In a world dominated by mass production, Submaterial is rare proof that craftsmanship and scale don’t have to be at odds. At first glance, the brand’s wall art, acoustic panels, mirrors, and architectural room dividers seem impossibly precise—defined by clean lines, rich textures, and a striking interplay of color and form. But look closer, and the craftsmanship reveals itself in every detail. Each piece is handmade in Submaterial’s New Mexico studio, where skilled fabricators shape wool felt, cork, and wood into intricate patterns.

Founded in 2006 by David Hamlin, Submaterial occupies a unique space between art and design. What began in a cottage in the Pacific Northwest has evolved into a 35,000-square-foot studio in New Mexico, where a team of 30 (including 25 talented craftspeople) produces objects of art that are as functional as they are beautiful—think wall art that doubles as acoustic panels, or artful mirrors that introduce an abstract play of light into an interior.

 “I remember feeling frustrated at the dissonance between my desire to make things by hand and the demands of running a successful business,” Hamlin says. That tension, rather than being a limitation, became the driving force behind Submaterial’s ethos—one that embraces the beauty of craft alongside the ability to produce at scale.

Location: 1406 5th Ave North, Nashville, TN

Price: $2,790,000

Year Built: 1850s

Renovation Dates: 2008 and 2024

Renovation By:  Kate O’Neill & Karsten Soltauer (2008) and Preston Quirk & Amanda Khouri Interior Design (2024)

Renovation Contractors: Metro Construction Rehab (2008) and EPCO.builders (2024)

Footprint: 3,752 square feet (5 bedrooms, 5 baths)

Lot Size: 0.16 Acres

From the Agent: “Located in the heart of Germantown, this fully restored historic home blends the charm of its pre-1860 origins with modern comforts. Many of the original features such as the brick, beams, floors, and windows have been meticulously preserved, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The thoughtful renovation expanded the home’s square footage while maintaining its architectural integrity. Additionally, it has a detached accessory dwelling unit with a two-car garage.

Before: The renovators took the building down to its studs and built it back up.

EPCO.builders

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Project Details:

Location: Paris, France

Designer: After Bach Studio / @afterbachstudio

Footprint: 775 square feet

Builder: Ateliers Saint Jacques

Photographer: Vincent Leroux / @v.leroux

From the Designer: “The interior design studio After Bach, founded by French designer Francesco Balzano in 2020, has completely redesigned this Haussmann apartment nestled in the heart of the Village d’Auteuil in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. He redesigned it for himself as a studio and home.

“The project was inspired by a return to nature and the desire to place art at the heart of a creative life. It was thought as a sophisticated Parisian garden, soft and precious, a setting where shades of green and ivory dialogue with works of art and furniture by the designer. The plan has a gallery-like entrance with a living/dining room and a bedroom on the west side and a private office and a kitchen on the east side. The wet rooms are treated like precious furniture, crafted in the spirit of Versailles.

“Balzano chose a palette of colors and materials that echo plants, a subtle tribute to the Italian architect Piero Portallupi. Green fabric, satin ivory, ultra matte paint, and onyx white and green are a leitmotiv of this particular project. The flooring is composed of sisal and abaca carpet, parquet in ash, and light green onyx.

“The entrance, entirely upholstered in cotton satin fabric and silk braids, houses a subtle play of doors under draperies and pivots decorated with Danish ceramic buttons. Plaster cornices are in the historical character of the apartment. Balzano set up his office in the backyard, where he likes to surround himself with samples, works of art, and furniture. The office is a piece of his collection of Murano II furniture, custom-made for this occasion and entirely sheathed in leather. The lamps of his Luce collection, exclusively represented by his Parisian gallery Kolkhoze, punctuate the apartment on the ceiling of each room.

“Entirely dressed in pale green onyx, the bathroom is designed to feel  minimalist and prestigious. It features a washbasin and a large walk-in shower decorated with a fresco painted with marble powder by the painter-decorator Nicolas Resse, which is a replica of the painted decorations found on the ceilings of one of the pavilions of the Villa Medici.

“Photos, sculptures, paintings and engravings interact with the architecture to create an artful living space for the owner and his partner.”