Laura C. Mallonee is a New York-based writer. Her articles have appeared in The Guardian, The Atlantic, and The Paris Review.

Armed with an engineering degree from Stanford University, a Master of Fine Arts from the California College of the Arts, and a love for designing and building furniture, Maggie Birmingham founded lab31 in the summer of 2004. Lab31 is located in Oakland, CA, where the cloudless vlue sky, the ripening oranges, lemons, and pears out the office window, and rich red of the mole at our favorite nearby oaxacan restaurant, create a vibrant backdrop for our designs. Our designs are inspired by color, pattern, tradition, and craft. All the pieces are equally suitable in a room full of antiques as they are in a contemporary loft. But no mater where their home is, lab31 furniture makes a statement, and with the variety of color combinations and styles available, reflects the personality of its owner.

Founded in the Pacific Northwest and practicing internationally, GO′C is an award-winning architecture practice inspired by the interplay of rational design and artistic expression. From residential to commercial and public spaces, we thrive in the challenges of site-specific work, and find opportunity in constraint. Founding Partner Jon Gentry grew up in North Carolina, developing an eye for utilitarian structures and an impulse to challenge norms. Founding Partner Aimée O’Carroll grew up in the heart of London and comes from a family of architects that reaches back three generations. Together, our practice is driven by the concepts of practicality and imagination. When thoughtful analysis meets a spirit of exploration, we know we’re in our element. Our process is as rigorous as it is daring; it takes both knowledge and curiosity to turn a brave idea into something real. Building a foundation under ‘what if’ is where we like to be; the enduring desire behind everything we create is to push the limits of what's possible—in service to clients, communities, cultures, and landscapes. www.gocstudio.com

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Maria C. Hunt is a journalist based in Oakland, where she writes about design, food, wine, and wellness. Follow her on instagram @thebubblygirl.