The Novogratz | 618 | Our October 2025 Convo By Design Icon Registry Inductee

Courtney Novogratz: Designing a Life of Creativity and Family Courtney Novogratz has spent her career reimagining spaces that celebrate individuality, family, and joy. Alongside her husband Robert, she’s built an iconic brand known for bold style, adventurous projects, and a commitment to living beautifully without pretense. In this conversation, Courtney shares her design philosophy, her family-first approach, and how she balances creativity with business. In this episode of Convo By Design, Courtney Novogratz opens up about her journey as a designer, entrepreneur, and mother of seven. From revitalizing historic properties to curating collections that reflect everyday living, Courtney brings her unique perspective on what it means to design with heart. We discuss the challenges and triumphs of building a brand, her take on authenticity in design, and why storytelling matters just as much as furniture and finishes.

Ideas and Topics discussed during our chat. What you will hear are universal concepts that are then executed to perfection. “Perfection” doesn’t mean perfect. That might sound strange, but often perfection is used to describe design but let’s be , there is no such thing as perfect in design. To me, perfection is a philosophical approach to blending the work with the story and The Novogratz do this expertly, which is why they are Octobers Convo By Design Icon Registry inductees presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Here are some of the reasons why and ideas you are going to hear explained:

  • The Novogratz Design Journey
    Courtney on how she and Robert grew their design practice into a recognizable lifestyle brand.
  • Balancing Creativity & Family
    How raising seven kids has shaped her outlook on interiors and informed her approach to livable, joyful design.
  • The Power of Storytelling in Design
    Why personality and narrative are essential to creating meaningful spaces.
  • From Renovations to Product Lines
    Expanding beyond interiors into retail, furniture, and collaborations.
  • Lessons in Building a Design Brand
    Courtney reflects on resilience, reinvention, and staying true to your vision.

The Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, a Best Buy company. Pacific Sales is comprised of long time professionals who love design and architecture as much as you do. Which is why it is so fitting that they present this recognition of some of the worlds greatest design talent every month here on Convo By Design. You are going to hear all about hit, right after this.

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, Courtney and congratulations to you and Robert. Some of the things I truly enjoyed were the ideas with regard to your world-class story-telling skills. Your work is exceptional and the branding is masterful.

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, TimberTech and Design Hardware. 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

The Ride Along: Part One | 617 | Rolling Through Conversations, Ideas and Inspiration from CEDIA Expo and CIX 2025

This week, the Convo By Design studio went mobile inside the VW ID.Buzz at CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo in Denver—bringing you candid conversations with leaders shaping the future of smart homes, design integration, and resilient technology.

From energy resilience to invisible lighting, European design influences to smarter tools, these ride-along interviews capture the pulse of the connected design and integration industry. Join Soundman in the VW ID.Buzz for a road trip packed with insight, innovation, and the people pushing design and technology forward.

CEDIA & CIX Overview

  • CEDIA: The global association for home technology pros—advancing smart home, DenverDenverAV, networking, and integrated systems through education and advocacy.

  • CEDIA Expo: The industry’s largest annual gathering with hundreds of exhibitors, demos, and training sessions.

  • Commercial Integrator Expo (CIX): The companion event focusing on commercial AV, IT, and building automation solutions.

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

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

Buzz Delano | Delano Associates & Delano News Advance
Delano Associates

  • From hi-fi beginnings to decades of consulting and media leadership.

  • Why designers, integrators, and architects must align earlier.

  • The transformation of lighting into an invisible design tool.

  • AI’s role in personalized home automation.

  • Designing smart homes for resilience against wildfires and disasters.


Eric Nakkila | Selective Design
Selective Design

  • Bridging European manufacturers with North American design markets.

  • The evolution of CI from intercoms to invisible audio and lighting.

  • European influences: smaller spaces, longer product lifecycles.

  • The rise of hybrid products—speaker-lights, invisible speakers.

  • Tariffs, volatility, and what wireless power means for the future.


Joe Piccirilli | RoseWater Energy
RoseWater Energy | CE Pro Masters Profile

  • A 50-year career spanning retail, distribution, and energy resilience.

  • Power quality as the hidden factor behind system failures.

  • RoseWater Hub: surge protection, solar integration, and backup power.

  • Energy systems in safe rooms, healthcare, and aging-in-place design.

  • Why the built environment needs an “engineering mindset.”


Andrei Matei | Robbox Tools
Robbox

  • Reinventing power tools with digital intelligence.

  • The touchscreen drill with depth automation.

  • A digital measuring system that replaces multiple tools.

  • Overcoming resistance from traditional tradespeople.

  • The upcoming X-Trail drill and direct-to-consumer strategy.


Richard Charschan | AcousticSmart Home Theater Interiors
AcousticSmart Home Theater Interiors

  • Building world-class home theaters for over 30 years.

  • Post-pandemic resurgence of family theater spaces.

  • Regional trends: why Dallas thrives and Houston lags.

  • Dispelling the myth of six-figure-only theaters.

  • Acoustics and music as the soul of immersive theater design.


Rushi Kumar | DMF Lighting
DMF Lighting

  • Lighting’s evolution from incandescent to tunable LED.

  • Warm dim, tunable white, and linear lighting as design tools.

  • Balancing simplicity in control with intelligent systems.

  • AI-driven predictive lighting for elder care and routines.

  • Small, versatile fixtures reshaping design opportunities.


Ruslan Polinofsky | DMF Lighting
DMF Lighting

  • Making lighting tech accessible to designers and integrators.

  • Demystifying with clear, plain-language education.

  • PhaseX (DMX over Romex) expanding retrofit options.

  • The rise of lighting demo rooms in showrooms.

  • The payoff of early collaboration on project outcomes.

Recorded live inside the VW ID.Buzz, this episode captures the energy and ideas driving CEDIA Expo / CIX 2025. From resilient energy to invisible lighting, these conversations remind us that design and technology are converging faster than ever—and collaboration is the bridge. Thank you to everyone and CEDIA, CEDIA Expo, CIX, Brand Definition, Julia, Dan, Ray, Irene, and everyone who helped make this an incredible experience. Thank you to VW. I enjoyed the ride and hope you did too! -CXD