take, but that’s part of the appeal.

Case in point, the new Roger Dubuis Excalibur The Kabuto Legacy—an extension of the Excalibur collection that put the brand’s métiers d’art artisans back to work on an exceptional set of micro-engraved samurai helmets.

Photography courtesy of Roger Dubuis

The Roger Dubuis Excalibur collection first launched in 2005, featuring a bold new case architecture and skeletonized mechanical watch movements. The collection marked a turning point for the brand, steering its design direction toward a more contemporary aesthetic.

In 2013, Excalibur’s lore took a more central role in the collection through the first of several limited-edition Knights of the Round Table timepieces. The inaugural series was limited to 28 pieces, with each watch featuring 12 individually hand-engraved knights positioned around the dial, their swords drawn and pointed toward the center.

Photography courtesy of Roger Dubuis

The series has continued over the years with several other limited editions, but with the exception of a Chinese Zodiac reference in 2021, each has featured traditional European fighters—until now. 

Photography courtesy of Roger Dubuis

Excalibur The Kabuto Legacy is a substantial piece of hardware, especially considering its 45mm case is made of 18K pink gold. However, with this kind of micro-engraving, you need room for the work to shine. Unlike its counterparts, it doesn’t use miniature hand-sculpted figures for its hour markers; instead, it features hand-sculpted kabuto, or samurai helmets. Traditionally, kabutos served as protective armor, but they were also individualized to act as identifying marks in battle. In the thick of combat, a samurai could identify a commander by his helmet’s distinctive ornamentation.

Photography courtesy of Roger Dubuis

Here, the kabutos represent 12 commanders from Japan’s unification and the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate in the early 17th century. To ensure historical accuracy, Roger Dubuis also consulted Frederik Cryns, a professor of Japanese history who served as a historical consultant on the television series Shōgun. His expertise helped inform the interpretation of the commanders and their helmets.

Photography courtesy of Roger Dubuis

The circle begins at 12 o’clock with the shōgun, Tokugawa Ieyasu—one of the leading architects of unified Japan, whose kabuto features a fern symbolizing prosperity and longevity. The Four Heavenly Kings of the Tokugawa—legendary samurai commanders who fought alongside Ieyasu—are depicted at the 1, 2, 4, and 9 o’clock positions, flanked by other noteworthy figures of the period. The detail in each helmet is remarkable: Each is micro-sculpted from 18K pink gold and hand-engraved, requiring two to three days of work.

Photography courtesy of Roger Dubuis

At the center of the dial sits an abstract interpretation of Edo Castle, finished in a deep blue reminiscent of the indigo dye traditionally used in samurai garments. The landmark was home to the Tokugawa shōgun and served as the center of the Japanese government during the Edo period. The miniature structure’s layered construction incorporates several finishing techniques, including polishing, circular brushing, and shot-blasting, to distinguish the individual architectural elements.

Photography courtesy of Roger Dubuis

With so much handwork and traditional craftsmanship going into these pieces, one almost forgets the technical expertise beneath the art itself. The watch is powered by the Roger Dubuis RD821 self-winding caliber, which features 14 distinct finishing techniques applied to the movement components. Like other certified Roger Dubuis timepieces, this piece also receives Poinçon de Genève certification, which establishes standards for craftsmanship, finishing, and mechanical performance in Geneva watchmaking.

There’s no arguing that the Knights of the Round Table series from Roger Dubuis will always be a bit niche in terms of market appeal, but there’s something to be said for the brand’s continued investment in traditional craftsmanship and its willingness to reinterpret those techniques in unexpected ways.

Photography courtesy of Roger Dubuis

The Roger Dubuis Excalibur The Kabuto Legacy is limited to 28 pieces, with pricing available upon request.  

The bamboo groves of Kyoto are built on repetition, with segmented stalks rising in close-set ranks as filtered light falls through the canopy overhead. A similar rhythm resurfaces on the front of the 2027 QX80, Infiniti’s full-size flagship SUV, recast as a cubic motif within its double-arch grille. Water and the four seasons follow, inspiring a full-width rear lamp and an ambient palette keyed to spring, summer, autumn, and winter, while omotenashi—Japan’s tradition of anticipatory hospitality—guides the cabin itself.

Photography courtesy of Infiniti

The QX80 draws on Artistry in Motion, the brand’s visual language, which centers on what Taisuke Nakamura, Head of Infiniti Design, calls “creating vehicles that express emotion through dynamic movement, and craftsmanship with an extraordinary presence even when standing still.” His team in Atsugi, near Yokohama, shaped most of the SUV with input from colleagues around the world, while designers in the U.S. led the interior.

Photography courtesy of Infiniti

Lines and Form

Of all the Japanese references on the QX80, the grille sits closest to Nakamura’s own history. “I grew up in Kyoto, where bamboo forests are a familiar part of the landscape,” he says. “They give you a sense of peace through the graceful power of nature.”

The team distilled the strength and slenderness of bamboo stalks into a geometric pattern inside the double-arch frame, then repeated the motif in digital piano key lights at either side. Together, they lead the eye toward the illuminated emblem at the center, a three-dimensional form meant to evoke a road extending endlessly ahead.

Photography courtesy of Infiniti

In profile, a long, nearly flat hood runs into taut shoulder lines, sculpted fenders push the wheels toward each corner, and two character lines taper rearward, carrying the eye along the SUV’s length. Flush door handles and a rear wiper concealed beneath the spoiler keep the body uninterrupted, while the handles work with air curtains in the front bumper to guide air around the vehicle.

Photography courtesy of Infiniti

For the back of the SUV, the team turned from bamboo to another element of the Japanese landscape. “Light reflecting on water is always changing, but it feels very calm,” says Nakamura. “We wanted to capture that feeling across the full width of the rear.”

More than 300 LEDs follow a gentle curve from side to side, their layered segments picking up the cadence set by the grille and linking the design end to end. The lamp also joins the welcome sequence that greets the driver when the QX80 unlocks.

Photography courtesy of Infiniti

Cabin Craft

Inside, the focus shifts from silhouette to the finer details of the cabin. “Craftsmanship is something you feel before you can explain it,” says Nakamura. “You touch a surface, or you see how light falls on a material, and you understand that someone cared about it.”

In the range-topping Autograph grade, semi-aniline leather upholstery in all three rows features dot quilting with stitching partly completed by hand, extending the same material treatment from the front seats to the third row.

“It gives the seat a warmth that a machine finish alone cannot,” he adds. Open-pore ash trim with laser-cut inlays combines the natural grain of wood with the precision of modern manufacturing.

Photography courtesy of Infiniti

For 2027, the Sport grade introduces a new interior color scheme. “We wanted the cabin to feel calm,” says Nakamura. “Graphite creates a very clean, modern base, so the open-pore wood-grain trim and matte chrome accents really stand out.”

Available ambient lighting takes its palette from Japan’s four seasons, moving from soft spring hues and deep summer green to warm autumn tones and a clear winter glow. Light pipes running through the dashboard and doors follow the cabin’s horizontal lines, allowing the color to shift throughout the interior. “It is a simple way to bring the feeling of nature inside the vehicle,” he says.

Photography courtesy of Infiniti

Omotenashi also informs how the QX80 welcomes passengers, with features designed around comfort and convenience. Infiniti Light Path illumination greets the driver on approach, while the upper trim levels extend amenities beyond the front row. Sport adds massaging front seats and Biometric Cooling, which directs air to second-row passengers, while Autograph extends massage to the second row and adds heated third-row seats and a chilled console box.

Photography courtesy of Infiniti

Both upper grades include a 24-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere audio system, with four speakers integrated into the roof. Individual Audio lets calls and navigation prompts go to the driver’s seat without interrupting the rest of the cabin. Dual 14.3-inch displays integrate Google Maps, voice assistance, and other connected services directly into the dashboard.

“QX80 has a strong presence from the outside, but inside, we wanted people to feel relaxed and taken care of,” Nakamura says.

The 2027 QX80 is now available at Infiniti dealerships, starting at $85,500.