Category Archives: Hospitality

WestEdge Wednesday Part Ten | 652 | Green Shoots: Evolving Materials, Innovative Mindsets

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Innovation Under Pressure: Prefab, Modular, and the Future of Resilient Design Under Pressure. Architecture is evolving faster than ever, driven by natural disasters, technology, and client expectations—but how do designers balance innovation with risk, regulation, and lifestyle priorities? Josh Cooperman hosts an unfiltered conversation with Drew Davis, Brian Pinkett, Aaron Neubert, and Joseph Dangaran about prefabrication, modular construction, client programming, and the challenges of rebuilding communities in fire- and flood-prone regions. From the Palisades to Paris, they explore how architecture must adapt—or risk falling behind.

1. Introduction and Context

  • Host introduction: Josh Cooperman, Convo By Design.
  • Acknowledgements: Kim Gordon Designs (venue), Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home (sponsor and industry supporter).
  • Why the discussion matters: natural disasters as a case study in architecture’s evolving role.
  • Personal anecdote: Josh’s wildfire experience in 1983 highlighting the urgency of resilient design.

2. Guest Introductions

  • Drew Davis, Partner, Kligerman Architecture & Design, NYC – Residential expertise nationwide.
  • Brian Pinkett, Principal, Landry Design Group – High-end, global custom homes, with focus on innovation and sustainability.
  • Aaron Neubert, Principal, Annex – Residential and hospitality projects in LA & Las Vegas.
  • Joseph Dangaran, Founding Partner, Woods & Dangaran– West Coast single-family homes, high-end interiors.

3. Critical Thinking vs. Design Education

  • Discussion of Brian Pinkett’s insight: architecture school teaches critical thinking, not design itself.
  • How critical thinking shapes the conversation about innovation and client expectations.
  • The influence of NIMBYism and cultural resistance on design risk-taking.

4. Client Literacy and Innovation

  • How clients’ exposure to Instagram, travel, and boutique experiences shapes design expectations.
  • Balancing aspirational ideas with practical constraints: budget, schedule, site conditions.
  • Scenario-based design and programming as a tool to understand lifestyle priorities.

5. Prefabrication and Modular Construction

  • Defining terms: prefabrication vs. modular, and their misconceptions in high-end architecture.
  • Historical examples: Eiffel Tower (prefabricated in 1889), Wallace Neff bubble homes.
  • Case studies: past Malibu prefab project, Arts District hotel project.
  • Discussion of benefits (speed, quality, cost) and challenges (flexibility, client acceptance, perception).

6. Lifestyle vs. Shelter in Rebuilds

  • How trauma and loss after disasters impact client priorities.
  • The tension between rebuilding for necessity vs. recreating lifestyle and memory.
  • Temporary housing solutions and lessons from disaster response (Shigeru Ban, Fresno pre-approved plans).

7. The Role of Regulation in Innovation

  • Flood, fire, and safety regulations: both barriers and catalysts for creativity.
  • Discussion of over-regulation and its impact on rebuilding efficiency, particularly in high-demand areas like Pacific Palisades.

8. The Future of Architectural Innovation

  • Emerging materials, prefabrication, and modular design for high-end custom homes.
  • How technology enables flexibility and quality at scale.
  • The challenge of evolving architectural vernacular to reflect contemporary technology.
  • The importance of balancing client desires, regulatory frameworks, and architectural creativity.

9. Closing Thoughts

  • Necessity drives invention, but adaptation and education are key.
  • Designers’ role in guiding clients through uncertainty and risk.
  • Encouragement to rethink traditional paradigms: innovation in practice, materials, and process.

10. Callouts / Quotes for Social Media

  • “Innovation isn’t about change for change’s sake—it’s about solving the problem you didn’t know existed.” – Brian Pinkett
  • “Prefabrication isn’t a compromise. It’s a new way to design for speed, quality, and scale.” – Aaron Neubert
  • “The goal isn’t just shelter. The goal is lifestyle.” – Joseph Dangaran

11. Links & References

Fresh Takes on Authenticity, Resiliency and Artificial Intelligence Design Application (for now) | 651 | Stephanie Martin of Stephanie Martin Design

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Calgary-based designer Stephanie Martin shares the story of launching her firm during the 2008 financial crisis, the gap between design education and reality, and why hand-crafted authenticity remains vital in the age of AI. She also takes us inside the Rideau Residence, a project blending modern aesthetics with sentimental family history.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Calgary Roots & Business Resilience

  • Launching in a Recession: Stephanie discusses starting her firm in 2008 during the financial crisis, which heavily impacted Calgary’s oil and gas-driven economy. She attributes her early success to “door-to-door” marketing and building a reputation through exceptional service rather than just aesthetics.
  • The “Cowboy Town” Reality: A look at Calgary’s diverse culture, strong job market, and affordable housing, countering its reputation as just a “cowboy town.”
  • Service Over Style: Stephanie emphasizes that the core of her business is caring about the clients’ lives, a lesson she learned early on that differentiates her firm today.

The Evolution of Design Practice

  • Education vs. Reality: A candid discussion on how design schools often focus on exaggerated creativity while overlooking practical skills like budgeting, timelines, and coordination.
  • Post-Pandemic Expectations: Clients now prioritize emotional connections and functional spaces over mere aesthetics, seeking designs that actively enhance their well-being.
  • Sustainability: The conversation touches on the necessity of sustainable building practices, including Stephanie’s experience with passive homes.

Technology & Authenticity

  • The AI Debate: Stephanie and Josh discuss the rise of AI in design. While Stephanie is optimistic about AI for efficiency, she argues for maintaining “hand-crafted” creativity to ensure designs remain meaningful.
  • Authentic Marketing: In an era of AI-generated content, Stephanie commits to keeping her social media presence true to her values by showcasing only authentic, human-created work.

Project Spotlight: The Rideau Residence

  • Modern-Traditional Mix: A deep dive into the kitchen design which juxtaposes modern elements with sentimental details, specifically a brick backsplash sourced from the owner’s grandmother’s house.
  • Space Transformation: How a formal dining room was reimagined into a dark, masculine office space that contrasts sharply with the rest of the light-filled home.

Links & Resources

KBIS Series Part Three | Designing for Real Life & How Shifting Consumer Habits are Reshaping Appliance Design with Midea

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How Behavior-Driven Design Is Defining the Future of the Home

KBIS Series 2026, findings and experiences from the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, recorded live from the KBIS Podcast Studio presented by AJ Madison. This was the second year of this program and we built on last year’s show with even more experts in the industry sharing experience, findings and industry-leading insights.

KBIS Podcast Studio Resources:

KBIS

AJ Madison

NKBA

LUXE Interiors + Design

SubZero, Wolf & Cove

SKS | Signature Kitchen Suite

Hearth & Home Technologies

Kitchen365

Green Forrest Cabinetry

Midea

What happens when home innovation prioritizes real-world habits over flashy, unnecessary features? This conversation explores how a deep understanding of how people use their appliances every day leads to intentional solutions that fit every lifestyle. 

Join Justin Reinke, Head of Product Marketing at Midea, and Ryan Shaffer, Sr. Technical Product Planning Engineer at Midea, to discuss how hundreds of hours of in-home observation drive breakthroughs in everything from acoustic comfort to specialized hygiene. By analyzing universal pain points—like the rise of sustainable drinkware and open-concept living—we examine the R&D required to make daily chores easier through practical, performance-driven design that works harder for the household.

For decades, appliance innovation followed a predictable formula: more features, more technology, more complexity. Digital displays replaced analog controls. Connectivity introduced remote operation. Artificial intelligence promised optimization. But somewhere along the way, innovation lost sight of its most important objective—serving the human being.

Today, that philosophy is changing.

At KBIS 2026, one of the most important conversations wasn’t about technology itself, but about behavior. Appliance manufacturers are increasingly recognizing that true innovation does not begin in engineering labs. It begins in homes—watching how people live.

This shift represents a fundamental evolution in product development. Instead of asking what technology can do, manufacturers are asking what people actually need.

Consider the refrigerator. It is opened dozens of times each day, often absentmindedly, during moments of distraction, urgency, or fatigue. Every movement—the height of a shelf, the accessibility of a drawer, the ease of filling a glass—shapes the user’s experience. These micro-interactions define whether an appliance feels intuitive or frustrating.

Similarly, dishwashers must now accommodate modern behavioral realities. Reusable bottles, travel tumblers, and complex accessories require flexibility that traditional rack designs never anticipated. Washing machines must operate quietly enough to coexist within open-plan homes, where appliance noise becomes part of the lived environment.

These are not technological problems. They are human problems.

The most forward-thinking manufacturers have embraced observation as their primary design tool. By studying real households, engineers and designers can identify friction points invisible in traditional research. The goal is not to add features, but to remove obstacles.

This approach also challenges the industry’s historical obsession with specifications. Feature lists do not guarantee usability. Connectivity does not guarantee convenience. Technology that requires explanation has already failed its most important test.

The future appliance must be intuitive.

It must integrate seamlessly into daily routines, supporting behavior rather than disrupting it. It must operate quietly, reliably, and predictably. It must reduce mental load, not increase it.

Perhaps most importantly, it must respect the reality that appliances are not aspirational objects. They are functional infrastructure. They exist to support life, not define it.

This shift toward behavior-driven design reflects a broader maturation of the appliance industry. Innovation is no longer measured by novelty, but by invisibility. The best appliances do their job so well that users never think about them at all.

In the end, the future of appliances will not be defined by how advanced they are.

It will be defined by how effortlessly they serve the people who depend on them every day.

Behavior as the Foundation of Innovation

  • Product development begins with observing real-world habits.
  • Behavioral insights reveal needs consumers rarely articulate.
  • Design solutions prioritize intuitive use over technical novelty.

Practical Innovation vs Feature Saturation

  • Most consumers use only a small percentage of available features.
  • Simplification improves usability, adoption, and satisfaction.
  • Innovation must solve real problems—not marketing problems.

Appliances as Infrastructure for Daily Life

  • Refrigerators open dozens of times daily, making ergonomic design critical.
  • Dishwashers, washers, and refrigeration now integrate into behavioral routines.
  • Appliances increasingly support lifestyle efficiency, not just task completion.

Noise Reduction and Environmental Integration

  • Open floor plans make acoustic performance essential.
  • Quiet operation improves perceived quality and livability.
  • Engineering focus has expanded beyond performance to experiential comfort.

Replacement Market Realities and Design Flexibility

  • Most appliance purchases are replacements, not full remodels.
  • Products must integrate visually and functionally with mixed-brand kitchens.
  • Flexible, accessible design supports long-term usability.

Sustainability Through Longevity and Efficiency

  • Sustainability now includes durability, waste reduction, and performance efficiency.
  • Better storage and preservation reduce food waste.
  • Long product lifecycles contribute to environmental responsibility.

WestEdge Design Fair Part Nine | 650 | Wellness by Design: Creating Interiors the Support Mind & Body

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When interiors meet intention: a dynamic panel on how color theory, holistic living, sustainable materials, and design thinking come together to redefine residential spaces for 2025 and beyond.

Sherwin Williams set out to cover Earth with beautiful colors over 150 years ago. 1866, Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams founded the company in Cleveland, Ohio, on a mission really. And the result is a company dedicated to delivery of the  best in paints, coatings and related products to discerning clients all over the world. That dedication was evident from the start with the hiring of Percy Neyman, the very first chemist employed by an American paint manufacturer. Sherwin Williams continues to set the bar high and provide the design community with the essential tools to create superior projects. Sherwin Williams is commitment to supporting the design community, which is why they sponsor programs, like this one. They are also dedicated to a betterment philosophical approach which is why they selected ‘wellness” as the topic for this talk.Thank you Sherwin Williams for your tireless support.

In this timely conversation, experts from across interior design and sustainable living explore what it means to design for wellness in 2025. Moderated by Sue Wadden and Ashlynn Bourque of Sherwin-Williams, the panel features voices from:

  • Jeanne Chung (Cozy, Stylish, Chic) — known for crafting spaces that blend comfort, style, and emotional balance.
  • Julee Ireland (Julee Ireland Design Studio) — bringing a refined, intentional aesthetic rooted in longevity and livable elegance.
  • Greg Roth (CarbonShack) — spotlighting eco-conscious material sourcing, sustainable practices, and climate-aligned living environments.

Together they examine how interior design can be a catalyst for holistic living — from color palettes that promote calm and emotional balance, to spatial planning that supports aging in place, to circadian lighting and neurodiversity-friendly layouts. The discussion underscores a rising trend: residential interiors inspired by hospitality, wellness, and sustainability principles.

Listeners will come away with fresh ideas on turning their homes into future-proof sanctuaries — design-forward, earth-conscious, and emotionally attuned.

  • Health span-focused design: Designing spaces that help residents live longer, healthier lives at home.
  • Aging in place: Home layouts that accommodate long-term functionality and wellness.
  • Home gyms, saunas, cold plunges: Integrating spa-level wellness amenities in private residences.
  • Dual kitchens: Inspired by Italian family homes for multigenerational living.
  • Collaboration with architects: Designers as integral contributors to maximize natural light and spatial flow.
  • VR visualization: Helping clients experience proportion, scale, and sightlines before construction.
  • Problem-solving as designers: Addressing unforeseen construction issues creatively while maintaining aesthetics.
  • Circadian lighting: Lighting systems (e.g., Lutron Ketra) that mimic natural light patterns to support sleep and productivity.
  • Plant-based fabrics (hemp, bamboo, kelp): Sustainable, high-performance materials.
  • Evidence-based color design: Physiological effects of color on multigenerational inhabitants.
  • Neurodiverse design considerations: Minimizing overstimulation in homes for ADHD, dementia, or sensory sensitivity.
  • Hospitality influence on residential design: Bringing experiences from wellness hotels into private homes.
  • Storytelling & provenance: Educating clients about material sourcing and sustainable practices.
  • Sustainability education: Visiting factories, quarries, and trade shows to understand materials and processes.

Relevant Web Links

  • Lutron Ketra Lighting: https://www.lutron.com/en-US/Products/Pages/WholeHome/ketra/overview.aspx
  • Round Top Market (antiques & sustainability): https://roundtoptexasantiques.com
  • Hemp & sustainable fabrics: https://www.hemp-trade.com

WestEdge Wednesday Part Eight | 648 | Enduring Modernism: A Retrospective with Marmol Radziner

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The Accidental Empire: Marmol Radziner on Preservation, Prefab, and Fighting the Tyranny of the Nimby. Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner discuss the 36-year evolution of their design-build firm, tracing its roots in a student co-op to becoming a leader in modern residential architecture, restoration, and the urgent need for sustainable urban density in Los Angeles.

The conversation features Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner, co-founders of Marmol Radziner, detailing the firm’s history, their design philosophy, and their views on the current state of preservation and sustainability in LA.

  • Origin Story and The Return to Modernism:
    • The co-founders met as students at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, living in “The Ark,” a condemned co-op. This environment of free rein to alter the building foreshadowed their later design-build approach.
    • They founded their firm in 1989 during the “dying days of postmodernism,” quickly committing to the modernist ideal of clarity, reduction, and the connection between design and craft (Bauhaus).
    • They attribute the firm’s early success to aligning with the eventual return to California modernism, driven by its rich history in the region.
  • Milestone Projects and Preservation:
    • The first major flag-planting project was the Gutentag Studio (a small, pure concrete block and cedar studio), followed by the new Ward Residence.
    • Their watershed moment in preservation was the Kaufmann House restoration (1993) in Palm Springs. At the time, there was virtually no industry for modern restoration, forcing the firm to develop the roadmap for approaching these aging buildings.
    • They view restorations as “classrooms” that inform their new work, maintaining a healthy split of one-third restoration and two-thirds new construction.
  • Preservation Today: The Fetish vs. Functionality:
    • Marmol and Radziner argue they are often at odds with the preservation community because they believe historic properties must evolve to remain functional and relevant, cautioning against a “fetish” that prevents necessary change.
    • They criticize the current situation where every modern building is deemed “sacred,” citing the contentious, successful fight to demolish the Barry Building on San Vicente as an example of overreach where the building’s significance did not rise to the level requiring preservation.
  • The Problem of Scale (“McModerns”) and Efficiency:
    • They express concern over the proliferation of “McModerns” and elephantine houses, driven by high property values and the pressure to “max out the buildable area” on a site.
    • They emphasize that their modern perspective is less about style and more about the fundamental importance of connection—internal open plans and connecting the home to the landscape and exterior rhythm of nature (a concept that is lost when properties are overbuilt).
  • Sustainability and the Nimby Problem:
    • While California leads the country in robust, fire-resilient, and energy-efficient building codes (which have been a success), they gave the state’s housing policy an “F.”
    • Leo Marmol asserted that the greenest thing the city can do is densify and allow more housing in the urban core, calling out the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) mentality as the primary political failure that forces sprawl and long commutes.
  • The Return to Prefabrication (Prefab 2.0):
    • Marmol Radziner initially experimented with prefab from 2004–2012 but stopped after the 2008 crash.
    • They are now returning to prefabrication—Prefab 2.0—as a response to the current “crisis of construction costs” and the need for quick, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions, particularly for fire rebuilds in Altadena and the Palisades.
  • Design-Build Practice Scale:
    • The firm combines Architecture, Construction Services (design-build), Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design under one roof.
    • They support their construction services with their own dedicated cabinet shop and metal shop in El Segundo, allowing for control over craft and execution.
  • Fire Resilience and Landscape:
    • The fires are affecting landscape rules, particularly regarding Zone Zero (the 0–5 feet immediately surrounding the building). They argue against the extreme position of “no planting” in Zone Zero, believing the right, well-irrigated planting can help against embers, which they identify as the biggest culprit in mass fires, more so than direct flame.
    • Home hardening (sealing every vulnerability) is considered the single most important factor, with modern energy codes being an accidental but highly effective form of fire hardening.

CEDIA Expo & CIX – The Ride Along: Part Four | 647 | Jason McGraw, Dale Sandberg & Jim Garrett

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This week on the show, you’re going to ride along with me from the incredibly comfortable and stylish VW ID.Buzz, which served as the mobile podcast studio at CEDIA Expo / CIX this September in Denver, Colorado. Were going back for more conversations from the show.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) is the global trade association for home technology professionals, specializing in smart home, automation, audio-visual, networking, and integrated systems. Its mission is to advance the home technology industry through education, certification, advocacy, and networking. Members include integrators, designers, manufacturers, and consultants who shape the connected environments we live and work in.


CEDIA Expo is the industry’s largest annual event for residential technology professionals. With hundreds of exhibitors, educational sessions, live demos, and global networking opportunities, it’s where new ideas and innovations in smart home and AV integration take center stage.

The Commercial Integrator Expo (CIX), co-located with CEDIA Expo, focuses on commercial integration technologies—from conferencing and IT infrastructure to building automation and emerging AV solutions—bringing together commercial integrators, IT pros, designers, and tech managers.

Jason McGraw | Group VP and Show Director, CEDIA Expo / CIX

  • Scope of the Show: McGraw details the scale of CEDIA Expo 2025, featuring over 350 exhibitors and immersive demo rooms that showcase integrated audio, video, and control systems.
  • Integration Meets Design: Discussion centers on the critical partnership between integrators and the design-build community (interior designers, architects, builders). McGraw emphasizes that technology—ranging from AI and energy management to lighting—must be a foundational element of the design process, not an afterthought.
  • The Business Case: Designers are encouraged to view integrators as essential trade partners, similar to electricians or plumbers, to better service clients and protect home networks.

Dale Sandberg | Product Manager for Electronics, Sonance

  • Aesthetic Performance: Sandberg discusses Sonance’s philosophy that sound should support the design of a space rather than dominate it. The focus is on blending high-fidelity performance with discreet aesthetics.
  • New Innovations: Highlights include the compact UA Series amplifiers designed to fit behind displays or in tight spaces, and the integration of professional-grade Blaze Audio amplifiers into the Sonance family.
  • Outdoor Living: The conversation covers the growing trend of outdoor entertainment, where amplifiers and speakers are used to create immersive environments in backyards and outdoor kitchens.

Jim Garrett | Senior Director of Product Strategy, Harman Luxury Audio Group

  • Hidden Technology: Garrett addresses the challenge of eliminating “wall acne” through invisible speakers and design-integrated solutions that do not compromise acoustic performance.
  • Pandemic Influence: The discussion explores how the pandemic shifted focus toward outdoor living and unconventional entertainment spaces, including garages and multi-generational gaming setups.
  • Brand Portfolio: Insights into the product strategies for Harman’s luxury brands—JBL, Revel, Mark Levinson, and JBL Synthesis—and the importance of gathering direct feedback from integrators to drive R&D.

Links & Resources

Show Topics & Outline

  • CEDIA Expo 2025 Snapshot
    • Denver, Colorado Convention Center
    • 350+ exhibiting brands, 100+ conference sessions, 115 manufacturer trainings
    • Demo rooms showcasing integrated audio, video, and control systems
  • The Wave Effect of Trade Shows
    • Innovation as unseen currents shaping the industry
    • Ideas incubated at CEDIA spreading across markets and returning as trends
  • Integration Meets Design
    • Town hall insights with CEDIA’s Daryl Friedman & NKBA’s Bill Darcy
    • Bridging integrators with interior designers, kitchen & bath professionals, and architects
    • Untapped opportunities in collaborative smart home projects
  • Technology as a Design Driver
    • AI, energy management, lighting trends, and seamless AV systems
    • Why technology must be discussed at the start of design projects
    • Case studies: motorized shades, outdoor AV, invisible speakers, custom veneers
  • Outdoor Living & Luxury Spaces
    • Kitchens and backyards as multi-hundred-thousand-dollar investments
    • Expanding living spaces through technology
    • Luxury demo rooms and high-performance home theaters
  • Why Designers Should Be Here
    • Missing out on competitive advantages without CEDIA exposure
    • Seeing products in person vs. static web images
    • Real examples of design-centric AV solutions and invisible tech
  • The Business Case
    • Designers need integrators just as they need electricians, plumbers, and fabricators
    • Protecting networks and ensuring cybersecurity in the home
    • Service and maintenance as part of the client experience
  • Looking Forward
    • Progress and serendipity at trade shows
    • Extending collaboration with KBIS and IBS (Orlando, 2026)
    • Building lasting bridges between integrators and designers

Links & Resources

  • CEDIA Expo
  • Commercial Integrator Expo
  • NKBA – National Kitchen & Bath Association
  • KBIS – Kitchen & Bath Industry Show

Dale Sandberg on Sonance, New Electronics, and Designing for Sonic + Aesthetic Experience

Dale Sandberg, new Product Manager for Electronics at Sonance, shares how the company is blending high-fidelity performance with discreet design solutions, introducing amplifiers and loudspeakers that elevate both sonic and aesthetic experiences in residential and commercial spaces.

At his first CEDIA Expo, Dale highlights Sonance’s latest innovations, from compact UA Series amplifiers designed to disappear behind displays to Blaze Audio’s professional-grade amplifiers now integrated into the Sonance family. With a philosophy that sound should enhance the design of a space rather than dominate it, Sonance is shaping how integrators and designers deliver immersive, comfortable experiences both indoors and out.

  • Guest: Dale Sandberg, Product Manager for Electronics, Sonance.
  • Background: from pro audio to Sonance, less than one year with the company.
  • Context: first CEDIA Expo experience, excitement about Sonance’s direction.

New Product Highlights

  • Loudspeakers
    • High Output Series (professional side).
    • Wedge speaker for outdoor/architectural blending.
    • Re-engineered Power Pipe subwoofers for stronger low-end performance.
  • UA Series Amplifiers
    • Compact two-channel models (UA-125, ARC-enabled versions).
    • Mountable behind TVs, under tables, or in tight spaces.
    • Features T-slots for stacking/mounting other gear.
    • Energy-efficient design with minimal heat output.
  • Blaze Audio Amplifiers
    • Sonance acquisition of Blaze Audio brand (Pascal, Denmark).
    • Range from 60W per channel up to 400W bridged.
    • Full DSP capability, rack-mountable, UL-rated.
    • Outdoor applications via weather-rated cases.

Design & Integration Perspective

  • Compact electronics give designers freedom to hide gear while maintaining performance.
  • Balancing performance and aesthetics: sound follows the design, not the other way around.
  • Example: background music at parties that fills space without overwhelming conversation.
  • Outdoor living trend: amplifiers and speakers enabling outdoor kitchens, theaters, and entertainment spaces.

Company Ethos & Philosophy

  • Mission: deliver complete audio solutions—amplification, processing, and speakers.
  • Philosophy: the sonic experience should support the aesthetic experience of a home or space.
  • Growth vision: expand residential dominance while building commercial presence.
  • Takeaway: not just about volume—it’s about creating the right experience.

Jim Garrett | Harman Luxury Audio

Jim Garrett on Harman’s Audio Innovations, Hidden Tech, and Pandemic-Inspired Entertainment

Jim Garrett, Senior Director of Product Strategy and Planning at Harman Luxury Audio Group, shares how the company balances high-performance audio with design aesthetics, explores emerging opportunities in outdoor and unconventional home entertainment, and highlights why integrator feedback is vital to shaping future products.

From invisible speakers to immersive home cinema solutions, Jim Garrett takes listeners behind the scenes of Harman’s engineering and R&D process, discussing product development for brands like JBL, Revel, Synthesis, and Mark Levinson. He explains how the pandemic inspired new entertainment spaces, how technology can be seamlessly integrated into interiors, and why CEDIA Expo remains an essential hub for innovation, collaboration, and awareness in the custom electronics industry.

  • Guest: Jim Garrett, Senior Director of Product Strategy & Planning, Harman Luxury Audio Group.
  • Role: Oversees product roadmap, development direction, and exhibition strategy.
  • Context: Recorded in Volkswagen ID.Buzz at CEDIA Expo 2025.

CEDIA Expo 2025 Overview

  • Largest booth shared with parent company Samsung.
  • Opportunity to engage integrators directly and gather actionable feedback.
  • Importance of listening to installation professionals to improve products.

Product Strategy and Brand Focus

  • Harman Luxury Audio Group brands: JBL, JBL Synthesis, Revel, Mark Levinson.
  • Focus at Expo: JBL Synthesis for home cinema and immersive audio.
  • Solutions include invisible speakers, wall/ceiling installations, and custom home audio products.

Balancing Performance and Aesthetics

  • Challenge: high-performance products that are visually unobtrusive.
  • Goal: eliminate “wall acne” with invisible or design-integrated speakers.
  • Inspiration drawn from evolution in lighting design to minimize visual clutter.

Engineering and R&D

  • Harman’s science-based approach: performance must meet visual and acoustic demands.
  • Innovation includes weatherproof outdoor speakers and displays for bright sunlight.
  • Teams challenged to create high-fidelity systems that integrate seamlessly into homes.

Expanding Entertainment Spaces

  • Pandemic influence: growth of outdoor living and unconventional entertainment areas.
  • Multi-generational engagement: home theaters, garages, patios, bathrooms, and gaming setups.
  • Flexibility of audio/video systems allows new experiences across the home.

Integration and Awareness

  • Educating interior designers, architects, and end users about hidden tech.
  • Raising awareness of capabilities beyond audio: lighting, shades, HVAC, security integration.
  • Emphasis on simplifying life at home while elevating performance and experience.

WestEdge Wednesday Part Six | 643 | Rebuilding LA: Resilience, Innovation and Design for the Future

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The Phoenix Effect: Designers and Architects Lead the Innovative Rebuild of Fire-Impacted LA. An impassioned panel featuring William Hefner, Jamie Rummerfield, and Gwen Sukeena discusses architectural preservation, fire-resilient design, and community-driven efforts to shape a more thoughtful, resilient Los Angeles in the wake of the devastating wildfires.

The panel, moderated by Kelly Phillips Badal (Los Angeles Editor for Luxe Interiors and Design), focused on the challenges and innovative opportunities arising from the need to rebuild communities—specifically Altadena and the Palisades—after the recent devastating wildfires. The core themes were architectural preservation, fire-resilient building, and community collaboration.

  • The Power of Preservation and Moving Homes (Gwen Sukeena):
    • Interior designer Gwen Sukeena shared her deeply personal and compelling story of losing her own Altadena home to the fire and, determined to avoid building a “soulless” new structure, decided to save and move a 1910 Craftsman bungalow marked for demolition.
    • The process was grueling, taking less than three months and costing approximately $400,000 (including move, deconstruction, and foundation work), saving about one-third of the cost of a new build.
    • A significant finding revealed the house was originally built by the Milwaukee Building Company (later Meyer and Holler), known for iconic LA structures like Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the Egyptian Theater.
    • Regulatory Advantage: Moving a pre-existing home allows it to be considered a remodel, exempting it from current Title 24 energy codes, which saves costs but requires creative fireproofing solutions (e.g., underneath shingles).
  • Architectural Legacy and Community-Driven Guides (Jamie Rummerfield):
    • Designer Jamie Rummerfield, co-founder of Save Iconic Architecture (SIA), detailed the initial community response and the need to combat “soulless box” tract homes during the speedy rebuild phase.
    • In collaboration with the Design Leadership Network (DLN), SIA created a pattern language book called the Golden California Pattern Book.
    • This field guide documents and celebrates the distinct eras that shaped Southern California living (Spanish Revival, Colonial Revival, California Modern, Cali Card), serving as a free resource for the public to understand and reference authentic regional design.
    • The initiative launched recently at a town hall and is available online as The New California Classics.
  • Fire Resilience and Replicating Character (William Hefner):
    • Architect William Hefner (Studio William Hefner), a fifth-generation Californian, emphasized the goal of building fire-resilient structures that still maintain the character clients lost.
    • His firm contributed plans to Case Study 2.0, focusing on variety, constructability, and designing for fire resistance using modern materials.
    • Solutions involve deep dives into materiality, such as using fiberglass-reinforced concrete that mimics subtle wood texture without serving as kindling, and designing eaves that do not trap embers.
    • He detailed a client who, after losing their 20-year-old California Italian Mediterranean Revival house, insisted on rebuilding it exactly as it was, underscoring how architecture is key to identity and emotional recovery.
  • Concerns and Future Outlook:
    • Panelists expressed concern about the upcoming explosion of building activity leading to opportunism (“land grabs,” unchecked development) and a lack of mindfulness regarding neighborhood character and streetscapes.
    • The creative community’s response has been impressive, with architects and designers creating resources like the Foothill Catalog (in Altadena) and the New California Classics to provide high-quality, approachable options for rebuilding.

The Ride Along Part 3: Dan Ferrisi of EmeraldX and Joe Picarrilli of RoseWater Energy | 642 | Connected Worlds, Design, Technology, and the Future of Integrated Living

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Recorded live from CEDIA Expo 2025, this two-part episode of Convo By Design explores how technology, design, and infrastructure are converging to reshape the way we live. From the evolving role of integrators to the growing importance of energy resilience, the conversation examines what it takes to design spaces that are intelligent, responsive, and future-ready. Featuring insights from EmeraldX’s Dan Farrisi and Rosewater Energy founder Joe Piccirilli, this episode connects strategy, storytelling, and engineering into a single, forward-looking narrative.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

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

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Two conversations, one shared theme: the future of the built environment depends on collaboration, foresight, and systems thinking. From CEDIA Expo’s show floor to the electrical panel itself, this episode explores how design, technology, and infrastructure must evolve together.

This two-part episode of Convo By Design brings listeners inside CEDIA Expo 2025 for a wide-ranging discussion on where design, technology, and integration are headed—and why collaboration across disciplines has never been more important.

The first conversation features Dan Farrisi, Group Editor for EmeraldX, who joins the show from the show floor to discuss the evolving role of trade events and the growing convergence between design and integration. Farrisi explains how CEDIA has become more than a technology showcase—it’s now a critical meeting ground for designers, integrators, manufacturers, and educators navigating a rapidly changing industry.

He outlines how integrators are no longer simply installers but partners in shaping outcomes. As residential and commercial systems increasingly overlap, the conversation shifts toward experience design—how lighting, audio, controls, and infrastructure work together to support how people live, work, and interact. Farrisi also emphasizes the importance of storytelling, education, and advocacy in helping professionals communicate value in a crowded and often misunderstood marketplace.

The discussion then transitions to the second interview, featuring Joe Piccirilli, founder and CEO of Rosewater Energy. With a career spanning more than five decades—from building Sound Advice into a public company to founding AVAD and later Rosewater—Piccirilli brings a deeply technical and philosophical perspective to the conversation.

At the center of his work is a deceptively simple idea: most technology failures begin with power. Piccirilli explains how unreliable power, poor grounding, and inconsistent quality undermine even the most sophisticated systems. His solution, the Rosewater Hub, was developed to address these issues at the panel level—providing seamless backup, surge protection, and power conditioning in a single, engineered platform.

The conversation explores how energy resilience has become essential to modern living. From medical equipment and remote work to safe rooms and climate-related disruptions, power stability is no longer optional. Piccirilli explains how his engineering-first approach led to solutions designed not for convenience, but for certainty—systems that work when everything else fails.

Together, the two conversations form a complete picture of where the industry is heading. Farrisi frames the cultural and professional shift happening across design and integration, while Piccirilli provides the technical foundation required to support that shift. The result is a compelling look at how thoughtful design, reliable infrastructure, and interdisciplinary collaboration are shaping the next generation of built environments.

Part One: Dan Farrisi – CEDIA Expo & Industry Convergence

  • First impressions from CEDIA Expo 2025
  • Why trade shows still matter in a digital-first world
  • EmeraldX’s role in connecting disciplines
  • Integrators as experience partners, not installers
  • Residential and commercial technology overlap
  • Education, advocacy, and storytelling as industry drivers
  • The future of collaboration between designers and technologists

Part Two: Joe Piccirilli – Engineering Resilience

  • Early career and the founding of Sound Advice
  • Lessons from entrepreneurship and distribution
  • Discovering the real problem: power quality
  • The engineering logic behind Rosewater Energy
  • Panel-level energy management and backup systems
  • Designing for medical, safety, and critical-use environments
  • The role of resilience in future home design
  • Why engineering thinking matters more than ever

Dan Farrisi, Group Editor for EmeraldX, joins Convo By Design from CEDIA Expo 2025 to share insights on the convergence of design, technology, and integration. He discusses the role of trade shows in shaping industry collaboration, the unique challenges integrators face, and the growing overlap between residential and commercial applications. Farrisi also explores why storytelling, education, and advocacy are critical to the future of connected experiences.

Recorded live at CEDIA Expo 2025, this episode highlights how the integration industry is evolving beyond technology into holistic experience design. Dan Farrisi explains EmeraldX’s role in connecting professionals across disciplines, the importance of dialogue between designers and integrators, and how new applications—from smart homes to immersive environments—are redefining the industry.

  1. First Impressions at CEDIA 2025
    • Energy and innovation at the show floor.
    • Why CEDIA remains a barometer for industry health.
  1. Role of EmeraldX
    • How EmeraldX curates and amplifies industry conversations.
    • Trade shows as hubs for education, networking, and advocacy.
  1. Integration Beyond Tech
    • Moving from installer to outcome-driven partner.
    • Why integrators need to collaborate earlier in design projects.
  1. Residential + Commercial Crossovers
    • Lessons from commercial AV shaping residential expectations.
    • Case studies in immersive experiences and security applications.
  1. Challenges & Opportunities
    • Standards, interoperability, and client education.
    • The importance of storytelling in communicating value.
  1. Looking Ahead
    • The role of integrators in shaping future living spaces.
    • EmeraldX’s vision for connecting industries through shared dialogue.

Links & Resources

CXD Icon Registry January 2026 | 636 | Peter Pennoyer, FAIA

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This month’s Convo By Design Icon Registry inductee is architect, Peter Pennoyer, FAIA who shares his lifelong passion for architecture, tracing its roots to his upbringing in New York City and the rich urban fabric that shaped his design philosophy. From classical influences to modern interventions, in this conversation recorded in 2021, Pennoyer discusses how context, history, and creativity inform his work across New York, Miami, and beyond. This episode offers a rare glimpse into Pennoyer’s process, highlighting how tradition and innovation coexist in his projects.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

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

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

In this episode, Pennoyer explores the balance between respecting historic streetscapes and embracing contemporary design, sharing insights on notable projects including French modern townhouses in Manhattan, Adirondack retreats, and reimagined New England homes. Listeners will hear about his approach to materials, light, and functionality, as well as the lessons learned from urban and natural environments. From small creative spaces to sweeping estates, Pennoyer reveals how architecture can feel both inevitable and personal.

Show Topics / Outline:

  1. Early Influences
    • Growing up in NYC, next to an architect’s modernized Victorian townhouse.
    • Father’s role on the Art Commission (Design Review Commission) and early exposure to civic architecture.
    • Walking through the Metropolitan Museum during new wing constructions and its impact.
  1. Philosophy of Context and Streetscape
    • Importance of buildings as parts of streets rather than standalone monuments.
    • Learning from historic architecture and urban fabric.
    • Balancing preservation with creative reinterpretation.
  1. Firm Origins and Approach
    • Founding Peter Pennoyer Architects in 1990, NYC and Miami.
    • Learning along the way; responding to each commission individually.
    • Miami as a freer design environment vs. New York’s strict urban constraints.
  1. Design Inspirations and Innovation
    • Interest in unusual historic ideas, color, and modern adaptation (e.g., Adirondack home with vibrant red windows).
    • Classical architecture as a living, evolving language.
    • Integrating modern functionality with traditional forms.
  1. Key Projects
    • Adirondacks Retreat: Rustic materials, vibrant accents, blending modern and traditional.
    • French Modern Townhouse, Upper East Side: Maximizing light in a constrained footprint; stair design, flow, and functionality.
    • New England House: Rebuilding a landmarked site with respect to site and history.
    • Fifth Avenue Maisonette: Reimagining space for luxury, comfort, and personal lifestyle integration.
  1. Architecture and Society
    • Lessons from pandemics and historical health-driven design.
    • Flexibility in modern living: home and work blending, privacy, and adaptability.
    • The balance of aesthetics, comfort, and livability in contemporary classical design.
  1. Process and Collaboration
    • Importance of team and long-term partnerships in shaping projects.
    • Working with interior designers and artisans to achieve cohesive spaces.
    • Creative problem-solving under structural, site, and regulatory constraints.

Links & References:

  • Peter Pennoyer Architects – Official Website
  • Adirondack Long Barn Project
  • Upper East Side French Modern Townhouse
  • New England Landmark House Rebuild
  • Fifth Avenue Maisonette

WestEdge Wednesday Part Three | 635 | Planting Roots: Future Proof Your Design Business

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Beyond the Sketchbook: Mastering the Business of Design with Industry Leaders. Esteemed practitioners Keith Granet, Grant Kirkpatrick, Tom Stringer, and Louis Taylor share candid insights into the origin stories, critical business skills, and forward-looking strategies necessary to build and sustain a successful design practice.

Moderated by Cheryl Durst (EVP and CEO of IIDA), the panel focused on the transition from being a talented designer to running a thriving, resilient business, covering genesis, operations, talent management, branding, and future-proofing.

  • Origin Stories and Industry Appreciation:
    • The panelists shared diverse paths into design. Some were drawn in early (Grant and Tom), while others arrived via finance and business consulting (Keith and Louis).
    • Louis Taylor (Finance, SchappacherWhite) noted that, coming from auditing various industries, design is “absolutely the best industry to work in by far.”
  • The 80/20 Rule of Entrepreneurship:
    • A critical takeaway for design professionals is understanding that running a firm is primarily a business function. Keith Granet and Grant Kirkpatrick stressed that the time split is often 70–80% focused on business (HR, finance, marketing, systems) and only 20–30% on actual design work.
    • Keith Granet (Granet and Associates, Leaders of Design) emphasized that good systems and data tracking (like a monthly “executive summary” of financials) are “freeing” and allow for greater creativity by alleviating stress over payroll and rent.
  • Infrastructure and Skill Development:
    • Hire Your Weaknesses: The consensus was to surround yourself with great consultants (finance, PR, marketing) and “hire your weaknesses” to empower the principal designer to focus on their “highest and best use.”
    • Future Talent Gap: Louis Taylor noted that junior staff coming out of school often require significant training in “soft skills” (people skills, professional email etiquette, presentation, listening) to bridge the gap between conceptual learning and the real-world practice.
  • Branding and Storytelling:
    • Effective messaging must be authentic and focus on an idea bigger than the work itself.
    • Grant Kirkpatrick (KAA Design Group) detailed their use of “The Five Whys” to articulate a vision, which for his firm is the belief that “design elevates the human spirit.”
    • Tom Stringer (Tom Stringer Design Partners) built his brand around his personal value of adventure, which attracts clients who are “kindred spirits.” He emphasized that design is predicated on building trust over multiple generations.
  • Future Proofing and Resilience:
    • AI and Technology: The panelists recognized AI as a powerful, unavoidable tool that will alleviate mundane tasks and enhance existing work, though it also presents a significant challenge (“scares the shit out of us,” noted Keith). Firms must embrace it.

* **Talent Retention:** **Institutional knowledge** is key to longevity. Firms are focusing on creating exceptional workspaces, competitive benefits (like sabbatical programs), and internal culture to recruit and **retain the best talent.**

* **Mentorship:** Mentoring should be a fundamental part of a firm’s **culture**, not a forced, rigid program. It is essential at all career stages, providing wisdom and long-term connections that help owners stay agile and resourceful.