I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. You have no doubt heard by now about the remote design house project I am working on in Tulsa. If you are curious about the state of design in Tulsa, this episode is for you.
Here we have another creative with a degree in something other than interior design or architecture. Marketing. She also received her degree in interior design as well, but marketing is almost a must-have these days. Lauren Johnson runs her eponymous firm in Tulsa Oklahoma with both a “creative mindset and an artistic point of view.” I like that because those ideas are open ended as it relates to creative endeavors. Tulsa is a very big small city and Lauren treats the city as a community from which the draws inspiration and gives back with soulful and meaningful design.
The design community is strong in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And it gets stronger with all the new residents who come to inhabit this amazing midwest city. The city is rooted in art deco architecture from the early 1900’s as the city grew into an oil and gas hub. With that growth, came the experimentation as tastes and styles changed. Essentially, this created an experimental design city. That changed a bit in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Growth began to stagnate in response to the oil bust. This is a really interesting study in how design trends and experimentation grow hand in glove with a city’s financial health. The city of Tulsa is growing rapidly. The 10 year growth rate is 5.4%. I would also call this a healthy growth rate, not the hyper-explosive rates of Austin, Texas or even Oklahoma City. Cities that grow too fast suffer the negative ramifications of an overheated housing market and increased competition for resources. That being said, the growth from outside is bringing in new tastes for design and architecture. And that is a good thing. You will learn more about how she works and what motivates Johnson right after this from our friends at ThermaSol.
Thank you, Lauren, I appreciate you. Thank you ThermaSol, Article, York Wallcoverings and Franz Viegener for your partnership and support. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week. Be well and take today first.
Designer Resources
ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience
Article, great style is easy. It’s the best way to buy beautiful modern furniture.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with one of the greats. Not just as a decorator, but as a person. Incredibly talented and so versatile as an interior decorator, I wanted to share his story with you, this is Alex Papachristides.
I first met Alex in 2019, I think. To be completely frank with you, my years have started to mix and mingle together. It’s like something crazy has happened over the last 2 years. I met Alex at La Cienega Design Quarter’s Legends event. I spent a week interviewing creatives who crafted windows in the quarter and Alex was one of my favorites. If you do a modicum of research on Alex, you will find a deeply creative and complex interior decorator who knows the historical importance of the materials with which he works and the meaning behind each design story he creates for his clients. Papachristidis in versatile too. It takes a special person who can appear on Today and This Old House and be equally compelling. Alex is an author and perpetually included on just about any who’s who design list. Alex is also a dog person and sits on the Board of Directors of ARF Hamptons, which is one of the reasons I find him so special. This is Alex Papachristidis.
Thank you, Alex. Loved our chat and truly appreciate the time. Thank you ThermaSol, Article, York Wallcoverings and Franz Viegener for your partnership. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week. Be well and take today first.
Designer Resources:
ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience
Article, great style is easy. It’s the best way to buy beautiful modern furniture.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with designer, Anelle Gandelman. Former student of The New School of Interior Design with a degree in Fine Art from Parsons School of Design and a certificate in American art & antiques from Sotheby’s. I bet you know where we’re going with this one.
Yep, art and design. We talk about it quite a bit. I think it’s important to cover this subject for a number of reason. In my experience, designer tend to shy away form fine art, antiques and the perceived high expense of such endeavors in design. Why? Because of cost, overall percentage of the design budget, lack of quality control, delivery issues, but the main reason? I suspect it is due to a lack of comfort with the idea that there is rarity to this and an inability to circle back and return the product if it doesn’t fit perfectly. But think about it this way, art and antiques can be woven into a design concept in so many way that it can raise the level of design exponentially. You can use art as a feature, accessory, complimentary item, balance to low in the high-low scenario. You can use antiques to balance a modern or contemporary feel but most importantly to me anyway is that a skilled designer can use art and antiques to further craft the story behind the design itself making it a unique story exclusive to their clients. That is what many if not most clients are looking for now. So, we are going to get into this with a deep dive into the world of design, art and antiques with designer and founder of the Manhattan firm, A List Interiors, Anelle Gandelman.
Thank you, Anelle. I truly appreciate the time! Thank you Thank you ThermaSol,Article, York Wallcoverings and Franz Viegener for your partnership. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week. Be well and take today first.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. The podcast is celebrating 9 years serving the design and architecture community. Today on the show, Bill and Phylis Taylor of the firm Taylor & Taylor with a conversation about sun soaked architecture in Miami and that classic Florida style.
I love talking architecture and design, but that are really 2 different conversations. Design in the story of design and architecture is the language, more specifically, the language and dialect. Florida has a style and the Taylor’s know it well, speak it fluently and they are here to share it with you. I think every geographic location should have its own distinct dialect. Why? Because as in any dialect of a particular language, a regional or geographic style speaks to the nuances of that particular location. It also speaks bestdesign and build practices as it relates to local weather conditions, traffic, noise, lifestyle and other elements that are hyper-local.South Florida is very different from the panhandle as the western coast is different from the eastern coast and the Keys. This is exactly why I do so love conversations like the one you are about to hear with Bill and Phyllis Taylor. This is another installment of the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol. An amazing partner in design.
You are listening to my conversation with dynamic design duo Bill & Phyllis Taylor. We will return right after this from York Wallcoverings, a new favorite of mine and partner in our 2022 Remote Design House | Tulsa.
Thank you York Wallcoverings, now back to my conversation with the Taylors, part of the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol.
Thank you, Phyllis and Bill. Florida Style, love it! Thank you ThermaSol, Article, York Wallcoverings and Franz Viegener for your partnership. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week. Be well and take today first.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo ByDesign with another installment of the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol featuring interior designer, Laura Hodges.
Laura Hodges is the founder and principal designer behind the DC/ Baltimorebased Laura Hodges Studio. Laura has a unique design perspective, influenced by her Norwegian grandmother, British mother and Jamaican father. All these influences mix and blend international ideas with her own love of travel and the experience that comes from visiting iconic design destinations. Laura has degrees in business, interior design, LEED accreditation for practicing sustainable design, and owns DOMAIN by Laura Hodges Studio, a brick and mortar showroom where she can visually merchandise a space that is constantly changing while applying her chosen course of study. As with every installment of the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series, the objective is to bring you different perspectives from a variety of creators. This is no exception, this is designer, Laura Hodges.
By now, you have heard me telling you about our Convo By Design 2022 Remote Design House | Tulsa project. I am so excited to begin sharing more information with about this idea house. By the time you hear this, at least two spaces are well into install and another 2 are in pre-design. They will be published and shared with you as they are completed. At that time you will also get the chance to see how each room came together. Hear from the designers, hear about the process and see the finished project as well as the before and during snapshots. So now is a great time to make sure you are subscribing to the podcast. You can find CXD everywhere you get your favorite podcasts.
Franz Viegener – I know you love talking about great partnerships the same way that I do. Let me tell you about an incredible design partner who is working with us on the Convo By Design Remote Design House | Tulsa project, Franz Viegener. A company created in 1899 in Attendorn, Germany. They started manufacturing brass beer taps. In 1921, the company expanded into Buenos Aires manufacturing brass faucetry. The company launched in the US in 1992 and Franz Viegener Premium Collection began in 2008. Franz Viegener crafts high-quality, premium faucets with one objective, to create a design-oriented, luxury product that exceeds the standards set by world-class designers and architects. If you see a Franz Viegener faucet, it is stunning. You use Franz Viegener faucets and they perform, flawlessly. Product you can depend on after over 120 years designing a truly stunningly good looking faucet line. For more information and to check out the entire line of faucets visit Franz Viegener dot com.
Thank you, Laura. Not much makes me happier than deep dives like this! Thank you Walker Zanger for presenting Convo By Design. Thank you ThermaSol, Article, York Wallcoverings and Franz Viegener for your partnership. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week. Be well and take today first.
I’m Josh Cooperman, this is Convo By Design and just like that it’s 2022. Where did 2021 go? Same place 2020 went, in the annals of history as a year the design industry (or any industry for that matter) will soon forget. We made it through and as this tight knit group of creatives and seekers of creativity did at the end of 2020, we lean into 2022 with high hopes. I wanted to start off the year with a new installment of the Wellness and Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol. that deals with, among other things, the idea of aging in place and designing with that in mind. Andrea Hysmith is the founder and principal designer behind ASH Interiors and Design. Her Ellicott City, Maryland firm specialize in crafting design that evolves in tandem with stage of life. Hysmith is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. We are going to get into that in just a moment.
An announcement. A big one and this is something I am so excited about that it really has been a challenge not to talk about it already…
Convo By Design presents the 2022 Remote Design House | Tulsa. A unique idea around an equally unique show house. I have been wanting to do another design house project for many years now, but the right opportunity had not presented itself. Sure, there were projects, but none were right for me. Then, the pandemic hit. Here I was, producing a podcast for 8 years and all of a sudden, the entire industry stops working in an office and trying to figure out what the future of design is even going to look like. I am going to go a bit further down that rabbit hole in future episodes. Right now, I want to tell you where this is all going. In the first 200 days of the pandemic, I recorded over 100 interviews, conversations and panels. Like you probably did, I dived into the work, for two reasons. The first was to keep myself from going crazy with a family of four in a small house, trying to keep everyone calm and not lose my cool in the face of something scary and unknown. The second part was a strong belief at the time that our industry was on the precipice of something amazing. I had no idea that the product would be in short supply until the summer of 2020. I was on a run in Manhattan Beach, California on day, unable to run along the Strand, I was forced into a neighboring alley and noticed all of the boxes awaiting trash pickup. I started counting and identifying the boxes which became a hobby and way on passing the miles while running through mostly empty streets and alleys. The boxes were TV’s, appliances, office furniture and equipment. There were fitness equipment boxes and all kinds of design materials and product. I remember the “a-ha” moment for me was later in the Fall. I had completed recording and airing a series called, “Designing for Disaster.” You can still find these episodes in the CXD stream.
Designers architects were telling me that, of their clients, the ones that could were escaping to mountain, beach and more remote locations to live this out and using the opportunity to remodel both homes. Designers and architects, you know this… You have been busy ever since. Part of this new professional reality meant that embracing the new technology like Zoom, Slack, Base Camp, Microsoft Office and Google Drive was now a mandatory part of their jobs. This also meant that they would be required to design from a distance. That is something that represents the most revolutionary element for the design trade. How can you continue to work with your clients, now on the move and do what you do which traditionally was almost all in person and face to face.
I wanted to find out and so here we are in Tulsa, Oklahoma with a really special project house that is going to be reimagined by some of the world’s most talented creatives, none of whom are from Tulsa, this house is real and and the design is completely remote, the meets are all virtual and the work is being completed locally by local craftsmen, artisans and tradesmen. I haven’t seen a project like this before, so I really don’t have anything with which to compare it. So, we will learn together. Episodes featuring the designers and design partners are coming soon.
Speaking of amazing partners.
If you have been listening to Convo By Design for a while, you have heard me tell you about Article. Great style really is simple with Article. Things have been challenging for design professionals and their clients, you know this, what you might not know is that it doesn’t have to be if you are looking for exceptionally beautiful modern furniture. Article provides a simple and easy way to creating a beautiful modern space. Because Article works direct with their manufacturers on production of unique and stunning pieces, then they work directly by providing this well crafted design directly to you. This direct relationship means you aren’t wondering where your furniture is, AND you are getting it for an incredible value. Even more… Their culture and service are rooted in their core values, Customer Obsession, Do it differently, Ownership Mindset, Win together. If you are a designer, architect or residential developer you must check out their Trade Program. Discounts, special support and exclusive perks. Article has the beautiful modern furniture you’re looking for. Check them out.
Thank you, Andrea. I appreciate what you do and our time together. This has been another installment of the Wellness and Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol. Thank you Walker Zanger for presenting Convo By Design. Thank you Article, York Wallcoverings and Franz Viegener for your partnership. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week. Be well and take today first.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with photographer, artist and sculptor Nicole Landau who describes herself as a “Contemporary multimedia artist working in photography and monumental illuminated sculpture.” Succinct, but incomplete. I think we all work so hard to define ourselves for social media knowing that we have such limited time to try and explain who we are and what we do. This is why I dislike social media as much as I do, but also recognize that it is part of our lives, both social and professional, but that is also the main reason why I love doing this podcast and speaking with creatives like Nicole in a long format conversation. It gives both guest and myself an opportunity to meander a bit, take some time to really explore each other and share fully composed thoughts. Nicole is incredibly talented and I think you will appreciate all the detail in the following conversation.
Thank you for listening and subscribing to Convo By Design, a podcast for the design and architecture trade. Inside stories and in depth conversations with those shaping the industry. If you are not already doing so, please subscribe to the podcast. You will find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite shows like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Design Network dot org.
Convo By Design is presented by Walker Zanger, an incredible partner in design. The show is also supported by ThermaSol, another design partner who is always looking to help designers and architects do their best work. For more information from both of these amazing partners, as well as this weeks guest, you will find direct links in the show notes.
Thank you, Nicole. Your work is thoughtful and grand.It makes me think about not just what is, but what will be at the same time, pondering what it could be were the circumstances different. To me, that is the superpower of an artist and creator…. To present something that is both well defined and open to interpretation. Thank you Walker Zanger for presenting Convo By Design. Thank you ThermaSol for your partnership. You are both remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve.
This is the final episode of 2021. It has been quite a year, one of openings, closings, re-openings and one in which we all took stock in what we have, what we’ve missed and most importantly, what we want in the future. Besides for our product to get delivered in a reasonable amount of time. Next year, there are some big things coming from Convo by Design, like our first ever design house project. A unique project featuring some of the most creative designers in the country and I am really excited to share this with you. But for now, take some time to pause, recharge, give yourself permission to hop off social media for a while and chill.
This is Convo By Design featuring an absolutely amazing creative whose zig-zagged creative journey took many turns in a path that found him in the envious position in which he sits today. Founder and CEO of his namesake multi-line showroom. This is Anderson Somerselle. As you might imagine, after hosting and producing this show for 8 years soon to be in our 9th, I speak to many creatives who each have their own personal and professional journey and you hear from them once they have arrived. I find the path fascinating and no two paths are alike. Some are similar, but none exactly the same.
Anderson Somerselle is originally from the Virgin Islands. His path took what I like to call ‘pinballing through the biz’ which so many of us, myself included seem to do on our way to where we feel we should be. Somerselle has worked luxury design retail on the floor, later running departments within luxury design showrooms. Anderson gathered the experience and started his own luxury showroom featuring an impressive collection of unique brands. His methods are different than traditional showrooms and because of this, he offers a unique showroom experience. You will learn all about it here.
Thank you for listening and subscribing to Convo By Design, a podcast for the design and architecture trade. Inside stories and in depth conversations with those shaping the industry. If you are not already doing so, please subscribe to the podcast. You will find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite shows like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Design Network dot org.
Convo By Design is presented by Walker Zanger, an incredible partner in design. The show is also supported by ThermaSol, another design partner who is always looking to help designers and architects do their best work. For more information from both of these amazing partners, as well as this weeks guest, you will find direct links in the show notes.
Thank you, Anderson. Love your story and really appreciate you sharing it. Thank you Walker Zanger for presenting Convo By Design. Thank you ThermaSol for your partnership. You are both remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week, be well and take today first.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. We are making a virtual stop in another American design destination, Arkansas. I know what you’re thinking, I get it…Keep reading.
Sometimes, the heart and mind of a true pioneer allows them to see the opportunity right where they are and eliminate the journey altogether. Chris Goddard is one such design pioneer who happens to be based in Springdale Arkansas. Arkansas is, to many just another southern state they will never visit. If you are one of those individuals, I will encourage you to rethink that position. The state itself is home to some of the most beautiful wilderness anywhere in the world and a train that is perfect for creative design. Because he is based in Arkansas doesn’t mean that is the exclusive location for his work. He is an international designer with TV cred as well. We talk about his design journey beginning in Arkansas and extending out into international design. As you listen, pay special attention to his approach and philosophy regarding the work. You will notice some through lines in thought that directly reflects what many of the incredible talent has to say about the work. One lesson here is that you cannot judge great design by its location although many still do. The other is, as we emerge from this amazing and highly disruptive moment inn time, states like Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas provide a lower cost of living, higher quality of life and the same ability to work as LA, New York and Boston. For a fraction of the cost. It seems pretty attractive, right? Just wait until you hear Chris explain it.
If you are not already subscribing to the podcast,please do so you get every episode automatically when they are published. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts and now, you can find us on DesignNetwork dot Org, a destination dedicated to podcasts, all things design and architecture so make sure to check it out. And , if you need some help, ask Alexa or Siri for help. Just Say, “hey Siri, play Convo By Design podcast?” And, she will!
Thank you, Chris. I really enjoyed our chat and look forward to doing it again. Thank you Walker Zanger for presenting Convo By Design. Thank you ThermaSol for your partnership. You are both remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening. As you may have noticed, Convo By Design is bringing you design talent from all across the country. It’s not just about LA and New York, but Alabama, Louisiana and now, Monaco! Thanks again for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week, be well and take today first.
This is Convo By Design with a conversation about the business of design. No pretty sofas, rugs or lamps….Just the nuts and bolts. You might say, “hey Josh, you talk about the business of design quite often, what makes this any different?” And you would be right. I try to bring you different perspectives about the business as often as I can from as many different perspectives as possible. It’s critical to both the success of the industry as well as those that make up business of design from designers, architects, editors, writers, photographers, tradespeople, showroom managers, manufacturers and even clients to understand the how the machine works to keep it working even when there has been as much upheaval as there has been since late Q1 2020.
Let’s be honest here, not many were prepared for the events resulting from the pandemic. Many are still not prepared for what comes next. Why? Well, because we have no idea what’s coming next. Or do we? This is another installment of the Wellness and Thoughts Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol. The series is being produced to provide insight about issues like these.
I am editing this episode at the end of September, 2021. According to multiple reports, there are now 62 ships off the California coast waiting to offload cargo. Some of this product might be yours! A few months ago, I Was reporting that there were 40 ships waiting at these very same ports. Now, at the very same time, there are over 150 ships waiting to LOAD cargo off the coast of China. Not everything comes from China, but much of it does and if it isn’t getting loaded, it can’t be delivered.
This is not the only challenge right now, but it is a glaring one and one that you first must recognize in order to address many of the others. So, my conversation today is with Keith Granet.
Keith Granet, president of his consulting firm Granet & Associates has been advising those in the business since 1991. He is the author of Business of Design, a groundbreaking business book specifically for the design trade. This book was groundbreaking and led to groundbreaking changes in the way many designers view the business of design and their roles as business owners, not just creatives. Granet now has a new book abut the business of design and listen, if you are going to wait 20 years for the sequel, the expectations are obviously high and the timing for this could not be better.
This book covers new ideas relating to changes in the design business today, markedly different from what it was in 1991 when his first book was released. The Business of Design: Balancing Creativity and Profitability is the subject of this episodes of Convo By Design and another edition of the Wellness and Design Thought Leadership presented by ThermaSol.
If you are not already subscribing to the podcast,please do so you get every episode automatically when they are published. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts and now, you can find us on DesignNetwork dot Org, a destination dedicated to podcasts, all things design and architecture so make sure to check it out. And , if you need some help, ask Alexa or Siri for help. Just Say, “hey Siri, play Convo By Design podcast?” And, she will!
Thank you, Keith. Excellent catching up with you. Thank you Walker Zanger for presenting Convo By Design you are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. Thank you ThermaSol for presenting the Wellness and Design Thought Leadership Series. And, thank you for listening. As you may have noticed, Convo By Design is bringing you design talent from all across the country. It’s not just about LA and New York, but Maine, South Florida and Portland, Oregon. We are so rich in talent that sometimes, we miss some of the gems. Keep those email coming, email me with show suggestions and feel free to suggest a designer, architect or other creative you think the editorial team should be aware of. Thanks again for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week, be well and take today first.
