Tag Archives: convo by design

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.

KBIS Series Part Eight | Thriving in Chaotic Times: How Designers Stay Grounded, Profitable & Relevant

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A candid conversation with interior designers Arianne Bellizaire and Sara Malek Barney on navigating burnout, emotional labor, client management, and creative growth in today’s unpredictable design industry.

From boundary-setting to decision fatigue, social media pressures, and sustaining ambition, this episode explores the strategies and mindsets designers use to remain successful, resilient, and inspired amid market volatility and personal demands.

Identity & Evolution in Design

    • Designers must periodically redefine themselves and their work to remain relevant.
    • Personal growth and evolving priorities shape professional identity and approach.

Burnout vs Ambition

    • Burnout is not a badge of honor; it results from overextension and emotional labor.
    • Ambition aligns energy with superpowers and opportunities, creating sustainable growth.
    • Setting boundaries is essential to differentiate productive ambition from harmful overwork.

Emotional Labor & Client Management

    • Design work involves managing client emotions, expectations, and second-guessing.
    • Designers act as liaisons between clients, contractors, and teams, absorbing invisible pressures.
    • Managing scope creep and change orders is a practical strategy to protect both energy and profitability.

Social Media & Comparison Culture

    • Social media can amplify unrealistic expectations and unhealthy competition.
    • Designers often feel compelled to accommodate clients’ desires, sometimes overextending themselves to maintain a positive perception.

Decision Fatigue & Process Control

    • Guiding clients with structured processes reduces decision fatigue and builds trust.
    • Transparent communication about costs, changes, and expectations protects both designer and client satisfaction.

Sustaining Creativity

    • Exposure to new experiences, products, peers, and travel is vital for creative rejuvenation.
    • Nature, walks, and offline activities clear mental clutter and inspire problem-solving.
    • Intentional “point-to-point” efforts—committing to new experiences—promote growth despite discomfort.

Financial & Business Literacy

    • Designers must balance artistry with business realities.
    • Collecting payments, understanding scope, and setting clear expectations are critical professional skills.
    • Empowering team members while maintaining accountability ensures operational efficiency.

Resources:

AJ Madison

KBIS

Arianne Bellizaire  – Arianne Bellizaire Interiors

Sara Malek Barney – BANDD/DESIGN

In today’s unpredictable design industry, thriving requires more than talent—it demands resilience, strategy, and self-awareness. On this episode, interior designers Arianne Bellizaire and Sara Malek Barney dive into the complex landscape of professional design, sharing candid insights on burnout, emotional labor, client management, and sustaining creativity in chaotic times.

Designers often redefine their professional identity to adapt to evolving personal and industry priorities. As Bellizaire notes, “We are always changing, and how we describe ourselves now reflects our growth, our aspirations, and the life we’re building.” Similarly, Sara emphasizes the importance of aligning professional actions with personal values to maintain relevance, profitability, and balance.

Burnout, long treated as a badge of honor in design, is reframed here as a clear warning signal. Emotional labor—managing client expectations, facilitating collaboration, and resolving conflicts—often goes uncredited yet drives the success of every project. Both guests stress the importance of boundaries, scope management, and distinguishing between what one can do versus what one should do, emphasizing that ambition thrives when energy is strategically invested in core strengths.

Social media and comparison culture add another layer of complexity. Designers frequently face unrealistic expectations from clients influenced by curated online content, which can pressure them into overextending themselves. Establishing clear processes, communicating cost implications, and structuring client decisions effectively are key strategies for reducing stress while maintaining creative integrity. Decision fatigue, a common challenge in high-stakes residential projects, can be mitigated by guiding clients through structured choices while fostering trust.

Sustaining creativity amid chaos is a recurring theme. Arianne and Sara highlight exposure to new experiences, peers, travel, and even nature walks as essential methods to refresh the mind and spark innovative thinking. “A simple daily walk,” Arianne reflects, “can clear clutter, inspire problem-solving, and restore energy in ways that sitting at a desk never will.” Committing to uncomfortable but growth-oriented experiences, a “point-to-point principle,” is a subtle but critical habit for creative professionals.

Finally, the conversation underscores the business side of design. Designers must balance artistry with operational responsibility, from collecting payments to managing scope creep and training staff. Financial literacy and professional boundaries ensure that creative freedom does not come at the cost of personal wellbeing or firm profitability.

This episode offers an unfiltered look at what it takes to thrive in a chaotic, competitive industry. With honesty, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, Ariana and Sara provide strategies for navigating emotional, creative, and financial pressures while staying grounded, inspired, and relevant. For any designer striving to balance ambition with wellbeing, this conversation is both a blueprint and a call to action.

About Convo By Design: Convo By Design is the longest running podcast of its kind. The show is hosted, produced and published by Josh Cooperman. The podcast has been running since January, 2013. The show has published over seven hundred episodes, featured more than fifteen hundred designers and architects and has garnered over three million streams, downloads making it one of the most listened to design and architecture podcasts as well as being the first design podcast of its kind. For guest suggestions and show inquiries, please message us on Instagram @convoxdesign.


Justine Wolman | 657 | Designing Through Disruption: Building a Solo Practice in a Post-Pandemic World g a Solo Practice in a Post-Pandemic World

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Launching a design firm is hard. Launching one days before a global shutdown is something else entirely. In this episode of Convo By Design, I speak with interior designer Justine about building a solo practice during COVID, transitioning from sales to structure, and navigating the modern realities of design—from virtual collaboration and technical complexity to burnout, authenticity, and creative control. It’s an honest conversation about what it really takes to grow a design business today without losing yourself in the process. Designing Through Disruption | Convo By Design Podcast is hosted and published by Josh Cooperman.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Interior designer Justine shares how launching a solo firm during COVID reshaped her business, creativity, and approach to authenticity in modern design.

Interior Design Podcast, Solo Design Practice, Post-Pandemic Design, Interior Designer Business, Design Authenticity, Lighting Design, Residential Renovation, Convo By Design

Episode Highlights Launching a design firm at the onset of COVID—and adapting without a roadmap

  • Transitioning from sales and jewelry to residential design and construction
  • The rise of the “one-woman studio” and the cost of wearing every hat
  • How virtual meetings expanded access while eroding design community
  • Why lighting plans are foundational—not optional
  • Designing with intention under real budget constraints
  • Choosing authenticity over polish in social media marketing
  • Burnout prevention, creative resets, and the cautious use of AI tools
  1. “I didn’t just start a business during COVID—I learned how to design without a safety net.”
  2. “Virtual meetings made design more accessible, but they took away the intimacy that built real community.”
  3. “Lighting is the difference between a room that looks good and one that actually works.”
  4. “Being a one-woman studio means freedom—but it also means you feel every decision.”
  5. “Not every project needs to be Instagram-perfect to be successful.”
  6. “Clients don’t need more trends—they need clarity.”
  7. “Scaling sounds great until you realize what you might lose creatively.”
  8. “Burnout doesn’t happen all at once. It happens quietly.”
  9. “Authenticity isn’t a brand strategy—it’s a survival tool.”
  10. “AI can help with process, but instinct still drives good design.”

Focus Lighting + Grade : Illuminating the Experience: The Invisible Art of Modern Lighting | 656 | Beyond the Switch: Why Modern Design Demands a Lighting Narrative

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From high-end residential “wealth” to AI-responsive environments, top designers discuss why lighting is the most under-recognized—yet essential—element of the built environment.

Lighting is often the ghost in the machine of interior design: when it’s perfect, you don’t notice it; when it’s wrong, it’s all you can see. In a wide-ranging discussion featuring architectural lighting experts and residential designers, the conversation shifts from the utility of “turning on the lights” to the high-stakes world of experiential design.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

For firms like Focus Lighting and their partners like GRADE, the challenge lies in the nuance of the environment. Whether it’s the high-octane spectacle of the Times Square ball or the restrained elegance of a Chelsea penthouse, the philosophy remains the same: lighting should highlight architectural moments and art without revealing the source. This “invisible” approach is what separates a standard renovation from a truly bespoke residence.

The dialogue also touches on the psychological divide between “rich” and “wealthy” clients. While some desire flashy, obvious fixtures, the most sophisticated projects utilize layers of light—integrated into millwork, hidden in suede-pedal ceiling features, or tucked behind undulating panels—to create a sensory experience that feels natural and inevitable.

Looking forward, the industry is on the cusp of a technological revolution. We are moving toward responsive homes where AI recognizes individual inhabitants, adjusting the lighting plan to their specific preferences and moods in real-time. As designers push into new frontiers like luxury yachting and “Zoom-ready” home offices, the goal remains human-centric: using innovation not just because we can, but to make life better through the deliberate application of light.

Today, you are going to hear from Focus Lighting’s, Mike Cummings and partners of theirs in GRADE NY’s Edward Yedid and Thomas Hickey. Were talking about lighting and how the skilled application in design makes a difference in not just beauty, performance but quality of experience.

Core Concepts:

  • The Power of Layers: Effective lighting isn’t about one bright source; it’s about a “team” of layers (decorative, accent, and task) working in tandem.
  • The “Wealthy” Aesthetic: High-end design is shifting away from flashy fixtures toward “restrained” lighting where the source is hidden, but the effect is transformative.
  • Collaboration is Mandatory: The most innovative solutions—like lighting art with tiny bronze heads or illuminating glass tables with “water droplet” fixtures—come from the friction between a designer’s vision and a lighting engineer’s technical skill.
  • The Future is AI-Responsive: We are moving toward a “switch-less” world where homes utilize motion sensors and machine learning to anticipate a resident’s path and preference.
  • Residential vs. Hospitality: In hospitality, the light source is often a celebrated feature; in residential, the goal is for the lighting to disappear into the architecture.

Resources & Applicable Elements

  • Focus Lighting: An architectural lighting design firm known for projects ranging from Times Square to private luxury residences.
  • GRADE NY: Since GRADE’s founding in 2004, it has been our belief that integrating architecture and interior design from the outset creates the most beautiful, balanced and cohesive solutions.
  • Lutron Systems: A leader in lighting control and automated shading solutions mentioned as a “hook” for homeowners entering the world of smart design.
  • Carpenters Workshop Gallery: Mentioned for their innovative, reactive light fixtures that respond to sound and motion.
  • KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show): The premier event for kitchen and bath design professionals.

The Highlight Reel

  • “If someone hasn’t used a lighting designer before, they ask us why we need one. If someone has used one before, they can’t wait to use them again.” — Eddie
  • “Lighting design is a double-edged sword. The better job I’m doing, the less you appreciate it.” — Michael
  • “Rich people are flashier—they want to see the light fixture. Our clients are wealthy… to them, this is just their world.” — Thomas
  • “I can come to your house… and like a doctor, diagnose why you don’t like [the lighting] and then use those words to create a new design.” — Michael
  • “You never hear anybody say ‘no’ in New York, because somebody else will say ‘yes’ right behind you.” — Eddie
  • “We’re not lighting designers. We’re definitely not structural engineers… when we push the boundaries of our design, we want to have teammates who can say, ‘Oh, I’ve never done that before. Let’s figure out a solution together’ instead of ‘No.'” — Thomas

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.

WestEdge Wednesday Part Ten | 652 | Green Shoots: Evolving Materials, Innovative Mindsets

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Innovation Under Pressure: Prefab, Modular, and the Future of Resilient Design Under Pressure. Architecture is evolving faster than ever, driven by natural disasters, technology, and client expectations—but how do designers balance innovation with risk, regulation, and lifestyle priorities? Josh Cooperman hosts an unfiltered conversation with Drew Davis, Brian Pinkett, Aaron Neubert, and Joseph Dangaran about prefabrication, modular construction, client programming, and the challenges of rebuilding communities in fire- and flood-prone regions. From the Palisades to Paris, they explore how architecture must adapt—or risk falling behind.

1. Introduction and Context

  • Host introduction: Josh Cooperman, Convo By Design.
  • Acknowledgements: Kim Gordon Designs (venue), Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home (sponsor and industry supporter).
  • Why the discussion matters: natural disasters as a case study in architecture’s evolving role.
  • Personal anecdote: Josh’s wildfire experience in 1983 highlighting the urgency of resilient design.

2. Guest Introductions

  • Drew Davis, Partner, Kligerman Architecture & Design, NYC – Residential expertise nationwide.
  • Brian Pinkett, Principal, Landry Design Group – High-end, global custom homes, with focus on innovation and sustainability.
  • Aaron Neubert, Principal, Annex – Residential and hospitality projects in LA & Las Vegas.
  • Joseph Dangaran, Founding Partner, Woods & Dangaran– West Coast single-family homes, high-end interiors.

3. Critical Thinking vs. Design Education

  • Discussion of Brian Pinkett’s insight: architecture school teaches critical thinking, not design itself.
  • How critical thinking shapes the conversation about innovation and client expectations.
  • The influence of NIMBYism and cultural resistance on design risk-taking.

4. Client Literacy and Innovation

  • How clients’ exposure to Instagram, travel, and boutique experiences shapes design expectations.
  • Balancing aspirational ideas with practical constraints: budget, schedule, site conditions.
  • Scenario-based design and programming as a tool to understand lifestyle priorities.

5. Prefabrication and Modular Construction

  • Defining terms: prefabrication vs. modular, and their misconceptions in high-end architecture.
  • Historical examples: Eiffel Tower (prefabricated in 1889), Wallace Neff bubble homes.
  • Case studies: past Malibu prefab project, Arts District hotel project.
  • Discussion of benefits (speed, quality, cost) and challenges (flexibility, client acceptance, perception).

6. Lifestyle vs. Shelter in Rebuilds

  • How trauma and loss after disasters impact client priorities.
  • The tension between rebuilding for necessity vs. recreating lifestyle and memory.
  • Temporary housing solutions and lessons from disaster response (Shigeru Ban, Fresno pre-approved plans).

7. The Role of Regulation in Innovation

  • Flood, fire, and safety regulations: both barriers and catalysts for creativity.
  • Discussion of over-regulation and its impact on rebuilding efficiency, particularly in high-demand areas like Pacific Palisades.

8. The Future of Architectural Innovation

  • Emerging materials, prefabrication, and modular design for high-end custom homes.
  • How technology enables flexibility and quality at scale.
  • The challenge of evolving architectural vernacular to reflect contemporary technology.
  • The importance of balancing client desires, regulatory frameworks, and architectural creativity.

9. Closing Thoughts

  • Necessity drives invention, but adaptation and education are key.
  • Designers’ role in guiding clients through uncertainty and risk.
  • Encouragement to rethink traditional paradigms: innovation in practice, materials, and process.

10. Callouts / Quotes for Social Media

  • “Innovation isn’t about change for change’s sake—it’s about solving the problem you didn’t know existed.” – Brian Pinkett
  • “Prefabrication isn’t a compromise. It’s a new way to design for speed, quality, and scale.” – Aaron Neubert
  • “The goal isn’t just shelter. The goal is lifestyle.” – Joseph Dangaran

11. Links & References

Fresh Takes on Authenticity, Resiliency and Artificial Intelligence Design Application (for now) | 651 | Stephanie Martin of Stephanie Martin Design

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Calgary-based designer Stephanie Martin shares the story of launching her firm during the 2008 financial crisis, the gap between design education and reality, and why hand-crafted authenticity remains vital in the age of AI. She also takes us inside the Rideau Residence, a project blending modern aesthetics with sentimental family history.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Calgary Roots & Business Resilience

  • Launching in a Recession: Stephanie discusses starting her firm in 2008 during the financial crisis, which heavily impacted Calgary’s oil and gas-driven economy. She attributes her early success to “door-to-door” marketing and building a reputation through exceptional service rather than just aesthetics.
  • The “Cowboy Town” Reality: A look at Calgary’s diverse culture, strong job market, and affordable housing, countering its reputation as just a “cowboy town.”
  • Service Over Style: Stephanie emphasizes that the core of her business is caring about the clients’ lives, a lesson she learned early on that differentiates her firm today.

The Evolution of Design Practice

  • Education vs. Reality: A candid discussion on how design schools often focus on exaggerated creativity while overlooking practical skills like budgeting, timelines, and coordination.
  • Post-Pandemic Expectations: Clients now prioritize emotional connections and functional spaces over mere aesthetics, seeking designs that actively enhance their well-being.
  • Sustainability: The conversation touches on the necessity of sustainable building practices, including Stephanie’s experience with passive homes.

Technology & Authenticity

  • The AI Debate: Stephanie and Josh discuss the rise of AI in design. While Stephanie is optimistic about AI for efficiency, she argues for maintaining “hand-crafted” creativity to ensure designs remain meaningful.
  • Authentic Marketing: In an era of AI-generated content, Stephanie commits to keeping her social media presence true to her values by showcasing only authentic, human-created work.

Project Spotlight: The Rideau Residence

  • Modern-Traditional Mix: A deep dive into the kitchen design which juxtaposes modern elements with sentimental details, specifically a brick backsplash sourced from the owner’s grandmother’s house.
  • Space Transformation: How a formal dining room was reimagined into a dark, masculine office space that contrasts sharply with the rest of the light-filled home.

Links & Resources

WestEdge Design Fair Part Nine | 650 | Wellness by Design: Creating Interiors the Support Mind & Body

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When interiors meet intention: a dynamic panel on how color theory, holistic living, sustainable materials, and design thinking come together to redefine residential spaces for 2025 and beyond.

Sherwin Williams set out to cover Earth with beautiful colors over 150 years ago. 1866, Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams founded the company in Cleveland, Ohio, on a mission really. And the result is a company dedicated to delivery of the  best in paints, coatings and related products to discerning clients all over the world. That dedication was evident from the start with the hiring of Percy Neyman, the very first chemist employed by an American paint manufacturer. Sherwin Williams continues to set the bar high and provide the design community with the essential tools to create superior projects. Sherwin Williams is commitment to supporting the design community, which is why they sponsor programs, like this one. They are also dedicated to a betterment philosophical approach which is why they selected ‘wellness” as the topic for this talk.Thank you Sherwin Williams for your tireless support.

In this timely conversation, experts from across interior design and sustainable living explore what it means to design for wellness in 2025. Moderated by Sue Wadden and Ashlynn Bourque of Sherwin-Williams, the panel features voices from:

  • Jeanne Chung (Cozy, Stylish, Chic) — known for crafting spaces that blend comfort, style, and emotional balance.
  • Julee Ireland (Julee Ireland Design Studio) — bringing a refined, intentional aesthetic rooted in longevity and livable elegance.
  • Greg Roth (CarbonShack) — spotlighting eco-conscious material sourcing, sustainable practices, and climate-aligned living environments.

Together they examine how interior design can be a catalyst for holistic living — from color palettes that promote calm and emotional balance, to spatial planning that supports aging in place, to circadian lighting and neurodiversity-friendly layouts. The discussion underscores a rising trend: residential interiors inspired by hospitality, wellness, and sustainability principles.

Listeners will come away with fresh ideas on turning their homes into future-proof sanctuaries — design-forward, earth-conscious, and emotionally attuned.

  • Health span-focused design: Designing spaces that help residents live longer, healthier lives at home.
  • Aging in place: Home layouts that accommodate long-term functionality and wellness.
  • Home gyms, saunas, cold plunges: Integrating spa-level wellness amenities in private residences.
  • Dual kitchens: Inspired by Italian family homes for multigenerational living.
  • Collaboration with architects: Designers as integral contributors to maximize natural light and spatial flow.
  • VR visualization: Helping clients experience proportion, scale, and sightlines before construction.
  • Problem-solving as designers: Addressing unforeseen construction issues creatively while maintaining aesthetics.
  • Circadian lighting: Lighting systems (e.g., Lutron Ketra) that mimic natural light patterns to support sleep and productivity.
  • Plant-based fabrics (hemp, bamboo, kelp): Sustainable, high-performance materials.
  • Evidence-based color design: Physiological effects of color on multigenerational inhabitants.
  • Neurodiverse design considerations: Minimizing overstimulation in homes for ADHD, dementia, or sensory sensitivity.
  • Hospitality influence on residential design: Bringing experiences from wellness hotels into private homes.
  • Storytelling & provenance: Educating clients about material sourcing and sustainable practices.
  • Sustainability education: Visiting factories, quarries, and trade shows to understand materials and processes.

Relevant Web Links

  • Lutron Ketra Lighting: https://www.lutron.com/en-US/Products/Pages/WholeHome/ketra/overview.aspx
  • Round Top Market (antiques & sustainability): https://roundtoptexasantiques.com
  • Hemp & sustainable fabrics: https://www.hemp-trade.com

WestEdge Wednesday Part Eight | 648 | Enduring Modernism: A Retrospective with Marmol Radziner

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The Accidental Empire: Marmol Radziner on Preservation, Prefab, and Fighting the Tyranny of the Nimby. Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner discuss the 36-year evolution of their design-build firm, tracing its roots in a student co-op to becoming a leader in modern residential architecture, restoration, and the urgent need for sustainable urban density in Los Angeles.

The conversation features Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner, co-founders of Marmol Radziner, detailing the firm’s history, their design philosophy, and their views on the current state of preservation and sustainability in LA.

  • Origin Story and The Return to Modernism:
    • The co-founders met as students at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, living in “The Ark,” a condemned co-op. This environment of free rein to alter the building foreshadowed their later design-build approach.
    • They founded their firm in 1989 during the “dying days of postmodernism,” quickly committing to the modernist ideal of clarity, reduction, and the connection between design and craft (Bauhaus).
    • They attribute the firm’s early success to aligning with the eventual return to California modernism, driven by its rich history in the region.
  • Milestone Projects and Preservation:
    • The first major flag-planting project was the Gutentag Studio (a small, pure concrete block and cedar studio), followed by the new Ward Residence.
    • Their watershed moment in preservation was the Kaufmann House restoration (1993) in Palm Springs. At the time, there was virtually no industry for modern restoration, forcing the firm to develop the roadmap for approaching these aging buildings.
    • They view restorations as “classrooms” that inform their new work, maintaining a healthy split of one-third restoration and two-thirds new construction.
  • Preservation Today: The Fetish vs. Functionality:
    • Marmol and Radziner argue they are often at odds with the preservation community because they believe historic properties must evolve to remain functional and relevant, cautioning against a “fetish” that prevents necessary change.
    • They criticize the current situation where every modern building is deemed “sacred,” citing the contentious, successful fight to demolish the Barry Building on San Vicente as an example of overreach where the building’s significance did not rise to the level requiring preservation.
  • The Problem of Scale (“McModerns”) and Efficiency:
    • They express concern over the proliferation of “McModerns” and elephantine houses, driven by high property values and the pressure to “max out the buildable area” on a site.
    • They emphasize that their modern perspective is less about style and more about the fundamental importance of connection—internal open plans and connecting the home to the landscape and exterior rhythm of nature (a concept that is lost when properties are overbuilt).
  • Sustainability and the Nimby Problem:
    • While California leads the country in robust, fire-resilient, and energy-efficient building codes (which have been a success), they gave the state’s housing policy an “F.”
    • Leo Marmol asserted that the greenest thing the city can do is densify and allow more housing in the urban core, calling out the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) mentality as the primary political failure that forces sprawl and long commutes.
  • The Return to Prefabrication (Prefab 2.0):
    • Marmol Radziner initially experimented with prefab from 2004–2012 but stopped after the 2008 crash.
    • They are now returning to prefabrication—Prefab 2.0—as a response to the current “crisis of construction costs” and the need for quick, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions, particularly for fire rebuilds in Altadena and the Palisades.
  • Design-Build Practice Scale:
    • The firm combines Architecture, Construction Services (design-build), Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design under one roof.
    • They support their construction services with their own dedicated cabinet shop and metal shop in El Segundo, allowing for control over craft and execution.
  • Fire Resilience and Landscape:
    • The fires are affecting landscape rules, particularly regarding Zone Zero (the 0–5 feet immediately surrounding the building). They argue against the extreme position of “no planting” in Zone Zero, believing the right, well-irrigated planting can help against embers, which they identify as the biggest culprit in mass fires, more so than direct flame.
    • Home hardening (sealing every vulnerability) is considered the single most important factor, with modern energy codes being an accidental but highly effective form of fire hardening.