I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design… with an episode featuring a company proposing a new concept in architecturally significant real estate. While this is not a new idea, theirs is a new approach. I sat down with Jack Byron Founder & CEO and Charlie Byron, Founder and Marketing Director. We discussed the business and we also talk about the challenges that face the design and architecture communities here is Southern California as it relates to the availability of architecturally significant properties, their value, scarcity and the value of the dirt underneath them. When the dirt is worth more than the structure, treasures will be lost, and they are, at a na alarming rate.
This is an interesting idea when you consider that the company was not created to drive pure real estate deals, it was created to specialize in design differentiation, significance and specialty.
Jack and Charlie know if what they speak. Jack has worked for Sir Norman Foster, Phillipe Starck and Dame Zaha Hadid while Charlie worked in marketing shops for brands like BMW, Google, Hulu and Procter & Gamble. So, understanding that Real Estate is equal parts passion, psychology, commodity and marketing, these two understand the basis for founding a company like this. In this conversation, you will hear each concept explained as it relates to this endeavor, they is Suprstructur.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Convo By Design. Make sure you subscribe to the show and follow us on the socials so you don’t miss any of the latest developments in So Cal architecture and design. You can also ask your smart device to play it for you, just say, “Hey Siri, play Convo By Design.” Thank you again for listening, until next week, keep creating.
This episode features one of my favorite Southern California designers, Jules Wilson. Jules is the president of her eponymous San Diego design firm and like many of the designers and architects that I have spoken with over the years, she knew early on that this was something she was supposed to be doing. Growing up in rural, Rockford, Illinois she began dreaming of what she wanted her world to look like. It started with Legos and took her out of Illinois and to Italy to learn how classic cities were built. She subscribes to Picasso’s idea that modern philosophy begins with a basis in history. This is something you have heard on the show before. As I write this, I can recall hearing that from a few of the more successful creators I have spoken with so there must be something to it.
Jules Wilson and her design studio are crafting some of the most extraordinary California inspired design you will find anywhere. This is not to typecast or style-cast her work, those are my words. As I study her firm’s work, and I encourage you to look at the work as well… You see residential, commercial, multifamily, retail and it is all different but with some universal consistencies. Use of varied materials and products that all seem to have been coordinated to their environments from the foothills in Tempe, Arizona, the North Shore of Hawaii or a high rise apartment in Atlanta.
You wouldn’t know from her work, but she would rather be working in Rome or Milan, which I find fascinating. For someone at the top of her game, truly a master of the modern aesthetic within multiple sub-settings, living and working in San Diego, one of the most beautiful locations in the world to long for somewhere else… Well isn’t that what truly motivates us all to do our best work. I would say that anyone who is truly and completely satisfied in their current setting is not challenging themselves to reach their full potential. Not trying to get to philosophical here, but I do believe there is some truth to that. That is also what makes this conversation so fascinating. I hope you agree, this is Jules Wilson.
Scott Utterstrom, Principal at XTEN Architecture in Los Angeles. Scott was born in Portland, Oregon, graduated with a BA in Architecture from Cal Poly and spent a year in Copenhagen studying architecture. He got his Masters in Architecture from UCLA and, as mentioned, since 2007, he has been with XTEN Architecture working with previous Convo By Design guest, XTEN President, Monica Haefelfinger.
If you are new to the podcast, welcome. Those who have been subscribing for a while know, I only speak with guests whose work I admire. I started the podcast because I am a huge fan of design and architecture so it would be odd for me to speak with a guest whose work doesn’t move me. This being said, I spoke with Monika and Scott at different times because while the firm appears clear and comfortable in its direction, both Monika and Scott have different views on the work. I really enjoy that part of these conversations and my hope is that you do too.
When I try to imagine what design and architecture firms will be “of note” and studied, I consider XTEN to be one of those. Swiss roots, clean lines, minimal and modern but not stark. I like their work so much because I love LA and have always admired work that allows itself to be noticed yet compliments the beauty of Southern California. They do that.
Before we hear from Scott and get into this episode of the podcast, I want to thank you for downloading and subscribing to Convo By Design. Did you know that there are other ways to get the show. Let’s say you’re in the car, driving and don’t want to look at your phone. Ask your smart device to get it for you, say, “Hey Google, play Convo By Design.” You can also ask Siri. We are available through every smart device and on just about every podcast platform. Okay, this is XTEN Architecture’s, Scott Utterstrom.
In 2019 I started the Design Influencer and Innovation Group. This is a series of trade only events at Southern California. This gathering was held at the Ornare showroom on Beverly Blvd in West Hollywood.
First up is Rozita Nazarian with the benefits and challenges of design showcase houses.
Gary Gibson is unique in that he is a designer with his own showroom so he has to be cognizant of what other designers really want as well. Gary also talks about industry events and the challenges ofexpanding into new categories.
LeslieShapiro Joyal has a unique view on the up cropping of designer workrooms allowing for creators to settle in a space that allows them to craft their own product. She talks about her workroom, her showroom and how she uses this experience to, in turn provide that experience to other designers. She describes it as a “circle in which the ecosystem thrives.” This is Leslie Shapiro Joyal.
Josh Borris with Core Development Group addresses the fundamental issue. How can the industry help busy design and architecture professionals. How can companies provide marketing and sales materials to help you along the way. Josh hits some really interesting points.
Longtime friend of the show, architect Takashi Yanai. Takashi opened the firm’s San Francisco office. He talks a bit about opening new territories. This is critical for design and architecture firms.
Julia Wong talks about design shows and the importance of support for design professionals.
Aaron B. Duke shares his thoughts about something that comes up all the time…. The pivot. What happens when you figure out that you need to change the carrier direction to accommodate for live direction? You don’t hear many talk about it in raw, honest terms.
Back to the issue of trade shows and inspiration, Nicolette Akiko from Studio Akiko has some strong opinions. I have had the pleasure of working with Nicolette and I value her perspective on establishing a local base for the firm and expanding outward, I think you will too.
Laurie Haefele, she is clear on what she needs and wants from the industry. Hey, design trade shows, manufacturers and showrooms… Do you want to know what design pros want from you…. here you go.
Wrapping this up is an outsider, for very good reason. Alex Abramian is a freelance journalist who has covered the design and architecture industry for quite some time. This is where trade editorial and design trade meet. And sometimes that meeting is a violent collision. Want a smooth transition? Listen to this from journalist, Alex Abramian.
That’s a wrap on this episode of Convo By Design featuring the Design Influencer and Innovator group. A collection of Southern California’s best and brightest in design and architecture. Thank you Rozita, Gary, Laurie, Julia, Josh, Aaron, Takashi, Nicolette and Alex. Thank you Cynthia and the Ornare showroom staff for making us feel so at home in your amazing space. Thank you Snyder Diamond, Vondom, SubZero, Wolf and Cove for your generous support and most of all, thank you for listening, downloading each episode, rating the podcast on iTunes and engaging in social media. You are the absolute best and I truly appreciate you.
That is a wrap on this episode of Convo By Design and until next week, keep creating.
Alison Palevsky, interior designer and art consultant spoke with me about the career reboot, the pivot. She started her career as a talent agent trainee, for three years before realizing that was not what she wanted to do with her life. Alison shares her experience working with and for Trip Haenisch, Oliver Furth and Martyn Lawrence Bullard. This is more than a coming into ones own in the industry. This is about a focus on what one truly wants to be and then going out and getting it.
This is about the reboot, refocused energy and attention on what you really want to be and then going and getting it. This is Alison Palevsky.
Jamie Bush, born in Long Island, to a family of dairy farmers, photographers, artists and designers. He studied art and architecture in New Orleans and Italy. Received his Masters of Architecture from Tulane University and then, of course he headed to LA to put it all into practice.
Jamie Bush is among the distinguished AD 100 and Elle Decor’s A-List. But, you already know that. What you probably haven’t heard are the stories of discovery, trial, failure, experience and ultimately finding the joy in design and architecture that propels Bush to strive for his look, his style, the feeling he looks for in a space and then crafting that space to match the way he feels it should look. This is about finding ones pace in the world and that magical skill of helping others determine what it is they want in a space and finding congruent between those two things. And we are going to talk about the boat, the house, I can’t do this justice so I am going to let him do it. This is architect, designer and incredible talent, Jamie Bush.
Designers Laura Muller, Maria Videla Juniel, Denise Bosley, Serena Brosio and Frank Slesinski….
This is a look back at the 2019 Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts. A phenomenal accomplishment this year. The project reimagined the Boddy House located inside Descanso Gardens. It is a big property. One of the things that always surprises me is how the designers can come in, apply their creative vision and somehow, it all seems to work cohesively with the work of all the other designers. This year was no exception to that phenomenon. Okay, I am keeping my commentary brief here because we have over 16 amazing designers to speak with. I am not going to try and put every designer on one episode because that would be completely exhausting for you. I am going to put this out in four parts with four designers each.
This episode features:
Laura Muller of Four Point Design – Family Salon
Maria Videla Juniel – Ladies Hideaway
Denise Bosley – Master Bath
Serena Brosio and Frank Slesinski – Guest Lounge
This was another journey to the now closed Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, 2019 edition. I hope you enjoyed the tour .Convo By Design is on well over 20 podcast directories and more all the time. No matter what platform you listen on, iTunes, TuneIn or others, please find the “subscribe” button and give it a click, that’s it. that way, you get every episode when it’s published. Give it a try. Thank you again for listening. Until next week, keep creating.
The Summer months always seem to drag on for me. I think that is because I am laser focused on the Fall. I love the Fall. It is my favorite season for so many reasons, not the least of which are the design focused events that happen around Southern California. This is why I started the Design Influencer Series in May and we have already held three amazing events. This was the third in this on-going series and the topic, as we approach Fall was “Collecting and Organization.”
The Marie Kondo craze has taken full effect, and to be quite honest with you, I’m not really sure how I feel about it so I wanted to ask the professionals. This gathering was held at the Ornate showroom on Beverly Blvd in West Hollywood. The ideas was a bit overwhelming for me and imagine it is for many of you as well. Folding, purging, clearing out your ‘stuff’ and not collecting more. Seems like a foreign concept, but I wanted some fresh insights. Here is who joined the discussion:
It was amazing to hear what this distinguished group of creatives think about the concept of self-edit, clutter, organization and accumulation of ‘stuff’.
The ‘Stuff’ Culture and the Art of the Edit. Ours is a society built on things. If one has many things, one requires many places to house ones them. For many reasons, this is changing. It has to change. Climate change is affected by over production, over development, over delivery and over consumption. How does a designer who favors Maximalism operate in a world favoring less. It seems they edit more than they have in the past. The edit has always been part of the design process. It has always been an asset to those creatives who could honestly create using all their skills and still walk a few ideas back afterwards. That no longer appears to be a luxury.
Collecting Vs. Clutter. There is a difference between the non-purposeful accumulation of things and a curated collection of objects. The former is what happens to most of us through the course of our lives. A ‘thing’ here, article of clothing there and before you are even aware, it has led to the destruction of your space’s harmony and peace. The key to Marie Kondo’s philosophical approach to de-cluttering lies in the ability to be honest and self-edit with purpose. How many of us can really do that. Yet another value proposition for the design and architecture community.
Designer and architect Role’s Are Greater Than Ever Before. Traditional roles for designers and architects to create spaces and places are changing rapidly due to a litany of factors that all emanate from the changing definition of “home” and what functionality we require of our space. We live in a consumer based society and a trend has emerged that challenges the very notion of what we buy and why we buy it. The idea of buying, not simply to consume or ‘keep up with the Jones’s.
Editor’s Note: those ‘Jonses’, can’t stand them but they are real. We all know them and whether real or imagined, there is a strong urge to keep up with the latest in style and design, fashion, etc. As long as wealth continues to serve as an outward barometer of success, buying the latest, whatever-it-is will be in vogue. Designers, you have more of a say now than ever before what money shows, or doesn’t.
Experiences Over Things. There is an ever strengthening desire for experience over things to define who we are. Experiences define the individual and designers/ architects define the space for showcasing those experiences. It is an era of “who we are’ over ‘what we have’ and designers, decorators and architects are experimenting new was to replicate some experiences in an individual construct. Exciting times. At the same time, important to note the thoughts of one designer who said, “Create a space and curate it for the client, not instagram.” True.
Editor’s Note: It feels to me as though the advent of social media isn’t all bad. Social media serves as a ‘show-and-tell’ where we can display proof of our excursions and experience in a quantifiable setting. A setting suitable for feedback from our social networks. We get the validation we seek not from buying something but from an experience that, instead of adding to the popularity of what was bought and shown, is another chapter in the story of us. Experience seems to have overtaken the t-shirt, bauble or item as the method of showcase for adding to our story.
Getting To Know Your Clients.Clients have so much more access to new sources of design talent. There is a new and exciting digital world with new opportunities and sometimes, the excitement of new beats out the comfort of familiar. The time has come to get to know and understand clients on a deeper level. This means understanding not just what they like, why they like it but also how liking this might be affected by outside factors. This isn’t endorsing the idea that you must be besties with your clients. It means that understanding their true desires on a deeper level will help creatives retain their clients and become, truly indispensable. This came up in conversation many times while exploring the idea of organization, storage and design. If designers and architects can understand the true thoughts and desires of their clients, they can edit on behalf of clients and get rid of excesses in the design process. That service of editing out potential excesses is a remarkable added value to clients.
Editor’s Note: When I first published Convo By Design six years ago, many in the industry would tell me about great friendships with clients. Those friendships led to return business and word of mouth business. We are at a crossroad. There is still a desire to maintain strong relationships with clients, yet clients have more opportunities than ever before to seek out new designers who might have a different perspective on client preferences. I published an episode featuring Bunny Williams recently. It was recorded at LCDQ’s Legends event. Bunny suggested that designers not feel as though they MUST be friends with all their clients. Be the professional advisor first. Being the advisor means helping your clients make tough decisions. Those tough choices ultimately make your client’s lives better, more enjoyable.
The Marie Kondo effect has brought out strong emotions, both for and against her ideas. Only you can decide how much is too much. As a designer, your clients look to you for guidance. This presents a phenomenal opportunity to have the conversation.
The Top 5 Most Important Issues Affecting Shelter Design Creatives in aKonmari World
Summer 2019
5. The ability to strategically edit is a skill to be treasured.
4. There is a difference between curated collecting and consumerist clutter.
3. Designers and architects have a greater role now. They must create a more seamless approach based on personality and less on objects.
2. Clients value experience over things more now than ever before.
1. Get to know your clients for not just who they are but by what made them who they are and what they want to be.
This past year, Convo By Design was an official media partner of LCDQ’s LEGENDS event. As part of this partnership, I interviewed 38 of the window designers. It was a glorious challenge. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a lot of time with most of the designers. Our conversations were brief and focused on the windows and the legends they embodied. But, there were a few opportunities to spend a bit more time with some and this is one of those. Nicole Gordon and I first met a few years ago, I think it was the Wattles Mansion showcase. What stood out to me then and I remember to this day was how she crafted a super luxe space, dripping with high concept design and she suspended an IKEA lighting fixture in the middle of the room. It not only fit, but looked, as great design always does, as though it was made for that space. It belonged there. That is what I think about Nicole Gordon’s design style. It all belongs. High, low, vibrant color or stark white, it was all planned and looks like it was made to work together. Nicole respects the craft and you will hear her share some thoughts on showing that respect as she honors legendary designers who came before her.
Let me set the stage for you. I’m sitting in the HOFA Gallery on LaCienega, surrounded by white walls and beautiful works by local and international artists. This is the perfect setting for an interview, and what makes it that much more special is the fact that I had been looking forward to this conversation for a while. It was with Dakota Jackson.Yes, Jackson is a legendary furniture designer, yes, Jackson also mastered the art of brad partnerships as the one he has nurtured for quite some time with Steinway & Sons. But, he is also a masterful conversationalist.Because of this, I knew that I was going to be tested.
This is a conversation about so much more than furniture and design. This podcast affords me the latitude to explore new avenues with creatives. To really see what lies beneath the work and where it comes from.
Dakota Jackson is a masterful creative with a background in the art of magic, theater, illusion and craft. He is also a true artist with a legendary story to match his body of work. We talk about the desk he crafted for John Lennon at Yoko Ono’s request. You’ll hear about the days on Warhol, Diane von Furstenberg and his participation in the American Art Furniture Movement.
This is designer, artist, magician and maker, Dakota Jackson.
