Category Archives: Architecture

LIVE From Frank Lloyd Wright’s ONLY Skyscraper | 440 | The Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. A Very Special Place

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When I first moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, I mentioned in the show that something I was most excited about was seeing new things that many if not most have never seen. There was something on my list from day one and I finally had the chance to go and do this. Visit Price Tower. For those not familiar; The Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma is an absolutely exquisite creation of Frank Lloyd Wright. It is constructed of concrete in a very unique shape. Four quadrants based on the geometry of  a 30-60-90 double parallelogram.  It was based on the idea for a Manhattan cluster of buildings designed and then scraped in 1929 due to the great depression. The Price Tower was designed and built for Harold C. Price to serve as the headquarters for his oil and gas pipeline company. The building was designed to be mixed-use and was opened to the public in February, 1956. 

Designer Resources

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman

Moya Living –  Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry

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

The Oasis Alliance – Providing design to those in need.

ICAA Southern California – SoCal is Southern California’s preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts.

Materials Used: The building is primarily made of concrete with heavy use of wood, copper and other materials regularly found in Wright’s work. heavy use of copper, stamped concrete in Cherokee Red can be found alongside the natural wood and use of greens and golds. The wallpaper used as well as fabrics designed for Schumacher as part of his Taliesin line can be found as well as his unique style of lighting and a significant amount of art are all present. There are unique pieces present that were designed and then sent to local companies to create. They include cast aluminum chairs by the Blue Stem Foundry

Mixed Use. What makes this building unlike any other example of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture is that this is a “skyscraper”, to be considered by him and others as the only one he ever built. FLW was interested with how people lived. His definition for a skyscraper was not dissimilar to how streets showcase horizontal society, this was made to be vertical an accomplish similar purpose. As such, this was his example of a live/ work environment and incorporated many floors to serve as separate zones for separate purposes. Because the building is supported by the four elevator towers and not the floors themselves, FLW was able to imagine the space almost like a tree with the elevator columns as trunk, floors as branches and copper installation as leaves.

My Experience: This visit was amazing for me. I received an incredible tour by a gentleman named Price Connors and later sat down  with Price for an interview which you are about to hear. If you check out the show notes, you will find links to some IG reels showcasing video from this visit. Of note, check out how FLW wanted you to live in the spaces he creates. Check out the amazing views and try to imagine as I did that you were in a tree house, because that is how it felt to me.

The day I visited, I learned that the building has been sold to Copper Tree, Inc. for the debt and a $10M promise to refurbish the building. I had never heard of Copper Tree and thought, what a unique name for a company interested in refurbishing this particular building. I did a little digging and learned that Copper Tree is a relatively new company, an investment company created for the purpose of acquiring and preserving iconic buildings.

I sat down with Price Connors who is an absolute wealth of knowledge and who both gave e a guided tour of The Price Tower, and sat down for an extensive interview about this truly unique project. I hope you enjoy hearing from Connors as much as I enjoyed speaking with him. For images and video shorts from my time at The Price Tower, visit us on Instagram, @convoxdesign with an “x”. You are going to hear from Price Connors, right after this.

What an absolutely amazing experience. Thank you everyone at The Price Tower for making the visit possible. Thank you Price for speaking with me and the amazing tour. My hope here was to share this extraordinary piece of American architecture with you. I know that many if not most in the US have no plans to visit Bartlesville, Oklahoma and I imagine it even more challenging for our international listeners.  I do encourage you to check out the videos, images and extra content on Instagram, @convoxdesign with an “x”. Thank you for listening, until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

The Natural Desire to Create Pushed this Former Publicist Back Home Again to Her Love for Design, and It has Paid Off | 439 | Meghan Bassinger of Stevie Interiors

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I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a conversation about transformation, both in interior spaces and individuals themselves. Meghan Basinger of Stevie Interiors spent the first part of her career in public relations before launching her firm in 2020. Great timing right? But it worked, and here’s why.

Designer Resources

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman

Moya Living –  Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry

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

The Oasis Alliance – Providing design to those in need.

ICAA Southern California – SoCal is Southern California’s preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts.

Meghan Basinger launched Stevie Interiors in the summer of 2020. Do you remember the summer of 2020? I do. Not the best time to launch a new design business, or was it? You are going to hear all about it. Pay close attention to the ideas that embody the idea of blazing your own trail, making your own path and rushing towards something as everyone else is running away. The early months following the beginning of the pandemic, many designers thought they were going to go out of business. Then came the design revolution as everyone realized at the same time that their home was dysfunctional and needed the services of professional designers to fix it. This is a good place to leave it and let Megan take it from there. Enjoy this episode of Convo By Design featuring Milton, GA. designer, Meghan Basinger of Stevie Interiors.

Thank you, Meghan for the time. Thank you for listening, downloading and subscribing to the show. If not already, please make sure you are subscribing to the show. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts. 

Thank you to my wonderful partners and sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware. Without you, I would not be able to do this and for that, thank you. Thanks again for listening. Be well and until next week, take today first. -CXD

The Importance of Exquisite Outdoor Spaces | 438 | James Doyle Design Associates

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. Today on the podcast, we are taking it outside for a conversation with James Doyle principal and Justin Quinn, partner of James Doyle Design Associates.

Designer Resources

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman

Moya Living –  Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry

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

The Oasis Alliance – Providing design to those in need.

ICAA Southern California – SoCal is Southern California’s preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts.

James and Justin have the stated goal to create beautiful and innovative landscapes that deliver world class design while enriching the lives of those fro whom the space was crafted. And to do so with clear vision as it relates to creating an authentic sense of space. A while back, you probably heard the BookLook review I offered on their absolutely stunning tome called Intersection of Art and Nature. This is a firm that lives and delivers upon the promise behind the work and because of that, I am really thrilled to share this conversation with you. This is James and Justin from James Doyle Design Associates. We’ll get to that right after this.

Thank you James and Justin for your time. Loved our chat as much as I do your work. Thank you for listening, downloading and subscribing to the show. If not already, please make sure you are subscribing to the show. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts. By the way, with over 450 episodes, perhaps you’d like to check out some of the past episodes.

Thank you to my wonderful partners and sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware. Without you, I would not be able to do this and for that, thank you. Thanks again for listening. Be well and until next week, take today first. -CXD

Kitchen Design Thought Leadership | 437 | Seven Creatives Define the New Concepts in the Next Generation of Kitchen Design

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I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Following is another installment of the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol.

In May, 2023, a special gathering took place at the Friedman’s Home Experience showroom in Long Beach, California. This gathering presented an opportunity to get some of Southern California’s most dynamic and creative designers together for a conversation about kitchen design. Our group engages in an open forum about how the kitchen has changed in form and function since the pandemic began in 2020. This idea started as an exploratory look at what has changed, but developed into an overarching dialogue about what it means to be a designer today. Further, how the design community has learned to lean in on each other for support, direction, inspiration and in the case of showrooms like Friedman’s Home Experience, how to provide designers and architects with opportunities to discover new product and specify with confidence to best serve the client.

Designer Resources

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman

Moya Living –  Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry

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

The Oasis Alliance – Providing design to those in need.

ICAA Southern California – SoCal is Southern California’s preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts.

You are about to listen in on a real workgroup discussing the issues designers, architects and builders face today. The following conversation is between 7 creatives and at times, it gets complicated, just like conversations in the real world. The conversation was not intended for you to blow through while multi-tasking. There is a great deal of material here and it is intended to be listened to over time and re-listened as well. It is worthy of saving and. added to your resource library. 

Before we listen in, I thought you would like to meet the participants: 

Long Trihn – Managing Director of Friedman’s Home Experience – @friedmanshomeexperience

  • Panel ready
  • Pops of color
  • Coffee systems
  • Under-counter wine units and columns
  • Induction increases over gas
  • Refrigeration integrated look
  • NEW – Countertops as the full cooking surface with embedded induction elements

Lea Biermann – Principal, Lea Biermann Design – @lbkbdesign

  • The joy of coffee systems
  • Adding secondary color
  • Backsplashes that pop
  • Maximizing spaces for experiences
  • Resale considerations
  • The in-home coffee bar experience is here to stay

Cheryl Kaye – Principle, Cheryl Kaye Design Studio @cherylkaye

  • Hospitality, front of house focus
  • Kitchenette for commercial projects including hospitality
  • Visual arts are given and now the ‘function’ and artistry is in meeting client lifestyle demands
  • Dining areas away from tables and more on islands
  • Exposed kitchens, not just functional but decorative and artistic
  • Wet bars for juicing now so they are taking on a different vibe
  • More outlets and charging stations
  • Kitchens more as work spaces

 

Paul Fernandez – Principle, @kitchenkoncierge

  • Look to new, unexplored appliances
  • Speed Oven: Microwave + Convection
  • Steam ovens
  • Steam oven + oven in lieu of the double oven to maximize functional opportunity
  • Cooking with moisture
  • Refrigerators with cameras, use the app to aid with shopping
  • What is next in countertop materials? What is the most durable material? 
  • Custom options in wood products. This is an incredible time to be designing kitchens!

John Feldman – Owner, @ecocentrix

  • Discovering the opportunities in outdoor spaces
  • What is possible in an outdoor kitchen
  • How a project can maximize function through discovery of untapped space unlike inside the home where walls define spaces
  • Working with better educated clients (product)
  • Incorporating outdoor kitchens into complex hillsides
  • The joys of outdoor living
  • Sturgianni.com, A new company representing family owned and operated Italian faucet lines

Pam Barthold – Owner, Pazzam Designs @pazzamdesigns

  • Searching for perfect materials
  • Acrylic in shelving and cabinetry that is mainstream and not exclusively modern
  • Durability and warmth means more wood products and because hybrid wood products offer a more wide ranging product selection
  • More durability, cleaner product and sustainable
  • Rise of smart appliances
  • Convection ovens and better educated clients
  • Seamless flat countertops that are the entire cooking surface
  • Less exposed stainless. Color-full and unique in design
  • Adding color to the island

Donna Johnson – @luxedesigner

  • Luxury kitchen design is more about form and function, but feel
  • Accessorizing in the kitchen is more  important than ever before and in more ways than is seen. Dividers and separators for sectioning the functions
  • The feel of the space is based on treating the kitchen as another living room with a different skill set
  • The return of the “triangle”? To this designer, it never left

Now that you have met the players, let me share the conversation that ensued. They were talking about materials. Brass, brushed gold and chrome.  Understated glamour. Stamped wood, wood islands with nautical finishes.We are talking about custom organics. Luxury and organic. 

Dust is a big issue with open shelving in kitchens now, as is clutter.

Thicknesses and finishes. Technical design details. Products for outdoor uses. 

The art of sales and how designers can engage more efficiently with trades and showrooms.

Working with educated clients and the “Amazon Effect”, training customers to just buy and return if they don’t like it as opposed to buying right the first time. 

Evaluating new lines and products. 

Induction, new tech and new ideas, but what does that mean by way of new upgrades like the electrical panel? Government regulations, utility company specifications…How does this affect the design. 

Steel cabinetry is becoming more of a standard in lieu of wood, stone and cement board outdoors and indoors. Durability is becoming more important as temperatures increase. 

You are going to hear an honest conversation about supply chain, lead generation for products and materials.

I started hosting these conversations in 2017 following an event at a design festival. What I found was the moment the mics were off, the conversations started to be real. These real conversations have led to actionable steps and techniques designers can use in a real world scenario because at the end of the day, we are all dealing with the same issues. Some better than others. Enjoy this conversation from Friedman’s Home Experience in Long Beach, California on a sunny day in May, 2023.

The Showroom feat. Brigette Romanek | 435 | Music, Passion & Interior Design Magic

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I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with another installment of The Showroom featuring another exceptionally talented member of the design community. One of my all-time favorites for the little things she does. Her attention to detail and the manner in which she tells her stories through the work are exceptional. We talk abut music too, one of my favorite topics and hers as well. Love this chat and I know you will too, this is Brigette Romanek, live in the showroom.

Designer Resources

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman

Moya Living –  Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry

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

The Oasis Alliance – Providing design to those in need.

ICAA Southern California – SoCal is Southern California’s preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts.

The Showroom was a feature segment created during the pandemic as a way to showcase designers in front of an audience when no gatherings were possible. The Showroom has evolved and I had the opportunity to sit down with Brigette in the newly opened Soho Home Studio in the West Hollywood Design District. Soho Home was also gracious to sponsor the Convo By Design 10th anniversary party and served as the location for what was an extraordinary afternoon seeing friends, many of which I had not seen in person in years.

This conversation with Brigette covers her creative journey and how she has worked to become one of the most exceptional creatives working today. I don’t say this lightly. I think her work is, truly exceptional. Her work, through Romanek Design Studio is layered, contextual and subtly situational. You will hear more about that in addition to ways music has shaped her life and therefor inextricably tethered to her work. We talk about her collections and other facets to the business that allow her to create her art. I could go on, I really could, but I won’t. Instead, I’ll let Brigette tell her story.

Thank you Brigette for your time, I loved this. Thank you Soho Home Studio for hosting this conversation and our tenth anniversary party. Thank you for listening, downloading and subscribing to the show. If not already, please make sure you are subscribing to the show. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts. 

Thank you to my wonderful partners and sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware. Without you, I would not be able to do this and for that, thank you. Thanks again for listening. Be well and until next week, take today first. -CXD

Built to Last. This is What Happens When You Blend Unbridled Talent, Uncompromising Quality and Passion for Design | 428 | Moya O’Neill

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I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design and today on the show, you are going to hear from someone with whom you are already familiar. You know her product because you hear about it during the show and I thought it was time for you to really hear from her, this is the create visionary behind the lifestyle brand, Moya Living. This is Moya O’Neill.

Designer Resources

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman

Moya Living –  Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry

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

The Oasis Alliance – Providing design to those in need.

ICAA Southern California – SoCal is Southern California’s preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts.

Moya is not just a guest, not just a partner sponsor of Convo By Design, she is a friend, a superior creative and she has built this company around a product, as you have heard me say, is built like a tank and looks like a Ferrari. That’s not a sales pitch, its true. Why is that so important? name a company, brand, manufacturer or other purveyor of a product that makes a product so stunningly gorgeous that it’s style is enduring while constructing it of a lasting material like steel using best building practices as to make sure the product lasts and is measured not by years but by generations? You will be hard pressed to find another like Moya Living. Their process is a model for modern manufacturing. But is all starts with the vision. And, you are going to hear all about that, in just a moment.

Thank you Moya, I do love our chats. Thank you CXD sponsor partners ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for making this show possible. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to listen to the show. I hope you enjoy the show, that’s why I do this. I would also like to hear from you. I love the guest submissions and show ideas so keep them coming, email me convobydesign@outlook.com or massage me on Instagram @convoxdesign, with an x.

Remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it. Let that be the thing that drives you to push the boundaries and let’s keep moving our industry forward. Be well, and until next week… Take today first. CXD

ICAA SoCal Honoring Richard Landry + Ezrha Jean Black from Bergamot Station | 427 | Art and Architecture, the Richness of the Southern California Canvas

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I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Today on the show I’m going to take you back to an event honoring one of the best in the business today. It was the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art  Southern California Chapter’s annual Legacy celebration in honor of the incomparable Richard Landry.

What an absolutely spectacular night this was. t was raucous, loud, and incredible fun. I’m going to take you with me as I emceed the event that night at the California Club in Los Angeles. In this episode, you are also going to hear from Artillery Magazine’s Ezrha Jean Black. She is going to give you a walking tour with artist Peter Wallis within his installation at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, CA. This is an episode in celebration of art, architecture and those who create it.

Thank you Ezraha, Brian Pinkett, Richard Landry, ICAA Southern California, Bergamot Station, and everyone who played a part in this episode. Now more than ever, remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it. The design and architecture community single handedly makes the lives of those we serve better and it’s because of you. Thanks again for listening, we’ll be back next week with another story, so until then, be well and take today first.

This New York Based Architect Crafts Projects That Will Make Your Heart Skip A Beat | 426 | Wayne Turett: The Turett Collaborative

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I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a conversation about architecture. The kind of architecture that, if you are a true fan, makes your heart race. It did mine Wayne Turett is. the force behind The Turett Collaborative. He and his team are reshaping New York and surrounding through the application of extraordinary architecture principles, new ideas and and a reimagined idea of what architecture is and can be. The work is imaginative, daring and the philosophy is sustainable. Everything from reshaped inner city dwellings to a ground up passive house. Outdoor playgrounds inside, inside living spaces outdoors and so much more.

Designer Resources

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman

Moya Living –  Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry

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

Wayne and I take a walk through quite a few of these projects and if you are so inclined, you can walk through them with us. As always, check the show notes for a link to The Turett Collective website project pages and we’ll explore together. What you are going to find is that Wayne’s firm takes the work seriously, but in that approach, find ways to reignite the imagination through the use of materials in unexpected ways, application of technique in a manner that is multifunctional and serves as multiplier against other materials and techniques. Space, flow, lighting, emotion and a clear passion for the work are evident in every detail. Can you tell I’m a fan? I am and I think if you are not already familiar with their work, by the end of this episode, you will be as well. The is Wayne Turett of The Turett Collective.

Thank you Wayne for the time. Thank you CXD partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continuous partnership and support. Thank you for taking the time to subscribe, download and listen to the show. I appreciate you. 

Now more than ever, remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it. The design and architecture community single handedly makes the lives of those we serve better and it’s because of you. Thanks again for listening, we’ll be back next week with another story, so until then, be well and take today first.

Suzanne Rheinstein | Celebration of Life, Style and Elegant Civility

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I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Suzanne Rheinstein, a giant in the industry has left us but not without changing both the nature of interior design but the way in which interior design is experienced by those for whom she crafted. 

Suzanne was one of those rare talents who had a signature through-line in her work that has been described as “elegant civility” which was a pulled-focus on fewer, but better. A level of quality that was exceptional but not overpowering which allowed those for whom she worked to experience the different levels of her work, not necessarily all at once but over time. It is the same way other pleasure past-times like wine, art and music are experienced and enjoyed. Rheinstein was a major talent with all of the awards and accolades that you would expect. Her work, like Suzanne, was elegant and timeless. 

I wanted to share some of her wit, charm and stories, in her own voice and words from an interview n 2019 at the LaCienega Design Quarter’s Legends event where she was presented with her Living Legend Award.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will always long to return. Learning never exhausts the mind. – Leonardo da Vinci.

KBIS 2023 Road Trip | 422 | What Happened in Vegas Will Not Be Staying in Vegas featuring World-Class Design Talent & Insights

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I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with an absolutely jam packed episode featuring some sound from KBIS and IBS 2023. For the record, this show was amazing, and you’re about to hear why…

Designer Resources

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman

Moya Living –  Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry

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

The pandemic is over. With that broad statement comes some finer nuanced observations. Yes, people are still getting COVID, yes, you still see some masked holdouts but I would equate those to a lingering cough after being sick. I base this on the traffic I saw at Las Vegas Market, KBIS and IBS. It was jammed, the parties were full of unmasked, imbibing revelers all in Las Vegas to see what happening, and much was happening. 

You have already heard some of what was happening at Las Vegas Market. If you missed it, check the show notes or podcast feed for links to episodes about the panels and the people. This is a montage from KBIS and IBS featuring brands and design talent from around the country who decended upon sin city to celebrate design and find inspiration from products and innovation. It is important to call an end to the pandemic but to remember all that we have learned. I will say this again, once something unprecedented happens, it is no longer unprecedented and the odds are that something like it can and will happen again. If and when it does, will we be prepared? That is a conversation for another day. Today, you are going to hear from some amazing individuals including; Hacker Kitchens, Breegan Jane, John Cialone, Top Knobs, Sara Malek Barney and more. So, let’s get after it.

Wow. Jam packed, right?  Thank you Sara, Matt, Roz, Andeas, Breegan, Christine & John. Thank you Convo By Design sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your partnership. I appreciate you and I love the way you support the design industry. For those listening who want to learn more, please check the show notes for links. Thank you for listening to the show. I know now more than ever, there are a lot of shows out there and you chose CXD. I appreciate you and I hope you found this episode to be a great use of your time because that is my goal. Let’s do this again shall we? Say, next week? Until then, be well and take today first. -CXD