Category Archives: Interview

California: The Last Frontier of Creative Freedom in American Design | 687 | LEGACY REISSUE 2014 feat. Roman Alonso, Mayer Rus and Mallery Roberts Morgan

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Los Angeles has long been a playground for designers, artists, and makers seeking uncharted creative territory. As the city’s design community grows and attention turns outward, is L.A.’s legendary openness under threat—or evolving into something new? Mallery Roberts Morgan, Roman Alonzo of Commune and Architectural Digest’s Mayor Rus weigh in on what makes California a singular hub for creative freedom.

Thank you to my incredible sponsor partners; Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, TimberTech and Shelter Republic.

Hosted by, Mallory Roberts Morgan during the 2014 edition of DIEM: Design Intersects Everything Made, this conversation explores how geography, culture, and market forces shape the freedom to innovate in Los Angeles. Panelists examine the challenges of rising rents, collector dynamics, and global influence, questioning whether L.A. can remain a unique epicenter for creative experimentation.

Another throwback episode featuring a conversation from DIEM, a symposium celebrating creativity across design, art, and fashion in the West Hollywood Design District

Panel theme: California as the last frontier of creative freedom

Roman Alonzo: Co-founder of Commune; background in publishing and art books; brought European attention to L.A. design through innovative projects

Mayer Rus: West Coast editor of Architectural Digest; former design editor at the L.A. Times Magazine; New York transplant and renowned design writer

Roman describes L.A. as the “Wild West” of design, where experimentation and making your own rules are possible

Mayer contrasts L.A. with New York, noting L.A.’s openness allows hybrid, multi-disciplinary practices

Discussion of how media attention has shaped perceptions of L.A. as a creative hub

Geography and Opportunity

Physical openness, including ocean and desert vistas, provides inspiration and creative possibility

Regional lifestyle shapes design sensibilities and project approaches

Commune’s method: designing projects rooted in California context, even when serving clients elsewhere

Market Forces, Cultural Institutions & Civic Identity

Galleries and museums influence how L.A.’s art and design are perceived

Debate over LACMA redesign highlights tensions between international star architects and supporting local talent

Maintaining civic pride and global attention without homogenizing local culture

Regional Style vs. Global Homogenization

Tension between California-specific aesthetics and universal luxury trends

Commune demonstrates that place-inspired design can thrive despite market pressures

Emphasis on fostering local cultural identity in architecture and interiors

Focus on embracing L.A.’s unique advantages, including geography, climate, and openness

Panelists encourage creators to engage deeply with their local environment

Final note: “Just look at your own stuff, your own life, and make something great out of it.”

CXD September 2026 Icon Registry | 686 | Paul Murdoch Architects: Designing sacred Ground, The Architecture of Memory at the Flight 93 National Memorial

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A Common Field Forever: Architect Paul Murdoch on the Architecture of Remembrance at the Flight 93 National Memorial. Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home.

In this special episode timed for the anniversary of September 11th, I sit down with architect Paul Murdoch to explore the profound responsibility of designing a national place of remembrance. Murdoch’s firm was selected from more than 1,100 international entries to create the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania—a 2,200-acre site honoring the 40 passengers and crew members who fought back against highjackers on 9/11.

We discuss the critical evolution from initial, spontaneous outpourings of grief—like roadside fences lined with personal tributes—to permanent architectural expressions built to sustain historical weight across generations. Murdoch walks me through the spatial narrative of the park, explaining how the landscape itself carries the scale of heroism. From the Wall of Names positioned directly along the plane’s flight path to the central field of honor, the integrated Visitor Center, and the 93-foot-tall Tower of Voices housing 40 wind chimes, Murdoch reveals how intentional editing, spatial restraint, and environmental integration can turn a site of immense tragedy into a timeless sanctuary of collective healing.

  • The Transition of Memorialization: Murdoch contrasts the initial, intense emotional outpouring of temporary tributes—such as the murals that emerged worldwide following Kobe Bryant’s tragic death or the original chain-link fence aggregated with personal items in Pennsylvania—with the profound challenge of designing a permanent national memorial. A lasting monument must suspend that raw, immediate grief just enough to preserve its historical weight for future generations, while still embedding emotional resonance into its core.
  • Defining Heroes, Not Victims: In developing the narrative framework, Murdoch notes a defining stance held by the families of the passengers and crew: they do not refer to their lost loved ones as victims, but as heroes. The design was tasked with capturing the collective, democratic action of forty everyday citizens who voted to fight back in real-time.
  • The Scale of a Memorial Landscape: Encompassing 2,200 acres (roughly two and a half times the size of New York’s Central Park), the site’s vast rural setting allowed the design team to utilize the geography itself rather than relying on heavy architectural objects. Murdoch emphasizes that a standard monument would have been completely dwarfed by the environment, forcing them to reshape the land itself to project a sense of heroism.
  • The Blueprint of Remembrance:
    • The Crash Site & Hemlock Grove: The final resting place remains a restricted, sacred zone. The public is brought to the very edge, where a ceremonial gate opens exclusively on September 11th alongside a wall of 40 marble slabs engraved with the heroes’ names, tracking the plane’s precise flight path.
    • The Field of Honor: Utilizing a quote originally written on a quilt by an LAFD captain before it was officially adopted into the competition brief (“A common field one day, a field of honor forever”), a sweeping circular walkway traces the rim of what was once an open-pit coal mine.
    • The Tower of Voices: Standing 93 feet tall near the park’s main highway entrance, this soaring vertical structure acts as both a gateway landmark and an acoustic monument, housing 40 unique wind chimes to honor the final memories of those who used their voices to connect with loved ones from the sky.
  • The Power of the Creative Edit: Murdoch stresses the rigorous testing required to distill the memorial to its absolute essence. By choosing to exclude a heavy narrative presence from the landscape, the Visitor Center became the designated home for storytelling. Murdoch restricted the center’s layout to a single space with five double-sided walls, explicitly fighting against a cluttered, “antique store” aesthetic or an insular “black box” exhibit style, opting instead for natural light that shifts with the moods of the surrounding environment.
  • Navigating Bureaucracy with Purpose: Building a brand-new national park from scratch required aligning a massive ecosystem of stakeholders, including the Federal Advisory Commission, the Families of Flight 93, the National Park Service, and environmental entities like the Army Corps of Engineers. Murdoch shares how the firm maintained the integrity of its design vision when confronted with institutional frameworks and standardized federal infrastructure plans.

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Redefining Luxury Through the Lens of Design Psychology | 685 | Nuinterior Design’s Nureed Saeed on how “The Wellness of Home” is reshaping the industry

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In this episode, host Josh sits down with Nureed Saeed, the owner and creative director of Nu Interiors. Nureed shares her unique journey from a high-stakes career in the fashion industry to becoming a leader in the “design for wellness” movement. She discusses how her background in retail and corporate fashion informs her approach to interior design, the importance of psychological safety in the home, and why the future of the industry lies in personalized, human-centric spaces.

Fashion to Interiors: Nureed describes her transition from a fast-paced career in fashion to interior design as an evolution rather than a pivot, noting that both industries are deeply rooted in how products make people feel.

The “Wellness of Home”: A core philosophy for Nu Interiors is that a home should be a sanctuary that supports the mental and physical well-being of its inhabitants.

Psychological Design: Nureed emphasizes the importance of understanding a client’s psychological needs—such as the need for safety, comfort, or creative stimulation—before selecting a single piece of furniture.

The Shift in Luxury: The conversation explores how the definition of luxury is shifting away from “status symbols” toward personalized environments that reflect a client’s specific lifestyle and values.

Industry Collaboration: Nureed advocates for a more collaborative approach within the design community, suggesting that sharing knowledge and resources elevates the industry as a whole.

Designing for the Soul: Nureed Saeed’s Psychology of Space

In the fast-paced world of high-end design, it is easy to get lost in the aesthetics of luxury—the right marble, the perfect light fixture, or the trendiest palette. But for Nureed Saeed, owner and creative director of Nu Interiors, design has never been about the objects themselves. It is about the human beings who live among them.

Nureed’s journey to the top of the design world was an evolution, not a sudden pivot. Transitioning from a high-stakes career in the corporate fashion industry, she brought with her a keen understanding of how environments and products dictate human emotion. At Nu Interiors, she has moved beyond the “status symbol” luxury of the past, focusing instead on what she calls the “Wellness of Home.”

For Nureed, a project doesn’t begin with a floor plan; it begins with a psychological deep dive. She works to uncover the specific needs of her clients—whether they require a sanctuary for mental recovery, a space that fosters familial connection, or an environment that sparks creative energy. This “design for wellness” approach ensures that every room isn’t just beautiful, but serves as a functional pillar for the inhabitant’s mental and physical well-being.

As the industry shifts toward more personalized, human-centric spaces, Nureed is leading the charge. She advocates for a collaborative spirit within the design community, believing that a shared focus on the “wellness of home” elevates the profession as a whole. In an era where we spend more time indoors than ever, Nu Interiors is proving that the ultimate luxury isn’t a brand name—it’s a home that knows how to take care of you.

Maestri Studio LIVE in Dallas: Breaking the Silos | 684 | Why Cohesive, In-House Design is the Future of Architecture

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Eddie Maestri and the team at Maestri Studio join the podcast to discuss the power of integrated architecture, interiors, and landscape, lessons learned from the pandemic, and how to guide clients away from bloated square footage toward timeless character.

In this episode, you are going to hear my conversation with the multi-disciplinary team at Dallas-based Maestri Studio alongside Dave Johnson from James Hardie. Principal Architect Eddie Maestri shares his journey of building a full-service firm born out of frustration with traditional industry silos. By integrating architecture, interior design, full furnishings, and landscape architecture under one roof, the studio eliminates the communication friction that often plagues complex residential projects. I have been working with TimberTech, a division of James Hardie for a few years now. This company is a premier sponsor of Convo By Design and I have gotten to know the way they work and the manner in which they serve the design and architecture industry. Like providing me the opportunity to head to Dallas to speak with Eddie and his team in their studio.

The conversation delves into the post-pandemic realization that true creative collaboration requires proximity, prompting the studio to downsize and focus on a deeply integrated “many hats” workflow. The team also explores the changing landscape of home design—from navigating massive post-pandemic cost multipliers and evolving spaces like “mission control” kitchens, to pushing back against Texas’s “bigger is better” mentality in favor of highly detailed, character-rich spaces. Finally, they cover the critical role of manufacturer partnerships in keeping pace with rapid product innovations, regional environmental codes, and a growing client demand for technological simplicity.

  • Eliminating the Friction of Silos: Traditional collaborations often force designers to “stay in their lane,” creating a game of telephone that leads to client anxiety and mismatched executions. Keeping architecture, interiors, and landscape in-house allows the team to adjust clearances and design elements dynamically.
  • The Death of Remote Work for Creatives: The studio experimented with a larger, remote workforce during the pandemic but found that coordination suffered. Returning to a smaller, tight-knit, in-office team restored their ability to sketch, collaborate, and catch errors in real time.
  • Character Over Square Footage: In a market like Texas where massive homes dominate, homeowners are experiencing a reckoning. Clients are increasingly opting to trim square footage (e.g., cutting 1,000 square feet out of a plan) in order to allocate budget toward rich architectural character, custom volume transitions, and premium materials.
  • Bringing Builders in Early: To avoid painful change orders, Maestri Studio advocates for bringing the general contractor into the loop right at the conceptual design phase to establish healthy interior allowances and ensure budget alignment.
  • Evolving Spaces and Brand Alliances: Spaces like kitchens have transformed into multi-functional zones (outdoor kitchens, sculleries, beverage stations). To navigate the rapid evolution of building materials and strict regional codes—such as   Interface (WUI) restrictions or coastal “turtle-safe” lighting rules—strong alliances with technical manufacturers are crucial.
  • The Return to Simplicity in Tech & Lighting: While advanced integrated systems are popular, there is a distinct client backlash against app-bloat. Homeowners are gravitating toward clean, predictable lighting layouts—favoring sconces, lamps, and single-switch dimmers over standard grids of recessed ceiling cans.

Craft, Scale, and Soul: Bernd Radaschitz CEO Lanserring | 683 | The Future of Bespoke Kitchens


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Bernd Radaschitz, CEO of Lanserring, traces a century-old Austrian cabinetmaking legacy into a global, design-driven enterprise. In conversation, he reveals how authenticity, material intelligence, and craft-based thinking are reshaping the modern kitchen. From workshop floors in Riegersburg to projects in New York and beyond, this is a story of precision, partnership, and evolution.A fourth-generation craftsman turned global CEO explains why the future of design isn’t mass-produced—it’s deeply human, rigorously engineered, and unapologetically bespoke.

This conversation with Bernd Radaschitz is a masterclass in how heritage craft evolves without losing its soul. Born into a fourth-generation cabinetmaking family in Austria, Radaschitz bridges the rare gap between hands-on craftsmanship and executive leadership. His journey—from apprenticeship to building an international business spanning London and New York—offers a blueprint for scaling authenticity.

At the center of the discussion is the kitchen—not just as a room, but as a highly complex, hyper-functional environment that has evolved into the operational core of the home. Radaschitz explains how Lanserring approaches this shift through deep material knowledge, integrated design services, and a commitment to collaboration with architects and designers.

The conversation also explores the tension between machine precision and human touch, the global shortage of skilled trades, and the opportunity for architects and designers to rethink their relationship with makers. Ultimately, this is about more than kitchens—it’s about redefining value in a world oversaturated with sameness.

Authenticity as a Business Model

  • Rooted in generational craft, not marketing language
  • Leadership informed by hands-on making
  • Rejection of overly curated, PR-driven identity

The Kitchen as Mission Control

  • Shift from “heart of the home” to operational hub
  • Integration of appliances, storage, and lifestyle functions
  • Increasing complexity requires specialized design expertise

Craft + Technology

  • CNC and automation for precision and efficiency
  • Human hand essential in finishing, assembly, and quality control
  • Bespoke work as “controlled prototyping”

Material Intelligence

  • Deep understanding of wood, metal, stone, and glass
  • Emphasis on authenticity: grain, patina, texture
  • Custom sourcing and integration of rare or artisan materials

Design-Led vs Production-Led Models

  • Design-led: in-house kitchen design services
  • Production-led: execution of architect/designer vision
  • Hybrid approach within a single project

Globalization of Craft

  • Austrian manufacturing + London/New York design hubs
  • Logistics and shipping enabling international bespoke work
  • Cross-cultural collaboration as standard practice

The Talent Gap in Skilled Trades

  • Apprenticeship systems as a competitive advantage
  • Lack of next-generation makers in US and UK
  • Opportunity for firms who invest in craft education

Scaling Bespoke Without Losing Quality

  • Network of partner workshops in Austria
  • Shared standards, decentralized production
  • Maintaining craft integrity at higher volume

Designing for the Unexpected: Navigating Global Turmoil in the Bespoke Rug Industry | 682 | Ayub Ansari

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As geopolitical shifts and supply chain crises redefine the global economy, bespoke rug makers and interior designers are finding new ways to maintain craftsmanship and client trust.

This conversation with Ayub Ansari explores how California Design Living, a four-generation family business, is adapting to unprecedented challenges. From the sudden impact of 50% import tariffs to soaring air freight costs and labor shifts in India, the episode delves into the delicate balance between maintaining centuries-old artisanal traditions and surviving a volatile modern market.

  • Economic Volatility & Tariffs: Recent years have seen dramatic shifts in import policies, including sudden 50% tariffs that have forced companies to move from fixed pricing to more transparent, range-based quotes for clients.
  • The High Cost of Logistics: Supply chain disruptions and fuel surcharges have ballooned shipping costs, with some air freight quotes nearly doubling overnight.
  • Preserving Artisanal Heritage: The industry faces a long-term challenge in attracting younger generations to master intricate techniques like Persian knotting, which can take over a year to learn.
  • Evolution of the Showroom: High-end brands are moving toward “experience centers,” much like luxury car galleries, to focus on the touch-and-feel aspect of bespoke products in an increasingly digital world.
  • Strategic Collaboration: Designers are encouraged to utilize trade programs and consolidated shipping to mitigate rising costs through volume and long-term vendor relationships.

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Eileen Applebaum’s Dynamic Journey Unveiling the “Dynamic Tension” between Art and Commerce I 677 | The Evolution of Threads Soft Goods

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In this episode, I’m speaking with Eileen Applebaum, the founder and creative director of Threads Soft Goods. Eileen shares her unconventional path from being a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) at a Big Four firm to becoming a prominent figure in the interior design and retail industry. She discusses the concept of “dynamic tension“—the delicate balance between business acumen and creative expression—and how it has defined her 35-year career.

In the world of interior design, there is a pervasive myth that one must choose between the left-brain rigor of business and the right-brain flow of creativity. Eileen Applebaum, the founder of Threads Soft Goods, spent 35 years proving that the most sustainable success actually exists in the “dynamic tension” between the two.

Applebaum’s journey didn’t begin at an easel, but at a ledger. Despite a childhood obsession with redecorating, she initially earned a degree in accounting and passed the CPA exam. Though she realized within twenty-four hours of starting at a Big Four firm that it wasn’t her calling, she stayed for three years to earn her certification—a move that provided the foundational “armor” for her future entrepreneurial ventures.

Her subsequent twenty-year tenure at Crate & Barrel served as a “retail laboratory.” Rising to become a buyer for textiles and rugs, she mastered the efficiencies of large-scale production. However, as the industry shifted toward a more “ruthless” corporate model, Applebaum sought a return to ethics and craftsmanship.

Today, Threads Soft Goods represents the pinnacle of that evolution. Eschewing the industry’s reliance on synthetic “performance” fabrics and digital printing, Applebaum remains a purist. Her collections are defined by heritage techniques: hand-beaded metal embroidery, silk Shibori, and natural fibers sourced from artisans in India and the Philippines.

By partnering with Brownley Curry of Currey & Company, Applebaum has merged her boutique creative vision with high-level organizational structure. Her recent move to the New York Design Center marks a new chapter, proving that in a world of fast-moving trends, there is still a massive appetite for products with a soul, a story, and a spreadsheet-certified foundation.

The Unlikely Beginning: Despite a lifelong passion for interior design, Eileen initially followed a practical path, earning an accounting degree and passing the CPA exam. She describes her realization that accounting wasn’t her calling just one day into her professional career, yet she fulfilled her three-year commitment to secure her certification.

The Retail Laboratory: Eileen’s transition into design began at Crate & Barrel in Cambridge, MA, where she worked as a salesperson while attending design school. She eventually spent 20 years with the company, rising to become a buyer for textiles and rugs, an experience she credits with teaching her the efficiencies of large-scale production.

Threads Group vs. Threads Soft Goods: Eileen recounts the evolution of her business, starting with Threads Group in 2007, which focused on selling to mass retailers. She eventually pivoted to Threads Soft Goods in January 2024, shifting away from mass markets to focus on high-end, boutique-scale luxury products for interior designers and high-end boutiques.

Artisan Craftsmanship & Natural Materials: A hallmark of Threads Soft Goods is its commitment to handmade, natural materials. Eileen emphasizes her refusal to use synthetic performance fabrics or digital printing, opting instead for heritage techniques like silk Shibori and hand-beaded metal embroidery sourced from partners in India and the Philippines.

The Importance of Community and Ethics: Eileen highlights the role of long-standing relationships and ethical business practices in her success. Her partnership with Brownley Curry of Curry & Company has provided the organizational structure and “armor” necessary to scale her vision while maintaining creative control.

CXD July 2026 Icon Registry | 676 | Mary Ann Schickedanz: Blending European Longevity with Western Resiliency

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The Studio Schickedanz founder is inducted into the Convo By Design Icon Registry, showcasing three decades of sustainable innovation, material intelligence, and integrated architectural practice.

This episode celebrates the installation of Mary Ann Schickedanz, founder of Carmel-based Studio Schickedanz, into the Convo By Design Icon Registry. Bringing a foundational Austrian perspective where buildings are crafted to endure for generations, Schickedanz has spent over thirty years pioneering sustainable architecture across the American West. The conversation highlights her holistic approach to environmental integration—combining high-performance building science with deep material intelligence to combat regional ecological pressures like drought and wildfire risks. The episode also revisits a poignant 2019 archival interview from the La Cienega Design Quarter (LCDQ) Legends event, where she discusses her creative process, storytelling, and the influence of Austrian modernist pioneer Josef Hoffmann on her multidisciplinary practice.

  • The Icon Registry Induction: Recognized for achieving the highest tier of performance and intentionality in the design industry, proudly presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home.
  • Material Intelligence & Eco-Integration: Schickedanz’s work prioritizes site-specific architecture, featuring native rooftop flora, local granite, and earth-toned integral plaster that allow structures to坐 sit seamlessly within their ecologies, achieving LEED certification and net-zero status.
  • Modular Construction & Innovation: Her multi-family compound at the Santa Lucia Preserve demonstrates how high-end factory fabrication can deliver sustainable, all-electric, manufactured housing assembled on-site in just seven hours to minimize environmental disruption.
  • The Integrated Studio Model: A key differentiator where architects, interior designers, and horticulturalists collaborate from project inception to ensure a fluid connection between the structural shell and the natural landscape.
  • Honoring Heritage at LCDQ: The episode reflects on her 2019 window vignette at Mansur Carpets during the La Cienega Design Quarter Legends event, channeling the comprehensive maker-designer philosophy of Josef Hoffmann alongside collaborations with Shirley Robinson Wallpaper and furniture from Design Within Reach.

Designing for Generations: The Material Intelligence of Mary Ann Schickedanz

The contemporary architecture landscape frequently wrestles with the concept of “intentionality,” yet Mary Ann Schickedanz has quietly spent the last thirty years operationalizing it. Inducted into the Convo By Design Icon Registry, the Austrian-native and founder of Studio Schickedanz has permanently altered how the American West approaches luxury residential design by rejecting “disposable architecture” in favor of ancestral longevity.

Schickedanz’s design philosophy bridges a European reverence for multi-generational structural permanence with the acute ecological demands of California’s topography. Rather than treating sustainability as a surface-level checklist, her methodology relies on deep material intelligence and total environmental integration. From pioneering the first LEED-certified projects in Big Sur and Carmel-by-the-Sea to engineering net-zero contemporary estates, her structures are designed to function as living, breathing extensions of their native ecosystems.

This is achieved primarily through her firm’s integrated studio model. By seating architects, interior specialists, and regional horticulturalists at the same table from day one, she eliminates the traditional fragmentation of design. Structural concrete, local granite, and native exposed-root rooftop flora are specified in tandem, maximizing thermal efficiency and wildfire resiliency while anchoring buildings seamlessly into rolling topography.

Her forward-thinking mindset extends equally to modern building science and historic preservation. Whether rewriting the narrative around modular housing by assembling a luxury, all-electric compound at the Santa Lucia Preserve in a single day, or meticulously updating the performance of a 1948 Henry Hill midcentury landmark, Schickedanz proves that high design and strict environmental metrics are not mutually exclusive. Ultimately, her work champions a vital shift in the industry: shifting away from an architectural “etch-a-sketch” mentality and moving toward purposeful, permanent spaces built right the first time.

Building a Safe Harbor for Creative Growth: A Family Affair | 675 | Introducing Shelter Republic

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Today is one of the most incredible episodes of the show I have ever produced. I don’t say this lightly. Today, you are going to hear about a new project called Shelter Republic, officially launching although if you are an avid listener, you have probably heard me talking about it as we prepared for launch. Well, it’s here, and it’s official. And You are going to hear from my co-founder…I’m sitting down with computer engineer and Shelter Republic co-founder Jack Cooperman to discuss the platform’s structural architecture, functionality, purpose, and the necessity for safe places to explore ideas amongst peers.

  • The Genesis of Shelter Republic: Jack and I reflect on the evolution of the platform, tracking its roots back to when Jack and his sister first visited Josh on stage at the WestEdge Design Fair. The community was built to bridge regional gaps and provide a collaborative, peer-to-peer ecosystem for architects and designers.
  • Designing UX for Geographic Context: Jack outlines the structure of the platform, which is divided into five nationwide micro-communities (including the Mountain Atlantic and Southwest regions). This allows for highly localized discussions on styles, culture, and business norms while keeping a unified national hub.
  • Cultivating a “Safe Place to Fail”: The co-founders debate the nature of failure in school versus a creative career. Josh emphasizes that Shelter Republic is deliberately engineered as a vetted, invite-only environment to protect accomplished creatives from public “dogpiling” or algorithmic scrutiny when exploring new, untested concepts.
  • Platform Features & Onboarding: Built to avoid user-data exploitation and ad clutter, the platform operates via direct invitation and QR codes. Features include text-based feeds, real-time messaging, direct networking via professional member bios, live video-conferencing rooms, and educational modules—including Josh’s masterclass, Podcasting for Creatives.
  • Addressing Industry Disruptions (AI & Legislation): The conversation dives into how early-career junior designers are transitioning into technology facilitators due to AI studio integration. They also discuss how the platform serves as a “modern town crier” for critical industry news, citing a recent user post by a Southern California designer regarding the engineered quartz ban in California due to silicosis risks.
  • Cooperation Over Competition: Drawing a contrast with the competitive nature of the design world, Josh shares a lesson from his time covering the Playboy Jazz Festival, where legendary jazz musicians prioritized mentoring the next generation to keep the collective genre alive. Shelter Republic aims to foster that exact cross-regional mentorship.

Thank you Jack. I know I have already said it, but I have enjoyed every moment putting this together and we are thrilled to share it. Note on Access: Shelter Republic is entirely free, and does not collect user data except when stated like the use of polls and prompts for professional input. To maintain community standards and security, entry is restricted to verified industry professionals via peer invitation or direct QR code scanning at upcoming events.

Bill Baldwin of Hartman Baldwin | 674 | The New Intentionality Behind Design-Build, Guided by Passion & Driven by Purpose

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A conversation with Bill Baldwin of HartmanBaldwin on how shifting cultural values and environmental challenges are reshaping the way we build and live.

A Continued Shift Toward Purposeful Design The conversation explored how the pandemic served as a pivotal moment of clarity, leading to a profound shift in how people view their homes. Bill noted that clients are now designing with a greater sense of purpose and intent, moving away from surface level trends and toward spaces that truly reflect how they want to live. This “new intentionality” is seeing a focus on long term needs, such as aging in place and creating multi-generational living environments.

The Evolution of the Kitchen as Mission Control The concept of the kitchen has evolved from a simple functional area into the high tech, multi-functional hub of the home. Bill and the host discussed how the kitchen now functions as a “mission control” center, where multiple activities from professional work to family social life converge. This has led to more complex infrastructure needs and a desire for specialized elements like secondary working kitchens and advanced appliance suites that reflect specific lifestyle interests.

Preservation and Resilience in the Face of Environmental Challenges Reflecting on recent events like the wildfires in California, the discussion turned to the challenges of preserving historical architecture while meeting modern safety and environmental standards. Bill emphasized that while we have the technical knowledge to build more resilient structures, the challenge lies in adapting existing communities and historical properties to these new realities without losing their character.

The Philosophy of Design Build A key part of the conversation centered on the “design build” philosophy, which aims to create synergy between the disparate talents of architects, interior designers, and builders. By working in unison from the project’s inception, this integrated approach ensures that the final result is greater than the sum of its parts, with the invisible infrastructure and the respect for craftsmanship elevating the overall experience of the home.

The Future of Innovation and Adaptive Reuse The episode wrapped up with a look at future innovations, including the potential for prefabricated and modular homes to address housing needs. The idea of “adaptive reuse,” moving and repurposing existing functional structures instead of demolishing them, was also discussed as a potentially more sustainable way forward for the industry, reflecting a broader trend toward more conscious and resourceful building practices.

Applicable Elements HartmanBaldwin: https://hartmanbaldwin.com/ Historic England: https://historicengland.org.uk/ KBIS: https://kbis.com/ The Sea Ranch: https://www.tsra.org/ Pasadena, CA: https://www.visitpasadena.com/

My recent conversation with Bill Baldwin of HartmanBaldwin was a profound look at how our industry is evolving in response to the massive cultural shifts of the last few years. One of the most striking points Bill made was how the pandemic acted as a “moment of clarity” for so many people. It stripped away the surface level distractions and forced us all to really look at how we were living in our homes.

What has emerged is what Bill calls a “new intentionality” in design. People are no longer just looking for the latest aesthetic trend. They are looking for spaces that serve a deep, functional purpose in their lives. We’re seeing a significant rise in projects focused on multi generational living and aging in place. It’s no longer about just having a beautiful house; it’s about having a home that is a resilient, supportive environment for all stages of life.

We also dug into the idea of the kitchen as “mission control.” The days of the kitchen being a hidden room for food prep are long gone. Today, it’s the high tech hub of the entire home’s infrastructure. This means we have to think much more deeply about what Bill refers to as the “invisible infrastructure”; the plumbing, electrical, and data needs that allow these spaces to function at such a high level.

One of the most sobering parts of our talk was discussing environmental resilience. Living through the California wildfires has fundamentally changed the conversation around preservation and building standards. We have the technology to build more resilient homes, but as Bill pointed out, the real challenge is how we integrate these necessary changes into our existing communities and historic neighborhoods without losing the soul and character that make them special. It’s a complex, ongoing balance that requires the kind of integrated, design build thinking that Bill has championed for decades.