Danielle Corona
Courtesy of Danielle Corona.
HURS CURATORS
DANIELLE CORONA
The designer shares her favorite brands, designers and stay
Danielle Corona knows the value of taking things slow. After an influential internship in the accessory atelier at Valentino in Rome—where she was inspired by the creative vision of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli—she left Italy and began what would become Hunting Season. Her journey soon led her to Colombia, where she discovered a vibrant community of artisans and craftspeople whose skills and traditions would shape the identity of the brand. Grounded by time spent at her family’s ranch in Florida, her work reflects a quiet strength and sense of place. The accessory and homeware brand is built on the belief that accessories should be intentional, enduring, and made with care. Drawing from a background in high fashion and a deep respect for craft, Corona’s work stands apart for its focus on material integrity and subtle design. Each piece is developed in close collaboration with artisans in Colombia, many of them women, using traditional techniques and thoughtfully sourced materials. In an industry driven by excess, Corona’s taste is a reminder that less—when done well—really can be more.
IN KYOTO, A LIVING ARCHIVE OF JAPANESE HOSPITALITY
Tucked discreetly behind a wooden gate in Kyoto, the Tawaraya Ryokan is one of Japan’s oldest and most revered inns. Family-run for over 300 years, it has hosted emperors, writers, and aesthetes drawn not to extravagance but to exacting simplicity. With just a handful of rooms, each outfitted with tatami mats, sliding screens, and seasonal ikebana arrangements, the experience is less like checking into a hotel and more like stepping into a world where time slows. Everything is intentional: the scent of hinoki wood, the sound of water trickling in the garden, the rhythm of tea served in silence. Service is impeccable but invisible. It’s a place where precision, tradition, and stillness come together in perfect, almost impossible harmony.
“The Tawaraya Ryokan in Kyoto embodies an extraordinary JOURNEY through Japanese history and culture. It’s a 300-year-old inn. The rooms are meticulously crafted, featuring carefully chosen elements like seasonal ikebana arrangements, subtle scrolls that are works of art, and a tokonoma (alcove) that reflects the current season. It’s renowned for its impeccable service. The Ryokan is a ‘living museum’ of Japanese arts and crafts, from textile art and architecture to the cuisine and traditional service. The experience is difficult to describe as it really feels as if you’ve been transported back in time.”
“Isamu Noguchi's work is the perfect example of simplicity and elegance through the integration of natural materials and organic forms. His PHILOSOPHY of reducing designs to their essential elements has always resonated with me; what is left out is as significant as what is included. We have his Akari 120A Lamp lamp in our office as a constant reminder of his ethos. Noguchi’s work often integrates negative space as an active, intentional element, inspired by Zen principles that emphasize balance and harmony serving as a tool to highlight the beauty of simplicity and functionality.”
THE IMPERFECT WORLD OF ISAMU NOGUCHI
Isamu Noguchi didn’t draw lines between art and design. He simply followed form—and feeling. A sculptor, a landscaper, a maker of light and shadow, Noguchi worked with the humility of a craftsman and the reach of a visionary. Born between continents and disciplines, his work moved just as fluidly: a paper lamp could carry the same weight as a bronze sculpture; a coffee table could hold its own next to a garden. But it wasn’t minimalism for minimalism’s sake. It was intimacy—objects designed not to be stared at, but to be lived with. Even today, his designs remain quietly radical—functional, emotional, and perfectly incomplete.
AN AMERICAN STAPLE WITH A SOUTHERN TOUCH
Lucchese is more than a bootmaker—it’s a Texas institution, rooted in craftsmanship, heritage, and an unwavering commitment to quality. Founded in 1883 by Salvatore Lucchese, an Italian immigrant with a shoemaker’s eye and a western sensibility, the brand has long outfitted presidents, cowboys, and purists who understand that style and substance don’t need to compete. Every pair of Lucchese boots is handcrafted in El Paso using time-honored techniques and the finest leathers, shaped over a proprietary twisted cone last that delivers both comfort and silhouette. The "Summer" boot—crafted from burnished American calf leather—is one of Lucchese’s signature styles, designed to be worn year-round. Every element, from the Kennedy pull straps to the Seville corded detailing, is an ode to traditional Western design, elevated by restraint and precision. But we’ll let Danielle share more.
“This is a brand very close to my heart. It would be my dream collaboration partner. To me, it’s the EPTIOME of American heritage and craftsmanship. The cowboy boot is a symbol of the American dream and landscape—living connected to the natural world. Lucchese represents the hero of the American West—the original cowboy. Not the caricature, but the authentic figure: rugged, resilient, and deeply elegant. I grew up watching my father, a cowboy in the truest sense—graceful in his grit, refined in his simplicity. He taught me to value the land, care for what we inherit, and live with humility and purpose. These values shape my life and my work. My favorite boot is the Summer boot; it’s part of my everyday wardrobe. My family has been ranching for five generations—first in Cuba, and then here in the U.S., where both my grandfather and father started their lives on American ranches. I now live on our family ranch with my husband and our three children. Wearing boots makes me feel close to home, no matter what city in the world I’m in.”
“As a designer, I am deeply INSPIRED by George Nakashima's ability to transform wood into living art. His philosophy resonates with me because it reflects a profound respect for nature and craftsmanship. Nakashima saw every tree as deserving a second life, and his work celebrates the unique beauty of each piece of wood—its imperfections, grain, and natural form. His designs are timeless, functional, and poetic, blending simplicity with an organic elegance that feels both grounded and elevated. Techniques like his use of butterfly joints and live edges highlight the raw character of the material while showcasing his mastery as a craftsman. For me, Nakashima's work goes beyond aesthetics; it embodies a philosophy of honoring materials and creating pieces that connect deeply with their environment. This approach inspires my own design practice to seek beauty in simplicity and authenticity, crafting objects that feel timeless yet personal.”
THE LEGACY OF A RENOWNED ARCHITECT
George Nakashima understood restraint. Trained as an architect and shaped by a cross-cultural perspective, he built a design language rooted in respect—for material, for process, for time. He didn’t impose on the wood; he worked with it. Features like live edges, butterfly joints, and irregular lines weren’t added for effect—they reflected how he thought about form and function. From his studio in Pennsylvania, Nakashima developed a practice that prioritised clarity and intention. Every table, chair, and bench is made with precision—and purpose.
A CHEF SERVING FOOD FOR THE SOUL
At Salon Tropical, food is just one layer of the experience. Founded by chef Laura Hernández Espinosa, the restaurant is a tribute to the Caribbean coast of Colombia—reimagined through a lens of fire, memory, and ancestral technique. The open kitchen centers around a wood-burning oven, where ingredients are grilled, smoked, and transformed with intuitive precision. Hernández Espinosa, known for her work at Leo in Bogotá, approaches cuisine as storytelling—rooted in ecology, migration, and matriarchal knowledge. Dishes move beyond the plate: yucca is fermented, spices are ground by hand, and sauces are made using techniques passed down over generations. The restaurant itself is atmospheric—vinyl spinning, plants overgrown—bringing together rhythm, flavor, and place.