Monthly Archives: August 2026

Convo By Design Icon Registry | 681 | HMC Architects

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In an un-siloed world where public spaces face evolving threats, Kirk Rose and Sergio Lechuga detail how intentional design, community trust, and “invisible layers” protect people without building prisons. This is only a part of what makes HMC Architects a people-focused firm and one built for the future. he Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home.

In this follow-up conversation, I attempt to anchor a deep dive into the changing nature of safety and security in architectural design. Kirk Rose (Healthcare Practice Leader at HMC Architects) and Sergio Lechuga (Director of Interior Design at HMC Architects).

The dialogue builds upon a previous conversation to explore how architects, acting as true futurists who design structures to last 75 to 150 years must proactively engineer spaces for unthinkable modern threats. From emergency room protocols to K-12 campus layouts and civic centers, Kirk and Sergio break down how rigid, intrusive security (like airport-style metal detectors) can erode human experience and mental well-being. Instead, they champion an approach of subtle, “porous” architectural layers and operational human protocols. The trio bridges these heavy commercial insights with residential realities, concluding that real safety relies heavily on human awareness, technological adaptation, and the ultimate luxury: a connected community. And this is just partly why the entire HMC Architects firm are inductees for the month of August, 2026 in Convo By Design Icon Registry presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home.

  • Architects as Futurists vs. Designers: Josh establishes that while interior designers typically plan for 5-to-25-year cycles (allowing for aesthetic refreshes), architects must project safety, utility, and durability 100+ years into the future.
  • The Psychology of Security: Walking through metal detectors or staring through barred windows drastically alters a child’s or a patient’s state of mind. Sergio explains how HMC organizes K-12 buildings to act as a natural perimeter courtyard, eliminating the need for aggressive fencing while maintaining clear sightlines and controlled points of access.
  • The Fallibility of the Metal Detector: Kirk highlights a counterintuitive healthcare trend: many public hospitals are actively removing physical metal detectors. Because weapons can be bypassed or thrown over gates, facilities rely instead on roving security, trained staff, and strict internal “back-of-house” zoning accessible only by keycard.
  • The “Aleatory Space” & Community Trust: Drawing on an architectural concept of un-owned public property (aleatory space), the guests argue that the true front line of residential security isn’t just an automated floodlight or a ring camera—it is genuine rapport and old-fashioned communication between neighbors.
  • High-Tech Human Interventions: Kirk shares sophisticated backend systems used in modern maternal wards, such as infrared infant abduction systems paired with “delayed egress” alarms. These systems demonstrate that effective security is always a blend of automated tech and rapid human operational protocol.
  • Security as the New Ultimate Luxury: Pre-pandemic design focused heavily on air, water, and sound quality. Today, Josh and the guests observe a market evolution where invisible, seamless security infrastructure has officially shifted from an afterthought to a core luxury expectation.
  • Featured Architecture Firm: Learn more about regional planning, K-12 innovations, and evidence-based environment modeling at HMC Architects.

From Luxury Hyde to Design Empire | 680 | Kyle Bunting on Authenticity, the “Favor Bank,” and Navigating Industry Shifts

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This design icon shares how doubling down during macroeconomic uncertainty, and expanding his signature brand into wool and silk was the most obvious and challenging options in the evolution of his business

In this episode of the show, I reconnect with Convo by Design Icon Registry inductee Kyle Bunting for an open, wide-ranging conversation about personal transition, business philosophy, and industry evolution. 

We look back at our popular Kyle Bunting and Friends podcast micro-series before diving into the core values that have defined Kyle’s career. He emphasizes a service-first approach inspired by his small-business upbringing, summarized by the unforgettable advice from an early mentor: “Never run a deficit in the favor bank.” Finally, Kyle reveals how his brand elegantly navigated sudden tariff changes by doubling down on customer commitment, ultimately driving the evolution of Kyle Bunting from a specialized luxury hyde company into a diversified design powerhouse spanning wool, silk, wall coverings, and commercial hospitality.

Key Takeaways & Discussion Points

  • The “Favor Bank” Philosophy: A core tenant of Kyle’s business is building genuine, frictionless relationships. By prioritizing the designer’s timeline and vision over the transaction, the brand builds deep relational equity that sustains it through industry downturns.
  • Weathering Macroeconomic Storms: Instead of implementing aggressive price hikes or sending “passive-aggressive emails” during recent tariff rollouts, Kyle Bunting extended incentives on their new product launches, capturing a 75% higher sales volume than anticipated by absorbing risks alongside their clients.
  • Combatting “Dupe” Culture: Josh and Kyle discuss the rise of theft culture and replication in design driven by social media. Kyle highlights that while budgets remain fixed despite rising material costs, true authenticity and original artistry always stand out.
  • A Evolution of Materiality: Long known exclusively for high-end decorative hide, Kyle discusses the intentional 24-to-36-month pivot to turn the brand into a multifaceted, diversified entity incorporating wool, silk, synthetics, and wall coverings for both residential and non-residential spaces.

Applicable Links & Elements Mentioned

  • Brand Partnership: Check out the custom mural work done by Kyle’s team for the new Tecovas retail location in Tulsa.
  • Tulsa in Pop Culture: The conversation highlights Tulsa’s rising cultural footprint via productions like Taylor Sheridan’s Tulsa King, the Ethan Hawke-directed project, and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon.
  • Design Legends Featured: Revisit the work of Texas design trailblazers Jan Showers and Fern Santini, who previously starred in the Kyle Bunting and Friends micro-series.
  • The Brand Portfolio: Explore the newly diversified collections of hide, wool, and silk architectural elements at Kyle Bunting.

At the heart of Bunting’s approach is what an early mentor termed the “Favor Bank” philosophy—the practice of building deep relational equity by prioritizing a designer’s timeline, storage constraints, and vision long before discussing the product. By eliminating friction and absorbing logistical headaches, the brand establishes a reservoir of goodwill that serves as a vital cushion during industry downturns.

This relationship-first model faced a true test during recent macroeconomic storms. While many competitors sent passive-aggressive emails announcing immediate price hikes amid sweeping tariff rollouts, Bunting chose to double down on his clientele. The company absorbed the risk, maintaining a 20% introductory incentive on their latest collections. This bold stance paid off, yielding a stunning 75% higher sales volume than projected and capturing significant market share.

This commitment to authenticity provides a powerful antidote to the rising “dupe culture” on social media. While copycats try to replicate high-end looks with cheap alternatives, Bunting notes that true artistry cannot be easily duplicated, even as fixed client budgets collide with inflation.

To meet these changing demands, the brand completed a profound 24-to-36-month pivot. Long celebrated exclusively for decorative hide, Kyle Bunting has evolved into a multifaceted powerhouse. The current portfolio seamlessly integrates wool, silk, synthetics, and custom wall coverings—now splitting its output between ultra-luxury residential spaces and a rapidly growing roster of commercial, hospitality, and retail environments.

Architecture of Home Impacts the Psyche, Building Environments for Personal Evolution | 679 | Overcoming Obstacles with Julie Hardridge of Architexture Interiors

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Julie Hardridge, founder of Architexture Interiors, brings a lifelong passion for history, craftsmanship, and design to every project. She began her academic journey at the Savannah College of Art and Design on scholarship before transferring to New York University, where she studied Architectural History and Decorative Arts with a minor in Urban Planning. Her studies, combined with time spent abroad in Italy and France learning from master artisans, shaped her distinctive design philosophy rooted in tradition, artistry, and innovation.

While the design world often prioritizes the “perfect” visual, this conversation dives into the structural and psychological foundations of creating a home. From the early stages of a career in Savannah and New York to the intricate details of a Miami penthouse, we explore how historical preservation, material intelligence, and even “imposter syndrome” shape the spaces where we live.

The Designer’s Identity Crisis: Even with decades of experience and degrees from institutions like SCAD and NYU, established professionals still grapple with imposter syndrome. The feeling of “not being there yet” is often exacerbated by the inflated realities presented on social media.

Archaeology in Design: Modern design is frequently an exercise in archaeology—digging into the history of a structure and the personal backstories of its inhabitants to create a cohesive narrative.

The Invisible Value Proposition: A significant portion of a project’s success lies in managing what the client doesn’t see: logistical pivots, fixing manufacturer errors (like ruined leather on a custom chair), and mediating between contractors and vision.

The “Jewelry” of the Room: Lighting is framed as the ultimate emotional regulator. The transition from harsh recessed lighting to personalized, AI-driven scenes and art-deco fixtures can fundamentally change how a person experiences their own home.

AI and Hyper-Personalization: The future of custom environments lies in “recognition technology,” where a home’s lighting, sound, and temperature automatically adjust based on which specific family member enters the room.

SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design): A foundational influence on the technical training for historic preservation and architectural drafting.

NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study: Where the “forced reading culture” and study of great books helped bridge the gap between architectural history and philosophical design.

Lutron Lighting Systems: A cornerstone for creating “scenes” that allow homeowners to transition their environment from high-energy productivity to soft, elegant “candlelight” modes.

CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association): The go-to resource for understanding how smart home technology and integrators work alongside designers to build proactive environments.

Pinterest as a Sourcing Tool: Not just for “inspo,” but a legitimate deep-dive tool for finding global artisans, unique hardware, and vendors that aren’t found in traditional design centers.

Designing the Business, Not Just the Room | 678 | Inside Dart Studio with Olivia & Jenna Botrie

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Sisters Olivia and Jenna Botrie of Dart Studio didn’t set out to build a design firm together, they grew into it. What started in a basement with a baby on the floor evolved into a highly structured, process-driven studio navigating growth, technology, and a post-pandemic design boom. Their story reveals how great design isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about systems, relationships, and knowing when to think bigger. From cottage culture and client psychology to AI workflows and generational shifts, the Botrie sisters unpack how Dart Studio scaled during the pandemic, why process is their secret weapon, and how they’re building a brand designed to outlast trends and even themselves.

Origins: A Basement, a Baby, and a Business

Olivia launches Dart Studio solo over a decade ago. Jenna joins organically during maternity leave. The now-famous “cottage pitch” that formalized the partnership. Sister dynamics: honesty, friction, and built-in trust as a business advantage

The Cottage Effect: Canadian Culture Meets Creativity

The uniquely Canadian concept of the “cottage” as creative reset Minimalism, disconnection, and family proximity as design influences How environment shapes both lifestyle and design thinking

Process Over Everything

Jenna’s role: operations, onboarding, hiring, and systems. Why structure—not style—is the firm’s foundation. Building scalable workflows for a growing team. The importance of documentation and repeatable processes

Pandemic Pivot: From Uncertainty to Opportunity

Initial fear: shutdowns, no site visits, stalled work. Sudden surge: waitlists, inbound demand, and client urgency. Strategic decision: say yes, scale fast, hire quickly. Long-term impact: bigger thinking, larger projects, expanded vision

The Post-Pandemic Client Shift

Movement away from resale-driven design toward personalization. Clients designing for themselves, not the market. More nuanced conversations around lifestyle, not trends. The home as a “backdrop for life”

Anti-Trend Thinking

Rejection of trend-driven design culture. Critique of “top 10 lists” and media-driven aesthetics. Designing from human cues: behavior, personality, daily rituals

Technology, Materials & the Reality Filter

Navigating rapid innovation in lighting, kitchens, and home tech. Balancing “cool” vs. “lasting”. Role of reps, trade shows, and industry relationships. The importance of practical function over novelty.

AI in Practice: Tool, Not Replacement

Current stack: ChatGPT, Midjourney, SketchUp, Enscape. AI for speed and iteration—not core design thinking. Client misuse of AI and the limits of prompting. Why human interpretation remains essential

The Experience Economy of Design

Design as a two-year relationship, not a transaction. Emotional experience vs. final result. Communication, trust, and job site culture as differentiators

Reactive to Proactive: Building a Brand

First 10 years: purely reactive growth. Year 11 shift: rebrand, visibility, social media presence. Expanding identity beyond Olivia to a team-driven creative model. Long-term vision: a legacy firm with multiple design voices

Generational Dynamics in Design

Different communication styles across clients and teams. Matching personalities: clients, designers, and contractors. “Boomer whisperers” vs. Gen Z workflows. Lifestyle-driven design considerations by age and stage

Designing for Climate & Context

Canadian winters and their impact on interiors. Storage, materiality, and seasonal living. Lighting as a wellness tool (circadian rhythm design). Creating emotional environments: cozy vs. open

The Through Line: Adaptability

Design as evolution, not static outcome. Balancing tradition and modernity within a single project. Embracing change as the only constant in both life and design