exclusive living

Finely woven, locally produced, and stylishly presented: table linen from Austria is experiencing a revival. Why regional textiles are taking on new significance for the restaurant and hotel industries and connoisseurs, and how tradition, sustainability, and design are merging to make a strong statement.

At a time when authenticity, regionality, and sustainability have become the currency of upscale hospitality, an often underestimated element is coming back into focus: table linen. What used to be purely functional is now becoming a stylistic extension of the host’s DNA. And it is local companies that are inspiring the industry anew with their spirit of innovation and tradition.

An artfully set table tells more than the menu. For Björn Kroner, the table is not just a place to eat, but the center of life. With his new book Blumen, Glanz und Tafelfreuden (Flowers, Splendor, and Table Delights), he calls for a rethinking of table settings—as a stage for stories, design, and emotions. What the hotel and restaurant industry can learn from this.

Since its opening, Red Bull Hangar-7 in Salzburg has been regarded as a total work of art—a symbiosis of architecture, aviation, art, and cuisine. Following extensive renovations, the iconic building celebrated its reopening on June 7, 2025, followed by the relaunch of the two Michelin-starred restaurant Ikarus on June 11.

With “Dreams,” Miele is launching the first outdoor kitchen in 2026 that brings indoor perfection to the outdoors. Modular in design, weatherproof, and equipped with intelligent high-end grills, this world first sets new standards – from 900 degrees of steak power to app-controlled temperature regulation.

Not color, not non-color—but a way of life. White is lightness, light, clarity. Monochrome color concepts are making a comeback—and white leads the style charts with timeless naturalness. Hardly any other shade has such a calming, clear, and yet versatile effect. It’s my favorite when it comes to design pieces that enhance rooms without being obtrusive – which is precisely why I’m showcasing selected highlights in this issue that radiate understated elegance: porcelain vases that seem to be shaped from light itself. A kitchen that shines with its simplicity. And lighting designs that calm the eye – but make the heart dance.

Forget lobby flowers and off-the-shelf wall decorations. Hotels and restaurants are rediscovering art – not as decoration, but as an experience that lasts. From optical illusions in Palermo to culinary art on canvas: if you’re not curating now, you’re losing out.