The Zeitgeist Edit — What's Exciting (and Not So Much) a Design and Culture-Obsessed Editor in March

Each Monday, my team and I gather together to talk about the things that have struck a chord with us in the previous week. It could be what we're watching (we're all pretty hung up on The White Lotus right now), a new design collection that's hit our inbox, a cultural touchpoint, or even just a social media post that seems to talk to what everyone's talking about right now. It's one of the highlights of my week, and really enlightening, given how varied our interests are outside of the one arena we all share in common — good design.

This past month, this got me thinking about how and where we find inspiration. Yes, social media is an undeniable source for spotting what's emerging in the culture, but once they're in discussion online, aren't you already behind the bandwagon? Maybe it depends how you curate who you follow, but it's easy for this to turn your accounts into something that only engages with the 'monoculture' — the stuff that everyone is talking about.

So, if you're in a creative rut, it's time to vary up your sources. Get out and about, read more books, do something outside of your comfort zone, create your own story. Here's what that resolution has led me to in March.

↑ Going Up — Stripe Sprinkling

Last month, our interiors team came up with some new terminology to describe a trend that's emerging in how designers are using pattern in their designs right now — pattern sprinkling. Where 'pattern drenching' was all about using the same pattern top-to-toe in a room, pattern sprinkling is the idea that you take the same pattern, and use it in different formats — think colors, scales, even styles. It creates more of a sense of eclecticism and variety, but also a cohesiveness.

Now, of course, I'm seeing it everywhere, including in the styling of this new textile collection launch by Romo. Its Timeless Stripes range delivers on exactly what you'd suggest, but I'm in love with the brand's styling suggestions, combining them all in single spaces in a way that really speaks to the pattern sprinkling aesthetic.

↑ Going Up — Board Games

This living room, which graced the cover of Livingetc's February issue, has so many brilliant features in it, but my favorite part is the coffee table designed by Rooms Studio. The design isn't just checkerboard incidentally — the Georgia-based design studio specializes in 'chess tables' among its modern furniture offering. Yes, you can actually play chess on them, and I'm fixated on the idea of having a set of chess pieces squirreled away to turn a side table into an impromptu game with friends.

↑ Going Up — Aesthete Food and Drink

One of my favorite recent discoveries is independent food and drink marketplace DELLI. The idea is simple — the site curates enticing food and drink from small-batch makers who have a passion for their craft, and that often bring an exciting twist on classic flavor profiles. My favorite thing I've tried so far? This Miso vinaigrette.

But the real reason I'm so hot on it? It seems to be retailed by DELLI, you've also got to have super aesthetic packaging. Everything, from its sauces and snacks to its wine, subscribes to a very particular style, that not only means it'll look amazing in your pantry, but makes for great gifts too.

While it's not available on DELLI, it got me thinking of Italian wine brand Katkoot, which interiors editor Emma Bresilin shared with me this month. It's a super chic brand, loved by the coolest celebrities you can imagine (think Bella Hadid and Rick Owens). Each bottle has a base made from handcrafted metals — made with subtle variations that makes every piece unique. Once you've drunk the artisanal wine inside the bottle, the base can be used as a beautiful catchall for your coffee table.

↑ Going Up — Blurred Lines

Netherlands-based tile brand Palet has been on my radar for some time — its distinct blurred design is achieved by a signature system that prints the design across six stripes of the tile. It creates a feel that's reminiscent of chromatic aberrations and processing film.

It's an interesting, softer way to do graphic patterns — and it's not just a tile trend. I'm seeing patterning with blurred shapes coming through in a range of decor, textiles, and wallcoverings. The wallpaper idea, above, is from a new Jazz-inspired collection by Mind the Gap, launching this month, which captures the same feel, but giving the idea extra depth with an inkier style print.

↓ Going Down — 'Pinspiration'

Let's face it, your online algorithm doesn't show you anything it's not also showing to everyone else. Pulling inspiration from Pinterest and Instagram, you might think you're uncovering hidden gems, but in reality, an emerging idea that achieves some level of virality will soon be widely copied.

As I mentioned, there's lots to see in March if you're looking IRL inspiration. London Design Week is just around the corner, while Milan's Salone del Mobile takes place in April (look out for our guide to both, incoming). But, if you're looking for something a little less serious, but that will still ignite your imagination when it comes to how you decorate, I spotted something fun that modern textile brand Colours of Arley is hosting this March. It's holding a 'wine and color' workshop on March 22nd, where you can make your own custom color pairing from the brand's brilliant fabric range, with a cushion or meter of fabric included in the ticket price.

↓ Going Down — Restaurants I Can't Get a Reservation for

In February, the 2025 Michelin guide was released, and this year, there were 22 new one star restaurants welcomed in. Great news for these restaurants, yes, but bad news for anyone who wants to get a reservation at them.

For me, your plant-based editor, the most exciting addition was Shoreditch's Plates, the London restaurant of vegan chef Kirk Haworth (a winner of last year's Great British Menu, and the first plant-based chef to have ever done so). I've had friends who have been, and rightfully sung its praises, but it's already hard to get a reservation. It's a small and intimate venue in all the right ways, with beautifully-designed interiors to boot. It might take me some time to get one, but I'll persevere on that booking.

↓ Going Down — Labor Intensive Reads

I've always loved a good short story. One of my favorite authors growing up was Etgar Keret, an Israeli writer who often created short anthologies of stories with magical realism concepts at their core. I always found that the short stories were the ones I'd revisit, where I might not ever read a bigger book twice.

Is there a certain snobbish-ness over how thick a book is to its worth? Perhaps, but if you want to read more, but find your time or attention-span lacking, there's an emerging appreciation for shorter novels. Maybe it's a reflection of 'ADHD culture' and a waning collective concentration, or maybe it's just that people are discovering that, actually, you can tell a good story in 120 pages, but here's just a few of the books that have been on my nightstand recently (though, not for too long, given their page count).

I'm already anticipating what April has in store for us. I'll be visiting Milan at the start of the month, so expect plenty of Italian inspiration in next month's Zeitgeist.