Episodes
-
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 -
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 -
Missing episodes?
-
Part One - Pitch to Published: Best Practices and Strategies to Get Your Projects PublishedLearn 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 MadisonThis 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
-
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 -
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 DesignFeaturing: John Feldman | Ecocentrix Landscape Architecture, Sam Toole | AZEK Co. Erik Peterson | PHX Architecture, Scott Specht | Specht Novak, Dustin Moore | Strata Landscape Architecture
-
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 legi... -
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-WilliamsFeaturing: Breegan Jane, Breegan Jane; Kerrie Kelly, Kerrie Kelly Studio; Patrick Ediger, Patrick Ediger Interior Design; and Eddie Maestri, Maestri Studio
-
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 -
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 -
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/EditorFeaturing: 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
-
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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”. -
No matter who wins, changes are coming. How can the business of design adapt to these changes, and thrive at the same time? Will additional tariffs change the pricing model of goods? How will new regulations affect transportation, fuel usage and household appliances? During these uncertain times, we’re all looking for a bit more stability and direction. Learn how to best navigate the changing landscape and better prepare your design firm and clients for the future.
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: Scott Specht | Specht Novak, Erik Peterson | PHX Architecture, Shirry Dolgin | ASD Interiors, Joe Carline | Kligerman Architecture & Design - Show more
