Welcome back to Convo By Design, I’m Josh Cooperman and this week we are speaking with Marissa Stokes. We are talking about…C’mon, you know what we’re talking about.
I say that half-kidding. Like, yeah we’re talking about interior design, architecture, art and this amazing business of shelter and design. But really, every conversation that I have had, over 300 interviews, 200 panel conversations, hundreds of events, every single one of them are different because each creative is so unique. This week, our conversation with Marissa covers design across the US including projects in California, New York, Montana, New Orleans and South Florida. Marissa earned her BFA in Interior Design from Parsons School of Design and spent time working for Victoria Hagan and Jayne Design Studios before starting on her own design journey.
Designer Resources
ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience
Article, great style is easy. It’s the best way to buy beautiful modern furniture
We talk about the work and her journey. We also discuss the current state of design, the business of design and all that that entails. Marissa is a complete designer with artists touch for color and an engineers approach to furniture placement. Her use of space is elegant and efficient as is her approach to the business. You’ll hear all about it, right after this.
Thank you, Marissa, loved our chat. Thank you ThermaSol, Article, York Wallcoverings, Franz Viegener and Moya Living for your partnership and support. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade.
And, thank you for listening and subscribing to the podcast. I know you already know this, but… there are literally hundreds of past episodes of Convo By Design that you probably haven’t heard, especially if you are new to the show, so go check them out. Be well and take today first.
Hello creatives, If you’re new, welcome, if not, welcome back to Convo By Design. This journey of ours in search of amazing design, architecture, furnishings and art is in its 9th year now and I am so happy that you’re joining me for another episode.
I recently took a trip. A journey back to Los Angeles for the latest installment of Legends, presented by the La Cienega Design Quarter. Saw some old friends and made a few new ones.It is the design events that remind me just how special our industry is and while I love design just like you, it’s not the work that makes the industry so special, it’s the people. That is why I love to focus on the stories. Like this one featuring Kathryn Sanders of Western Sensibility. We are talking about textiles. And next generation textiles at that. Kathryn is changing the way textiles are designed and produced. Small batch, custom prints, and state-of-the-art production techniques that make turn-around times faster and digital production that makes new collaborations possible without the long timelines and extensive cost. This is Western Sensibility’ Kathryn Sanders.
Designer Resources
ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience
Article, great style is easy. It’s the best way to buy beautiful modern furniture
Thank you, Kathryn. Thank you ThermaSol, Article, York Wallcoverings, Franz Viegener andMoya Living for your partnership and support. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade.
And, thank you for listening and subscribing to the podcast. I know you already know this, but… there are literally hundreds of past episodes of Convo By Design that you probably haven’t heard, especially if you are new to the show, so go check them out. Be well and take today first.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a very different conversation than those you have become accustomed here on the podcast. And you’re going to love it.
It’s absolutely true. This is a very different type of conversation because for the past nine years doing this show, I have tried to bring you all kinds of different angles on design. I’m really proud of that. I feel a responsibility, a challenge to continue driving the conversation forward. I have been thinking about this for a while. What you may not know about me is the many different things I have done as a journalist before covering design and architecture almost exclusively. For a few years, I was doing interviews for Playboy and the radio division. I hosted interviews with celebrities in much the same way you would read the interviews, these were audio. I was listening to many of these conversations recently and I started hearing similarities in the way artists from other disciplines discuss their work in similar ways and I thought it would be fun to re-air some of these conversations.
The chat you are about to hear is one I shared with multi-Grammy award winning Jazz musician and leader of Stay Human, the house band for Stephen Colbert. What I find so interesting about Batist is his perspective on Jazz in particular, music in general and the manner in which he writes and plays. As a vehicle to deliver emotion. Much of the interior design business revolves around emotional delivery as well. Crafting a space and delivering an emotional, purposeful product is a gift.
My hope is that you will enjoy this conversation and realize the one true through line that all successful creative forms possess is the ability to illicit a reaction. That is the gift.
In future episodes, you are going to hear from past interviews of mine, showcasing creatives from different fields with the hope and purpose that you can take some of their ideas about creativity to craft new ideas and dream big. Enjoy this conversation with Jon Batist.
Thank you, Jon. Rerunning this conversation just made me happy. Thank you ThermaSol, Article, York Wallcoverings and Franz Viegener and Moya Living for your partnership and support. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade.
And, thank you for listening and subscribing to the podcast. I know you already know this, but… there are literally hundreds of past episodes of Convo By Design that you probably haven’t heard, especially if you are new to the show, so go check them out.
Remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week. Be well and take today first.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with another installment of the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol featuring a powerful, self-described “late bloomer” in her design career and is making up for lost time, this is Texas based designer, Michelle Lynne. Check out our partners while you listen to the show.
Designer Resources
ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience
Article, great style is easy. It’s the best way to buy beautiful modern furniture
I kind of feel like we are all “late bloomers” at this point. I am continually adjusting the Convo By Design brand and reforming the way I do business. Because the world is changing very quickly, and “Life moves pretty fast…If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Yes, for those playing the home game, that was a Ferris Bueller quote. Not sorry. It’s true.
Michele Lynne is a perfect example and if you find yourself wondering what your next move is, listen to this from Michelle. She gets it, she did it and the point here is this. It isn’t a point to point excursion, it’s a journey of creative self-discovery. In addition to the design biz, she also trains designers about running their own business. The MLG Experience is something she is passionate about and will share the ideas behind it with you as well. We are also going to talk about her work in Dallas and beyond. Enjoy this conversation with Michelle Lynne of ML Interiors Group, the latest installment of the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series, presented by ThermaSol. You’ll hear from Michelle in just a moment, but first, this.
Thank you, Michelle. For more stories like this, make sure you are subscribing to the podcast. You can find the show everywhere you get your favorite podcasts… But, you already knew that. What you might not know, is that there are literally hundreds of other episodes for you to binge on now. Go check them out.
Thank you ThermaSol, Article, York Wallcoverings and Franz Viegener for your partnership and support. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week. Be well and take today first.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with one of the greats. Not just as a decorator, but as a person. Incredibly talented and so versatile as an interior decorator, I wanted to share his story with you, this is Alex Papachristides.
I first met Alex in 2019, I think. To be completely frank with you, my years have started to mix and mingle together. It’s like something crazy has happened over the last 2 years. I met Alex at La Cienega Design Quarter’s Legends event. I spent a week interviewing creatives who crafted windows in the quarter and Alex was one of my favorites. If you do a modicum of research on Alex, you will find a deeply creative and complex interior decorator who knows the historical importance of the materials with which he works and the meaning behind each design story he creates for his clients. Papachristidis in versatile too. It takes a special person who can appear on Today and This Old House and be equally compelling. Alex is an author and perpetually included on just about any who’s who design list. Alex is also a dog person and sits on the Board of Directors of ARF Hamptons, which is one of the reasons I find him so special. This is Alex Papachristidis.
Thank you, Alex. Loved our chat and truly appreciate the time. Thank you ThermaSol, Article, York Wallcoverings and Franz Viegener for your partnership. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week. Be well and take today first.
Designer Resources:
ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience
Article, great style is easy. It’s the best way to buy beautiful modern furniture.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. This episode features writer, speaker and architect, Peter Pennoyer. We are talking about classic architecture from a French Modern Townhouse to a rural Farm House, a log cabin in the Adirondacks. That is a broad stretch, so much to talk about.
We are two weeks into 2022 and dealing with Omicron,the next variant of this seemingly endless pandemic. I bring it up not to tell you what you already know, but because architecture and design are just as important to getting through this as vaccines and protective procedures. This is not a political statement, but one of empirical data. Interior designers are making our homes more functional and architects are crafting new concepts into homes of today to address these issues when something like this happens again.
Peter Pennoyer is the founder of his namesake firm, Peter Pennoyer Architects. Peter is president of the Whiting Foundation, a nonprofit that supports scholars and writers. He has served on the board ion the Institute of Classical Architecture and his formal training in past architecture has influenced how he crafts for the future. Peter has been recognized and awarded far too often to mention them here. Awards follow the work, as form follows function. We discuss more about that and review some projects over the next hour. Enjoy this conversation with architect, Peter Pennoyer.
But first, if you listened to last weeks episode you know, I made a very special announcement…Convo By Design presents the 2022 Remote Design House | Tulsa. A unique idea around an equally unique show house. I have been wanting to do another design house project for many years now, but the right opportunity had not presented itself. Sure, there were projects, but none were right for me. Then, the pandemic hit. Here I was, producing a podcast for 8 years and all of a sudden, the entire industry stops working in an office and trying to figure out what the future of design is even going to look like. I am going to go a bit further down that rabbit hole in future episodes. Right now, I want to tell you where this is all going. In the first 200 days of the pandemic, I recorded over 100 interviews, conversations and panels. Like you probably did, I dived into the work, for two reasons. The first was to keep myself from going crazy with a family of four in a small house, trying to keep everyone calm and not lose my cool in the face of something scary and unknown. The second part was a strong belief at the time that our industry was on the precipice of something amazing. I had no idea that the product would be in short supply until the summer of 2020. I was on a run in Manhattan Beach, California on day, unable to run along the Strand, I was forced into a neighboring alley and noticed all of the boxes awaiting trash pickup. I started counting and identifying the boxes which became a hobby and way on passing the miles while running through mostly empty streets and alleys. The boxes were TV’s, appliances, office furniture and equipment. There were fitness equipment boxes and all kinds of design materials and product. I remember the “a-ha” moment for me was later in the Fall. I had completed recording and airing a series called, “Designing for Disaster.” You can still find these episodes in the CXD stream.
Designers architects were telling me that, of their clients, the ones that could were escaping to mountain, beach and more remote locations to live this out and using the opportunity to remodel both homes. Designers and architects, you know this… You have been busy ever since. Part of this new professional reality meant that embracing the new technology like Zoom, Slack, Base Camp, Microsoft Office and Google Drive was now a mandatory part of their jobs. This also meant that they would be required to design from a distance. That is something that represents the most revolutionary element for the design trade. How can you continue to work with your clients, now on the move and do what you do which traditionally was almost all in person and face to face.
I wanted to find out and so here we are in Tulsa, Oklahoma with a really special project house that is going to be reimagined by some of the world’s most talented creatives, none of whom are from Tulsa, this house is real and and the design is completely remote, the meets are all virtual and the work is being completed locally by local craftsmen, artisans and tradesmen. I haven’t seen a project like this before, so I really don’t have anything with which to compare it. So, we will learn together. Episodes featuring the designers and design partners are coming soon.
York Wallcoverings: Wallpaper is having a moment, a well deserved moment that is allowing designers to craft and create in new and amazing ways. Convo By Design has a new partner this year. This partnership includes participation in our Remote Design House | Tulsa project of which you will be hearing a lot about this year. I have been working closely with an exclusive group of partners and I am absolutely thrilled to be working with York Wallcoverings. This company has been crafting exquisite wall coverings for over a century with an archive that dates back to the early 18th century. This deeply rich history provides inspiration for the future, and the designs available through the York Wallcoverings Studio have long been lauded for their authenticity and craftsmanship. This art, artistry and history combined with a commitment to continually reimagining the manufacturing process allows York Wallcoverings to provide a consistently exquisite product. For options and inspiration, find them online, York Wallcoverings dot com. You can also find their store locator tool for a location near you.
Thank you, Peter. Not much makes me happier than deep dives like this! Thank you Walker Zanger for presenting Convo By Design. Thank you ThermaSol, Article, York Wallcoverings and Franz Viegener for your partnership. You are remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week. Be well and take today first.
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with photographer, artist and sculptor Nicole Landau who describes herself as a “Contemporary multimedia artist working in photography and monumental illuminated sculpture.” Succinct, but incomplete. I think we all work so hard to define ourselves for social media knowing that we have such limited time to try and explain who we are and what we do. This is why I dislike social media as much as I do, but also recognize that it is part of our lives, both social and professional, but that is also the main reason why I love doing this podcast and speaking with creatives like Nicole in a long format conversation. It gives both guest and myself an opportunity to meander a bit, take some time to really explore each other and share fully composed thoughts. Nicole is incredibly talented and I think you will appreciate all the detail in the following conversation.
Thank you for listening and subscribing to Convo By Design, a podcast for the design and architecture trade. Inside stories and in depth conversations with those shaping the industry. If you are not already doing so, please subscribe to the podcast. You will find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite shows like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Design Network dot org.
Convo By Design is presented by Walker Zanger, an incredible partner in design. The show is also supported by ThermaSol, another design partner who is always looking to help designers and architects do their best work. For more information from both of these amazing partners, as well as this weeks guest, you will find direct links in the show notes.
Thank you, Nicole. Your work is thoughtful and grand.It makes me think about not just what is, but what will be at the same time, pondering what it could be were the circumstances different. To me, that is the superpower of an artist and creator…. To present something that is both well defined and open to interpretation. Thank you Walker Zanger for presenting Convo By Design. Thank you ThermaSol for your partnership. You are both remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve.
This is the final episode of 2021. It has been quite a year, one of openings, closings, re-openings and one in which we all took stock in what we have, what we’ve missed and most importantly, what we want in the future. Besides for our product to get delivered in a reasonable amount of time. Next year, there are some big things coming from Convo by Design, like our first ever design house project. A unique project featuring some of the most creative designers in the country and I am really excited to share this with you. But for now, take some time to pause, recharge, give yourself permission to hop off social media for a while and chill.
This is Convo By Design featuring an absolutely amazing creative whose zig-zagged creative journey took many turns in a path that found him in the envious position in which he sits today. Founder and CEO of his namesake multi-line showroom. This is Anderson Somerselle. As you might imagine, after hosting and producing this show for 8 years soon to be in our 9th, I speak to many creatives who each have their own personal and professional journey and you hear from them once they have arrived. I find the path fascinating and no two paths are alike. Some are similar, but none exactly the same.
Anderson Somerselle is originally from the Virgin Islands. His path took what I like to call ‘pinballing through the biz’ which so many of us, myself included seem to do on our way to where we feel we should be. Somerselle has worked luxury design retail on the floor, later running departments within luxury design showrooms. Anderson gathered the experience and started his own luxury showroom featuring an impressive collection of unique brands. His methods are different than traditional showrooms and because of this, he offers a unique showroom experience. You will learn all about it here.
Thank you for listening and subscribing to Convo By Design, a podcast for the design and architecture trade. Inside stories and in depth conversations with those shaping the industry. If you are not already doing so, please subscribe to the podcast. You will find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite shows like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Design Network dot org.
Convo By Design is presented by Walker Zanger, an incredible partner in design. The show is also supported by ThermaSol, another design partner who is always looking to help designers and architects do their best work. For more information from both of these amazing partners, as well as this weeks guest, you will find direct links in the show notes.
Thank you, Anderson. Love your story and really appreciate you sharing it. Thank you Walker Zanger for presenting Convo By Design. Thank you ThermaSol for your partnership. You are both remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week, be well and take today first.
This is Convo By Design with a multi-discipline creative who, as an actor worked iconic television shows like Ally McBeal, Nip/ Tuck and Arrested Development. She, as you will hear knows her art. So much so that she recently launched a business designed to bring incredible art to the general public. This is Portia de Rossi.
I find myself often telling you, “I know what you’re thinking.” It’s not true, just a bad habit of mine. That said, I think it is relatively safe to say that many might think, this performer or that public figure is great at what they became famous for, what could they possibly know about this or that. Understood. At the same time, the same discipline that allowed Portia de Rossi to be the accomplished actor that she is, makes it possible for her to be equally successful in a new endeavor of which she is equally passionate. Art.
A few weeks ago, you heard my conversation with musician, philanthropist and photographer, Julian Lennon. Well, Portia and her company, General Public is the organization that brought his work to the public through their relationship with Restoration Hardware. It’s funny, I call it Restoration Hardware because that is how I have always known it, but they changed their name in 2017 to “RH” and you will hear Portia make sure I know it.
This platform creates an amazing opportunity for designers to help their clients by providing another source fro great work at a time when specifying anything design related comes with capricious delivery dates and a high probability of reselecting. It’s about finding something that you love, that clients will love into the future. Portia has crafted a place for that and a partnership with unbelievable design talent and an outlet like RH. Enjoy my conversation with actor, philanthropist, art aficionado and entrepreneur with a really strong idea. This is Portia de Rossi.
Thank you, Portia. I really enjoyed our time together. Thank you Walker Zanger for presenting Convo By Design. Thank you ThermaSol for your partnership. You are both remarkable partners and amazing allies for the trade. And, thank you for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week, be well and take today first.
This is Convo By Design with another installment of The Showroom presented by Walker Zanger featuring Cara Woodhouse, a multifaceted creative with exceptional vision and use of shape, color and negative space in her work which leads to an original aesthetic bolstered by her own unique approach to design. If you’ve listened to the show for any amount of time, you know by now that I don’t just say nice things to be nice. From my perspective, because I only speak with creatives whose work I admire, for me, the conversation about the work itself is an exploration. A journey to extract the ideas behind the work itself to better understand how it all comes together.
Woodhouse painted wood to look like black and white tile to fit a space and in doing so, made it look like a performance instead of trying to make it exact. Her rugs spill into spaces like a toppled milkshake. At times I found myself looking at her spaces that don’t appear detailed at first glance yet every time I went back, I discovered something else I hadn’t noticed prior. That is a magical quality that some designers posses that makes their work so special. Cara Woodhouse is one such designer. And we explore her work here, in The Showroom presented by Walker Zanger.
Are you subscribing to the podcast, if not, please do so you get every episode automatically when they are published. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts and now, you can find us on DesignNetwork dot Org, a destination dedicated to podcasts, all things design and architecture so make sure to check it out.
Thank you, Cara. Thank you for your time and talent. Thank you Walker Zanger for your continued support of Convo By Design and ThermaSol, you guys are remarkable partners. Thank you for listening. Without you, what’s the point. As you may have noticed, Convo By Design is bringing you design talent from all across the country. It’s not just about LA and New York, but Las Vegas, Austin and Philadelphia. We are so rich in talent that sometimes, we miss some of the gems. Keep those email coming, email me with show suggestions and feel free to suggest a designer, architect or other creative you think the editorial team should be aware of. Thanks again for listening, remember why you do what you do and that the business of design is about making better the lives of those we serve. Until next week, be well and take today first.
