Category Archives: TimberTech

Christina Cruz of Christina Cruz Interiors | 673 | Designing a Unique Perspective: From Media Sales to Measurable Interiors

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A former media executive trades corporate strategy for interior design, only to discover the same rules still apply. In a rapidly evolving industry shaped by AI, rising client expectations, and economic pressure, design has become as much about systems as it is about style. This conversation reveals how one designer is navigating that shift by treating every project like a campaign with outcomes that extend far beyond aesthetics. A conversation about reinvention, material intelligence, and why the most effective designers today think in terms of ROI, storytelling, and client experience.

This episode explores the intersection of creativity and commerce through the lens of a designer who entered the field from a high-level media sales background. What began as a personal creative outlet quickly evolved into a full-scale practice shaped by client service, strategic thinking, and an understanding of how to build and communicate value.

The conversation moves from career transition to the realities of running a design firm in a post-pandemic environment where expectations have shifted dramatically. The rise of AI-driven tools, the normalization of photorealistic rendering, and the increasing demand for certainty have fundamentally altered the creative process. At the same time, economic pressure and market saturation are forcing designers to rethink how they position their services and allocate resources.

At its core, this conversation with Christina reframes interior design as a business discipline—one rooted in storytelling, measurable outcomes, and deeply personalized client experiences.

From Passion to Practice
The transition from corporate media to design highlights how creative careers are often built on personal discovery rather than formal training. What begins as instinct becomes refined through experience, mentorship, and repetition.

Design as a Business Model
The modern design firm operates less like a studio and more like a service-driven business. Client communication, budgeting, documentation, and logistics now dominate the process, leaving a smaller percentage of time for pure creative exploration.

The Expectation Economy
Clients today expect clarity, precision, and predictability. The widespread use of 3D rendering and AI visualization tools has created an environment where design is no longer interpretive but prescriptive.

Storytelling as Strategy
Projects are approached as narratives, not just spaces. Each design reflects a client’s current life stage, aspirations, and daily rituals, aligning emotional goals with functional outcomes.

Material Intelligence
Staying relevant requires constant learning. Emerging materials, new fabrication techniques, and evolving product categories demand ongoing engagement beyond the screen and inside showrooms, workshops, and trade events.

Marketing in a Saturated Landscape
With an influx of designers and limited client attention, differentiation is critical. Targeted messaging, clear brand identity, and consistent content creation are no longer optional—they are foundational.

AI and Authenticity
Artificial intelligence offers efficiency but introduces risk. Overuse can dilute originality and create a disconnect between concept and execution, reinforcing the importance of human curation and technical expertise.

Rethinking ROI
Return on investment in design is shifting away from resale value toward lived experience. A successful project improves how a client functions, feels, and connects within their space.

Career transition from media sales to interior design and the role of prior experience in shaping a new business

The evolution of regional design markets and the rapid sophistication of cities like Austin

The operational reality of design firms and the imbalance between creative work and administrative demands

The impact of AI and rendering technology on client expectations and design delivery

Applying campaign strategy, KPIs, and ROI thinking to residential design projects

Deep client onboarding processes and uncovering behavioral needs beyond surface preferences

The limitations of design education and the importance of real-world business knowledge

Strategies for staying current with materials, fabrication methods, and vendor innovation

The role of trade shows and immersive environments in sourcing and inspiration

Building a marketing strategy that targets a specific client profile rather than a broad audience

Balancing content creation with core design responsibilities in a digital-first landscape

Navigating earned versus paid media and understanding the value of each

Allocating marketing budgets across photography, PR, awards, and advertising

Adapting to economic shifts through flexible service offerings and phased project models

Maintaining brand integrity while expanding accessibility to different client tiers

Design is no longer just about creating beautiful spaces. It is about building systems that deliver clarity, confidence, and measurable impact. The firms that succeed will be the ones that embrace this complexity—balancing creativity with strategy, and intuition with intention.

Architecture After Disruption: Health, Resilience, and the Future of the American Home | 670 | Tim Barber Architects

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In this conversation with the principals of Tim Barber Architects, the discussion explores how architecture has evolved since 2020. The pandemic fundamentally changed how people live in their homes, forcing architects to rethink everything from spatial organization and material choices to health, resilience, and long-term adaptability.

The architects describe a profession balancing client desires, environmental realities, and community responsibility. Topics include aging in place, the shift away from open floor plans, rebuilding after wildfire loss, and the growing role of resilience and sustainability in residential design.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation

The conversation also examines larger systemic issues—from the housing crisis and the loss of architectural criticism to concerns about deregulating the architectural profession and the future pipeline of architects. Ultimately, the discussion reveals architecture as both a creative discipline and a civic responsibility.

Tim Barber, Kelly Becker, David Stone, Ari Engleman, Katie Peterson-Hesketh

Post-Pandemic Spatial Design

Homes are now workplaces, classrooms, and wellness environments. Architects are designing more flexible, compartmentalized spaces rather than large open rooms.

The Reassessment of the Open Floor Plan

Open layouts are losing popularity as homeowners seek acoustic separation, privacy, and spatial hierarchy.

Healthy Homes

Clients increasingly ask about air quality, non-toxic materials, EMF concerns, and overall wellness in the built environment.

Aging in Place & Multigenerational Living

Homes are being designed for lifelong occupancy, with elevators, adaptable bathrooms, and secondary primary suites.

Housing Crisis Misconceptions

The problem is not a lack of housing overall but a shortage of affordable, well-located housing.

Sustainability Through Longevity

The most sustainable building is the one that already exists. Adaptive reuse and generational homes are key strategies.

Fire Resilience and Climate Adaptation

Wildfire rebuild projects are forcing architects to rethink materials, structural resilience, and building codes.

“Performance Spending”

Homeowners must choose between visible luxury and invisible resilience investments.

Architects as Client Advocates

Architects frequently guide clients away from poor decisions through education and alternatives rather than simply saying “no.”

Material Uncertainty and Construction Cost Volatility

Rapid cost changes and new materials create challenges for planning and specification.

Professional Deregulation Concerns

Removing architectural licensing protections could threaten safety, quality, and professional standards.

Education and Knowledge Sharing

The firm runs an internal “university” model to continuously train staff and share knowledge.

Loss of Architectural Criticism

The disappearance of critics and serious architectural journalism has created a cultural vacuum in evaluating design.

Adaptive Reuse and Density

Office conversions and moderate urban density may become major architectural trends.

Future of Residential Design

Homes may become smaller but more sophisticated—prioritizing performance, durability, and resilience.

Convo By Design May 2026 ICON Cathy Purple Cherry | 665 | Designing for Life: Architecture, Emotion, and the Long View

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Designing for Life: Architecture, Emotion, and the Long View

Architect Cathy Purple Cherry challenges the idea that buildings are static objects, arguing instead that great architecture evolves with human behavior, emotion, and time.

From biophilic design and post-pandemic living patterns to aging-in-place and purposeful restraint, Purple Cherry shares how architecture can improve quality of life across generations—without chasing trends or perfection.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation

In this episode of Convo By Design, I share my first conversation with architect Cathy Purple Cherry for a wide-ranging conversation on architecture as a deeply human, emotionally driven discipline. Purple Cherry discusses how architects must design for decades—not design cycles—and how shifts in technology, work culture, and climate have fundamentally altered the way homes and workplaces should function.

Everything that embodies a design icon… right here. The Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home. An incredible partner in design.

The conversation explores the lasting impact of biophilic design, the realities of working from home at different life stages, and why many contemporary office environments fail to support collaboration or productivity. Purple Cherry also reflects on aging, accessibility, and the importance of designing homes that support real relationships, not social-media perfection.

Rebuilding the Dream | 664 | The State of SoCal Architecture with Leo Marmol & Ron Radziner

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I sat down with Ron Radziner and Leo Marmol to dig into why building in Southern California feels like an uphill battle and how we can actually fix it.

After their talk at WestEdge, I caught up with Ron and Leo to process everything discussed. We’re at a major inflection point in Southern California, and I wanted to know how their perspective has shifted since they started back in ’89. We dove into the “fucking NIMBYs,” the skyrocketing costs of construction, and why our current zoning laws are essentially a slow-motion economic disaster. From the lessons of the Palisades fires to the potential of prefab, we explored what it actually takes to build a sustainable community when the deck is stacked against you.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation

The Cost of Inequality: Ron shared his deep worry about the growing gap between the middle class and the ultra-wealthy, and how rising construction costs are making it nearly impossible to provide housing for anyone in between.

Zoning is the Real Bottleneck: We agreed that the talent and desire to build are there, but we lack the political will to let architects do their jobs. Our current planning and zoning laws are the primary hurdles to building quickly and affordably.

The Density Myth: Leo pushed back hard on the idea that density is the problem. He pointed out that 72% of our residential land is locked into single-family homes, which simply can’t support the housing volume we need.

Stopping the Sprawl: We talked about the need to stop sprawling into high-risk wildfire zones like Riverside County and instead focus on density and infill within the urban core.

Limits on Community Vetoes: While community input matters, Leo argued there has to be a point where the litigation stops. We can’t let individual voices stall essential progress like bike lanes and sustainable housing forever.

The Prefab Opportunity: With so many similar lots needing to be rebuilt in the Palisades and Altadena, Ron sees a massive opening for high-quality prefab construction to get people back into homes faster.

Lessons from Lortondale: I brought up my move to Tulsa and the Lortondale community—a whole neighborhood of mid-century modern tract homes that are still intact, in demand, and haven’t been commodified out of reach. It’s proof that mass-produced architecture can have a soul and stay accessible.

Applicable Elements and Links

Marmol Radziner: https://www.marmol-radziner.com/

WestEdge Design Fair: https://www.westedgedesign.com/

Lortondale, Tulsa: https://www.lortondale.com/

California Coastal Commission: https://www.coastal.ca.gov/

California ADU Handbook: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/policy-and-programming/accessory-dwelling-units

CEQA Overview: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/CEQA

Reconnecting with Friends and Colleagues, That is what Makes Trade Events so Special | 663 | LuAnn Niagara and Josh Cooperman on the Evolution of Industry Media and Podcasts

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The episode you are going to hear today was over a decade in the making. LuAnn Niagara is the host of A Well Designed Business. The podcast launched in 2016 and set the standard for what a business of design podcast should be. LuAnn’s focus was then and is today focused on helping designers up level their design studios. LuAnn was hosting a session for the KBIS Podcast Studio and we had some time during the show and I can’t remember who brought up the idea, I think it was me who suggested to LuAnn, that this would be a great time for us to record a conversation about our own journey and collaborate on a crossover episode. It could be fun!

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation

Oh, it was fun. We talked about so much but what is really special about this… If you continue to listen here, you are going to get, I’m sure, a vastly different presentation. The exact same conversation will air on both feeds, but the context and philosophy is different. I have a tremendous amount of respect for LuAnn. She has done something special. If you are a designer, architect, maker, you know what I mean. She created something from nothing and every one of us here knows how hard that is. 

In setting up this interview, I want to provide both context and a bit of storytelling. You are going to hear four very brief clips before we get to my conversation with LuAnn. It’s been a while since I shared this on the show, but in addition to my broadcast experience in music and sports, I was the general manager and program director for Playboy Radio. In that role, I hosted a show on the channel called the Playboy Radio Interview. She show was a one on one with guests that I thought would resonate by telling unique and personal stories about their journey. And what I want you to realize as you listen to these is that we all go through many of the same things, experience the same challenges and nobody in life achieves anything without a little luck and support. That support can come from family and friends, it can come from a trusted advisor and it can come in the form of hearing stories about others told by industry voices, like LuAnn or me. The first clip you are going to hear is US Mens National Hockey legend, Mike Eruzioni. You would up where you are due to a series of circumstances that aren’t always within your control. Guess what, nobody is. It’s what you do next and how you need to keep going because you never know where that big opportunity os going to come from.

The next segment you are going to hear is actor, Tom Sizemore. Sizemore has since past but he still has lessons to share. I’m not going to set this clip up too much because I think it speaks for itself. The concept is “challenge” and the friends and supporters who help us along the way.

It doesn’t get more real or powerful than that. Next up is George Lopez. He and I were speaking about community. That of the musicians playing the upcoming Playboy Jazz Festival and how creatives like musicians and comics help each other along the way. I share this with the hope that our industry continues to help each other in an ever chaotic and complicated world. 

The final clip is legendary. It’s Henry Winkler on going with his instincts. Imagine when Henry Winkler was on set, day one, starting off as Arther Fonzerelli he was looking at TikTok and became influenced by what the trends were instead of being himself, going with his gut and trusting his authentic intuition? Things might be different.

These concepts; A strong work ethic matters, We all need help and a little luck, Support is as important as giving back and Trusting your gut and being authentic. Next up, you are going to hear my conversation with LuAnn Niagara recorded live from KBIS, right after this.

The New Kitchen: Personalization, Price Shock, and the Post-Pandemic Evolution | 660 | Kitchen Conversations from Pacific Sales in San Diego

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In this roundtable conversation, a diverse group of interior designers and kitchen specialists discuss how kitchen design has transformed in the post-pandemic era. Rising costs, shifting client expectations, and new technologies are forcing designers to rethink how kitchens function and how they are delivered to clients.

The conversation explores everything from appliance innovation and zoning strategies to the emotional role of kitchens as gathering spaces. Designers also confront difficult realities such as escalating budgets, supply chain issues, and the need to guide clients through increasingly complex decisions. We gathered at the Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home showroom in San Diego. A beautiful and well appointed space with so much to see and the room to enjoy it.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation

At its core, the discussion highlights a broader truth about the design profession today: kitchens are no longer simply rooms for cooking. They are ecosystems that reflect lifestyle, culture, wellness, and the evolving way people live in their homes.

Ginger Rabe

“During Covid everyone was home all day. Now I design for what happens when people come home after being gone all day.”

“The hardest conversation now is telling clients that what cost $50,000 five years ago might be $185,000 today.”

“Sometimes the challenge of designing a luxury kitchen for $22,000 is actually fun—it forces creativity.”

“I build kitchens around how people really cook, not how kitchens are supposed to work.”

“Designers today are often the first people explaining what a project actually costs.”

Kendra Araujo

“Clients are overwhelmed by information now—our job is guiding them through the process.”

“The price conversation is happening much earlier than it used to.”

“People want their dream kitchen, but the cost realities have changed dramatically.”

“We’re constantly helping clients prioritize what actually matters most.”

“There’s so much analysis paralysis today that designers have become translators.”

Kaylee Blaylock

“Function comes first—our job is to make the kitchen work for the client before it looks beautiful.”

“We start with questionnaires because every person in a household uses the kitchen differently.”

“Appliances today allow us to personalize kitchens in ways we couldn’t before.”

“We’re designing zones now—smoothie stations, coffee stations, prep areas.”

“The kitchen has become much more individualized.”

Taylor Troia

“We usually start with appliances because they dictate the entire layout.”

“Once clients understand their appliance choices, the kitchen design almost begins to solve itself.”

“There are so many new appliance innovations that we’re constantly learning.”

“Travel and design shows open our eyes to things that haven’t even reached the U.S. yet.”

“Knowing what’s possible globally helps us serve our clients better locally.”

Rachel Moriarty

“Covid activated more users in the kitchen—people learned to cook.”

“I think about kitchens as stations—charcuterie stations, prep zones, cooking zones.”

“Circulation patterns are the first thing we think about when designing a kitchen.”

“Professional kitchen thinking is influencing residential design more than ever.”

“The best kitchens are ecosystems where people can work without colliding.”

Jules Wilson

“We try to let clients talk first because what they say initially is always the most important.”

“You learn far more by listening than by running through a checklist.”

“Many younger clients have huge wish lists—but they’re often unrealistic.”

“Part of our role is helping clients narrow their priorities.”

“Kitchen design today is as much about psychology as it is about layout.”

Nate Fisher

“Appliances have become central to how we design kitchens.”

“Technology is evolving so quickly it’s hard to keep up with everything available.”

“Every cabinet now has a specialized insert or storage function.”

“Clients want everything organized and hidden away.”

“A clean kitchen visually creates peace in the home.”

Concepts

The Post-Covid Kitchen Shift

Price Shock and the New Budget Reality

Kitchen Zoning and Multi-User Design

Appliance Innovation and Technology

Personalization Through Storage and Organization

Aging in Place and Accessibility

Outdoor Kitchens as Lifestyle Extensions

Convo By Design Icon Registry April 2026 | 659 | Essential Design, The Journey and Philosophy: Roman Alonso

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Explore the life, philosophy, and creative process of a designer whose global upbringing and eclectic career shaped the essentialist approach of Commune Studio. From Caracas to Los Angeles, from fashion to interior design, he shares how formative experiences, partnerships, and a pursuit of quality have defined both a firm and a design philosophy centered on purpose, craft, and essential beauty. This is the April, 2026 Convo By Design Icon Registry episode featuring our newest inductee, Roman Alonso presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation

Alonso grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, experiencing both urban and rural life; early road trips fostered observational skills and appreciation for simplicity. You heard him on the show in 2025 where he told his story. Moved to Miami in 1978, then Boston for college (BU, class of 1987), followed by New York and eventually Los Angeles.

Worked across fashion, publishing, and editorial (including New York Times Magazine and a publishing venture with Lisa Eisner).

Early exposure to high-quality design and aesthetics shaped design sensibilities. He later was part of a team that formed Commune.

Influences on Design

Latin American upbringing emphasized simplicity, rustic charm, and authentic beauty.

Exposure to fashion (Isaac Mizrahi), PR, and the Pressman family shaped understanding of color, detail, and quality.

Personal journey included absorbing lessons from diverse experiences rather than formal design training.

Product and Collection Development

Starts with identifying gaps or problems in the market (e.g., linear sconces, bathroom accessories).

Combines functional necessity with craftsmanship and subtle aesthetics.

Collaborates closely with partners (like David at Remaine) to maintain quality, usability, and accessibility.

Every product is prototyped and tested in real projects before public launch.

Personal Philosophy and Values

Stoicism: focus on controlling what is controllable and striving for virtue.

Commitment to fairness, thoughtful creation, and ethical production.

Imposter syndrome acknowledged as a persistent aspect of creative life.

Approach prioritizes listening to clients, understanding needs, and curating experiences rather than self-expression alone.

Evolution of the Firm

Studio evolved from a small, highly collaborative team to a large firm, then deliberately scaled back to maintain culture and creative flexibility.

Growth now pursued through products, partnerships, and retail rather than studio expansion.

Nicole Hirsch Interiors on Signature Style | 658 | Historic Integrity and Modern Interior Design

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New England designer Nicole Hirsch explains how the interior design profession evolved from service provider to brand identity, why craftsmanship still matters in a digital-first world, and how historic architecture shapes modern living.

Since launching her firm, Nicole Hirsch, principal of Nicole Hirsch Interiors, has witnessed—and helped shape—the transformation of the interior design profession. What was once a service-driven industry has evolved into one defined by recognizable brands, signature aesthetics, and curated storytelling. For Hirsch, success today requires far more than talent; it requires clarity of voice, visual identity, and trust built through consistency.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation

Drawing from her marketing background, Hirsch has developed a design philosophy rooted in timeless, demure, and textural interiors that balance modern functionality with historical reverence. Working throughout Boston and New England, she specializes in full-scale renovations and new construction projects that preserve architectural heritage while adapting homes for contemporary family life.

In this conversation, Hirsch breaks down the realities of running a luxury design firm—from managing client expectations and navigating scope creep to understanding the evolving role of social media and editorial publishing. She also offers insight into the technical craftsmanship behind her work, revealing how thoughtful details—from custom millwork to concealed functionality—shape both the user experience and the visual narrative of a home.

The Evolution of the Designer-as-Brand

  • How the industry shifted from service provider to identity-driven brand
  • Why visual consistency builds trust and attracts aligned clients
  • The strategic influence of Hirsch’s marketing background

Signature Style vs. Personalization

  • Developing a recognizable aesthetic without creating repetitive projects
  • The role of neutral palettes, layered textures, and timeless composition
  • Why clients seek designers for perspective rather than replication

The Craftsman Approach to Interior Design

  • Designing beyond furnishings and décor
  • Full architectural collaboration including:
    • Millwork planning
    • Custom elevations
    • Stone and material specification
  • The growing expectation for designers to function as technical project leaders

Designing Within Historic New England Architecture

  • Working within strict preservation parameters in Boston neighborhoods
  • Balancing modern family living with architectural authenticity
  • Integrating contemporary amenities into historic shells

The Modern Press and Social Media Economy

  • Why full-scale renovation projects drive editorial opportunities
  • Social media as both marketing engine and creative liability
  • Combating unrealistic client expectations and trend saturation

Managing Scope, Budget, and Communication

  • Early and transparent cost discussions
  • The collaborative triangle between designer, builder, and architect
  • Educating clients on value versus cost

Designing the Invisible

  • Functional elements that disappear visually but elevate usability:
    • Appliance garages
    • Hidden outlets and infrastructure
    • Custom stone fabrication
  • Why technical precision supports aesthetic clarity

Project References

River Glen

A refined exploration of white kitchen design featuring advanced stone fabrication and layered material detailing.
🔗 https://www.nicolehirschinteriors.com

Miller Hill Road

A family-focused basement renovation highlighting creative ceiling articulation and flexible living spaces for a household with four children.
🔗 https://www.nicolehirschinteriors.com

The Weston Addition

A spa-inspired primary suite featuring a dramatic three-sided glass and steel shower enclosure and integrated wellness-driven design.
🔗 https://www.nicolehirschinteriors.com

Key Takeaways

  • The modern interior designer must operate as both creative and brand strategist.
  • Signature style attracts aligned clients but must remain flexible enough to personalize every project.
  • High-level design now requires deep technical knowledge and full collaboration with architecture and construction teams.
  • Historic architecture demands restraint, respect, and thoughtful modernization.
  • Editorial press increasingly favors comprehensive renovation storytelling over single-room reveals.
  • Invisible functional details often define exceptional design quality.

CXD ICON Registry March 2026 | 654 | Corey Damen Jenkins on Leadership, Resilience, and Building a Meaningful Creative Life

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Bold Vision, Grounded Leadership, and the Relentless Pursuit of Purpose. In this deeply personal and strategic conversation, Corey Damen Jenkins shares the discipline, resilience, and intentional leadership behind his rise—from knocking on 779 doors to building a global design brand rooted in humility, creativity, and purpose.

Corey Damen Jenkins is widely recognized for his exuberant interiors—fearless color, rich materiality, and a joyful sense of aspiration. But behind the visual confidence is a disciplined leader, strategic thinker, and resilient entrepreneur who built his career through persistence, focus, and unwavering belief in his purpose.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

In this conversation, Jenkins reveals the principles that guide both his creative and business decisions. His “toy box philosophy” of time management emphasizes prioritization and clarity, while his belief in editing—removing distractions in both design and business—ensures that his work remains intentional and impactful.

Jenkins also shares the realities behind his success, including rejection, intellectual property challenges, and the pressures of leading a growing global brand. From licensing partnerships and product design to publishing and team building, every decision reflects his long-term commitment to protecting creative integrity and building something meaningful.

More than a story of success, this is a conversation about purpose. Jenkins explains how staying grounded, hiring with intention, and embracing humility have allowed him to build not just a celebrated design firm, but a life aligned with creativity, impact, and service.

Key Themes and Insights

Purpose-Driven Career Transformation

  • Transitioned from automotive corporate buyer to interior designer after a layoff.
  • Launched his firm during the 2008 recession—one of the most challenging economic periods.
  • Persistence defined his early career, including knocking on 779 doors to secure his first major client.

The Toy Box Philosophy: Strategic Time and Energy Management

  • Prioritize the most important commitments first.
  • Apply discipline to protect creative energy and focus.
  • Editing is essential in both design execution and business leadership.

Editing as a Creative and Business Discipline

  • Great design is as much about restraint as expression.
  • Strategic clarity requires removing distractions and excess.
  • Focus strengthens creative voice and brand identity.

Leadership Through Humility and Intentional Hiring

  • Values humility, integrity, and character over pure talent.
  • Builds teams based on trust, collaboration, and shared values.
  • Leadership grounded in humility creates resilience and longevity.

Protecting Creative Vision Through Licensing and IP Strategy

  • Strategic licensing partnerships expand reach while protecting creative authorship.
  • Collaboration with global brands strengthens business stability.
  • Intellectual property protection is essential in today’s copy-driven market.

Designers as Emotional and Strategic Partners

  • Designers serve as advisors, therapists, and trusted confidants.
  • Design has emotional, psychological, and lifestyle impact.
  • Interiors shape not only how spaces look—but how people live and feel.

Corey Damen Jenkins:

  • “Success requires focus. You have to put the big priorities in first.”
  • “Rejection isn’t failure—it’s part of the journey.”
  • “Humility keeps you grounded and makes you a better leader.”
  • “Design isn’t just about beauty. It’s about transformation.”
  • “I didn’t just want a career. I wanted a purpose.”

Purpose Before Prestige: Corey Damen Jenkins on Building a Life—and Career—by Design

Corey Damen Jenkins has built a career defined by bold interiors, fearless creativity, and unmistakable confidence. But the true foundation of his success isn’t aesthetic—it’s discipline, humility, and purpose.

Long before his work appeared in books, product collections, and design publications, Jenkins faced the uncertainty of reinvention. After losing his corporate job, he committed fully to interior design, launching his firm during one of the most volatile economic periods in recent history. The early days tested his resolve. He knocked on 779 doors before securing his first major client—a defining experience that shaped his perspective on perseverance and belief.

Today, that same discipline informs every aspect of his work. Jenkins approaches both design and leadership with intentional focus. His “toy box philosophy”—prioritizing the most important commitments first—guides how he manages his time, his studio, and his creative energy. Editing, he believes, is essential not only to great interiors but to building a meaningful business.

As his influence has grown, Jenkins has expanded into licensing, publishing, and product design, carefully selecting partnerships that align with his values and protect his creative voice. Yet despite his success, he remains grounded in humility—a principle he considers essential to leadership, growth, and longevity.

For Jenkins, interior design is more than aesthetics. It is emotional, personal, and transformative. Designers shape how people experience their homes and their lives.

His journey serves as a reminder that meaningful success isn’t defined by visibility or recognition. It’s defined by purpose, resilience, and the courage to pursue a creative life with intention.

CEDIA Expo & CIX – The Ride Along: Part Five | 653 | Dan Ferissi + Caitlin Stewart | Integration X Design: How Technology, Media, and Product Innovators Are Shaping Connected Living

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Beyond Technology: The New Design Frontier of Integration and Experience. Recorded live at CEDIA Expo 2025, Dan Ferrisi of EmeraldX and Caitlin Stewart of Leon Speakers explore how integration is evolving from technical infrastructure into a design-driven discipline—where storytelling, collaboration, and intentional product design define the future of connected environments.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Integration X Design: Why the Future of Connected Living Depends on Collaboration

At CEDIA Expo 2025, two parallel conversations revealed a shared reality: the future of technology in the built environment will be defined not by innovation alone, but by integration—and integration, increasingly, is a design discipline.

Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor for EmeraldX, has a front-row seat to the evolution of the integration industry. Through his editorial leadership and involvement in industry events, he sees a clear shift underway. Integrators are no longer viewed simply as technical specialists installing equipment at the end of a project. Instead, they are becoming essential collaborators—professionals who shape how people experience their environments through sound, light, security, and automation.

This evolution mirrors what Caitlin Stewart sees from her position at Leon Speakers. The Ann Arbor-based manufacturer has built its identity around a simple but powerful premise: technology must serve design. Rather than forcing architecture to accommodate equipment, Leon develops audio and concealment solutions that complement materials, finishes, and spatial intent.

For Stewart, the challenge isn’t technical—it’s cultural. Designers have historically minimized or hidden technology in order to preserve aesthetic integrity. The opportunity now is to create products that belong within the design language of the space itself.

Trade shows like CEDIA play a vital role in accelerating this transformation. They provide a platform where manufacturers, integrators, media, and designers can align around shared goals. They foster dialogue, education, and partnership—critical ingredients in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.

The message from both conversations is clear: integration is no longer about devices. It is about experience. And the professionals who understand how to merge technology with design intention will define the future of connected living.