For the past 5 years or so, the tiny house movement has led industry leaders to rethink the idea of luxuriously designed smaller spaces. Since Frank Lloyd Wright crafted homes in his Usonian style, the Bauhaus movement, Neutra’s Hailey Residence, or Le Corbusier’s Villa Le Lac, the idea of living modestly has gained new interest. Now more than ever, finding ways to make structures highly functional in small spaces gives us more options. While I am as sick of COVID-19 as you are, we have learned what we want from our homes and how starting small can help us get there.
Enjoy this conversation from the WestEdge Design Fair called Small Space, Big Style.
Thank you Pietta, Lynnea, Nicolette, Jason, and Christopher. This was so much fun and I’m looking forward to seeing you all again soon. Thank you Walker Zanger for your support for Convo Boy Design and THANK YOU for listening. Were it not for you, there would be no Convo By Design. Speaking of which, make sure you are subscribing to the show everywhere you find your favorite podcasts. You can also find everything show related at ConvoBy Design dot com. Be well and until next week, keep creating.
I’m longing for the good ole’ days. January of 2020. It wasn’t that long ago but feels like an eternity since Modernism Week. I have known Ron and Jaime for quite some time and spoken to them about their design firm and their passion project, SIA, Save Iconic Architecture on numerous occasions. This was recorded in January 2020 from the California Closets showroom in Rancho Mirage and it’s being published in June 2020. Why is that important? Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the idea of home has become so much more important. The idea that a dwelling serves those who inhabit it in both form and function are of critical importance. This is really a great time to have this discussion because we are at the very beginning of what I believe will be a significant migratory period in our society. This pandemic and subsequent shut-down has made us rethink how we do…everything from work, school, daycare, home gym…you get it. I don’t want to get too deep in the weeds about that but instead, focus on saving iconic architecture. Ron and Jaime started SIA, Save Iconic Architecture to do just that. While we talk a great deal about significant architecture in major cities, like LA. There are opportunities to find architectural gems in outlying areas. Think about that and know that Ron and Jaime are not against development. They want to save these masterworks because that is what they are. Amazing works by noted architects, not limited to but including Neutra, Schindler, Frank Lloyd Wright, Wallace Neff, and Paul Williams.
This is a conversation about great architecture. Identifying it and saving it when possible. Before we get to this, a quick reminder, you can catch every episode of Convo By Design by subscribing to the show on your device. You can also find every episode and extras like the Convo By Design Blog at www.ConvoByDesign.com. Did you know that Convo By Design has been telling the stories of design luminaries for 7 years now with over 276 episodes produced and listeners in over 60 countries around the world? It’s true, so if you are new to the show, go check out the episodes you missed as well as over two hundred videos on our YouTube channel.
This is a look at the COVID – 19 pandemic from a different perspective. You already know about washing your hands and staying at home. But, staying at home has created a whole new set of unforeseen issues. Our homes were not created to serve as home, office, school, restaurant, daycare all at once. This series of episodes is designed to address the fact that most if not all of us are home weathering out this pandemic, hopefully, this provides you with some inspiration and makes weathering this a little bit easier.
This episode features William Hefner of Studio William Hefner, a globally recognized and celebrated designer whose eponymous design firm, at any given time, has projects in multiple locations across the globe. So, to speak with Hefner about how all of us can ‘tweak’ our home situation to better weather this stay-at-home reality, well, needless to say, I am so appreciative that he took the time to do this.
You have been hearing from some of the world’s greatest design and architecture minds about how to make the best of this situation and the advice has been amazing. This is no exception.
In this episode, William Hefner talks about;
Look at your floor plan, find what’s not currently working, and reevaluate it.
Don’t become attached to the form at the expense of function.
Think big picture and learn from your home. Commercial design requires forethought and that can help now.
Blend indoor/ outdoor to find and use every available foot of usable space.
If this were to happen again in the future, plan now and fix it the moment you are able to do that.
What is the best use of space, Hefner talks about making it feel like you have to make the space work before you get attached to the design. There have been some recurring themes over the course of this special series. Light, space, functionality, and emotion.
This has been an exceptionally trying time for all of us. For me, this has been wonderful in the sense that I have had the opportunity to make dinner for my family almost every night, spend more time with my kids. Quality time, going for walks and throwing the lacrosse ball, practicing soccer. We made a gym at our house and my teenage daughter works out with me. I have not only been hosting the conversations and presenting them to you. I have been taking it in as well. You are about to hear some fantastic advice from William Hefner, I hope you find it as useful as I have.
Thank you, William, for your time and talent. For more about William Hefner, please go to William Hefner dot com. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your partnership and support of Convo By Design. And thank you for listening, were it not for you, there would be no Convo By Design. We will get through this, together. And until we do, I will keep bringing you the ideas from incredibly talented creatives to make this a little bit better. If you have a question, ideas for a segment or you are a designer that wants to help, please email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.
This is Convo By Design with a special series of episodes focused on the COVID – 19 pandemic from a different perspective. You already know about washing your hands and staying at home. But, staying at home has created a whole new set of unforeseen issues. Our homes were not created to serve as home, office, school, restaurant, daycare all at once. This series of episodes is designed to address the fact that most if not all of us are home weathering out this pandemic. Our homes were not designed for this and make weathering this a little bit easier.
I spoke with architect Tom Kligerman of Ike, Kligerman, Barkley. Kligerman has lived in locations around the world and drawn from these experiences to make a space comfortable and functional regardless of size. We talked about a number of ways for one to reorganize, rearrange and think differently about using spaces differently. This is Tom Kligerman.
Thank you, Tom, for your time and talent. For more about Thomas Kligerman, please go to Ike Klingerman Barkley dot com. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your partnership and support of Convo By Design. And thank you for listening, were it not for you, there would be no Convo By Design. We will get through this, together. And until we do, I will keep bringing you the ideas from incredibly talented creatives to make this a little bit better. If you have a question, ideas for a segment or you are a designer that wants to help, please email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.
This is Convo By Design with a special series ofepisodes focused on the COVID-19 pandemic from a different perspective. You already know about washing your hands and staying at home. But, staying at home has created a whole new set of unforeseen issues. Our homes were not created to serve as home, office, school, restaurant, daycare all at once. This series of episodes is designed to address the fact that most if not all of us are home weathering out this pandemic. Our homes were not designed for this and make weathering this a little bit easier.
This conversation with designer and founder of JAB Design Group, Joe Berkowitz. Joe is all about using what you have both creatively and smartly to make your space live bigger, live easier and inspire you. Once you know what you have, remove and add to find your place, and find inspiration. We could all use a little more of that right now.Joe also shares advice for making your spaces more functional, right now.
Thank you, Joe, for your time and talent. For more about Joe and JAB Design Studio, go to J A B Interiors dot com. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your partnership and support of Convo By Design. And thank you for listening, were it not for you, there would be no Convo By Design. We will get through this, together. And until we do, I will keep bringing you the ideas from incredibly talented creatives to make this a little bit better. If you have a question, ideas for a segment or you are a designer that wants to help, please email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Use What You Have and Make t Work For You:
Spaces Get Stale – Look for ways to rearrange
Don’t Throw it ALL Out – The art is in the edit, remove what needs to go
Disassemble/ Reevaluate– Take a fresh look at it, what do you want?
20% Rule -Take Away 20% of the Accessories
Don’t Be Afraid of Space – Embrace it
Visual Vocabulary – Find what works for you, now. It can change back later
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a special series of episodes designed to help you manage the coronavirus disaster by providing you with actionable ideas and tips from world-class designers and architects to run your home more efficiently. We ALL have more going on at home now. You are not alone, as a matter of fact, I don’t think we’ve all been in more similar circumstances. While the stories of conference call disasters provide a little levity, I realized that our homes and resources are being taxed like never before. Our homes were not designed for this. I am talking with some of the best and brightest in design and architecture to get their strategies for making space more efficient.
This episode features Brian Ferrick of Meridith Baer Home. Meridith Baer Home specializes in the art of home staging. Staging a home is all about placement, space, light, and accommodation. It is about creating a feeling and making everything work to its full capabilities. Brian shares ideas about making your space more efficient and functional. This is always important, but never more so than right now if you are one of the millions who are sheltering in place. You still have to work, you still have to be mom, dad, teacher, babysitter, chef, you get the point. These ideas are going to make your life a little bit easier.
Thank you, Brian, for both your time and talent. For more about Meridith Baer Home, visit them online. Meridith Baer Home dot com. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your partnership and support of Convo By Design. And thank you for listening, were it not for you, there would be no Convo By Design. We will get through this, together. And until we do, I will keep bringing you the ideas from incredibly talented creatives to make this a little bit better. If you have a question, ideas for a segment or you are a designer that wants to help, please email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a special series of episodes designed to help you manage this coronavirus disaster by providing you with actionable ideas and tips to run your home more efficiently. We ALL have more going on at home now. You are not alone, as a matter of fact, I don’t think we’ve all been in more similar circumstances. While the stories of conference call disasters provide a little levity, I realized that our homes and resources are being taxed like never before. Our homes were not designed for this unless you’re a “prepper.” I am talking with some of the best and brightest in design and architecture to get their strategies for making space more efficient.
This episode was recorded on Saturday, March 21st with Marissa Zajack of Marissa Zajack Creative. Marissa is a master designer with vast knowledge and experience in restaurant and bar design. Marissa is providing some phenomenal advice on how to make your kitchen, dining and entertaining spaces operate more like the hospitality industry. A few simple ideas can help streamline meal preparation and make your kitchen and dining areas more comfortable and more inspiring in the process. This is Marissa Zajack.
Thank you, Marissa, for both your time and talent, thank you, Walker Zanger, for your partnership and support of Convo By Design. And thank you for listening, were it not for you, there would be no Convo By Design. We will get through this, together. And until we do, I will keep bringing you the ideas from incredibly talented creatives to make this a little bit better. If you have a question, ideas for a segment or you are a designer that wants to help, please email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Topic: Making Residential Kitchen and Entertaining Spaces Operate More Efficiently
Organize Your Kitchen
Keep an inventory of your supplies
Reorganize, move all supplies and tools are closer to where they will be used
Create ‘server stations’ with specific items for use away from cooking and preparation areas
Establish an organizational plan including times for foodservice and weekly meal plans
Go through all your resources and remove what you are not using right now
Freshen up your space, inspiration is in short supply, don’t run out
What can you repurpose to make your entertaining spaces more functional
Bring the outside in with garden cut flowers OR branches if you don’t have flowers
EDIT – Sometimes it’s not what you have but what you remove that makes the space function more efficiently
Place heavier items closer to where they will be used (simple idea…I know)
Look at what is lacking in your space right now. Solve what you can and plan to correct in better times
