The series is defined by two linear ventilation profiles and a single, central control ring. The appliances are entirely handleless, with displays that remain concealed behind smoked glass until activated. The ‘floating’ control ring, milled from solid stainless steel, appears suspended, offering intuitive interaction while serving as the only visible functional element on an otherwise uninterrupted surface. Sören Strayle, User Interaction and User Interface Designer, notes, “The ring maintains a sense of tactility – a precise, crafted element that feels almost like a piece of jewellery. It was a conscious decision to preserve some physical interaction in a digital environment. The ring’s circular shape is universally recognised, and people instinctively turn it. It’s tangible, elegant, and enhanced by the golden ratio, making it familiar and harmonious across cultures.”

Designed to suit a diverse range of culinary needs, the series includes ovens, combi-steam ovens, combi-microwave ovens, fully automatic coffee machines, culinary warming drawers and vacuuming drawers.

Internally, the oven appliance offers a high-performance bottom heat system capable of reaching 300°C, a high-performance full-surface grill behind Gaggenau’s signature blue enamel interior, and a five-layer glass door engineered to withstand 485°C. The user interface includes a proximity-activated display and refined automatic programs that support a wide range of cooking methods.

The Minimalistic series is available in two material finishes: Gaggenau Sterling and Gaggenau Onyx. Both finishes use subtle metallic particles to create visual depth and respond to surrounding light. Sterling offers a slightly brighter surface that contrasts gently with cabinetry, while Onyx is more subdued, allowing the appliance to blend into darker environments.

Each appliance is shaped through a blend of industrial precision and human craftsmanship, with select elements hand-finished – including final inspections of materials and surfaces – and, like the Expressive series, invisible joins and exact alignments reflecting attention to every millimetre.

Dr. Peter Goetz, Managing Director of Gaggenau, shares, “The Minimalistic series reflects our continued pursuit of timeless design. It honours the principle that the most powerful forms are often the simplest. It is our most reduced series to date – crafted to remain relevant and refined over decades.”

The Gaggenau Minimalistic series is available to view at the Gaggenau Dubai Flagship in City Walk, Dubai.

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The thinking is rooted in a German tradition that favours longevity over fashion and coherence over effect. Surfaces are chosen for how they behave across decades, not how they read on the day of installation. Cabinet lines are resolved until the hardware disappears. Interiors are structured so that everything has a place and nothing competes for attention. The result is intended to feel less like a series of decisions and more like an inevitability.

For the architects and designers Häcker UAE works with, this restraint is the harder thing to deliver. Adding is straightforward; editing is not. Knowing what to leave out, where to hold a line, when to let a material speak once and then fall silent, this is the discipline that separates a considered space from a decorated one. A kitchen built on this thinking gives a designer room to work, rather than competing with the vision around it.

“A kitchen that has to be explained is already working too hard,” says Samir Ranavaya, Founder and Managing Director of Häcker UAE. “Our role is to remove the things that ask for attention, so the architecture and the people in it can come forward. The design that lasts is rarely the one that was loudest when it arrived.” That principle extends to relevance as much as restraint. A design that steps back from the trends of its moment remains legible for far longer, because it never depended on a moment to begin with. For a home meant to hold its character across years of use, this is the quieter assurance that the kitchen will still feel considered long after the brief has closed.

Häcker UAE works with architects, designers and homeowners from the Häcker UAE Design Studio in Al Barsha 1, Dubai, where the full collection can be seen in considered detail. To arrange a studio visit, hacker.ae.

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The new store presents all H&M HOME collections within a thoughtfully curated setting. Inspired by modernist architecture, the design features clean lines, authentic materials, and a timeless aesthetic. The updated visual identity and logotype are integrated throughout the space, creating a distinct and modern expression of the brand.

“We are delighted to announce the opening of our new H&M HOME Concept Store at Dubai Mall, marking a special milestone for us. The store is designed to exist as a modern interior and lifestyle destination, and to bring our vision to life in an inspiring and welcoming way – blending thoughtful design, quality and accessibility for the many. Located within one of the world’s most exciting retail destinations, the space has been created to inspire customers from near and far to explore, discover and create homes that feel personal, expressive and beautifully curated. We are so excited to welcome our customers this May to experience the new H&M HOME store.” says Frida Dahlquist, General Manager at H&M HOME.

The store concept is built around a sequence of interconnected rooms, guiding customers through different spaces of the home — from the social openness of the living and dining areas to more personal settings such as the bedroom and bathroom. The new Concept Store presents a complete interiors and lifestyle universe for every room of the home. Customers can discover furniture, lighting, textiles, tableware and decorative accessories alongside curated collections for bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, dining spaces.

“We are proud to mark another significant milestone with the opening of the new H&M HOME Concept Store at Dubai Mall, the first globally to showcase our new brand identity. As one of the world’s leading retail destinations, Dubai provides the perfect stage to introduce this evolution, reinforcing our commitment to bringing inspiring, accessible design experiences closer to our customers in the region.” says Minu Alexander, Apparel and H&M MENA President.

Soft lighting, curated material contrasts, and architectural detailing create a calm and inviting atmosphere throughout the store. A palette of light tones combined with wood, stone, and darker accents reflects a modern, yet warm aesthetic inspired by modernist design.

The store also offers permanent services including the H&M HOME monogram service, allowing customers to personalize selected items, as well as an in-house florist by Bloombox, featuring curated floral arrangements, plants, and gifting options.

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The post A Story in Wood appeared first on identity.

At a time when interiors are moving away from fast-changing aesthetics toward more meaningful choices, wood has emerged as one of the defining materials shaping the way we live today. More than a design trend, it represents authenticity, longevity, and a desire to reconnect with spaces that feel calm, natural, and enduring.

This direction resonates particularly during the summer season; a time when homes become a place to slow down, recharge, and spend more meaningful moments indoors. Through lighter palettes, organic textures, and understated sophistication, the collection offers a sense of warmth without heaviness and comfort without compromise.

Designed for customers who appreciate quality and timeless design, the collection embraces what Chattels & More stands for: interiors that evolve with life rather than follow passing moments. “Wood has always been one of the most powerful materials in design. It brings warmth, character, and permanence into a space. With this collection, we wanted to reinterpret it in a way that feels contemporary yet timeless — creating homes that feel elevated, welcoming, and lived in” says Simon Zoghbi, CEO of Chattels & More.

The collection is now available at Chattels & More locations across the UAE, or online at www.chattelsandmore.com.

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With diameters ranging from Ø17 to Ø153 mm, luminous flux from 100 to 4000 lumens and IP65-rated versions, it is suitable for both intimate spaces and large-scale settings. In the larger diameters, the innovative Push&Go system (patent pending) allows refractors and optical accessories to be replaced quickly and safely, with a simple gesture. Intelligent lighting management, via DALI-2,Casambi or an invisible RF sensor integrated into a false ceiling, optimises visual comfort and energy efficiency. Smart services, such as push notifications via the Jiminy app, enhance interaction with spaces and people.

The product is available in eight sizes and five versions — Fixed, Adjustable, Tilted, Shallow, and Wall Washer. Laser Evo offers supercomfort Fixed configurations in the following shapes: Cone, Dome, Dome Space, Soft, Soft Space and Squircle. All versions are compatible with smart control systems.

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The new models include refrigerators, freezers, fridge-freezers and grape climate cabinets. Each appliance is designed to be installed individually or side by side in coordinated alignment. Handleless doors, flush surfaces and precisely structured interiors create visual continuity, allowing the appliances to integrate seamlessly into the overall kitchen concept. With proportions and detailing that recall fine furniture, the appliances are conceived as architectural elements within the space. Conceived to resemble furniture, it allows for countless configuration possibilities, enabling you to curate a cooling ensemble that reflects your personal vision and cultivated taste. Every shelf and door bin can be precisely aligned to create visual continuity between refrigerator and freezer, ensuring a seamless composition when installed side-by-side.

Internally, the material palette is consistent and restrained. Dark brushed stainless steel, anthracite aluminium and glass create a calm, coherent interior. Glare-free, warm white, LED lighting activates gradually and evenly in response to use, providing clear visibility without distraction.

Performance features are designed for precision and longevity. A professional freshness system ensures stable temperature and humidity conditions. Selected models include integrated cameras, and every appliance offers compatibility with Gaggenau Home Connect, enabling remote access and visibility. Interfaces are clear and intuitive, with animated quick guides to support maintenance and everyday use.

Sven Baacke, Gaggenau Head of Design, says: “The latest additions to the Vario cooling Expressive series continue Gaggenau’s approach to cooling as a considered part of kitchen and interior design – architectural in form, exacting in function, and aligned with the values of those who create with intent.” 

Mikkel Brandt Bugge, Industrial Designer, adds: “We approached every detail with purpose – from the alignment of each shelf to the tone of the interior lighting. Our goal was to create a calm, coherent experience where function and materiality work quietly together. The flexibility of the system allows for truly personal configurations, whether through individual appliances or through the creation of a dedicated cooling ensemble.” 

Adriane Wassmandorf Mattos, User Experience Designer, notes: “Our goal was to create an experience that feels immediate and unobtrusive. From the way the lighting responds to your presence to the structure of the interface, everything was designed to support use without calling attention to itself.” 

The new models of the Vario cooling Expressive series will be available from December 2025 in key markets across Europe and from mid-2026 in North America and Asia-Pacific.

For more information about Gaggenau’s Vario cooling Expressive series, please visit the Gaggenau flagship in Dubai at City Walk, Building 10.

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Located in Warehouse 65, the pop-up offers an early expression of Boffi|DePadova’s integrated philosophy, where architecture, interiors and systems converge into a singular, coherent environment. Conceived as both a preview and a platform for engagement, the space invites architects, designers and clients to experience a holistic way of living shaped by precision, materiality and enduring design.

Boffi|DePadova brings together Boffi and De Padova into a cohesive Made in Italy system of indoor and outdoor living. Rooted in a manufacturing heritage dating back to 1934, the group continues to shape contemporary interiors through a refined balance of craftsmanship, innovation and architectural thinking.With a presence across five continents and over 50 countries, Boffi|DePadova operates more than 400 design destinations worldwide, including flagship showrooms in Milan, Paris, London and New York, reinforcing its position within the world’s leading design capitals.

“We are pleased to begin our collaboration with Atelio at Alserkal Avenue, one of Dubai’s most distinctive cultural districts,” says Roberto Gavazzi, President and CEO of Boffi|DePadova. “At Boffi|DePadova, we design personalised and bespoke spaces as complete environments, where every element contributes to a way of living. Dubai represents one of the most dynamic design landscapes today, and this space marks an exciting new chapter for the brand in the region ahead of our flagship opening.”

“Partnering with Boffi|DePadova is a natural expression of what Atelio stands for – connecting the world’s finest design culture with a region that increasingly defines it.” adds Elie Khouri, Chairman of Atelio “This is not simply a retail space, but a destination where craftsmanship, architecture and contemporary living converge. It reflects the evolving role of design within the Middle East, and the beginning of a relationship rooted in a shared commitment to excellence.”

“Conceived as a dynamic environment rather than a traditional showroom, the pop-up reflects a shared approach to design, where architecture, furniture and systems come together seamlessly,” says Ruggero Ottogalli, CEO of Atelio. “Activated through conversations, gatherings and discovery, the space takes on a studio-like quality, inviting architects and clients to explore materials, scale and composition within a lived environment.”

The space unfolds as a sequence of interconnected environments where living, dining and kitchen areas flow seamlessly into one another. Sculptural seating, including the Alberese XL and Landscape 25 by Piero Lissoni anchors the living area, while the Tiny Blendy armchair introduces a more relaxed, cinematic presence. A restrained palette of warm neutrals, natural woods and deep charcoals defines the atmosphere, layered with luminous compositions such as Elisa Ossino’s Helium collection and the linear precision Cut Back lighting by David Lopez Quincoce, creating rhythm that guides movement through the space.

At its centre, the kitchen emerges as a defined setting, where monolithic islands and finely detailed cabinetry establish a strong focal point. The dining area extends naturally from this space, with marble surfaces such as the T.T.A. Stone table and the round natural oak Mawari table echoing the material language of the kitchen.

This sense of continuity is articulated through a series of architectural systems that shape how the space is organised and experienced. Tall Units in aluminium dark tabacco and canaletto walnut, alongside melamine graphite grey oak and metal finish introduce a refined, built-in quality rooted in Boffi’s kitchen expertise. The R.I.G. modules by Mikal Harrsen act as open frameworks that define and organise without enclosing, creating a dialogue between kitchen, living and storage within a cohesive spatial narrative.

The Alserkal Avenue space will remain open until the launch of the brand’s permanent UAE flagship by the last quarter of the year.

Visit Boffi|DePadova – Warehouse 65, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai or ateliospaces.com for more information.

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The unique method has been extracted from the path that has enabled the company to define a distinctive, authentic and coherent design language, thanks to a rich and layered heritage of colours, fabrics, rugs, materials and surfaces. More than 40 shades have been identified, all inspired by nature and translated into the company’s textile and material vocabulary.

Each colour family brings together all the materials available for creating Paola Lenti products – fabrics, cords, weaves, lava stone surfaces, concrete and ceramics. Once a chromatic direction has been identified, it is possible to move freely within it, exploring all its possible combinations and shades. This approach makes each designed space exclusive and unmistakable.It took over a year of research to transform this complexity into a functional tool for designers—a definitive guide to navigating an intricate creative universe defined by its profound depth and nuance.

Colour groups can also interact with one another: different chromatic tones blend, creating more complex combinations with contrasts and resonances, hence amplifying the expression of the primary tone. Furnishing elements, such as rugs, side tables or armchairs, become chromatic and material accents capable of giving rhythm and depth to the overall composition. The result is an almost infinite spectrum of possibilities, always unique and personal. The Chromatic Alphabet, thanks to the wide range of colours and materials capable of dialoguing with the landscape without overwhelming it, accompanies the design of outdoor spaces at every stage, from the individual product to the overall atmosphere.

Paola Lenti’s local distributor in the UAE is through Purity.

Photography by Maurizio Natta

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