Kyle Bunting & Friends featuring Timothy Corrigan | 341 | The Chateau Collection, A Partnership By Design Part 1

This is Convo By Design. Technically, its Convo By Design… in reality, this is another episode of Kyle Bunting & Friends. A few months ago, you heard an episode of Convo By Design featuring Fern Santini, Lauren Rottet and Jan Showers. That episode included and was orchestrated by Kyle Bunting. Kyle and I have gotten to know each other a little bit since he was on the show and we were talking one day and this idea just came up, got legs, sprouted wings and before I knew what happened, Kyle offered to put this all-star panel together for an episode to be featured on the CXD spinoff, Lone Star House of Design.

It sounds kind of complicated, it’s really not. You can check all of the previous podcast episodes on your podcast source of choice and find everything previously referenced. Back to the story. While Kyle and I were talking after the episode with Lauren, Jan and Fern aired, I mentioned his collar with another CXD alum, Timothy Corrigan and Kyle was like… “I have an idea.” What is about to follow, in 2 episodes because it could not be packaged into one, is an incredible 2-part conversation about European rugs, collaborations, artistry in hide and a history of rug making.

This is part one of our conversation. You are going to hear about partnerships, European rugs by type and the process by which Timothy Corrigan imagined his Chateau Collection and Kyle set out to create it. This is a soon-to-be classic tale of creator/ designer and artist/ craftsman working together to produce something exquisite, delicate in appearance but durable, an heirloom quality rug made from the earliest of sourced materials.

So, this Kyle Bunting & Friends concept is pretty cool and I think you’re going to dig it. Speaking of that…Are you subscribing to the podcast, if not, please do so you get every episode automatically when they are published. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts and now, you can find us on DesignNetwork dot Org, a destination dedicated to podcasts, all things design and architecture so make sure to check it out.

Thank you, Tim and Kyle, for being a part of this. I am so fortunate to have friends like you. I really enjoyed our time together and love the collection. Thank you Walker Zanger and ThermaSol for your partnership. And, thank you for listening and subscribing to the podcast. Keep those emails coming convo by design at Outlook dot com. Adding the word “pleasure” to our architectural aspirations will make life better for all who choose to embrace this idea. See if you can add this word to what you do every day and see what happens. I am looking forward to seeing you again in person at a design event near you very soon. Until then, be well and take today first.

Ariel Fox Design | 340 | Form and Function, Beauty and Performance. A Conversation About having it All

Hey, how is your week? I hope it’s great, and it is about to get even better. Today, you are going to hear from Ariel Johnson, founder and principal designer with Ariel Fox Designs. We’re talking hospitality, multi-family and environmental design. Your week feels better already, am I right?

Does it matter if you’re having a good week or not? Yeah, it does. Convo By Design was created specifically for designers, architects, hard-core design enthusiasts and anyone who is connected to the industry. There is enough noise out there to bring just about everyone down. But you are a creative and these things affect us in different ways. It stifles our creativity, and makes it more challenging to do great work. That is why I really do love the podcast format. You can’t really do other media when you are listening to the show. So, as you hear from Ariel, I challenge you not to be inspired. Ariel brings the infectious optimism and creative spirit that all phenomenal creatives posses and my hope is that it inspires you to do great things.

If you want to play the home game… Follow along as Ariel and I discuss some of her projects and break them down to discover the design within.

In the next hour, Ariel and I are going to talk about the firm she founded, the work her team does and the way she executes the vision for her clients and in the hospitality arena, the clients of her clients.The work is streamlined, elegant and functional. We talk about this idea that form follows function follows form, especially in the work outdoors. Brilliant, I think you will love it as much as I do. This is Ariel Johnson from Ariel Fox Design.

Are you subscribing to the podcast, if not, please do so you get every episode automatically when they are published. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts and now, you can find us on DesignNetwork dot Org, a destination dedicated to podcasts, all things design and architecture so make sure to check it out.

Thank you, Ariel. Thank you for your time, talent and willingness to indulge me in the deep dive. I loved it. Thank you Walker Zanger and ThermaSol for your partnership. And, thank you for listening and subscribing to the podcast. Keep those emails coming convo by design at Outlook dot com. I am looking forward to seeing you again in person at a design event near you very soon. Until then, be well and try to take today first.

New, Now & Next: Evolution in the Kitchen and Bath | 339 | The Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series Presented By ThermaSol

Today, we are breaking down new, now and next specifically in the kitchen and bath, part of the Wellness and Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol.

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the bathroom would be the frontal cortex…the relaxation center. Both could also be considered the central nervous system setting the tone for our peace of mind and ability to cope with life. Something this important requires planning, product sourcing and both site and space planning. This conversation is a strategic exploration. This is a deep dive into the properties, form and function behind the design itself with a focus on how to maximize every available foot of space.

And this is what we are exploring on the show today. This panel was convened to talk about this very subject and this cohort is strong. Designers Jhoiey Ramirez and Christopher Grubb are joined by Boston Firm, Bees Knees Interior Design founders Mary Maloney and Kylie Bodiya talk about developing trends that are shaping new ways we use the kitchen and bath.

So listen, we are all really sick of talking about the pandemic, I get it, me too. I have mentioned this before but it bears repeating… Major architectural and design innovations follow moments of great disruption. From earthquakes come foundation reinforcement, fires bring flame retardant and non-flammable materials into modern design, well, a pandemic is no different. In 1918, the Spanish Flu pandemic brought use of subway tile into residential design. Some think it’s been a bit overused, fine, that was 100 years ago tiled walls remain a major design choice. Other innovations included use of outdoor sleeping porches which could be directly connected to our love of indoor-outdoor design, use of linoleum, the powder bath as a place for “not family” to use. Uses of outdoor spaces in general because it kept strangers out of the house… More on that, architects like Richard Neutra were experimenting with massive amounts of glass in design which served as both barrier and ability to open the space. “Hygiene and moral health depend on the lay-out of cities,” Le Corbusier said, “without hygiene and health, the social cell becomes atrophied.”That idea from 100 years ago is more powerful now to a new generation experiencing ‘social atrophy’ in real time.

This is why conversations like these are so important, and you are going to hear some next-gen ideas here. It’s exciting. This is New, Now & Next – K and B, part of our continuing Wellness and Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol.

Are you subscribing to the podcast, if not, please do so you get every episode automatically when they are published. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts and now, you can find us on DesignNetwork dot Org, a destination dedicated to podcasts, all things design and architecture so make sure to check it out.

Thank you, Jhoiey, Mary, Kylie and Christopher. Thank you for your time, talent, vision and skill. Thank you Walker Zanger and ThermaSol for your partnership. And, thank you for listening and subscribing to the podcast. Keep those emails coming convo by design at Outlook dot com. I am looking forward to seeing you again in person at a design event near you very soon. Until then, be well and try to take today first.

The Showroom featuring Bunny Williams | 338 | The Grace, Style and Powerful Ideas Within this Design Icon

After 8 years doing this podcast and many years prior doing interviews for Playboy, I don’t get star-struck. To the contrary actually. While hosting The Playboy Radio Interview for Playboy, I spoke with actors like Henry Winkler, bands like Dirty Heads and Drive By Truckers, strong personalities like Tom Sizemore and Governor Jesse Ventura. Artists and artisans alike and I always challenge myself to go beyond what you already know and bring you new ideas. That’s not always easy. Sometimes interview guests are focused on “talking points”, they want to stick to the hits. The Showroom is an interview series in partnership with Walker Zanger. We are in our second year of this series and it has been an absolute joy working with Walker Zanger and the guests who appear on the podcast.

The opportunity to sit down with Bunny Williams was one that meant a lot to me when booking her for the show and now listening back and editing our conversation. I wanted to bring you another side of Bunny Williams that you don’t find in the trade publications. The work speaks for itself, so I wanted you to get to know Bunny. Her firm, the history, importance on mentorship, lessons learned from Sister Parish and Albert Hadley. I wanted you to hear about the dogs that are of such high importance, regularly featured in and always present in Bunny’s world. The make a guest appearance.

Are you subscribing to the podcast, if not, please do so you get every episode automatically when they are published. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts and now, you can find us on DesignNetwork dot Org, a destination dedicated to podcasts, all things design and architecture so make sure to check it out.

Thank you, Bunny. This was an honor and a joy. Thank you Walker Zanger for being such a wonderful partner and being an important part of The Showroom. Thank you, ThermaSol for your support and your partnership. And, thank you for listening, subscribing to the podcast and the constant support, texts and emails. Make sure to stay close now because we are very close to getting back to live events and I am looking forward to seeing your smiling faces in person again very soon. And until then, be well and remember to take today first.

Looking at Art with A New Perspective on Happiness | 337 | Nine dot Arts

This is Convo By Design and today, we are taking about art. An impressive art consultancy with roots in Mobile, Alabama. That’s right, Alabama. Martha Weidman, CEO and co-founder of Nine Dot Arts, grew up in Mobile, Alabama and later, with co-founder and chief curator, Molly Casey, grew Nine Dot Arts into a really interesting art consultancy. You are going to hear about the origins of an arts consultancy that specializes in finding new voices, new stories and inspiration by taking that road less traveled.

I think that is more important now than ever before. Why? If all we expose ourselves to are the same voices, the same stories, how could we expect to learn something new. There are those who are happy knowing what they know and doing what they do. There are others who seek more. Seeking new inspiration is how we feed the soul and grow our professional perspective simultaneously.

Nine Dot Arts prides themselves on creating experience based on art and art installations. The beauty of art, to me anyways, is that you don’t have to like it to appreciate it. I have found that I can appreciate the experience, even if I don’t love a piece. That experience allows for mind expansion and inspiration, and for me, that affects my other activities. I find this priceless. And, it all starts with art.

Martha has built her firm on this and she is going to share how, and why with you. Are you subscribing to the podcast, if not, please do so you get every episode automatically when they are published. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts and now, you can find us on DesignNetwork dot Org, a destination dedicated to podcasts, all things design and architecture so make sure to check it out.

Thank you, Martha. I appreciate your time and I love your story. Thank you Walker Zanger and ThermaSol for your support and your partnership. And, thank you for listening, subscribing to the podcast and the constant support, texts and emails. Make sure to stay close now because we are very close to getting back to live events and I am looking forward to seeing your smiling faces in person again very soon. And until then, be well and remember to take today first.