Design

December 11, 2025

‘Hippopotame Bar’ Shatters Design Auction Records, Sells for $31.4 Million

In 1976, François-Xavier Lalanne produced a rather unusual bar in the shape of a hippopotamus. A unique piece composed of hand-wrought copper, steel, and wood, Hippopotame Bar is a cabinet of whimsy, complete with hidden compartments that pop out of the animal’s side, including a revolving bottle rack, ice bucket, and food tray. Now, nearly five decades after its creation, the bar was sold for a staggering $31.

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December 5, 2025

Pantone Reveals Its Color of the Year—And It’s Not What People Expected

Since 1999, Pantone has sought to capture our visual, cultural, and creative landscape through color. Every year for nearly three decades, the institute has deemed various tones as particularly definitive of our current moment, whether it be a vivid violet or a tranquil green. But now, for the first time ever, Pantone has selected a shade of white as its 2026 Color of the Year.

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November 27, 2025

Legendary Orient Express Train Is Being Reborn, and Here’s a Peek Into This Art Deco Dream

In 1883, Georges Nagelmackers established what would become one of the world’s most renowned train systems: the Orient Express. Overseen by Sébastien Bazin of the Accor Group, the revived Orient Express will return to train tracks in 2027. The service will once again champion artisanship, opulence, and an uncompromising attention to detail, but this time with an eye equally trained on contemporary tastes.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.