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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The chill is still in the air as winter prepares to give way to spring. That time of year, depending on where in the world you happen to be, nature is beginning to remind us about the magic of renewal in small but familiar ways. We are reminded that the more things change, renewal is possible. Today’s Icon Registry episode celebrates our newest inductee, and those who have listened to the show for a while know her, and even though she left this world a few years ago, her spirit endures.
Christine Anderson was a SoCal based publicist with a dedication to her clients, friends and colleagues rarely seen anymore. I had the opportunity to work with Christine on many occasions and she hosted the show more than any other guest show. You might even recall her hosting the ICON Registry episode featuring Woodson & Rummerfield.
This is Christine’s well deserved induction into the registry. What you are about to hear is Christine’s conversation with Dora Epstein Jones Dr. Dora Epstein Jones is a prominent architectural theorist, educator, and administrator known for her rigorous interrogation of the discipline’s boundaries. She is currently a Professor of Practice at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, having joined the faculty in Fall 2023.
The Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, a Best Buy company and avid supporters of the design community. They help designers become the very best version of their professional selves through advocacy, educational opportunities and professional support.
This wraps up another episode of the Convo By Design Icon Registry. A celebration and recognition of a true master in the art of design and the mastery of all that encompasses in the pursuit of making better the lives of those they serve. And, giving back along the way. Thank you Christine for your many years of friendship, partnership and collaboration, you are truly missed. Thanks for listening to Convo By Design. Thank you to my partner sponsors, Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home for presenting the Convo By Design Icon Registry and Convo By Design partner sponsors, Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home,TimberTech & Shelter Republic. And thank you for taking the time to listen. I couldn’t do this without you, wouldn’t want to. I hope this show helps you stay motivated, inspired and focused so you can rise above the chaos. -CXD
Architecture education is often romanticized as a pursuit of pure creativity, but in reality, it serves as a masterclass in grit. The studio environment, characterized by sleepless nights and public critiques, builds a specific kind of resilience necessary for navigating a risk-averse industry. While sectors like lighting have undergone rapid technological revolutions—moving from incandescent to LED in a decade—commercial construction moves at the speed of a massive vessel, slowed by liability concerns and ingrained methods.
This hesitation, however, is slowly giving way to data-driven sustainability. The industry has shifted from making purely economic arguments for energy efficiency to focusing on human health and wellness, a transition accelerated by the pandemic. Tools like the Healthy Materials Database now allow teams to bypass greenwashing, using empirical data to guide tradespeople who might otherwise resist new specifications. By framing material changes as collaborative problem-solving rather than top-down mandates, the industry can bridge the gap between high-concept design and practical application.
Nowhere is this practical application more evident than in the “Net Zero Trailer” project. Born from a desire to improve job site dignity and efficiency, this ten-week experiment successfully merged Passive House standards with trailer manufacturing. It proved that construction environments do not have to be uncomfortable energy hogs; they can be solar-powered hubs of productivity. This experiment serves as a microcosm for the industry’s broader challenge: how to scale innovation. Whether adapting to the massive energy demands of data centers or designing schools with a 100-year operational lifespan, the future of building requires looking beyond current codes. It demands a “green shoots” mentality where structures are designed not just for immediate occupancy, but for climate resilience and flexibility across generations.
The Hedgehog Concept: A framework from the book Good to Great focusing on the intersection of passion, talent, and economic engines.
USGBC & Healthy Materials: Susan discusses her work with the U.S. Green Building Council and managing a database of over 2,500 sustainable building products.
Climate Risk & 100-Year Buildings: The shift toward designing K-12 schools and community structures to withstand climate changes and serve communities for a century or more.
Thanks for listening to Convo By Design, 13 years, over 700 episodes and 3 million downloads and listens to the show!
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.
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.
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.
First Impressions at CEDIA 2025
Energy and innovation at the show floor.
Why CEDIA remains a barometer for industry health.
Role of EmeraldX
How EmeraldX curates and amplifies industry conversations.
Trade shows as hubs for education, networking, and advocacy.
Integration Beyond Tech
Moving from installer to outcome-driven partner.
Why integrators need to collaborate earlier in design projects.
Residential + Commercial Crossovers
Lessons from commercial AV shaping residential expectations.
Case studies in immersive experiences and security applications.
Challenges & Opportunities
Standards, interoperability, and client education.
The importance of storytelling in communicating value.
Looking Ahead
The role of integrators in shaping future living spaces.
EmeraldX’s vision for connecting industries through shared dialogue.
The panel explored the intersection of natural and man-made materials in landscape design, highlighting the balance between aesthetic, sustainability, and functional concerns. Participants discussed how interior and landscape designers borrow nature to create cohesive environments, including outdoor “rooms” and hardscape features softened with plantings. Material selection — stone, metal, glass, composite decking, and synthetic turf — was debated, with attention to local sourcing, durability, environmental impact, and client expectations. The panel also emphasized the sensory experience of landscapes, touching on sight, sound, smell, and taste, and how design can evoke memory and emotion. Sustainability, fire safety, maintenance, and longevity were recurring themes, particularly in the adoption of synthetic materials that mimic natural ones while reducing environmental or upkeep costs.
Borrowed landscape: Using surrounding natural colors and textures to inform material choices in hardscape design.
Softening hardscape: Plantings and layered design to maintain depth without overwhelming the property.
Context-appropriate material selection: Stone, metal, glass, gravel, and concrete chosen according to environment, use, and climate.
Trend toward natural imperfection: Broken edges, less precision, biophilic design responding to a highly digital, precise world.
Sustainability tensions: Balancing natural and synthetic materials for longevity, cost, and environmental impact.
Synthetic decking and recycled composites: TimberTech and similar products for durability, low maintenance, and fire safety.
Artificial turf considerations: High-use areas, water savings, lifespan, recycling challenges.
Sensory-driven design: Sight, sound, smell, and taste incorporated into landscapes for holistic human experiences.
Childhood memory and emotional recall: Design that evokes personal sensory memory for users.
Fire and climate constraints: Materials must meet modern safety and insurance standards.
Just in time for KBIS this year, I sat down with Jason McGraw from EmeraldX and Leanne Wood with Flying Camel to talk about the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) to preview the upcoming 2026 event in Orlando. This conversation dives deep into the strategic shifts for this year’s show, including the expansion of the floor plan to nearly 1.2 million net square feet and the introduction of a new editorial format for product debuts. A major theme for KBIS 2026 is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the industry. From the dedicated “Technology” track in the Voices from the Industry (VFTI) conference to live panel debates on AI’s role in luxury design, the show is positioning itself as the epicenter for modern design workflows. The team also discusses practical “pro-tips” for navigating the massive Orange County Convention Center, ensuring attendees maximize their time between the West, South, and North halls.
You still have time to register and prepare for a groundbreaking event that will shape the way you think about your design business and sharpen your specification skills. And if you are going to the show this year in Orlando, please make sure you stop by the KBIS Podcast Studio and say hello.
The KBIS 2026 Footprint: With over 700 exhibitors and 100,000+ expected professionals, Jason McGraw explains the logistical expansion into the Discovery District (located in the Rosen Centre) and how to navigate the skybridges and shuttles.
Innovation Hour: Replacing the traditional “Design Bytes,” this new fast-paced “show + tell” session at noon on February 17th allows brands to present tactile stories. The audience will vote live for “Most Innovative” and “Most Unexpected.”
AI and Technology: Leanne emphasizes how AI is no longer a “future” concept but a daily tool. This year features a “Technology Activation” and sessions focused on AI-powered customer journeys and smarter design workflows.
The Best of KBIS Awards: The awards have expanded to seven categories, including “Sustainable Standout” and “Wellness Trailblazer.” Winners will be announced live on the NEXTStage on February 18th.
The KBIS Podcast Studio: Now relocated to the West Hall Lobby, the studio—hosted by Josh—will feature 12 live sessions covering leadership, luxury, and the “business of design.”
Wellness & Sustainability: For the first time, these two tracks have been merged into a unified focus, reflecting the interconnected nature of healthy, resilient living environments.
Rebuilding After the Fire: How Designers, Architects & Community Leaders Are Reimagining Livability in Southern California A panel of architects, designers, sustainability experts, and community advocates explore what the 2025 Palisades and Altadena fires taught us about resilience, materiality, community loss, rebuilding timelines, economic displacement, and the future of Southern California living. Moderated by Adam Hunter.
The 2025 Palisades and Altadena fires delivered a historic and deeply personal shock to Southern California communities, reshaping not only homes but expectations for safety, materiality, and resilience. In this WestEdge Wednesday conversation moderated by Adam Hunter, the panel digs into both the physical and emotional layers of rebuilding.
Architect Richard Manion contextualizes the fires as a “perfect storm”—a wind-driven event functioning like a flamethrower—requiring a more holistic approach to resilient construction. Sarah Malek Barney highlights the risks of long-standing industry shortcuts in material selection and emphasizes the renewed value of fire-resistant, performance-proven products. Marcella Oliver outlines actionable guidance from USGBC California and the Net Zero Accelerator, underscoring vetted building strategies and digital-twin modeling as essential tools for community education.
Stacy Munich brings forward the human consequences: underinsurance, temporary housing, and the emotional weight of rebuilding while navigating uncertainty. She explores prefab/precision-built housing as a potential solution for families priced out of traditional custom rebuilding. Todd Paolillo expands on the challenge of unifying a large number of well-intentioned contributors across agencies, nonprofits, and design sectors—and why true leadership must emerge to align them.
Education gaps for homeowners suddenly forced into complex architectural decisions
Economic realities shaping who can return and who is pushed out
Long rebuilding timelines and the risk of “enthusiasm fatigue,” as Adam Hunter notes
Avoiding both prefab monotony and hyper-luxury displacement in the Alphabet Streets
The panel collectively reinforces a core message: rebuilding isn’t simply architecture—it’s long-term community-making. And it requires every discipline to show up.
PARTICIPANTS & WEB LINKS
(Links provided to official homepages or primary professional sites)
This program explores the collision of tariffs, sustainability, design business acumen and shifting client expectations, offering a roadmap for navigating the volatility of the 2026 design landscape. Recorded live at Design Hardware in Los Angeles, I gathered a panel of industry leaders to dissect the economic and social forces shaping interior design as we head into 2026. Featuring Eva Hughes (Black House Beige), Shelly Sandoval (The Lauzon Collective), Rachel Grachowski (RHG Architecture), and Priya Vij (Hapny Home), the conversation confronts the “chaos” of the current market—from tariff-induced supply chain disruptions to the critical shortage of skilled labor.
The discussion pivots from the technical challenges of “designing for disaster” and uninsurability to the creative opportunities found in circular economies and intentional sourcing. The panelists argue for a shift away from “fast fashion” interiors toward a “friendliness” of durability, prioritizing materials that pass the “grandparent test” of longevity. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes that in a volatile market, the most valuable currencies are transparency, deep vendor relationships, and educating clients on the true cost of craftsmanship.
The “Friendliness” of Durability: A move toward “legacy” materials—like solid brass hardware and high-quality hardwood—that age gracefully and avoid the landfill, countering the disposable nature of current trends.
Supply Chain as Design Driver: How tariffs and stock volatility are forcing firms to adopt “high-low” budgeting and pre-purchase models (buying and storing materials early) to protect projects from price surges.
Designing for Disaster: The reality of rebuilding in fire-prone zones (like Altadena and the Palisades) is driving a demand for non-toxic, fire-resistant materials and a “circular economy” approach where building products can return to the earth safely.
The Labor Crisis: A candid look at the “graying” of the trades; as master craftsmen retire without a new generation to replace them, the industry faces a loss of institutional knowledge and execution capability.
Intentionality Over “Modern”: The panel discusses abandoning vague buzzwords like “wellness” and “modern” in favor of deep-dive mood boarding and psychological profiling to align client expectations with reality.
Thank you, Eva, Rachel, Shelly and Priya for taking the time to share your thoughts. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors; Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, TimberTech and Best Buy. Their sponsorship of Convo By Design allows me to seek out sublime design, stories from beyond the work itself and showcase unique personalities chasing new ideas and changing the way we think about design and architecture.. And present it to you so please give them an opportunity on your next project.
Thank you for listening and sharing this journey of ours. 2026 marks thirteen years of constant publication of the podcast with over 700 interviews and three million downloads, streams, and listens.Please keep those guest suggestions coming as well as thoughts about where you would like the show to record live. Convo By Design at Outlook and on Instagram, Convo X Design, with an “X”.
Thanks again for listening, until next time, be well, focused and driven so you can rise above the chaos. -CXD
