WITH… its expansive views and an air of exclusivity, Bel Air needs no introduction. Home to celebrities past and present, from Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe to Elon Musk and Beyonce, this sumptuous hideaway in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains, is a rare mix of old-world glamour and exciting modernism, where...

    SUSHI ZEN… is a fitting name for this visually arresting and highly sensorial fine dining experience in Beijing’s Dongcheng District. The restaurant which overlooks the Forbidden City, one of China’s best-loved historical sites, is housed on the second floor of an imposing 19th century brick building with vaulted brick arches. It has been...

    QUIET… luxury is having a moment in the world of fashion and interiors. Emphasizing elegance, timeless design and high-quality materials, this trend leans towards soft minimalism and tailored sophistication, and champions the process of being ultra-selective by considering the aesthetic and emotional importance of each piece one acquires in relation to the next....

    WHEN… dusk falls on Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor, moody, mysterious shadows envelop those who ascend to Uncle Ming’s, a dramatic new destination for discerning whiskey aficionados atop the stylish 25-story AKI Hotel.     THE LUXURIOUS… hideaway is the work of multidisciplinary design and branding firm A Work of Substance, all rich materials...

    WHAT MAY… initially appear simply a sophisticated and impeccably appointed apartment for a family of five on Manhattan’s Upper East Side — a luxurious lair, to be sure, with an extraordinary level of craftsmanship and fine detailing, but relatively conventional in terms of layout — turns out on closer examination to also be...

    THE TERM… ‘strong design’ is invariably linked to an assertive idea rooted in something honest and secure. In the case of The Fleming Hotel, interior design draws specifically from Hong Kong’s maritime heritage and the building’s own structural past. Originally built in the 1970s and located next to the Victoria harbor front in...

    USING… soft minimalism and a sensory approach to interiors, Dubai practice VSHD Design has created a relaxing social space in the form of this unique coffee shop, situated at ground level inside the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).     THE DESIGNERS… have introduced strong geometric angles, strict lines, sweeping curves and monolithic...