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Friday Five With Kara Mann

In 2005, interior designer Kara Mann opened a firm of the same name with offices in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. With 15 years as founder and creative director under her belt, Mann continues to challenge the boundaries of tradition with impactful yet refined interiors. Her inspiration is found in many creative fields – including art, architecture, and fashion. Mann partners formal design elements with unexpected materials and architectural influences to keep her aesthetic irreverent. Along with several ongoing residential and luxury hotel projects, she’s also currently working on two furniture collaborations that will launch later this year. Today Kara joins us to share five of her favorites for Friday Five.

1. Rosewood Hong Kong
I recently stayed at the Rosewood Hong Kong and was blown away by the experience. Every detail is so considered, the lobby alone is spectacular. From the intricate detailing of the stone carved walls to the gorgeous glass encased flower shop and a powerful sculpture by Bharti Kerr, every moment invoked an emotional response. Rosewood is a world class brand, and my stay was nothing short of that.

2. Genieve Figgis
I’m obsessed with the artist Genieve Figgis. Her art is so rich in texture and color, but it’s the dash of dark humor throughout her work that always gets me. She explores, and ultimately mocks, the depiction of the bourgeoisie throughout history. Her take on Romeo & Juliet totally cracks me up. I have one of her paintings and am dying to to collect more!

3. Christophe Come
I discovered the amazing work of Christophe Come through the Cristina Grajales Gallery in NYC. Christophe is an incredible maker who catapults furniture to art, his polished crystal and metal lamps are insane – the crystal looks like water. I’ve been lucky enough to commission Christophe to create custom pieces for a number of my clients.

4. Chrome Hearts
I love EVERYTHING Chrome Hearts. Authentically rock and roll. Their products, their campaigns, their collaborations. I was given a Chrome Hearts pizza slicer as a gift… let me tell you, pizza’s never tasted so good!

5. Handwritten Notes
I’m a sucker for a hand-written thank you note. Taking that additional time to craft a thoughtful note shows so much more appreciation than shooting a quick text or email. I recently launched a new home essentials brand called KEPT, and with every order I’ve been sending a personalized thank you. I’m so appreciative of the support I’ve received so far and want every single customer to know that!

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.