Happy Holidays | 548 | A Message of Reflection & Optimism

Convo By Design®

29:22

The world often feels rigged. And this episode is a wake-up call to recognize the barriers that exist for those who don’t fit the traditional mold. In this episode, which is a kind of tribute to my dear departed Dad, I recount some powerful lessons from the man who was a brilliant psychiatrist and my biggest champion. He taught me that if something feels off about the environment you’re in, it probably is—and it’s absolutely hella-not your fault. We dare to break into the uncomfortable truth that many workplaces are designed for a very specific demographic, leaving neurodivergent individuals, particularly those on the autism spectrum, feeling excluded. I share three stories in which my Dad imparted to me more than my fair share of his wisdom, and I'm hoping you to can feel empowered. You'll learn that we can advocate for ourselves and others to create a more inclusive work culture. Newsletter Paste this into your browser if the newsletter link is broken - https://www.lbeehealth.com/ Join our Patreon - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/patreon Mentioned in this episode: Sign Up For Our Newsletter Stay updated on all the things! Get added to our newsletter mailing list. Newsletter…

about a year ago 22:14

MP3•Episode home

Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah. I hope 2024 was the best year ever for you and yours but pales in comparison to 2025. This was an interesting year, one of challenges for the design industry. But more importantly to me, because so many of the people behind design, my friends, family, people I care about, it’s even more important than ever to simply remind you that this was a good year and I know a lot of you are worried, concerned about what 2025 will bring for a number of reasons. Political, social and economic. I am a realistic optimist and I think we are headed into a fantastic year.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

– Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Two parts to that. A realist and an optimist. Those two ideas are not always compatible. There are going to be issues to overcome over the next few years, there is no doubt about that. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t only survive, but thrive. Chaos and challenging times are when designers and architects thrive most, why? Because uncomfortable times create a need for better spaces. Think about it. Post Great Depression architecture included Art Moderne, PWA Moderne, WPA Rustic through the U.S. New Deal and this was a time for Modernism to thrive creating a whole new design industry. WWII created the Mid-Century Modern movement and mew approaches to living. The Atomic Age ushered in a new approach to personal safety through residential bomb shelters. new products and materials. A new approach to power consumption with a focus on electrification and modern technologies within the home. It’s almost as if the greater the chaos, the greater the opportunity for those who craft , design and create safe spaces. Think about that.

Changes to the design industry are coming:

AI – We’ve been talking about artificial intelligence on the show since late 2022. It’s no longer coming. It’s here. And to those with whom I have spoken asking if they are going to lose their job to AI, I will tell you what I tell them. Probably not. AI can’t do your job. You’re going to lose you jobs to the designer who knows how to use AI. It’s not about prompts, high capacity CPU’s or the ideation a computer can do that you can’t. It’s the tasks and roles AI can play within your design firm that will make all the difference. If you are still bound by past methods of doing the work, better educated designers will have more time to pursue projects, deliver proposals and create faster project completions. It’s not just talent anymore, but the speed at which you can deliver on each milestone of the project. We all need to be lifelong learners and increase the speed at which we work. That, and using AI to stay on top of the new ideas your clients will be asking for.

Dupes – The moment something unique is created, someone is working on ways to steal the idea. It sucks, but that’s the way it is. There is a break between budgetary constraints and creating a uniquely special space. Remember a few years ago, during the pandemic when storytelling was what clients wanted. Designers were perfectly suited to deliver on that. Now, clients want the economic pain to stop and shrinking budgets have led to a proliferation of dupes. It’s still not okay. Be original and clients will follow. Dupes are not the same as they original. While they may look similar, there is a reason why they are cheaper than the original and it usually has to do with the materials you don’t see but will certainly feel.

Originality and Authenticity – A strong design firm is such because they produce concepts that are unique. Fads and trends come and go, but originality is always in style. Originality comes in many forms and the reason the U.S. design and architecture community is so strong is due to that embrace of uniqueness and desire for authentic designs in residential, commercial, hospitality, education and industrial spaces. The killer of creativity, personal opinion, has been social medias affect on the creative endeavors. We have entered into a copy culture when everyone seems to be racing to come in second. Let someone else take the shots for being first and then come in behind them with a modified version of the same thing. Social media created that and it sucks the originality out of any creative endeavor. Let 2025 be the year of experimental design, original thought and a sense of aspirational ideals. I don’t just direct this at the designers, shelter media needs to do better. This obsession with celebrity and celebrity designer is slowly choking the joy out of our industry. I cannot tell you how many publicists I have spoken to who tell me that they are having trouble getting coverage for their clients who are doing amazing work for non-celebs. I think the trade pubs have it hard, I really do. They lost a ton of subs during the pandemic. Many have fired or laid off the majority of their contributors, many released the higher priced (quality) contributors for less experienced writers and paper/ distribution costs have increased. I get it. But you simply can’t expect to charge more for an inferior product at a time when everyone is paying more for everything. But, you can charge more for a better product! That is what designers do and what the trade pubs should do as well.

Stronger Together – That’s all on this subject. We are stronger together. If we strengthen our industry bonds, we can do better work in a more collaborative environment. Increase your industry relationships. Like these…

Yes, these are partner sponsors of mine and I am incredibly proud to be working with ThermaSol, Design Hardware, TimberTech, Pacific Sales and Monogram. These partnerships are so important for so many reasons. I can tell you that I have done my research on each and I am proud to be working with them. If you want to know why aside from what you hear on the show, email me and I will share my experiences with each.

2025 is going to be a chaotic year, that is how it’s shaping up. But that can be great news for our industry, and I believe it will be. My mission is to bring you the latest in remarkable stories about wonderful creatives. To share the latest industry news and happenings either from there or speaking with those experiencing it first hand. You will also be hearing from a new slate of Convo By Design Icon Registry Inductees and the limited WestEdge Wednesday panel series starting in January with all of the panels and programs from the show’s main stage in their entirety.

As we reflect on 2024, take some time to enjoy a breather with family and friends. That is what is truly important. There are some additional happenings for me and Convo By Design next year. We will surpass episode 600 in 2025, I will be speaking at KBIS, and Convo By Design will be opening a boutique, multi-line rep firm giving designers an opportunity to engage directly with select brands and unique products to specify for their truly special projects.

It all comes down to being thankful, optimistic and curious. I’m thankful for you. Listening to the show and sharing it with your friends, family and colleagues. I’m thankful for my partner sponsors ThermaSol, Pacific Sales, TimberTech, Monogram and Design Hardware. Optimistic about the year to come and experiencing it first hand, in real time. Curious and on the endless pursuit for the stories, brands and products behind sublime design. Please keep those show and guest suggestion emails coming, Convo By Design at Outlook dot com and on Instagram @ConvoXDesign with an “X”. Until next year, be well and take today first. -CXD

342 episodes

Happy Holidays | 548 | A Message of Reflection & Optimism

Convo By Design®

85 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

– Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Changes to the design industry are coming:

342 episodes

All episodes

Convo By Design®

1
KBIS Confidential | 586 | Inside the Kitchen with Signature Kitchen Suite (SKS) featuring John Russo 55:45

4 days ago55:45

55:45

This year, KBIS brought a whole new energy. This new energy and vibe was brought on by a number of issues on the minds of both design creatives, their clients and the brands that hope to be included in future projects. I think it was also fueled by a discomfort. One that many if not most of us are feeling by the political chaos created by this new administration. Now listen, before you get tribal on me, hear me out. Regardless for whom you voted, when a new administration comes in, they get to make the changes they see fit. And it doesn’t really matter if you agree or disagree, it is a fact of life and elections have consequences. That was the topic of discussion that elevated above all others and I believe that this discomfort being felt has motivated many creatives to reengage in their business and recommit to to their craft despite the head winds headed our way. And you are going to hear some of those conversations! KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, in partnership with the National Kitchen and Bath Association is one of the few “must attend” shows. The event itself is 3 days of brands, talks, programming, events and happenings while combined with the International Builders Show in the same footprint of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Every first-time attendee to the show is gobsmacked by the sheer volume of people and product. Even those who are veterans of the event seem annually surprised by the amount of walking, talking and lack of physical preparedness required to fully navigate this show. KBIS is on my list of annual must-attend events for specifiers, designers, architects and design-build firms. Why? There are a few reasons for this and following is a comprehensive, possibly incomplete, but significant nonetheless. Networking – If there is someone in the industry that you are hoping to meet, there is a very good chance that they are at KBIS. Even if they aren’t, you will certainly meet others with whom you can find strategic opportunities. The event itself is optimally conducive to unplanned “run ins”, scheduled meetings and introductions. Surprise and Delight – Finding new products, materials and services are what makes the idea of a trade show so enticing. You don’t know what you don’t know and an event of this size makes the process of discovery fun and effective. The amount of product interaction over 3 days in over 1 million square feet of convention space is certainly an opportunity to find new products to incorporate into your designs. Learning and Education – The amount of programming that takes place over these three days is significant. There are opportunities to learn a great deal about a vast number of topics in a short period of time making this one of those rare opportunities that matches your preparedness and willingness to learn equal to the number of opportunities available. In other words, there are more available to you than you could possibly attend. We explore what’s cooking at this year’s KBIS. John shares what SKS is most excited about, the can’t-miss products from the brand, and even reveals which SKS products he has in his own home. Plus, we dive into the future of SKS, discuss creative design installations, and get John’s take on the latest trends in kitchen innovation. Topics discussed include; The SKS advantage What is a Technicurean Advantages to cooking with modern appliances Product design How SKS supports the design community through opportunity and education Benefits of a national service team Technological approach to cooking…

Convo By Design®

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Technical Application of Design Principles and Addressing the Curve in Design Thought | 585 | Maggie Griffin of Maggie Griffin Design 1:08:19

4 days ago1:08:19

1:08:19

Application and practical application of tools and techniques. These are just a few of the topics discussed in today’s conversation with designer Maggie Griffin , founder of eponymous firm in Gainesville, Georgia. We are discussing more than design today. A lot more, actually. The changing landscape of the industry and staying ahead of the curve. Oh, that pesky curve. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep The trouble with the curve, and staying ahead of it is that if you don’t actively stay ahead of it, it passes you by before you know it. Like AI for example. Many designers fear it, most don’t really understand it. Those choosing to ignore it, or simply dabble won’t lose their clients because of AI. They will lose their clients to designers who adapt and understand how to best use AI in unimaginable ways that will take costs down, increase specification of better products and materials, shrink the timeline and make the absolute most of every designable opportunity. It’s true. Maggie and I are chopping this up along with a number of other ideas like; Exploring AI tools in practice AI and interior design application Industry trends and challenges Achieving balance of technology and residential design Kitchen design Product specification and client trust Bathroom design concepts Achieving functionality without sacrificing aesthetic Thank you, Maggie. Enjoyed this. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. Thank you for listening, subscribing to the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Please keep those emails coming convo by design at outlook dot com and follow the conversation on Instagram, @ConvoXDesign with an “X”. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD…

Convo By Design®

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EYRC Architects | 584 | Our April Convo By Design ICON Registry Inductee 54:29

9 days ago54:29

54:29

This is the Convo By Design Icon Registry episode for April 2025. I love these Icon Registry episodes for a number of reasons. At the top is the opportunity to show some gratitude for those who have made the time to share their stories, process and work with us on Convo By Design. They transcend design and architecture and their work is both inspiring and transformative. This episode is desiccated to and celebrates the creatives, all who make up EYRC Architects . Ehrlich, Yanai, Rhee, Chaney, the names on the door and all those behind the badge who craft such extraordinary work. Over the past 12 years, Steven Ehrlich, FAIA, Takashi Yanai, FAIA, Mathew Chaney, AIA, Brynn Garrett, AIA, have all appeared on the show in various forms. It could be live at the EYRC headquarters in Los Angeles, on-site at a project in Rancho Mirage, California, it could be online via Zoom or live at WestEdge. Their work is wonderful, creative and forward thinking. Their creatives or thoughtful, immensely talented and open with their talents and willingness to give back to the design community, for these reasons, they are the Convo By Design Icon Registry Inductees for April 2025. In celebration of them and their accomplishments, I am replaying two conversations for you this week. Presented by Pacific Sales a Best Buy Company, partner sponsor of Convo By Design and friends to the designers and architects who trust them with their business. First, you are going to hear my very first conversation with Takashi Yanai from 2016 and then you will hear my chat with Steven Ehrlich from one of my very favorite site visits and live remote conversations from Ridge Mountain in Rancho Mirage recorded in March of 2018 . I hope you enjoy listening to these as much as I did having them. Steven, Takashi, thank you and thank you to the entire team at EYRC Architects on your incredible work. You are going to hear it all, right after this. Congratulations EYRC Architects, every single one of you from the E, the Y, the R, the C to the associates and everyone that makes this firm so special. Congratulations on your enshrinement into the Convo By Design Icon Registry. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me and sharing your story. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, Pacific Sales, TimberTech, Design Hardware and to the Convo By Design Icon Registry presenting partner, Pacific Sales for your dedication to making our industry better, faster, stronger! And thank you for listening to Convo By Design each week and sharing the show with your colleagues and friends who love sublime design. Until the next episode, be well, stay focused and rise above the chaos. -CXD…

Convo By Design®

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KBIS Confidential | 583 | Everything You Need to Know About Extraordinary Outdoor Entertaining 46:35

10 days ago46:35

46:35

Outdoor living, the new frontier for everything from maximizing enjoyment of external spaces, outdoor entertainment and outdoor kitchens. New modalities generating a renewed interest in cultivated design of said spaces by some of the most talented creatives working today. From entertainment spaces to full blown ultra-luxe outdoor kitchens and everything in between with opportunities available for just about any (realistic) budget. Outdoor design is changing rapidly due to a number of factors. Those factors include modified use due to changing circumstances, client desire, increased cost of goods all in an outdoor spaces that are not as predictable as they used to be. So, we are going to chop it up a little bit and provide some practical solutions for designers, architects, landscape architects and design-build firms looking to up their outdoor entertainment game. This conversation features; Jessica Petrino Ball, Director of Trade and Education | AJ Madison , Robert Bell, Landscape Architect | Bell Design Outdoor living UL Rated appliances for outdoor use 4-season living Appliance finish combinations Multi-functional outdoor covered spaces Project approach and design application Partnerships and industry partnerships Managing expectations Understanding winterizing and appliance upkeep Zones for outdoor living applications…

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The High Points, Everything You Need to Be Ready for the Spring High Point Market | 582 | Victoria Holly 1:04:54

11 days ago1:04:54

1:04:54

If you are listening to this episode the week it’s published, that would be the week of April 22nd, and you are planning on attending the Spring High Point Market, lucky you… You are going to hear from Victoria Holly, founder of her eponymous firm and one of this years Style Spotters at High Point Market , the Spring 2025 edition. What does it mean to spot style, differentiate emerging style from trend and further differentiate trend from trendy? Trendy, ugh. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep Something can be trending and have lasting impact on design, but that separation of lasting impact vs ephemeral interest has been dogging the industry for quite some time. Victoria and I talk about this in detail as well as how she prepares for a show like High Point Market and what conversations she will be having as it relates to supply chain, pricing, tariffs and potential brand partnerships. The following is a master class on event prep. A conversations that was a joy to participate in and that I am incredibly proud to share with you in the hopes that you can prep if your going this time or perhaps in the fall. This conversation is absolutely jammed with actionable ideas for design talent at every level because Victoria knows her industry well. It is clear that she has studied her craft and knows how she wants that knowledge and insight to serve her. An idea that we don’t talk about nearly enough. But we do today and you will hear it all in the next hour. Thank you Victoria, loved this. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. Thank you for listening, subscribing to the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Please keep those emails coming convo by design at outlook dot com and follow the conversation on Instagram, @ConvoXDesign with an “X”. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD…

Convo By Design®

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KBIS Confidential: Kitchen ReVOLUTION or Evolution, You Decide | 581 | Christine Vroom, Arianne Bellizaire, Jonah Kilday 52:18

17 days ago52:18

52:18

The kitchen rEvolution is here…But is it more evolution or revolution. Are designers developing contemporary kitchens based solely on new ideas or looking to the past for inspiration? Is it a wholesale revolution or a patchwork of ideas creating a whole new set of ideas and opportunities?. How is the evolving nature of kitchen design changing the way we think about the heart of the home? How are changing technologies and desired functionality reshaping the modality of kitchen use and design. We explore how new opportunities in appliances and technology have evolved the programming of a kitchen suite. How sous vide, various mode appliances, Wi-Fi enabled appliances, water saving faucets and features combined with revised floor planning have forever altered these spaces making the kitchen, once again the place where everything happens and from which life takes shape. This conversation features; Christine Vroom | Christine Vroom Interiors , Arianne Belazaire | Arianne Bellizaire Interiors , Jonah Kilday | MK Workshop . Topics of conversation include; Multi-Kitchen homes Resurgence of butler’s pantry, scullery, wine bar, coffee bar Increased appliance packages and programming Programming changes in kitchen spaces What defines luxury and how does that manifest itself For show or hidden? Definition of “luxury” Triangle Vs. Zones Inside out and the rise of luxury outdoor kitchens Modern definition of function En suite kitchenette What a remarkable experience. I believe that KBIS is one of the annual must-attend events. Not just for all the reasons listed above, but so many others as well. KBIS is the pulse of the industry in America. It represents a true cross section of disciplines. You will see architects, landscape architects, designers, contractors, design-build firms, hospital, education, prison design specialists all looking for new products to specify and unique ways to use them. Thank you to the NKBA, KBIS, Emerald, Flying Camel, AJMadison and all of the amazing creatives who came on the show. The KBIS Podcast Studio was just extraordinary. Thank you for listening to Convo By Design Presents KBIS Confidential. As always, please join in the conversation on Instagram @convoXdesign with an “X” and, if you would like to reach me with a note, show or guest suggestion, please do. Email me, convo by design @ outlook.com. Until next time, stay focused and rise above the chaos. – CXD…

Convo By Design®

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Technical & Bold, the Transformative Nature of Design | 580 | Lauren Reyes Lim , LVR Studios 1:11:27

18 days ago1:11:27

1:11:27

Topics that keeps bubbling up in conversations industry wide is burnout. Exhaustion. Dealing with the daily and unrelenting chaos. These feelings are coming from the stresses caused by the constant price increases, subscription increases, the lost art of customer service and yes, the overall chaos caused by a litany of factors and you know what I’m talking about. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep I say, “you know what I’m talking about” instead of saying it, because, yeah, I’m sick of talking about it. Sick of thinking about it. I want to feel like I did back in 2022. That was a good year. The pandemic was behind us and blue skies ahead. So, your tired. Yeah, me too. The thing that recharges my batteries? The interpersonal conversations that you hear on the show. I started Convo By Design to tell the stories behind design. To showcase the very design that makes me happy. It’s that feeling I used to get when a new issue of Metropolitan Home arrived in the mail. It would be sitting there in the mailbox. I would spend a minute just looking at the cover, through the poly bag. I would spend a minute trying to imagine what will be in there. Then I would save it. Force the anticipation to build. Then put it down for a while and come back when I had a full hour or more to really dig in, read the Editors Letter, Pub Note, the Masthead, scour the ads. Did you know the advertising is really the best way to determine the forthcoming trends? The marketing, not the editorial is where you learn about future-thought. But the editorial is what has been happening for the past 3 months to 2-years while the projects were in process. I don’t think I have ever spoken with you about how I hope you use Convo By Design. This show is offered as both product and service. My hope is that you will take me with you on your walks, runs, trips to discover at local design centers or at the airport as you are on your way to the next big event. I tell you this in support of the conversation you are about to hear with Lauren Reyes Lim, principal and founder of LVR Studios . Lauren’s work, and that of her firm is both throwback and futuristic in thought and delivery. Pattern, color, texture, styling and presentation. That is very much how this chat goes as well. I hope you enjoy it. It’s coming up, right after this. Loved this. Thank you Lauren. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors; TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD…

Convo By Design®

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KBIS Confidential: Luxe for Less | 579 | Achieving Perfect Results on Budget in a More Expensive Environment with a Cost Conscious Clientele 57:13

24 days ago57:13

57:13

Many if not most clients will confess that the reason they employ the services of a designer, architect and landscape architect is because the way they live is not congruent with the way they wish to live. What many clients don’t realize is that a superpower great designers bring to every project is the ability to reduce costs through product knowledge and application of skill. Explore the rapidly changing design space and learn how to craft that perfect environment on a budget through strategic choices, waste reduction, strategic customization and an understanding for how the industry is changing. Stay ahead of the curve and thrive. We will explore how tariffs, supply chain snags and inflation continue to drive costs as well as specification strategies to value engineer every project and achieve that desired look for less. This conversation features Alena Capra , Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer | Alena Capra Design, Jessica Petrino Ball, Director of Trade and Education | AJ Madison and Tony Disilvestro Topics of conversation include; Providing a Bespoke Experience Value Engineering & Building Value Through Strategic Specification Does Luxury REALLY mean Expensive? Breakdown strategic approach Activating the Designer/ Showroom/ Manufacturer Partnerships Brand Loyalty Vs. Mixing to Achieve Expectations Psychological Approach to Design Appliances Beyond the Kitchen How Appliances Spark Joy Using these and other strategies to raise design to meet expectations for less What a remarkable experience. I believe that KBIS is one of the annual must-attend events. Not just for all the reasons listed above, but so many others as well. KBIS is the pulse of the industry in America. It represents a true cross section of disciplines. You will see architects, landscape architects, designers, contractors, design-build firms, hospital, education, prison design specialists all looking for new products to specify and unique ways to use them. Thank you to the NKBA, KBIS, Emerald, Flying Camel, AJMadison and all of the amazing creatives who came on the show. The KBIS Podcast Studio was just extraordinary. Thank you for listening to Convo By Design Presents KBIS Confidential. As always, please join in the conversation on Instagram @convoXdesign with an “X” and, if you would like to reach me with a note, show or guest suggestion, please do. Email me, convo by design @ outlook.com. Until next time, stay focused and rise above the chaos. – Convo By Design…

Convo By Design®

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Getting Real with Designing Women | 578 | Kim Gordon & Breegan Jane Live from KBIS 2025 53:45

25 days ago53:45

53:45

Patience. It’s hard to navigate around because everything is seemingly delivered almost overnight. Actually, it’s more like two days thanks to Amazon. So, after I return from a show like KBIS, I have hours and hours of content to cull through and produce. I want to share some of my process with you. While there is an overwhelming urge to publish everything right when I get back, I have found that a more deliberate approach to content deployment. I have actually found it similar to how many design professionals stage their work on projects. Interesting and something we will be exploring further in the future. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep Today, you are going to hear from two incredible designers and long time friends of the show.While at KBIS, I had the opportunity to speak with Breegan Jane and Kim Gordon. We discussed a number of topics that every working designer today should hear. It’s also not just about the work, the business or trade shows. Life lessons from two of the most honest and authentic people I know. And you are going to hear all about it, first from Kim and then Breegan right after this. Loved this. Thank you Kim and Breegan. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors; TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD…

Convo By Design®

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KBIS Confidential: Beyond the Blueprint | 577 | A Personal Approach to Design with Moen 57:40

4 weeks ago57:40

57:40

The series is called KBIS Confidential – Creative Conversations LIVE from KBIS 2025. This 7-week series will be published every Wednesday. Many of the worlds most innovative brands began with an “aha” moment. Moen’s “aha” moment came in 1937, Seattle when Al Moen’s old fashioned handle broke off in his hand. That moment led to the inspiration for the single-handed faucet, a revolutionary moment in plumbing and the beginning of a story that continues to evolve. It’s been said that industrial designers are a combination of engineer, therapist, artisan and sales professional. Where does the next big idea come from, how is it ideated, modeled, rendered and selected for production? How are aesthetic, functionality and materiality selected. And how do these ideas relate to trends and market data? This is the story of brand evolution through product development. Where science and engineering collide with the playful mindset. The anatomy of brand attraction and the importance of design while respecting the products that deliver our most valuable resource, water. featuring; Sam Cahill, Lead Industrial Designer, Moen and House of Rohl Alisha Snyder, Sr. Industrial Designer, Moen. Concepts discussed include: Anatomy of the Moen brand The value of Trends and market data Selling an idea How designs are ideated, modeled, rendered and selected Market data sets Geographic influence From draft to showroom. The process. Working with the design community Generating a reaction Brand evolution. What’s next? Thank you KBIS for allowing me the opportunity to host the KBIS Podcast Studio presented by AJ Madison! Loved this experience. -CXD…

Convo By Design®

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Favorite Places, Unique Spaces in the Coachella Valley | 576 | Elyssa Contardo 1:04:17

5 weeks ago1:04:17

1:04:17

One of my favorite places in the world is the Coachella Valley. Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells. The valley is thriving as new residents move in, the are is mountainous and arid desert blended in an oasis of mixed architectural styles blended with cultural influence from music to fashion and everything in between. I love the Coachella Valley because as a teenager, I would go to Palm Springs for spring break. Something then mayor, Sonny Bono did not care fore and eventually drove us out. Then it was the architecture , followed by Coachella Music Festival combined with Stagecoach . La Quinta Resort remains my personal favorite place to recharge and reflect. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep I am really pleased to share my conversation with Elyssa Contardo, SoCal native and Coachella Valley based designer. She actually has two offices, one in Palm Desert and the other in Park City, Utah. And we discuss both locations and their emerging status as design forward locales. Check the show notes for links to Contardo’s work . Especially as we walk through some of her projects. You are going to hear all about it, right now after this. Thank you, Elyssa.Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors; TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD…

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Cliff Fong | 575 | Our March 2025 Convo By Design ICON Registry Inductee 1:05:26

5 weeks ago1:05:26

1:05:26

There are some guests that you hear on the that transcend design. You will usually find those guests here, on a very special episode of the show called the Convo By Design Icon Registry. These episodes air Thursdays toward the end of each month and feature past conversations with those who so deservedly receive enshrinement into the Convo By Design hall of fame. This months inductee is Cliff Fong . Cliff has been on the show twice. The first time was in May of 2016 and the most recent was his appearance at WestEdge Design Fair in 2023 where he and I sat for a one on one conversation in front of a live audience. It is that conversation I want to share with you as we add Cliff to a registry that features some of the most amazing creatives in the business today. Fong runs his design firm Matt Black, Inc. and has an emotional gallery of his own called Faire du Vert . The Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, A Best Buy Company and partner sponsor of Convo By Design. I am incredibly appreciative to Pacific Sales for their continued support of Convo By Design and the design industry. And again, congratulations, Cliff. You are going to her my conversation with Cliff form the 2023 edition of the WestEdge Design Fair right after this. Congratulations Cliff on your enshrinement into the Convo By Design Icon Registry. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me and sharing your story. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Design Hardware and to the Convo By Design Icon Registry presenting partner, Pacific Sales for your dedication to making our industry better, faster, stronger! And thank you for listening to Convo By Design each week and sharing the show with your colleagues and friends who love sublime design. Until the next episode, be well, stay focused and rise above the chaos. -CXD…

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KBIS Confidential: LIVE from KBIS 2025 | 574 | Pitch to Published – Get Your Projects the Love They Deserve 1:03:06

6 weeks ago1:03:06

1:03:06

Part One – Pitch to Published: Best Practices and Strategies to Get Your Projects Published Learn what the pros know about getting projects published and how professional photography, narrative creation and knowing your audience can set you apart. Learn how can brand partnerships help get your designs promotion and exposure to potential new clients as well as new branding and revenue generating opportunities. Featuring: Vanessa DeLeon – CEO & Principal Designer | Vanessa DeLeon Associates, Kathryn Given – Style Director | LUXE Interiors + Design and Amy Chernoff – VP of Marketing | AJ Madison This is a comprehensive conversation for design and publicity professions that details and outlines ways to get designers projects into the public media. Topics include; Process (prep) Strategy – Photography, story, client approvals, art clearances, etc. The Pitch Creative deliverables, photography, re-shoots, etc. Promotion Expectations…

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Architecture, Design and Critical Thought. A Formula For Crafting Amazing Spaces | 573 | Enda Donagher, AIA 1:05:12

6 weeks ago1:05:12

1:05:12

In a bygone time, we had celebrated architecture critics, historians and thought leaders like; Ada Louise Huxtable , Lewis Mumford , Jane Jacobs and Vincent Scully . These were gifted thought leaders with a willingness to share their views, good or bad, but never indifferent. They and others influenced the manner in which we looked critically at the shape and purpose of the spaces where we live work and play. Arch Daily wrote a piece in 2012 called The Architect Critic is Dead (just not for the reason you think). Is it. Is it, really? I don’t think the architect critic is dead, it has changed. It’s like Syndrome’s quote from The Incredibles. That when everyone has superpowers, no-one will be a superhero. It’s this dilution of meaning through social media where everyone has an opinion and no hesitation about sharing it. Very little self-awareness and a platform, then everyone is a critic but without the critical thinking or communication skills to articulate their ideas effectively. Enda Donagher and I chop this idea up a Biot and he shares his experience in the business over the past 30-years plus. Enda and I talk about the business and his work . Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep Donagher’s firm addresses the architecture and interior design and his work is nuanced through a personalized approach and sensibly modern in look and feel. The ideas regarding the architect critic is relevant for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the opportunity to deconstruct the ideas that go into creating amazing work. If the work can be deconstructed, it provided a forum for critical thought to better our architecture and design. If we can apply critical thought, share ways to improve, then Syndrome was wrong. Everyone truly can be a super because everyones work is better and the level of expectation is raised. I enjoyed this conversation and I hope you do too. You’ll hear all about it, right after this. Thank you, Enda. Loved our chat. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD…

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WestEdge Wednesday | 571 | The Great Outdoors: Reimagining California’s Love for Outdoor Living 59:40

7 weeks ago59:40

59:40

Californians have perfected outdoor living, largely due to the favorable climate. As weather patterns change, the design industry has adapted with sustainable materials, inventive building practices and creative use of space including outdoor kitchens, theaters, plunge pools, functional landscapes, and unique approaches to sport courts. From pickleball to a pickle martini, design meets entertainment with the new innovations in outdoor design. All of these programs took place in the WestEdge Theater presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home. The stage was designed by Julie Beuerlein of JKB Home Design. This program was sponsored by TimberTech. A fantastic partner/ sponsor of Convo By Design. As a busy professional designer, you know how important it is to find the right partnerships. Partnerships that allow you to specify the right products for every project. Professionals like you just don’t have time to waste. Let me tell you about one of my partnerships. Pacific Sales is here to serve you with expert, knowledgeable and non-commissioned professionals to help you specify the right product for all your projects. Non-commissioned. That means their only incentive is your satisfaction. Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, a Best Buy Company has just that with over 60 years of service in Southern California. Pacific Sales is your destination for exploration, advice and inspiration. And here’s the cherry on top, access to exclusive Builder Trade Incentives from top brands like Monogram. Visit a Pacific Sales Showroom today to learn how you can unlock additional savings and benefits. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work with the best of the best. Visit Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home today and elevate your projects to new heights! At the highest level of design, the absolute best specifying designers, architects and landscape designers are all highly focused on the technology and performance of products and materials today. You have to because the products you specify for your projects have to perform and they have to last. That is one of the reasons why I am so proud to be working with TimberTech. Their focus on the technical renaissance of synthetic decking is literally changing the conversation about innovation and performance. It pulls focus on three priorities homeowners have and expect from the products their designers and architects specify for their luxury projects; 1. Aesthetics must match the overall design and fit visually. 2. Durability and maintenance. I’ve told you my board-flipping stories about my own wood decks. Clients not only want beauty, but they want ease of use and they want it to last for decades. 3. Sustainably made. Clients are more conscious of the environment and they want the same of their materials. TimberTech hits each one of these elements with a product that not only meets expectations, they exceed them. TimberTech makes a synthetic decking that looks just like wood, color and embossed wood grain for a natural appearance. Their composite decking is technologically superior as it has been created to last for decades, and it is manufactured with up to 85% recycled material. Their Advanced PVC Vintage and Landmark Collections have a Class A Flame Spread Rating making these products an amazing choice for wildfire prone areas, which unfortunately continues to grow on a risk-map. Check the show notes for more information about this and to find the nearest showroom or lumberyard. You can also check them out directly TimberTech.com . Moderated by: Josh Cooperman, Convo By Design Featuring: John Feldman | Ecocentrix Landscape Architecture , Sam Toole | AZEK Co. Erik Peterson | PHX Architecture, Scott Specht | Specht Novak , Dustin Moore | Strata Landscape Architecture…

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Clear Communication for that Aha Moment | 571 | Paulina Hospod, Aha! Interiors 1:05:50

7 weeks ago1:05:50

1:05:50

Words matter. They are important not just for the sake of clear communications but to showcase the specific skillset one has in an effort to attract a suitable client. Suitability. If you are a regular listener to Convo By Design you know what I am talking about. If not, first, hopefully you will be a regular listener, second, the idea of suitability in all endeavors is more important now than ever before. Suitability means vibing and open to new ideas through a mutual trust. A mutual trust allows someone to communicate with another, without having to masque every idea under the veil of “correctness”, in whatever form that may take. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep No, we are not going to be talking about politics or anything that might make anyone uncomfortable. Today, you are going to hear my conversation with Paulina Hospod with Aha!Interiors about design vs. renovation and subtle details. Sometimes, subtle details make all the difference between the overused, overplayed looks you can find while doomscrolling on the socials. Design should make us happy, and were going to explore that idea with Paulina, right after this. Thank you, Paulina. Loved our chat. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD…

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Midwest Sensibility and Hand-Crafted Design | 569 | Bailey Todd, White Cliff Studio 1:03:47

8 weeks ago1:03:47

1:03:47

For the past 12 years, it has been a mission to bring you voices and stories of talent in design, architecture and the arts. There have been so many twists and turns over these past 12 years and many of you have been with me since the early days of the show. A few ideas that often come back to me when presenting these conversations. Two major themes are authenticity and suitability. Two words that you don’t hear often. The first being authenticity in design and the other, which you never hear, except here is suitability. Were going to drill down on both this week. Today on the show, you are going to hear from Bailey Todd of White Cliff Studio . Bailey and her Midwest minded, Illinois based firm deals in authenticity in all her projects and we will dig in a bit. It’s the suitability idea that I have been focused on lately. For years, I have been non-plussed by the trades, magazines and social media prognosticators alike and this is the perfect way to draw the correlation between the influencer and the influential . The influencer will tell you just how great they are and because they know, here are the things with which you should surround yourself. Influentials on the other hand, this is experienced based knowledge shared with you by people who know because they have experience. I really enjoyed my conversation with Bailey and I think yo will too. She knows her industry, she understands her business and she is willing to chop it up and share. Love that. And, it’s coming up, right after this. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, Monogram and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD…

Convo By Design®

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WestEdge Wednesday | 569 | Is it Worth Saving: Iconic Architecture or an Old but Poor Representation 1:00:51

8 weeks ago1:00:51

1:00:51

What makes an architectural work worth saving from the bulldozer? The architect? The style? The age? A famous past resident? How are preservation decisions made when historical considerations are in conflict with the rights of the current owner? What is the responsibility of the city and what municipal rules/regulations help address such discussions? Join this conversation with industry insiders as we explore preservation and progress. All of these programs took place in the WestEdge Theater presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home. The stage was designed by Julie Beuerlein of JKB Home Design. As a busy professional designer, you know how important it is to find the right partnerships. Partnerships that allow you to specify the right products for every project. Professionals like you just don’t have time to waste. Let me tell you about one of my partnerships. Pacific Sales is here to serve you with expert, knowledgeable and non-commissioned professionals to help you specify the right product for all your projects. Non-commissioned. That means their only incentive is your satisfaction. Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, a Best Buy Company has just that with over 60 years of service in Southern California. Pacific Sales is your destination for exploration, advice and inspiration. And here’s the cherry on top, access to exclusive Builder Trade Incentives from top brands like Monogram. Visit a Pacific Sales Showroom today to learn how you can unlock additional savings and benefits. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work with the best of the best. Visit Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home today and elevate your projects to new heights! Moderated by: Josh Cooperman | Convo By Design Featuring: Jaime Rummerfield | Jaime Rummerfield Interior Design , Chris Goddard | Goddard Design Group , Anthony Laney | Laney LA , Paul McClean | McClean Design , William Hefner | Studio William Hefner…

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A Philosophical Approach to Luxury and Design | 568 | Brittany Farinas, House of One 1:10:44

9 weeks ago1:10:44

1:10:44

We often talk about luxury, the idea of luxury has so many different connotations, ideas and meaning. If I asked you to describe luxury in interiors design, what would you say? Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep If I asked 10 designers what the word luxury meant, I am quite sure that I would get 10 different definitions. And you know what, that is exactly how it should be. I believe that luxury is more of a state of mind than a place or thing. Socrates had something to say about luxury. “He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.” But he also said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing that you know nothing.” And, things didn’t end well for Socrates. But as a philosopher, one of the best. I think there are people who are very happy with the ultra-luxurious lives they live and love the wonderful and expensive things with which they surround themselves. And I also think there are people who would tell you that the feeling of luxury is comes when they are immersed in an environment that is conducive with the way it makes them happy, or content. Isn’t that what home is supposed to do? Today, you are going to hear from Brittany Farinas from House of 1 . We are going to be discussing luxury, Miami, Florida and other places where you can find her work. We will be discussing the work itself and I invite you to follow along. Checking the show notes, you will find a link to her work. So let’s catch up with Brittany, right after this. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, Monogram and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD…

Convo By Design®

1
The Design Messengers – LA on FIRE March 2025 | 566 | Designing for Disaster and The Build Back Better Paradox 48:35

9 weeks ago48:35

48:35

The recent wildfires have shaken Angelenos to their core and rightly so. I imagine it is not dissimilar from those who have experienced fires in Hawaii, other parts of California or elsewhere. Or those who suffered through hurricanes, floods, wind events or any other major natural disaster. I think this was different. I’ve shared this story with you but for the sake of those new to the show, I’ll share it again to make a point. That point is that while wildfires in Southern California are not new, nor are earthquakes, floods, or civil unrest. The wildfire is an emerging threat that has taken decades to reach this point but has now reached year round catastrophic status. After spending a week plus watching this unfold from half the country away from Los Angeles, I find myself asking a question that probably isn’t really that original. Why is this happening over and over with very little changed. Fires in Southern California. Hurricanes in Texas and Florida. Tornados in the midwest. Flooding in the mid Atlantic and southern U.S., Because that is the natural way of things in these parts of the country. In Southern California, the Santa Ana winds are nothing new. The manner in which they spread embers is not new. Droughts in this area are new. Much of this area is a dessert. Always has been. Earthquakes have ALWAYS been a part of the region. The question that I see so many asking is, “why does this keep happening?” For the reasons listed above. And, probably the most important reason, greed and an overwhelming urge by public officials to build more, grow faster… A few statements we should probably retire include, “we’re going to build back better” and “our thoughts and prayers are with the victims.” I believe that everyone would be better off if those who know nothing about a subject would be quiet about it. It was 1983, my family was living in the far Southeast corner of Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley. As far back as you could get without being in the mountains that separated the San Fernando Valley from Simi Valley. We raised horses, Arabians. My sister showed them and I cleaned up after them. It was a crappy deal and the reason I still don’t like horses. It was a Saturday, just came back from a Pop Warner football game. By the time we smelled smoke, it was too late. I had on a pair of board shorts and cowboy boots when I made it down to the barn. Hopped on one horse, had another in tow, my sister had the same and by the time we made it to the gate, the ridge behind our house was on fire. My mom drove the f-350 with a four horse trailer to get the more skittish horses out and my dad stayed back to do what he could to save the structures. I rode that horse for 23 hours straight. When it was safe to return, the fire burned right up to the door. But no further. My Dad had several stories from that day, it included the car full of guys that drove up to the driveway and told him they were the owners, there to pick up their belongings. The way my dad told the story, they got out of the car, four of them and started to walk up on him. He drew his .38, informed them that ‘it was his home and he and his 6 friends we going to keep it safe.’ At which time the left. Later that year, my father removed brush around the perimeter of the house and installed rain birds on the roof of the house and the barn. This was my first experience with anything like that. Sure, earthquakes, I have always be accustomed to those, but fires, floods, that’s different. We now find ourselves in a state of constant emergency across California and beyond. Fires are no longer seasonal in California, nor are floods. Nor do they happen in places where they have in the past. Natural disasters are showing in the form of fires, floods, cyclones, hurricane, tornado, derecho, like the one I told you about that hit us here in Tulsa in 2023. I think most people have mistakenly placed their faith and hope in leaders and politicians to pass legislation and craft an organized response to natural disasters. In California, if you haven’t heard about this yet, you will. Check the show notes for a link showing Mayor Karen Bass getting peppered by a reporter about being out of the country as the fires ravaged Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas as well as cutting 17 million from the annual LA Fire Department budget. The water tanks in the Palisades were reportedly not full and it is really hard to understand how this can happen in a place like Southern California where fires are a regular occurrence. My point is this. If you put your faith in the fire department to put out a wildfire, they can’t. If you put your faith in the police to prevent crime from impacting your life and those you love, they won’t. I believe in, and appreciate the work of our firefighters and police, I do, full stop. Fire and police are responsive not proactive. They can only react after there is something to react to. And, they are completely at the will of politicians for funding and it’s never enough. Compound this with the insurance companies refusing to write policies in areas that are prone to extreme weather events. Which is different now than it was even 5 years ago. I predict that this insurability trend will not only continue, but accelerate. In line with the acceleration of extreme weather events. I also think this is the next iteration of the residential and commercial architecture and design renaissance that began during the pandemic. Things are changing. If you want to look to someone for help, to save you and your treasures. To fortify your personal environment. To make you as safe as possible using every proactive tool in their arsenal, someone to future proof your home, look to the designers, architects, landscape architects. Architects evaluate topography, surroundings and elevations. They can predict best paths for water to move away from the structure in cases of flooding, they specify the right materials to best defend against fire, they make structures fortresses against those who might try to break in. Look to landscape architects who will plant the right materials for the present and the future be it drought tolerance or fire resistance. They too can help design exteriors for a safer and a more impenetrable environment. Look to designers to craft spaces that allow for internal safety and comfort. Materials that are less likely to burn and more likely to protect your investment. Check the show notes for a link to an eye opening report from my friends and partner sponsors of the show, TimberTech. It features flame spread and ignition resistance information. I believe the days of blanket trust in our public officials to effectively protect and serve are over. We should wish those we vote into office the best. Pay our taxes and expect them to do what’s right for the entire community. If I sound jaded, I’m not. I’m optimistic because I know what exceptional designers and architects can do. There are some exceptional products out there that speak directly to issues like this. But I also believe that the next level of luxury, that aspirational state that is hard to define but recognized when seen is the feeling of safety and security. I’m really saddened to see my hometown burned, flooded and looted. Protections, safety and security are an issue of self determination. It’s up to each of us, individually to find the level of protection that makes us feel secure. If that is what you’re looking for, look to a designer or architect. Let’s understand the economics of this. Perhaps city leaders and elected officials want their names on plaques and “credit” for all their good deeds. Or, maybe they want immortality that comes from building big things. There is probably a combination of things. But civic leaders direct city staffs and direct policy that in many cases includes density ratios, zoning and building policy. I was a commissioner for the city of Manhattan Beach for 6 years. The library commission was responsible for overseeing the Manhattan Beach library branch of the County of Los Angeles. During my 6-year stint, we went from a dilapidated, outmoded branch to the completion of a brand new, modern structure that served the people of Manhattan Beach. I saw first hand the inner workings of a city government that wanted big, beautiful things. What municipality doesn’t. I also witnessed city council members fight the budgetary demands up and until the project was completed and then the elbowed each other and everyone else out of the pictures memorializing the opening of the new library. This is the Build Back Better paradox. You’re not building back better, but it sounds good. Makes a tight headline. It’s certainly clickable. The idea of building back with the same if not greater density is equal to believing you can beat Mother Nature. You can’t. Believing we are going to become a safer society, we won’t. I was on a ride here in Oklahoma last year, with a friend who was raised here. We passed a large plot of land, it had to be at least 15 acres that I could see. A small neighborhood, with dozens and dozens of raised foundations and nothing more. They clearly had been there for a while. I asked what the story was and he explained to me that they built this particular neighborhood back multiple times after tornados repeatedly tore the area apart. They kept building and tornados kept coming. Sound familiar? But they finally stopped building. As will those in Southern California, at some point in the future. Near or far, who is to say? Don’t build back better. Build back smarter. You cannot change the climate back, this is not something that will happen in our lifetime. We can only adapt to the changing environment and those who can make this transition successfully are the designers, architects, landscape architects, engineers, futurists and visionaries. No amount of tax revenue in the hands of elected officials will make it happen. To those who have lost everything, I’m so sorry. To those in office who continue to allow this to happen. Shame on you, you should be voted out of office in favor of creative people with real, quantifiable solutions. And I hope that happens during the next cycle. By the time you hear this episode, you will have been inundated with stories and reports of lack of leadership, civic mismanagement, relentless self promotion, politicization of the situation specifically by a out-of-state and feckless politicians who have no understanding of the situation but will still call for holding of emergency funding and the like. What you most likely won’t hear are practical solutions. Good, bad, unfeasible. Doesn’t really matter because what’s missing right now are ideas. Because this is the time of year where most in the media are asking design and architecture talent what the big design trends of 2025 are going to be. It’s absolutely asinine and if you think about it, it’s completely pointless. So here are some of my ideas for rebuilding smarter. These are concepts that I have seen in practice and learned through the conversations you hear on Convo By Design. These are being thrown out as thought starters in the hope that as we move forward, we can build back smarter. Not better, not faster, smarter. Every home within the high fire risk area should have it’s own water supply. Years ago, you heard from architect Anthony Laney of Laney LA. He was telling you about a swimming pool that disappeared when a raised deck was lifted from the bottom of the pool and again submerged to reveal the pool. I believe every home in these areas should have something of this nature capable of providing the homeowner with at least 5,000 gallons of water available in case of emergency. I think this same personal aquifer should be connected to both a rain collection system as well as grey water collection , further connected to water the landscape. By doing this, it would serve as rainwater collection, grey water repurposing and be available in case of fire emergency. Years ago, you heard a conversation with the USGBC and Grey Water Corps on the idea of a grey water collection system, which is already available was discussed. If you find yourself in the midwest, you will see storm shelters. Many homes that don’t have basements have them. They save lives. I have immense respect for firefighters and law enforcement. It’s important to realize that they are not there for prevention, they are there to react. It’s unfortunate because many believe that the police are there to protect you, it says so on their vehicles. It’s a misnomer. Police cannot be everywhere. Nor can they read the minds of criminals. We must protect ourselves. A while back, you heard from Saferoom.com. I believe there needs be a return to the concrete basement in residential construction, especially in fire prone areas. Yes, we need to consider earthquakes. That is what engineers are for. Across the U.S. in the 1950’s, in reaction to the ratcheting up cold war, bomb and fallout shelters were built under and around homes. These shelters were concrete and built for around $1,000 or so in 1950’s dollars. Many in Southern California fight against “the basement” and I think that should change. With current material and engineering advancements, building a walkout or full basement could address both security and property damage/ theft in cases of fire emergencies. And, in many cases, basements are NOT counted towards a homes square footage when they are completely below grade. I can imagine a basement to secure valuables and provide security during extreme weather event or home invasion. I would like to see the State of California incorporate tax incentives into basement construction. Instead of building more above ground, build below grade which would provide more open spaces and less density above grade. This space could serve as firebreak against spreading flames. Leave the past in the past. I have been hearing from some in the industry that they want to return the Palisades and Altadena to their former glory in architectural style and detail. And that they want it done quickly. And that the environmental review process needs to be bypassed. These are really terrible ideas. Yes, we need to build back. And we need to re-home those who have lost everything. But if we got into this situation by cutting corners, bypassing safeguards and overbuilding in areas that are not conducive to this amount of development, what do we think will happen. If past is prologue, it’s going to happen again. Not if, but when. Let’s remove the insanely high cost of permitting, remove the layers of bureaucracy. Pause and review the overly stringent codes associated with Title 24 and get back to reasonable and practical building methods. Review zoning guidelines. We have overbuilt these communities because with great wealth comes great influence and politicians and city staffs love to increase the tax base. But when there are no resources to serve the community, it ceases to function. We have reached the breaking point in many cases. Do we really need to build lot line to lot line save for mandatory easements? Does a family of 4 or 5 really need a 10,000 square foot home? Show me where that is a right? Or better yet, show some civic responsibility. Obscure requirements and zoning. In 2020, the IHO went into effect. The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. This states that in LA County, this requires low-income housing units or affordable housing units be required as a percentage of residential housing units built. Now before all the NIMBY’s praise this and the bleeding heart decry it, can we be honest about this? You can put low income housing in the Pacific Palisades and the low income residents will not have the financial means to afford patronizing local businesses. That hurts business, it puts the low income residents in an unfortunate situation and it hurts the city’s tax base. Instead, look to infill projects in areas that need it. The CA Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (did you even know that existed) refers to California’s “Infill Development” as “building within unused and underutilized lands within existing development patterns, typically but not exclusively in urban areas. Infill development is critical to accommodating growth and redesigning our cities to be environmentally and socially sustainable.” When you look at burn-scarred Southern California and demolished cities, what is the goal? If the goal is to build back “better” which has no real meaning, only to say that it will be built back even bigger, then you are destined for the same results at some point. Or, you can build back smarter. According to realtor.com , the home’s for sale in Pacific Palisades, CA. range from $290K to $40M. According to ATTOM Data , in Q4 2024, there were 8,960 residential properties in Pacific Palisades, average age was 59 years and the average square footage was 2,977 for a single family residence. There are a number of estimates out there, but USA Today puts the number of homes destroyed in Pacific Palisades at 1,200 with another 200 other structures damaged or destroyed. These 1,200 homes are where real people lived, loved, gathered and where they kept their most cherished belongings. We are talking about this now, and many are going to say it’s too soon. Perhaps, but it’s always too soon, until it’s too late. There will be those who try to come in, scoop up lots and develop big, massive and expensive residential projects. These homes will command big prices and big tax returns for the municipalities and the state. Some will look at combining lots and build back bigger! Others will say there should be a preservation of older styles to match what the city looked like before. I don’t believe you can look back. But you can look forward to building back with purpose, respecting Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Thoughtful approach to the future. Some of the easiest ways to approach this now? How about reconfiguration, under grounding of utilities, adding solar installations for residential, commercial and municipal applications? Why not underground fiber while you’re at it? Municipal solar and hydrogen charging stations? Community approach to emergent groups. An emergent group is a collective of individuals coming together to address a particular issue. When I was living in Manhattan Beach, California, I was recruited by some of my neighbors to join Neighborhood Watch , later, I became block captain which led to an invitation to join CERT, the Community Emergency Response Team. You have heard the stories of neighbors coming to each others aid in times of disaster or emergency. Traditionally, some communities without an organized police or fire have taken the initiative. But we are living in a more complicated, highly dense community environment and it is time for every community that falls in emergency zones (which is just about everyone) to come together in this type of neighbor to neighbor shared assistance partnership. Most police and fire departments welcome the help and usually, it only takes one person to organize it through the city. Doesn’t even have to be a resident and I believe this is a place for the design community to step up. Design professionals are keenly aware of the local regulations, neighborhood differences and this could be an opportunity to not only increase business, which would be a perk, but to help protect your work and that of other creatives in the process. We will be discussing more about this in the future. Manufactured, Fabricated and Modular Stock. This just might be what changes the future of housing. As one might imagine, this manufactured homes got it’s start on wheels, a natural way of adding to new freedoms brought on by the advent of the automobile. Then, kick the wheels off and you have the same mobile coach, but as a stationary dwelling. That led to a period of time when manufactured homes were advancing and addressing housing issues in real time. Just as the tract home created much needed housing units for retiring GI’s after WWII, so did the Manufactured home industry by providing housing in manufactured home communities. Since the very start of the manufactured home industry, this was viewed as affordable and a lower cost of building for those with lower incomes. We have come a long way in construction and manufacturing. Prefabricated vs. stick built, we could probably bring experts in to debate for weeks, but we don’t have the time for that. What we do have are some companies out there prefabricating and assembling on site which is capable of turning traditional construction upside down. Check out a few of these companies: Stillwater Dwellings , DVELE , Turkel Design . The idea that one could order a prefabricated home, prep the lot and assemble onsite can do a number of things that speak to issues we are trying to address like sustainability, material shortages, out of control costs, and Price of good are going up at a time when the demand for more goods is again on the rise. In 2020-2022, the international and domestic supply chains froze up due to the crush of demand due to the pandemic. From 2022 through 2024 many of the costs came down. But as we enter 2025, the costs are once again on the rise due in part to a number of factors. Brands like Thermador, Bosch and SubZero/ Wolf have already announced price increases between 3 and 8 percent. Other brands are evaluating their price increases as we speak. There are a number of factors to consider as we move cautiously forward. China has been dumping cheap steel which then makes it’s way into U.S. manufacturing and lowers overall manufacturing cost, at the expense of U.S. made steel and others. The Trump administration is cracking down which will increase costs. There is a very real possibility that the immigration crackdown will also affect those who work on and assemble appliances. That will cause cost increase and a lack of individuals to do the work. This will most likely create a shortage of finished appliances. This in turn will create emergency pricing and delays. Tarfiffs aren’t new, you know that. But did you know that the Biden administration bumped Canadian lumber tariffs to 14.5%? An article from freightwaves.com showcased a number of ways tariffs and will continue to affect costs to American purchasers. If this continues as it is likely to do, these costs will continue to rise. This creates a very uncomfortable situation for the design/ build professionals who are going to be tapped with the responsibility of designing and building the homes that not only replace the ones lost in this disaster, but all of the homes not yet destroyed in future disasters. The way we specify, purchase, deliver and install building materials has to change. The supply chain needs to be condensed, organized and strategic. In California, the first Franciscan mission was built in 1796 and a total of 21 were constructed between 1796 and 1833 . They were constructed about 30 miles apart for a relatively easy one day journey between each. These outposts needed to be self sufficient. If industry specific supply chains were built in this manner, delivery estimates would be precise, delivery costs would drop, it would be environmentally responsible by cutting the amount of miles product is transported, it could increase local jobs and spur localized product assembly. This is already happening, Amazon has already learned this lesson and you can see these massive fulfillment centers from space. In California alone, there are over 35 current or planned centers for product distribution. This is a longterm objective but one that needs to happen. In the meantime, what would happen if designers were hired sooner, plans approved faster and product could be specified and ordered sooner. What if materials could be staged locally. Ready and waiting for crews to begin work. This would expedite the design build process exponentially, and I predict that it would lower costs significantly. It’s like getting your designer paid for through efficiency offsets. Front Running Vs. Specify-As-You-Go: If we have learned nothing from the great toilet paper shop Expect Exceptionalism. I don’t mean this in the way you hear about it constantly used in political rhetoric. I mean it as stated. Seek exceptionalism in the products and services you purchase both those in the trade and clients alike. Designers really should stop this endless fascination with the pursuit of “trend”, celebrity design and whatever the latest “influencer” is peddling on anti-social media. Designers are professionals who specialize in design. Many designers hold degrees in this, all architects do as well. Landscape architects possess an understanding of what goes where and what it should look like over time. Product manufacturers absorb the cost for research and development to produce a product that the market can then choose, or not. But buying things based on number of followers, not the success of your project. I am so sorry everyone that has been affected by this tragedy. I hope the recovery is seamless and easy. I hope this never happens again. Let’s be thoughtful in the way we build back by looking to the design professionals first, making our elected leaders earn their jobs by thinking of their constituents first, respecting the true value of fire fighters and law enforcement by looking inward to protect our homes smartly. Let’s return to an era of innovation through new materials and design experience. If we can eliminate the waste, greed and mismanagement, this presents an exceptional opportunity to not only regain former glory, but establish the new paradigm for what a well design, well run fully functional city looks like. If we can do that, were in a good place and who doesn’t want that. -CXD…

Convo By Design®

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WestEdge Wednesday | 567 | Color Mix: The Sherwin Williams 2025 Color Capsule Collection 58:44

9 weeks ago58:44

58:44

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is a special edition of Convo By Design featuring all of the programming from the 2024 edition of the WestEdge Design Fair. We call these entries WestEdge Wednesday, a programming concept that will allow those of you who either didn’t make it to the show this year or, those who made it and are taking me up on my promise to share It with them again on Convo By Design. All of these programs were shared in the WestEdge Theater presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, a Best Buy company. On a stage designed by Julie Beuerlein of JKB Home Design . An amazing space that served as the backdrop for our conversations. Over the next 10 weeks, you are going to hear talks, panels and conversations from the show, so I wanted to open this up with a teaser, a sample of some of these conversations like this one. As a busy professional designer, you know how important it is to find the right partnerships. Partnerships that allow you to specify the right products for every project. Professionals like you just don’t have time to waste. Let me tell you about one of my partnerships. Pacific Sales is here to serve you with expert, knowledgeable and non-commissioned professionals to help you specify the right product for all your projects. Non-commissioned. That means their only incentive is your satisfaction. Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, a Best Buy Company has just that with over 60 years of service in Southern California. Pacific Sales is your destination for exploration, advice and inspiration. And here’s the cherry on top, access to exclusive Builder Trade Incentives from top brands like Monogram. Visit a Pacific Sales Showroom today to learn how you can unlock additional savings and benefits. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work with the best of the best. Visit Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home today and elevate your projects to new heights! The following panel discussion hosted by Sherwin-Williams, where they explore color and its many applications, from evoking emotion and enhances spaces, to creating balance that dramatic wow factor! Sherwin-Williams shares insight from their recently announced 2025 Color Capsule Collection, featuring not just one but nine hues as part of its color trend forecast. A panel of industry pros share practical insights on how to best incorporate these colors (and others), from bold statements to subtle accents. Whether you’re a design enthusiast or a professional, this conversation will equip you with the knowledge to stay ahead of the color curve and enhance your color potential! Moderated by: Ashlynn Bourque, Sherwin-Williams and Ro Almira, Sherwin-Williams Featuring: Breegan Jane, Breegan Jane; Kerrie Kelly, Kerrie Kelly Studio; Patrick Ediger, Patrick Ediger Interior Design; and Eddie Maestri, Maestri Studio…

Convo By Design®

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Exceptional Design And Knowledge From A Previous Career, Long Live the Pivot | 565 | Allison Handler of Allison Handler Design 1:03:33

10 weeks ago1:03:33

1:03:33

The expectations many designers have don’t necessarily result once their careers begin. Often times, designers find their way into the business by starting in another field. And that makes for an interesting journey. I remember being in college and thinking about all of the things I wanted to do once I started my career. If you would have asked me during my time at Washington State University what I was going to be doing in 2025, this would not have been anywhere in the conversation. But I really cannot imagine myself doing anything else. And I’ve been doing this since 2013. Prior to that, I had a first career in radio and broadcast media. Funny how life works, isn’t it. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep I have a unique process of writing and prepping for the conversations you hear on the show. I have the types of conversations with creatives that I want to have with them. Meaning, I find your in discovering what makes designers, artists, makers, architects and creatives work. What drives them to do what they do and what inspires them to reach the high levels they have achieved. Many of the conversations you hear on the show start with, “so, what are we talking about today” or you simply hear my response to that question in a cold open. I don’t edit that out, nor do I edit the chats we have because I want you to hear the stream of consciousness. What you don’t know is the amount of prep I do for each conversation. As a matter of fact, the guests you hear don’t see that either. I decided to model this show on the conversations that I have at trade events. The individual interactions that take place that make the trade events so truly special. You cannot recreate the vibe, I know that. But, I want you to feel like you are in Vegas, LA or Paris at KBIS, WestEdge or Maison y Objet, with a cocktail in your hand and listening in on a conversation between two peers and know that what you are about to hear is going to enrich you in some special way. Perhaps its hearing how someone else built their practice. Maybe it’s what discovery led them to design the way they do or even how their previous career led them to where they are today. To inspire you to perhaps pivot, reorganize your firm or employ a new technique. Because that’s fun. It’s inspiring. It’s motivating. And who couldn’t use a little more of that. Well, I hope you can because that’s what your getting today as you listen in on my chat with New Jersey designer, Allison Handler of Allison Handler Design . Thank you Allison, loved our chat and appreciate the time. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, Monogram and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD…

Convo By Design®

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Leo Marmol, FAIA | 264 | Our February 2025 Convo By Design ICON Registry Inductee 1:02:10

10 weeks ago1:02:10

1:02:10

You have been hearing the WestEdge Wednesday episodes since the beginning of the year and I do hope that you’re enjoying them. This months addition to the Convo By Design Icon Registry was heard on the WestEdge Wednesday series in 2024 following his appearance on a panel at the show in 2023. It is fascinating for me to have incredible creatives individually on the show and equally amazing to hear them in concert with other talented creatives. In 2023, Marmol was on the podcast as part of a panel that also featured Sara Malek Barney, Christine Vroom and was moderated by Frances Anderton. The panel was called All Roads Lead to SoCal: Long Live the Creative Experiment. It seems even more interesting now than in November of 2023, no? Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep Leo’s participation in this panel was extraordinary. He is a remarkable creative who brings a level of skill and talent wherever he goes and shares it willingly. Marmol is the managing partner of Marmol Radziner and has been since the firm was founded in 1989. Leo earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly SLO. He also earned a minor in Philosophy. Which I think speaks volumes. Philosophy, as a discipline seeks to create more questions than answers. And when you are dealing with the concept of existence and other fundamental issues, it can be a challenge to navigate. Just like architecture. I find the architecture/ Philosophy combo really interesting. Leo is a painter, a fisherman. He is also something of a raconteur and lucky you… You get to hear him in action as we induct him together into the Convo By Design Icon Registry for February 2025. Enjoy. Congratulations Leo on your enshrinement into the Convo By Design Icon Registry and your extraordinary studio. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me and sharing your story. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Design Hardware, Pacific Sales and Monogram for your dedication to making our industry better, faster, stronger! And thank you for listening to Convo By Design each week and sharing the show with your colleagues and friends who love sublime design. Until the next episode, be well, stay focused and rise above the chaos. -CXD…

Convo By Design®

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WestEdge Wednesday | 563 | Sustainable Design: Does it Have to be All or Nothing? 58:54

10 weeks ago58:54

58:54

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is a special edition of Convo By Design featuring all of the programming from the 2024 edition of the WestEdge Design Fair. We call these entries WestEdge Wednesday, a programming concept that will allow those of you who either didn’t make it to the show this year or, those who made it and are taking me up on my promise to share It with them again on Convo By Design. All of these programs were shared in the WestEdge Theater presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, a Best Buy company. On a stage designed by Julie Beuerlein of JKB Home Design . An amazing space that served as the backdrop for our conversations. Over the next 10 weeks, you are going to hear talks, panels and conversations from the show, so I wanted to open this up with a teaser, a sample of some of these conversations. Like this one. As a busy professional designer, you know how important it is to find the right partnerships. Partnerships that allow you to specify the right products for every project. Professionals like you just don’t have time to waste. Let me tell you about one of my partnerships. Pacific Sales is here to serve you with expert, knowledgeable and non-commissioned professionals to help you specify the right product for all your projects. Non-commissioned. That means their only incentive is your satisfaction. Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, a Best Buy Company has just that with over 60 years of service in Southern California. Pacific Sales is your destination for exploration, advice and inspiration. And here’s the cherry on top, access to exclusive Builder Trade Incentives from top brands like Monogram. Visit a Pacific Sales Showroom today to learn how you can unlock additional savings and benefits. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work with the best of the best. Visit Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home today and elevate your projects to new heights! When it comes to sustainability in residential design and architecture – whether renovating or new build – the impression can be that you either have to do everything sustainably, or not even start down that path. Increasingly, many consumers/clients want to make a positive impact by making sustainable choices. How does one choose, do you have to, and which choices make the most impact? Moderated by: Degen Pener, Writer/Editor Featuring: Lori Dennis, CEO, Lori Dennis Inc.; Dan Brunn, Dan Brunn Architecture; Hanna Li, Creative Director and Designer, Hanna Li Interiors; and Greg Roth, CarbonShack Design…

Convo By Design®

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KBIS is Coming and This is Everything You Need to Know | 562 | Brian Pagel, EVP – Emerald 1:04:33

11 weeks ago1:04:33

1:04:33

In one week from today, KBIS will be hitting Las Vegas with the force and impact you might expect from the worlds greatest kitchen and bath show. Yes, there are others. And, yes, they are great… But this one is my favorite. And you’re about to find out why. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep I have a personal connection to KBIS, the kitchen and bath industry show . The NKBA does a magnificent job presenting this event each year. For me, this is a homecoming, an opportunity to network with friends, colleagues, past guests and meet future guests, and partners. It’s an important show for the industry because designers, architect, builders, contractors, remodelers, all specifiers really get the opportunity to see what’s new, next and on the horizon. They have the opportunity to hear about ways the most innovative creatives in the industry are using these products in new and unconventional ways. Its a time for innovation and discovery. Surprise and delight in over one million square feet of convention space when combined with the Industry Builders Show. Today, you are going to hear from Brian Pagel, Executive Vice President at Emerald. He oversees the residential and commercial connections portfolio which means he oversees the production of KBIS, which you will see, is an extraordinary feat that brings together the most influential brands in the world from appliances, lighting surfaces, plumbing… Basically, if it goes in a kitchen or bath, you’ll find it represented at KBIS. You also find some exceptional programming, I’m honored to be a part of that this year on the next Stage as well as the podcast studio. So when you are at the show this year, please do come by and say ‘hello’. You are going to hear all about the show, why you should attend and how to make the most of the experience. Right after this. Thank you Brian for taking the time to talk, I’m looking forward to catching up with you at the show! Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, Monogram and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and rise above the chaos. – CXD…

Convo By Design®

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WestEdge Wednesday | 561 | Authenticity Vs. Dupes: Honor and Respect for Design and Those Who Craft Original Work 56:31

11 weeks ago56:31

56:31

There are stories, you have no doubt heard them or seen them for yourself on Instagram or the websites offering dupes of almost everything for less. There are many reasons why the copy-market thrives and why some creatives feel that they are entitled to change it a small detail and call it their own. Is the value in the look of it for less, or paying a bit extra and knowing you have an original? Perhaps the copy-market, while always present, only thrives during crisis-pricing for the real thing. We explore the value of original work and how knock-offs are changing the nature of creative design. All of these programs took place in the WestEdge Theater presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home. The stage was designed by Julie Beuerlein of JKB Home Design. As a busy professional designer, you know how important it is to find the right partnerships. Partnerships that allow you to specify the right products for every project. Professionals like you just don’t have time to waste. Let me tell you about one of my partnerships. Pacific Sales is here to serve you with expert, knowledgeable and non-commissioned professionals to help you specify the right product for all your projects. Non-commissioned. That means their only incentive is your satisfaction. Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, a Best Buy Company has just that with over 60 years of service in Southern California. Pacific Sales is your destination for exploration, advice and inspiration. And here’s the cherry on top, access to exclusive Builder Trade Incentives from top brands like Monogram. Visit a Pacific Sales Showroom today to learn how you can unlock additional savings and benefits. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work with the best of the best. Visit Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home today and elevate your projects to new heights! Moderated by: Kelly Phillips Badal, LUXE Interiors + Design Featuring: Jen Samson | Jen Samson Design , KimGordon | Kim Gordon Designs , Candice Quinn | London Pierce Design and William Zhang | EMTEK…

Convo By Design®

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Liz Williams: Dynamic Design Through Historical Reference | 560 | Where What Was Meets Its Best Version 1:05:23

12 weeks ago1:05:23

1:05:23

It feels like every week we are dealing with a new emergency. A new disaster. Is that true, I don’t know, probably not but it feels that way.What we don’t do often enough is review what led up to events and strategically discuss ways to alter behaviors to keep them from happening again. In many cases, it’s because you can’t keep a major catastrophe from occurring, but you can address your individual response to it to better prepare for the next time. Or, if you are a design professional, prepare your clients to better prepare for and whether the next one better than the first. That is why you still hear conversations about the pandemic. The lessons learned will be be long forgotten by many when the next one hits, and there will be a next one. Some of these ideas are so simple, and incorporated into the everyday work of extraordinary creatives, creatives like Liz Williams of Liz Williams Interiors. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep Liz is from Atlanta, Georgia. She has a BA in history from The College of Charleston and a BFA in Interior Design from Georgia State University. Liz has developed a unique approach to the work and one she employs in her projects that allow her to draw on her love of history as well as modern techniques and strategies. This combination makes for a successful practice and one that allows her to learn from history, like a global pandemic and apply those lessons learned to making better the spaces she creates for the people who will use them. And you are going to hear all about it, right after this. Thank you Liz for taking the time to share your thoughts. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, Monogram and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and rise above the chaos. – CXD…

Convo By Design®

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WestEdge Wednesday | 559 | Connected Vs. Unconnected: The Future of Home 59:50

12 weeks ago59:50

59:50

Connected vs. Unconnected: The Future of the Home The debate rages on… The fully connected home where all can be automated vs. the unconnected environment and the return to the beauty of form, function and simplicity. We’re not Luddites, but if we look at the experiential nature and convenience of a connected space, we must also consider what it means to have a space that is intentionally unconnected. The removal of screens, tech, automation, phones, and tablets can create calm and allow opportunities for true reconnection with self and others. Offline. Join this compelling conversation about AI, automation and the pros and cons of a fully connected home in a complicated world. All of these programs took place in the WestEdge Theater presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home. The stage was designed by Julie Beuerlein of JKB Home Design. As a busy professional designer, you know how important it is to find the right partnerships. Partnerships that allow you to specify the right products for every project. Professionals like you just don’t have time to waste. Let me tell you about one of my partnerships. Pacific Sales is here to serve you with expert, knowledgeable and non-commissioned professionals to help you specify the right product for all your projects. Non-commissioned. That means their only incentive is your satisfaction. Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, a Best Buy Company has just that with over 60 years of service in Southern California. Pacific Sales is your destination for exploration, advice and inspiration. And here’s the cherry on top, access to exclusive Builder Trade Incentives from top brands like Monogram. Visit a Pacific Sales Showroom today to learn how you can unlock additional savings and benefits. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work with the best of the best. Visit Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home today and elevate your projects to new heights! Moderated by: Erika Heet – Interiors Magazine Featuring: Kristi Nelson | KM Nelson Design , Adam Hunter | Adam Hunter, Inc ., Ginger Curtis | Urbanology Designs , Jaqui Seerman | Jaqui Seerman Designs…

Convo By Design®

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Music City Majesty with Debbie Mathews | 558 | A Master Class in Blending Antiques into Design and a Preamble About the Silly Season of Trend Predictions 1:13:46

13 weeks ago1:13:46

1:13:46

Before we get to our featured conversation this week, I feel compelled to share my annual grievance with you. Again. What is this annual grievance you may ask. It is the endless and ridiculous list of “trends”that many love to create and share at the end of and into the beginning of every new year. Did you see them this year? They looked a lot like last years didn’t they? Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home . Where excellence meets expertise. Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! – Where service meets excellence TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep They did. They always do. Now listen, I’m not trying to call anyone out. Embarrass anyone. And, while I am going to point out a few of the ones that caught my attention, and post links in the show notes so you can see them for yourself, I am going to say this again so you understand why I am so non-plussed by the annual barrage of opinions and predictions. It’s because they are based on no real data, only conjecture. Here are a few examples; House Beautiful and their Design Trends of 2025 article dated 12.30.2024. Some things you will see in 2025 include… Kitchens Packed with Color Sculptural Lighting “Drenching” Dramatic Drapery Art Deco Era Antiques Moody Hues Cottage Core Gardens Immersive Bathrooms This all sounds fine, right? But keep in mind that what ends up happening is that clients who are new to this will now ask push designers for this because it came out in a well-respected magazine. The people who pick up on this are “influencers”, those with a large following and very little industry knowledge. Just to break this down a bit, “kitchens packed with color” sounds great until a skilled designer has to employ this strategy with a lifespan of 15-20 years. With a “color of the year”, promoted by 5-6 different companies, all with different ideas as to what that color of the year will be, this is not really feasible. And let’s all just remember for a moment that Avocado Green and harvest Gold owned the 1970’s and reviled in the 1980’s. But, for every season, am I right? There was even an article written in May of 2021by the BBC touting the return of Avocado Green to contemporary interiors. The interesting thing about this, the article I’m referencing was incredibly well written, sourced and delves deep into the science and theory of color choices. But the headline… “Why ‘avocado green’ is back for interiors” does imply that the color was back en vogue in 2021. I don’t think is was and if it did pop up here and there, not many are still touting it today. And if a client says to their designer that they are going all-in on this and buy Avocado Green appliances, cabinetry or tile, they will be living with it for quite some time. This idea of “drenching” seems completely misaligned with the very nature of interior design. From a vernacular stand point, “drenching” means to get something completely wet, yet color drenching is described as painting every surface in the same shade. Sooooo, monochromatic. Why not just say that? It’s funny really, monochromatic ideas have been in popular design styles for centuries and can be referenced back to the Greek word, monochromos, meaning, to have one color. While I have read articles that source the French word envelopper, or “to wrap” with the idea for color drenching. And yet, every year there are many who also tout the end of the white kitchen. But white kitchens also appear on many of the trends you will find for every coming year. The white kitchen is also a sort of “drenching”, is it not? Just to put a finer point on this idea, in November, 2023, an article appeared in Vogue entitled, “ 2023’s Latest Interior Design Trend? Matchy-Matchy Rooms ”. The article showcased a Kip’s Bay Dallas room designed by, Mark D. Sikes that featured a floor to ceiling blue and white checkered wallpaper in a style called, Vogue quotes unnamed designers as Mono-Print. I believe that the prevalence of social media, that creating a value system where “influencers” gain status by the number of followers instead of by the level of their expertise has created an environment for ideas to be promoted not by their true design value but how ‘buzzy’ they can get and how many clicks they receive. That’s not how great design is created, nor enjoyed. If you want to talk about emerging trends, that’s great. But let’s make this less about ephemeral design looks and styles, and more about functional relevance. Here are some thought starters; Integrated Technology, mixed-fuels and materials Safe rooms/ Security Purposeful Connectivity Advanced Kitchen Design Tech Focused/ Spa Inspired Bathrooms Smartly Designed Outtdoors Outside in / Biophlic Design, indoor grow rooms and healthy spaces Why the rant? I’ve been shining a light on this very subject for a few years now because after having so many conversations with exceptional designers, it makes zero sense to me why media outlets would just speculate about what the developing trends are. And yes, I know that most contributors to the design pubs do cite designers regarding these trending ideas, because they are not in the context of a specific project with individual clients, it doesn’t make any sense, iit’s not really actionable and further confuses clients about how they can best communicate with their designer, assuming they are working with one or they are using this information to circumvent the need for a designer. Look back at each of these “trends” listed and tell me if you think any of them are new and compelling or just click-bait. That’s my rant, now, the great part of todays episode, a full conversation featuring, Debbie Mathews. Debbie Mathews launched her design business in 2013, the same year I launched Convo By Design. It’s been a minute. Debbie is a Nashville based designer and watched the world move in around her as Nashville became a world class music, sports and entertainment destination. During that time, Debbie built her firm and focused on antiques, which she credits for adding a unique charm to her work. It’s in the layering and as you are going to hear, she really has mastered the process and by doing so, has created a truly unique look all her own. What is really interesting about Debbie and the following conversation is how it’s juxtaposed against my previous rant. As you listen to this episode, please check the show notes and click on Debbie’s portfolio as we go through some of her work. You will find many of the ideas espoused as upcoming trends when in reality, these ideas have been in Debbie’s work for many years. Trends? Please. You are going to hear all about it, right after this. Thank you Debbie, for your time and willingness to share your experience and craft. Thank you to my incredible partner/ sponsors; ThermaSol, Design Hardware, Pacific Sales, Monogram and TimberTech for your support for the show and the industry as a whole. We are a stronger because of industry partners like you. And of course, thank you for listening to the podcast, subscribing to the show and sharing it with friends and colleagues. Please keep the show and guest suggestions coming, I do appreciate them and do my best to respond to every one. Convo By Design @ Outlook dot com and on Instagram, convoXDesign, with an “X”. Thanks again for listening. Happy New Year, make this the year you’ve been hoping it would be. Until the next episode, Stay focused and rise above the chaos.…

Convo By Design®

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WestEdge Wednesday | 557 | What’s Next: How the Election and Recent Events will Affect the Design Industry 1:00:50

13 weeks ago1:00:50