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collection arrived at Moroso's New York City showroom in February, but the armchair is the first piece in production and is available to order at Moroso's Houston showroom. Armchair $2,850 to $5,280, at Moroso, 2800 Kirby Dr., 713.630.6500, moroso.it. Rebecca Sherman It's a BIG DEAL G eorge Cameron Nash is never one to be a shrinking violet. So when he heard that venerated design innovator Donghia had lost its lease in Houston, he got Donghia CEO Andreo Rubelli — whom he'd never met — on the phone. "I asked if they would consider coming into my showroom," says Nash, who was issued an invitation to Donghia's Connecticut offices to discuss. "Rubelli said to me, 'We were not planning for you to be a part of this equation, but now we are tempted.' That's all I needed to hear." Founded 40 years ago by Angelo Donghia, who died in 1985, the company was run by his cousin Sherri Donghia until it was sold in 2005 to the Rubelli Group. To hammer out the agreement, a summer of detailed negotiations ensued — often with Nash pacing the beach at his vacation home in Provincetown, Massachusetts — before a deal was struck. Donghia will close its showroom doors at Decorative Center Houston at the end of August, and reopen in September inside 2,000 dedicated square feet of Nash's capacious showroom in the same design center. The move includes Donghia's full collection of furniture, accessories, and fabrics, along with four core fabric houses formerly represented by Donghia in Houston — Rubelli, Hinson, Sahco, and Élitis. "It's a rather important group to be associated with," says Nash, who turned 60 a week after inking the deal. "Donghia itself is such an iconic name and brand, with sexy lines and a real reputation for terrific contemporary tastes. It's transcended the decades and still feels right." George Cameron Nash, Decorative Center Houston, 5120 Woodway Dr., Suite 140, 713.892.5710, georgecameronnash.com. Rebecca Sherman MOROSO'S MUSE I t took an architect and an engineering firm to pull off Patrizia Moroso's latest furniture coup. But an elaborate level of involvement has been the Italian furniture maker's signature since Patrizia took over as artistic director of her family's business, Moroso, 30 years ago. Moroso has pursued some of the most interesting talents of our era as collaborators, most lately teaming with Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind, whose debut Gemma seating collection is now available to order in the U.S. The angled, asymmetrical shapes derive from Libeskind's love of complex and culturally layered architecture. Inspired by the multifaceted surface of crystals (a longtime Libeskind muse), Gemma's mathematically rigorous steel frames come in an ombré-effect knitted fabric or solid-color leather upholstery. And, when Libeskind is involved, expect a little poetry. The collection is a refined version of an earlier artistic effort in wood (and later, concrete) that Libeskind created in 2014 for a performance piece, Counting Rice, by Moroso's friend, artist Marina Abramovic. The Gemma The lobby at the Ace Hotel DTLA Commune x West Elm WEST ELM LOOKS TO THE WEST COAST L os Angeles design studio Commune has crafted unique interiors and branding for Ace Hotels in Palm Springs and downtown L.A. and The Durham Hotel in North Carolina. Brooklyn-based furniture brand West Elm took note and tapped the studio to create a 50-piece collection of furnishings, textiles, and accessories that represent Commune's breed of California cool. The modular pieces in leather and natural textiles suit lounging and entertaining alike. Standouts include the Commune sofa in ivory linen with contrast piping and coordinating chair, the nude leather and wood sling chair, and smart leather boxes to corral magazines and blankets. Exclusively at westelm.com. Anne Lee Phillips SPENCER LOWELL 98 George Cameron Nash, Mark Williams Moroso Gemma armchair by Daniel Libeskind Donghia Paragon console table, Prong lamp. Élitis wallpapers Élitis wallpapers Donghia Pave credenza, Duca mirror KRISTINA BOWMAN