Designer Nicole Hollis's home gym. Photo: Douglas Friedman
Even before the pandemic shut down gyms, yoga studios, and other fitness facilities across the globe, having a place to exercise at home has seen a meteoric rise in being on most people’s must-have list. From adding trendy “Peloton rooms” in New York apartments to full suites filled with free weights, treadmills, and Pilates reformers, people have been looking to maximize any floor plan with an area devoted to their working up a sweat. “Our small gym is an oasis away from the excitement of daily life,” says San Francisco designer Nicole Hollis. “It is essential to find balance in a home gym; the space should promote wellness and meditation practices in addition to physical fitness.”
The challenge with creating such a space, however, has been to create aesthetic appeal with gear that typically has prioritized function over form. Thankfully, the fitness industry is catching up, designing beautiful pieces that make working out look good. Below, Galerie has rounded up our must-have training tools that don’t skimp on style.
The John Duke-designed WaterRower Rowing Machine in walnut wood. Photo: Courtesy of MoMA Design Store
This masterfully crafted rowing machine more closely mimics the feeling of an open water workout, with a quiet WaterFlywheel constructed into a refined black-walnut wood frame. Made in the United States using ethically sourced timber, this ergonomic design provides a challenging full-body workout, combining cardio and strength training in one.
Berluti alligator leather soccer ball. Photo: Courtesy of Berluti
Berluti leather football. Photo: Courtesy of Berluti
Known for its sumptuous leather goods, Berluti has crafted a selection of hand-sewn sporting gear, including a sapphire-blue soccer ball, made from a richly textured alligator, and a buttery Venezia leather football, which was introduced exclusively in Miami to celebrate the Super Bowl LIV host city.
The gold Loft dumbbells from Hock are made with 18-karat gold and Grenadilla wood and come in a handmade wooden gift box. Photo: Courtesy of Hock
Hock's Diskus Tower dumbbell set is made with walnut wood on a brushed stainless steel base. Photo: Courtesy of Hock
Not your average free weights, these gleaming pieces by German artisans combine rare woods and refined metals. The gold Loft dumbbells, limited to just 50 sets, combine 18-karat gold and Grenadilla wood to striking effect while the Diskus tower holds weights ranging from four to 18 kilograms in a sculptural walnut rack with stainless steel shelves.
Loro Piana's cashmere meditation carpet. Photo: Courtesy of Loro Piana
Downward dog just got so much more decadent with this ultrasoft cashmere meditation carpet from Loro Piana. The two-sided mat, lined in a supple leather, is part of the atelier’s new Wellness collection that includes cashmere yoga socks and towels as well as other cashmere-accented fitness gear like hand weights, jump ropes, and gym balls.
Group fitness looks a lot different in 2020 as people are working out together through the power of cyberspace. This interactive screen provides access to live and on-demand classes in boxing, yoga, barre, bootcamp, and more, as well as one-on-one personal training. Plus, it offers fitness tracking tools and, of course, the perfect post-workout selfie.
Smart Rope in Chrome. Photo: Courtesy of the MoMA Design Store.
Still one of the most efficient cardio workouts around, jumping rope got a 21st-century upgrade in this sleek fitness tool that uses 23 embedded LEDs to project your jump count in midair. Chrome handles offer a sleek, sexy design in this modern device that uses Bluetooth to sync with your fitness wearables and Smart Gym app.
Atelier Biagetti's Alberto Biagetti and Laura Baldassari's "Body Building" collection, created in collaboration with Six N. Five, debuted with Patricia Findlay at Design Miami/. Photo: Six N. Five
Atelier Biagetti’s ongoing “Body Building” series explores the relationship between gym culture and artful objects. The most recent iteration, designed by Atelier Biagetti’s Alberto Biagetti and Laura Baldassari in collaboration with Six N. Five, debuted with Patricia Findlay at Design Miami/. The collection renders familiar workout equipment—such as Swedish wall bars, yoga mats, and a star-embroidered heavy bag—in a new gilded skin created from recycled plastic.
Put the play back in playtime with these exuberant sports balls by Versace. A spirited rugby ball and soccer ball, shown above, are sheathed in the label’s Italianate Barocco print.
The Technogym bench offers access to multiple pieces of equipment in one compact space. Photo: Courtesy of Technogym
New this year is Technogym’s all-in-one bench that combines five pairs of dumbbells, three resistance bands, and a training mat into one sculptural box.
FORME Life is an elegant full-length mirror that transforms into a personal strength studio for body + mind. Photo: FORME Life Studio
Fuseproject designer Yves Béhar is known for his vast array of innovative creations; his latest, dubbed FORME Life, blends AI technology with an all-in-one fitness station for the ultimate home workout. Tucked behind the 43-inch, ultra-high resolution touchscreen are pullout arms for resistance training while stereoscopic cameras help perfect your form and technique. Schedule a virtual personal training session or stream classes in a variety of styles, from barre to weight training, all set to the hottest music pumping from your elite speaker system.
