At Dallas Design Week, Modern Luxury editors Chandler Pibl (Interiors Market Editor & New York Digital Editor), Jane Humphrey (Editor-in-Chief), Riki Altman (Editor-in-Chief), and Brad Agens (Vice President of Partnerships & Social Strategy) participated in a session moderated by Jennifer Cope, Publisher of Modern Luxury Interiors Texas. With a growing national portfolio and a fresh editorial strategy, Modern Luxury Interiors is uniting local voices with big-picture design narratives. During the session, editors from across the brand shared their vision and offered insights on what’s next for design media in 2026.
In 2025, Modern Luxury Interiors underwent a bold transformation—expanding their national portfolio, rebranding across markets, and redefining how design media connects with professionals and readers alike. Today, it is one of the few publications balancing local authenticity with a national editorial voice, publishing more than 100 projects annually across nine regions, from New England to Texas.
A National Footprint with Local Relevance
The editorial structure is intentionally regional, ensuring that each market reflects its own design identity while contributing to the larger national conversation. Features spotlight a mix of big national names alongside regional designers, giving readers both star power and local flavor. For designers, this dual approach means broader exposure and the chance to reach audiences well beyond their own markets.
A Thematic Approach to Storytelling
Each issue follows a theme-driven editorial calendar. For instance, one recent volume dedicated itself entirely to outdoor living, while others focus on categories like kitchens or bathrooms. Designers don’t need a whole-home project to participate—one-room features, roundups, and even the Design Nine Awards provide multiple avenues for inclusion. What matters most is storytelling: projects with strong narratives, unique backstories, and a meaningful designer–client connection resonate deeply with the editorial team.
Design Nine Awards: Recognition and Community
The Design Nine Awards series has quickly become a cornerstone of Modern Luxury’s engagement strategy. After three successful years in Scottsdale, the event expanded in 2025 to Houston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Dallas, with continued growth planned. With nine exclusive award categories, the program emphasizes quality over quantity and connects editorial recognition with real-time community celebration. Winning projects also flow into print and digital issues, extending visibility well beyond the event.
Print, Digital, and the Creator Economy
Modern Luxury continues to invest in print as the “crème de la crème” of design media—tactile, aspirational, and a lasting showcase for editorial-quality photography. At the same time, digital and social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook extend reach with timely, shoppable, and evergreen content. Importantly, every print feature is repurposed online to maximize its lifespan.
A strategic move into the creator economy has further expanded Modern Luxury’s influence. By partnering with design influencers and creators with highly engaged niche audiences, the brand now complements editorial storytelling with authentic, local voices—bringing editorial, influencer, and branded content under one cohesive umbrella.
Trends and Insights Driving Content
Regional voices continue to influence national focus. Current themes include a strong passion for natural stone and textural marble applications, bold color use, and luxurious materials that bring vibrancy even to large-scale interiors. Texas markets showcase a mix of Southwestern motifs and modernized toile, often inspired by travel and art fairs. Across all markets, there is an emphasis on story-driven interiors that reflect homeowners’ journeys and personal narratives.
How to Get Published: Best Practices for Designers
For designers, success begins with professional photography—high-resolution, styled images by architectural specialists are key. Editors prefer focused submissions of 3–5 key images (kitchen, living, primary bedroom, outdoor) paired with a concise project narrative. Exclusivity matters, so designers are encouraged to hold back social media reveals until after editorial release. Building relationships with editors through targeted, personal pitches increases the likelihood of inclusion, especially when submissions align with the editorial calendar’s themes.
Looking Ahead
With a hybrid model blending print prestige, digital immediacy, and influencer integration, Modern Luxury Interiors sets the standard for design media in 2026 and beyond. For the design community, the message is clear: invest in compelling photography, embrace narrative-driven storytelling, and seize opportunities like the Design Nine Awards to gain visibility on both a regional and national stage.
Modern Luxury is no longer just reporting on the design industry, it is shaping conversation, amplifying local voices, and celebrating design excellence with a strategy built for today’s evolving media landscape.
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