Corey Damen Jenkins | 603 | Bold Vision, Grounded Leadership, and the Art of Designing with Purpose

I’m really excited about today’s episode because I had the chance to sit down with the incredible Corey Damen Jenkins. We covered a ton of ground—from how Corey manages multiple design projects and prioritizes what matters most, to his inspiring journey from starting his business in the mid-90s to becoming one of the most respected voices in interior design today.

Corey Damen Jenkins is one of the most vibrant and visionary voices in American interior design today. Known for his unapologetically bold aesthetic—full of lush textures, vivid color, and sophisticated pattern play—Jenkins brings more than just beauty to the spaces he creates. His work is joyful and aspirational, infused with a sense of personal integrity and a deep understanding of how interiors can enhance the way people live and feel. From best-selling books to international product collaborations, Jenkins continues to redefine what luxury and accessibility can look like when rooted in authenticity, resilience, and creativity.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

1. Trade Events & Time Management: The Toy Box Philosophy

The conversation began with Jenkins discussing how he navigates the demands of a high-profile career—balancing trade shows, media appearances, and client work. He shared a metaphor of a toy box to explain time management: putting the large “toys” (key priorities) in first ensures space for the smaller items to fit. It’s a disciplined approach to focus, and it reflects how he manages both his calendar and creative energy.

2. Editing as a Design and Business Principle

This prioritization isn’t just logistical—it’s philosophical. Jenkins draws a parallel between business decisions and the creative act of editing in design. Both require focus, clarity, and the willingness to strip away excess in pursuit of excellence.

3. Early Career & Industry Entry: Facing Doubts and Defying Odds

Jenkins reflected on his long journey in design, which began in 1996 and gained traction during the 2008 recession when he officially launched his firm. Entering an industry where Black designers were—and remain—underrepresented, Jenkins faced skepticism about his viability and visibility. But he persevered, fueled by vision and grit.

4. Corporate to Creative: A Risk That Paid Off

Before design, Jenkins worked as a buyer in the automotive industry. A layoff became the turning point. He left behind a secure but unfulfilling career and embraced the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. The decision marked a shift not just in vocation but in health, happiness, and purpose.

5. Rejection & Resilience: Knocking on 779 Doors

One of the most powerful stories he shared was about knocking on 779 doors before securing his first big client. That perseverance wasn’t just physical—it was emotional. Jenkins emphasizes that success has a price, and it’s often paid in rejection, humility, and endurance.

6. Creative Theft & the Reality of Dupes

As his profile grew, Jenkins became acutely aware of the challenges around intellectual property in design. He spoke candidly about how creatives are often vulnerable to idea theft and copycat culture—an issue particularly painful for designers who, like him, put years into building an original voice.

7. Licensing Strategy & Brand Diversification

To combat market volatility and scale his impact, Jenkins has smartly expanded into licensing and product partnerships. Strategic collaborations with brands that align with his values—such as Eichholtz—enable him to protect his vision while reaching broader audiences and creating new revenue streams.

8. Staying Hungry: The Myth of “Making It”

Despite his success, Jenkins operates with what he calls “ambition, not abundance.” The hustle doesn’t stop when you become visible—it shifts. Staying grounded and hungry is part of his ethos and keeps both him and his team striving for more.

9. Leadership & Team Building: Values Over Vanity

Jenkins’ approach to hiring is deeply intentional. He prioritizes humility, character, and shared values over pure talent. Potential hires go through multiple interviews to ensure cultural fit. As he puts it: “We design with the intent to make people jealous—but in the best way possible.” That aspirational quality extends to his leadership style—firm, fair, and focused on mutual respect.

On Design Reimagined: A Book—and Ethos—That Reflects Evolution

Jenkins’ latest book, Design Reimagined, represents a major evolution from his debut, Design Remix. While Remix was thematic and Midwestern in focus, Reimagined is bolder, more global, and even more daring in its expression. The projects span a wider aesthetic spectrum—from restrained and modern to exuberantly maximalist. That diversity reflects not only the range of his clients, but the creative depth of his team.

“We want our interiors to incite envy—not out of malice, but desire,” he said. “That feeling of, ‘I want to live like that too.’”

The book—and the ethos behind it—embody Jenkins’ belief that beauty belongs to everyone, no matter the scale or budget.

That’s a wrap on my conversation with Corey Damen Jenkins. I hope you found it as inspiring and insightful as I did. Corey’s journey is a powerful reminder that perseverance, humility, and a clear creative vision can carry you through even the toughest challenges.

Be sure to check out his upcoming book, Design Reimagined, launching on September 9th, and keep an eye out for the new season of his series as well as his lighting collection. Corey is definitely someone to watch, and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with him soon for a deeper dive into his portfolio and upcoming projects.

As always, thanks for tuning in. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might find it valuable. Until next time, stay focused,  keep pushing forward and rise above the chaos. -Convo By Design

Jeff Andrews | 602 | Our July 2025 Convo By Design Icon Registry Inductee

Welcome to the Convo By Design Icon Registry episode for the month of July, 2025. This month’s inductee is someone you certainly know, a West Coast design staple and someone with whom I have had a number of conversations. Jeff Andrews first appearance on the show was in 2019 and then again in 2020. Just before the world shut down. Jeff and I spoke form his Legends of LaCienega showroom window in May, 2019. He later appeared on a panel conversation at WestEdge in 2019. The last iteration of the show until 2022. 

The Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, a Best Buy company. Pacific Sales is comprised of long time professionals who love design and architecture as much as you do. Which is why it is so fitting that they present this recognition of some of the worlds greatest design talent every month here on Convo By Design. 

On the show today, you are going to hear from Jeff again. These were his appearances on the show from 2019. First, you will hear the individual conversation with Jeff from Legends and then, you will hear the conversation form WestEdge. I hope you enjoy hearing these again as much as I enjoy sharing them with you. Jeff, thank you for all you do for the industry and providing such joy through your work.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

This wraps up another episode of the Convo By Design Icon Registry. A celebration and recognition of a true master in the art of design and the mastery of all that encompasses in the pursuit of making better the lives of those he serves. And, giving back along the way. Thank you, Jeff and congratulations. Some of the things I truly enjoyed were the retelling of inspiration that led to his window design at Legends and the Doorbell story. It’s the little things, right?

Thanks for listening to Convo By Design. Thank you to my partner sponsors, Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home for presenting the Convo By Design Icon Registry and Convo By Design partner sponsors, TimberTech and Design Hardware. And thank you for taking the time to listen. I couldn’t do this without you, wouldn’t want to. I hope this show helps you stay motivated, inspired and focused so you can rise above the chaos. -CXD

Rebuilding Better (Smarter) | 601 | Architectural Best Practices for Wildfire-Prone California Live from Design Hardware

California’s escalating wildfire crisis is forcing a radical rethink in residential architecture. With fires growing in intensity, frequency, and unpredictability, architects, planners, and policymakers are coming together to define a new blueprint for resilient, sustainable living in the wildland-urban interface. In May, I journeyed to Design Hardware for the Spring Design Thought Leadership Summit, something we do four times a  year at Design Hardware to delve into trending ideas and concepts bubbling up through the design and architecture community. After hosting these events for over 6-years at Design Hardware, I always come away with a fresh perspective on emerging ideas and this time was no exception. The idea this time was to isolate the concepts and ideas that are needed now to address climate change, specifically fire related issues and develop them into actionable strategies for building—and rebuilding—homes in fire-prone areas.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

California’s escalating wildfire crisis is forcing a radical rethink in residential architecture. With fires growing in intensity, frequency, and unpredictability, architects, planners, and policymakers are coming together to define a new blueprint for resilient, sustainable living in the wildland-urban interface. In May, I journeyed to Design Hardware for the Spring Design Thought Leadership Summit, something we do four times a  year at Design Hardware to delve into trending ideas and concepts bubbling up through the design and architecture community. After hosting these events for over 6-years at Design Hardware, I always come away with a fresh perspective on emerging ideas and this time was no exception. The idea this time was to isolate the concepts and ideas that are needed now to address climate change, specifically fire related issues and develop them into actionable strategies for building—and rebuilding—homes in fire-prone areas.

The day was broken down into two parts. The first was specifically about fire-related building issues discussed during a panel featuring architect Greg Chasen of Chasen Architects and Ben Stapleton and Becky Feldman Edwards of the USGBC-CA. The second panel covered Market and supply chain issues being affected by both a surge in demand due to rebuilding and exacerbated by the on-again-off-again tariffs. That program will be published here as well so check back for publication.

This panel covers a lot. Here are some of the broader topics covered: 

1. Designing for the Realities of Wildfire

2. Empowering Communities Through Knowledge

The Rebuilding Guide

Developed with global design firm Arup, USGBC CA’s Rebuilding Guide is a cornerstone resource for homeowners, builders, and municipalities. It demystifies complex codes and synthesizes building science into digestible recommendations—ranging from site selection to material resilience, insurance options, and fire-adapted landscaping.

Common Language for Safety

One of the guide’s goals is to bridge communication gaps. “We have to be speaking the same language,” says Becky. Misunderstandings about what terms like “non-combustible” mean can lead to critical design flaws. The guide standardizes terminology to ensure that homeowners, contractors, and code officials are aligned.

3. Materials Matter: Vetting for Performance

The Rebuild Marketplace

To combat this, USGBC CA created the Rebuild Marketplace, a centralized database of rigorously vetted materials. By aggregating third-party certifications, performance data, and supplier information, it streamlines product selection and ensures homeowners aren’t left to navigate a confusing and inconsistent market on their own.

4. Passive Design for Active Protection

Building Without Vents

5. Codes, Compliance & Insurance Gaps

Aligning Codes and Insurance

6. Rethinking Density and Land Use

Smart Growth Strategies

7. Innovations in Housing Delivery

Housing innovation is also key to faster, more affordable recovery. Chasen outlines the benefits and limitations of prefab and modular construction, noting that while these methods reduce waste and speed up timelines, they aren’t always cheaper. He also encourages more creative approaches, such as:

  • ADUs as interim housing. These can serve displaced families during reconstruction and offer long-term rental income later.
  • Basements for cooling and shelter. Subterranean spaces provide thermal stability and potential fire refuge.
  • Fire-adapted finishes. Materials like thermally modified wood and fiber cement can replicate traditional aesthetics with modern protection.

8. Resilient Infrastructure Beyond the Home

Wildfire resilience extends beyond individual parcels. “These technologies exist, but we’re not implementing them,” says Ben, citing innovations like:

  • Buried power lines to reduce ignition risk.
  • Automatic water shutoffs for firefighting.
  • Community-scale solar and battery systems for grid independence during outages.

Investment in resilient infrastructure must parallel private construction to ensure collective security.

9. Regulating Rebuilds to Avoid Gentrification

Post-fire redevelopment often attracts large developers aiming to maximize profits. Chasen criticizes this dynamic: “You’re getting cheap, maximum-footprint homes with no real investment in community.” Without local involvement and regulation, fire-impacted areas risk displacement and gentrification.

Community-Led Planning

USGBC CA advocates for inclusive rebuild processes that prioritize original residents, especially those underinsured or living in high-risk zones. Incentives for owner-builders, design review standards, and community land trusts are potential tools to maintain affordability and equity.

10. From Reaction to Resilience: A Cultural Shift

I often say, “It’s always too soon… until it’s too late.” Rebuilding with intention requires proactive engagement, long-term thinking, and coordinated leadership. Communities can emerge stronger if they view wildfire not just as a hazard, but as a catalyst for transformation.

We cover a lot here and you are going to hear it all for Design Hardware, right after this.

Thank you Becky, Ben and Greg for taking the time to have this important conversation and providing so much actionable information! Check the show notes for details and links. Thank you for making the time during your busy day to listen to the show, subscribe and share with colleagues. Thank you to my partners sponsors; Pacific Sales, Best Buy, The AZEK Company, TimberTech and Design Hardware. All of these companies make a concerted effort to support the design industry through support of publishers like Convo By Design and sharing content and materials created to make our industry better and more resilient. Please give them an opportunity on your next project.

I created Convo By Design to serve a robust and incredibly creative design and architecture industry through programming like this. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know. Send me an email with show and guest suggestions, convobydesign@outlook.com and join in the conversation on Instagram @ConvoXDesign, with an “X”. Thanks for listening to Convo By Design. Until next time—be well, I hope this show help you stay motivated, inspired and focused so you can rise above the chaos. -CXD

Kitchens, Clients & the Art of Rebuilding After Disaster Strikes | 598 | Live from Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home in Pasadena, CA.

Today, we’re taking you into the heart of the home—and into the heart of a crisis. This is part three of our special series on kitchen design in the context of post-wildfire rebuilding. But this isn’t just about appliances and finishes. It’s about resilience, emotional healing, and how design professionals are redefining what a kitchen truly means in the aftermath of disaster.

In this episode, you’ll hear from an extraordinary panel of designers and industry pros tackling some of the toughest questions we face when rebuilding from scratch—often under pressure, always with purpose.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

We talk about the emotional weight clients carry into the design process and how trauma-informed planning can help ease that burden. You’ll hear how priorities shift when clients aren’t just dreaming up a dream kitchen—they’re reconstructing their lives. Function trumps flash, accessibility takes center stage, and the kitchen becomes more than a cooking space—it’s a symbol of comfort, safety, and a return to normalcy.

We’re also exploring how wildfires and insurance timelines are reshaping the design-build process itself. From tight ALE (Additional Living Expense) windows to panic buying and long lead times, designers are balancing empathy with efficiency, and creativity with constraint.

You’ll hear how technology—from induction cooktops to full home automation—is influencing new builds, and why education and trust are key when introducing these tools. We’ll talk about sustainable materials, fire-resistant solutions, and why regional design—from Altadena to the Palisades—is more influential than ever.

Finally, we examine the critical importance of early collaboration. When architects, designers, and contractors don’t align from day one, it’s the homeowner who pays the price—in money, time, and emotional energy.

This is a conversation for designers, builders, architects, and homeowners navigating recovery—or for anyone passionate about the evolving role of residential design in a time of crisis. It’s thoughtful. It’s raw. And it’s exactly the kind of dialogue that defines Convo By Design. The following program was recorded live form Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home in Pasadena, California. This group of amazing creatives had fantastic insights. The group included:

Emma DeRoche | Emma DeRoche Interior Design @derochedesign

Emma DeRoche of DeRoche Interior Design specializes in interior architecture with a deep emphasis on personalization. Her approach is highly client-centric—rooted in understanding who clients are, were, and aspire to be—and translating that into meaningful, livable design. Rather than adhere to a signature style, Emma’s work ranges from sleek, minimalist kitchens with hidden appliances to richly traditional spaces with detailed millwork and warm finishes. She designs kitchens that are not just functional, but deeply expressive—often including secondary prep kitchens, outdoor cooking spaces, and thoughtful additions like bathroom fridges or bedroom coffee stations. Her work reflects a shift in how we live: more casually, more connected, and more personally.

Eva Hughes | Black House Beige @blackhousebeige

Eva Hughes, founder of Black House Beige, leads a bi-coastal design firm based in Los Angeles with projects in both California and New York. Her work blends beauty and function, creating homes that evolve with families while reflecting their identity and lifestyle. Eva emphasizes regional lifestyle differences—such as LA’s car-centric, home-focused routines versus New York’s walkable, compact living—which directly influence design choices. Her approach involves keen observation and communication, especially when tailoring kitchens to client routines, from child-friendly layouts to chef-grade functionality. Eva is also a featured designer in this year’s Pasadena Showcase House, where she designed a powder bath—gaining insight as her own client and connecting deeply with the design community.

Gail Jamenetz | Soul Interiors Design @soul_interiors_design

Gail Jamentz is the principal of Soul Interiors Design, a firm deeply rooted in wellness-focused, sustainable design. Based in Altadena—where she also resides—Gail brings a personal and empathetic approach to her work, having lost her own home in the recent fires. Her mission is to help clients rebuild with intention, turning tragedy into an opportunity to create healthier, more fire-resistant, and joy-filled homes. Gail emphasizes education and advocacy, guiding clients through the complex rebuilding process while honoring Altadena’s character and community. She’s also a vocal supporter of thoughtful planning over rushed prefab solutions, and a believer in design as a tool for hope, healing, and community regeneration.

Neela Woodard | Neela Woodard Design @neelawoodarddesign

Neela Woodard is the founder of Neela Woodard Design, based in Burbank, California. With East Coast roots, Neela blends a personalized, human-centered approach with practical functionality—designing spaces that reflect not just her clients’ tastes, but who they are and how they live. Her work emphasizes the kitchen as the heart of the home, especially in contrasting communities like Altadena and the Palisades, where needs and styles vary widely. Neela brings a deep understanding of how lifestyle and regional context shape kitchen use, from indoor-outdoor living to evolving tech and storage solutions. She’s also navigating current supply chain and tariff challenges with creative problem-solving and a forward-thinking mindset—balancing urgency with long-term vision.

Tanya Paz |  TAP Studio @tap.studio

Tanya Paz, founder of TAP Studio in Pasadena, integrates architecture, interiors, and wellness in her work across residential and institutional projects. The recent fires deeply impacted the Los Angeles area, reshaping designers’ roles to include client advocacy, emotional support, and practical assistance in temporary housing and rebuilding. The loss extends beyond structures to personal histories embedded in homes, prompting new conversations about functionality and client needs. Rebuilding spans diverse housing types and budgets, demanding inclusive design solutions. Inspired by historical mass-produced kitchens like the Frankfurt Kitchen, TAP Studio explores customizable prefab “kits of parts” to deliver quality kitchens within fixed budgets. Prefabrication offers speed and cost control, especially for ADUs and cabinetry, but must balance standardization with customization. Overall, the fires have expanded designers’ responsibilities, highlighting their role in supporting clients through trauma and rebuilding resilient, meaningful homes.

Verzine Hovasapyain |Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home  @pacificsales

Verzine Hovasapyan is the Premium Manager at Pacific Sales, where she’s spent the past 25 years building deep relationships in the appliance industry. Based in Southern California, she oversees luxury sales, vendor training, and trade partnerships, with a strong focus on supporting the design community and staying ahead of appliance trends. Verlaine brings a relational, client-centered approach to her work—emphasizing continuity, care, and partnership, particularly in communities like Altadena, where many are rebuilding after fire loss. She champions the role of designers in grounding clients’ aspirations in reality, offering Pacific Sales showrooms and vendor spaces as hands-on resources. With ties to Best Buy, her team also offers financing programs, community incentives, and a designer rewards system—supporting both professionals and homeowners through every phase of the build or remodel journey.

Some of the topics covered in the following conversation include:

The Kitchen as the Emotional and Functional Heart of the Home

  • Kitchens hold deep emotional significance—sites of daily rituals, memories, and togetherness.
  • After a wildfire, the kitchen becomes a symbolic space for recovery and hope.
  • Design decisions are highly personal and emotionally charged.
  • Clients often want to recreate or reimagine their old kitchens with updated functionality.

Regional Differences in Design Expectations and Constraints

  • Distinct design preferences and material palettes between regions like Altadena and the Pacific Palisades.
  • Community aesthetic and architectural history influence rebuilding styles.
  • Regulatory hurdles vary by area, with different zoning, setback rules, and historical preservation requirements shaping outcomes.

Evolving Client Priorities Post-Wildfire

  • Clients are more focused on resilience, function, and safety than aesthetic trends.
  • Many are embracing sustainability, energy efficiency, and adaptability.
  • There is increased openness to modern design and materials, including induction cooking and engineered surfaces.
  • Emotional trauma affects client engagement—many lean on designers to make decisions.

Role of the Designer in Trauma-Informed, Post-Disaster Projects

  • Designers become part therapist, part advocate, and part project manager.
  • Clear, compassionate communication is key.
  • Emotional intelligence is just as important as technical design knowledge.
  • Clients often need guidance to make rational decisions under emotional duress.

Integration of Technology and Customization in Kitchen Design

  • Appliance integration is increasingly customized to lifestyle, with layouts tailored to how families live and cook.
  • Tech choices (e.g., induction, smart appliances) must be balanced with usability and client familiarity.
  • Over-customization can be a risk when designing from trauma—designers guide clients toward practical solutions.

Accessibility, Aging-in-Place, and Multigenerational Living

  • Kitchens are being designed with long-term use in mind—features accommodate aging or differently abled residents.
  • Appliance height, clearance, lighting, and ergonomic storage are now standard considerations.
  • Design reflects changing family dynamics, including more multigenerational households post-disaster.

Supply Chain Disruptions and Construction Delays

  • Long lead times for appliances, cabinetry, doors, and windows require early ordering—often a year or more in advance.
  • Delays lead to warehousing challenges, lost warranties, and misaligned installation schedules.
  • Designers, builders, and clients must constantly adapt timelines to product availability.

Financial Pressures: Tariffs, Budgets, and Insurance Deadlines

  • Rising material and appliance costs due to tariffs force compromises in design.
  • Insurance coverage for temporary housing (ALE) puts pressure on timelines and decision-making.
  • Budget-conscious clients often opt for fewer or more affordable design elements.
  • Designers must advocate for quality while respecting financial realities.

Collaboration Between Designers, Architects, and Contractors

  • Misalignment between architecture and interior functionality often leads to design inefficiencies.
  • Early collaboration is essential—especially in kitchen planning—to ensure layouts work for real-life usage.
  • Clear role definition and respect for each discipline improve outcomes and reduce errors.

Educating Clients and the Public About New Technologies

  • Induction cooking is gaining traction for its efficiency and safety, but requires client education.
  • Misinformation and lack of awareness among electricians, builders, and homeowners can slow adoption.
  • Designers play a key role in bridging the knowledge gap and driving sustainable choices.

That was the full conversation on designing for fire restoration and the ultimate functional kitchen.—an important and timely topic that continues to evolve as our climate, policies, and expectations shift. Thank you to this amazing group; Gail, Neela, Eva, Emma, Tanya and Verzine. I want to thank my partner sponsors who help make this show possible: Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, a Best Buy Company, TimberTech, and Design Hardware. Thank you for listening, subscribing, and sharing the show with your colleagues. Your support means everything, and it helps grow this conversation across the design community.

Make sure you subscribe to Convo By Design so you never miss an episode. We have more incredible guests, ideas, and conversations coming your way.

Please keep those emails coming. You can reach me directly at convoByDesign@outlook.com, and be part of the conversation on Instagram, @ConvoXDesign—that’s Convo X Design with an “X”..

This is a complex issue and one that requires both deeper thought and immediate action.  I want to thank every one of our expert guests for their insights, time, and passion. We are surrounded by complex issues, are we not? That’s why I have been encouraging you to manage these complicated times. Because it’s real. It’s exhausting. But, from transition, comes opportunity. It is just a matter of thinking about it differently and finding the shiny, glimmering opportunities amongst dark and ominous clouds. So, stay focused and rise above the chaos. – CXD

Technical Application of Design Principles and Addressing the Curve in Design Thought | 585 | Maggie Griffin of Maggie Griffin Design

Application and practical application of tools and techniques. These are just a few of the topics discussed in today’s conversation with designer Maggie Griffin, founder of eponymous firm in Gainesville, Georgia. We are discussing more than design today. A lot more, actually. The changing landscape of the industry and staying ahead of the curve. Oh, that pesky curve.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

The trouble with the curve, and staying ahead of it is that if you don’t actively stay ahead of it, it passes you by before you know it. Like AI for example. Many designers fear it, most don’t really understand it. Those choosing to ignore it, or simply dabble won’t lose their clients because of AI. They will lose their clients to designers who adapt and understand how to best use AI in unimaginable ways that will take costs down, increase specification of better products and materials, shrink the timeline and make the absolute most of every designable opportunity. It’s true. Maggie and I are chopping this up along with a number of other ideas like;

  • Exploring AI tools in practice
  • AI and interior design application
  • Industry trends and challenges
  • Achieving balance of technology and residential design
  • Kitchen design
  • Product specification and client trust
  • Bathroom design concepts
  • Achieving functionality without sacrificing aesthetic 

Thank you, Maggie. Enjoyed this. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. Thank you for listening, subscribing to the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed.

Please keep those emails coming convo by design at outlook dot com and follow the conversation on Instagram, @ConvoXDesign with an “X”.

Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD

Getting Real with Designing Women | 578 | Kim Gordon & Breegan Jane Live from KBIS 2025

Patience. It’s hard to navigate around because everything is seemingly delivered almost overnight. Actually, it’s more like two days thanks to Amazon. So, after I return from a show like KBIS, I have hours and hours of content to cull through and produce. I want to share some of my process with you. While there is an overwhelming urge to publish everything right when I get back, I have found that a more deliberate approach to content deployment. I have actually found it similar to how many design professionals stage their work on projects. Interesting and something we will be exploring further in the future.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Today, you are going to hear from two incredible designers and long time friends of the show.While at KBIS, I had the opportunity to speak with Breegan Jane and Kim Gordon. We discussed a number of topics that every working designer today should hear. It’s also not just about the work, the business or trade shows. Life lessons from two of the most honest and authentic people I know. And you are going to hear all about it, first from Kim and then Breegan right after this.

Loved this. Thank you Kim and Breegan. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors; TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD

Favorite Places, Unique Spaces in the Coachella Valley | 576 | Elyssa Contardo

One of my favorite places in the world is the Coachella Valley. Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells. The valley is thriving as new residents move in, the are is mountainous and arid desert blended in an oasis of mixed architectural styles blended with cultural influence from music to fashion and everything in between. I love the Coachella Valley because as a teenager, I would go to Palm Springs for spring break. Something then mayor, Sonny Bono did not care fore and eventually drove us out. Then it was the architecture, followed by Coachella Music Festival combined with Stagecoach. La Quinta Resort remains my personal favorite place to recharge and reflect.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

I am really pleased to share my conversation with Elyssa Contardo, SoCal native and Coachella Valley based designer. She actually has two offices, one in Palm Desert and the other in Park City, Utah. And we discuss both locations and their emerging status as design forward locales. Check the show notes for links to Contardo’s work. Especially as we walk through some of her projects. You are going to hear all about it, right now after this.

Thank you, Elyssa.Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors; TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD

A Philosophical Approach to Luxury and Design | 568 | Brittany Farinas, House of One

We often talk about luxury, the idea of luxury has so many different connotations, ideas and meaning. If I asked you to describe luxury in interiors design, what would you say?

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

If I asked 10 designers what the word luxury meant, I am quite sure that I would get 10 different definitions. And you know what, that is exactly how it should be. I believe that luxury is more of a state of mind than a place or thing. Socrates had something to say about luxury. “He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.” But he also said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing that you know nothing.” And, things didn’t end well for Socrates. But as a philosopher, one of the best. I think there are people who are very happy with the ultra-luxurious lives they live and love the wonderful and expensive things with which they surround themselves. And I also think there are people who would tell you that the feeling of luxury is comes when they are immersed in an environment that is conducive with the way it makes them happy, or content. Isn’t that what home is supposed to do?

Today, you are going to hear from Brittany Farinas from House of 1. We are going to be discussing luxury, Miami, Florida and other places where you can find her work. We will be discussing the work itself and I invite you to follow along. Checking the show notes, you will find a link to her work. So let’s catch up with Brittany, right after this.

Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, Monogram and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD

The Design Messengers – LA on FIRE March 2025 | 567 | Designing for Disaster and The Build Back Better Paradox

The recent wildfires have shaken Angelenos to their core and rightly so. I imagine it is not dissimilar from those who have experienced fires in Hawaii, other parts of California or elsewhere. Or those who suffered through hurricanes, floods, wind events or any other major natural disaster. I think this was different.

I’ve shared this story with you but for the sake of those new to the show, I’ll share it again to make a point. That point is that while wildfires in Southern California are not new, nor are earthquakes, floods, or civil unrest. The wildfire is an emerging threat that has taken decades to reach this point but has now reached year round catastrophic status. After spending a week plus watching this unfold from half the country away from Los Angeles, I find myself asking a question that probably isn’t really that original. Why is this happening over and over with very little changed. Fires in Southern California. Hurricanes in Texas and Florida. Tornados in the midwest. Flooding in the mid Atlantic and southern U.S., Because that is the natural way of things in these parts of the country. In Southern California, the Santa Ana winds are nothing new. The manner in which they spread embers is not new.  Droughts in this area are new. Much of this area is a dessert. Always has been. Earthquakes have ALWAYS been a part of the region. The question that I see so many asking is, “why does this keep happening?” For the reasons listed above. And, probably the most important reason, greed and an overwhelming urge by public officials to build more, grow faster… A few statements we should probably retire include, “we’re going to build back better” and “our thoughts and prayers are with the victims.” I believe that everyone would be better off if those who know nothing about a subject would be quiet about it. 

It was 1983, my family was living in the far Southeast corner of Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley. As far back as you could get without being in the mountains that separated the San Fernando Valley from Simi Valley. We raised horses, Arabians. My sister showed them and I cleaned up after them. It was a crappy deal and the reason I still don’t like horses. It was a Saturday, just came back from a Pop Warner football game. By the time we smelled smoke, it was too late. I had on a pair of board shorts and cowboy boots when I made it down to the barn. Hopped on one horse, had another in tow, my sister had the same and by the time we made it to the gate, the ridge behind our house was on fire. 

My mom drove the f-350 with a four horse trailer to get the more skittish horses out and my dad stayed back to do what he could to save the structures. I rode that horse for 23 hours straight. When it was safe to return, the fire burned right up to the door. But no further. My Dad had several stories from that day, it included the car full of guys that drove up to the driveway and told him they were the owners, there to pick up their belongings. The way my dad told the story, they got out of the car, four of them and started to walk up on him. He drew his .38, informed them that ‘it was his home and he and his 6 friends we going to keep it safe.’ At which time the left.

Later that year, my father removed brush around the perimeter of the house and installed rain birds on the roof of the house and the barn. This was my first experience with anything like that. Sure, earthquakes, I have always be accustomed to those, but fires, floods, that’s different.

We now find ourselves in a state of constant emergency across California and beyond. Fires are no longer seasonal in California, nor are floods. Nor do they happen in places where they have in the past. Natural disasters are showing in the form of fires, floods, cyclones, hurricane, tornado, derecho, like the one I told you about that hit us here in Tulsa in 2023. 

I think most people have mistakenly placed their faith and hope in leaders and politicians to pass legislation and craft an organized response to natural disasters. In California, if you haven’t heard about this yet, you will. Check the show notes for a link showing Mayor Karen Bass getting peppered by a reporter about being out of the country as the fires ravaged Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas as well as cutting 17 million from the annual LA Fire Department budget. The water tanks in the Palisades were reportedly not full and it is really hard to understand how this can happen in a place like Southern California where fires are a regular occurrence.

My point is this. If you put your faith in the fire department to put out a wildfire, they can’t. If you put your faith in the police to prevent crime from impacting your life and those you love, they won’t. I believe in, and appreciate the work of our firefighters and police, I do, full stop. Fire and police are responsive not proactive. They can only react after there is something to react to. And, they are completely at the will of politicians for funding and it’s never enough. Compound this with the insurance companies refusing to write policies in areas that are prone to extreme weather events. Which is different now than it was even 5 years ago. I predict that this insurability trend will not only continue, but accelerate. In line with the acceleration of extreme weather events. I also think this is the next iteration of the residential and commercial architecture and design renaissance that began during the pandemic. Things are changing.

If you want to look to someone for help, to save you and your treasures. To fortify your personal environment. To make you as safe as possible using every proactive tool in their arsenal, someone to future proof your home, look to the designers, architects, landscape architects. Architects evaluate topography, surroundings and elevations. They can predict best paths for water to move away from the structure in cases of flooding, they specify the right materials to best defend against fire, they make structures fortresses against those who might try to break in. Look to landscape architects who will plant the right materials for the present and the future be it drought tolerance or fire resistance. They too can help design exteriors for a safer and a more impenetrable environment. Look to designers to craft spaces that allow for internal safety and comfort. Materials that are less likely to burn and more likely to protect your investment. Check the show notes for a link to an eye opening report from my friends and partner sponsors of the show, TimberTech. It features flame spread and ignition resistance information.

I believe the days of blanket trust in our public officials to effectively protect and serve are over. We should wish those we vote into office the best. Pay our taxes and expect them to do what’s right for the entire community. If I sound jaded, I’m not. I’m optimistic because I know what exceptional designers and architects can do. There are some exceptional products out there that speak directly to issues like this. But I also believe that the next level of luxury, that aspirational state that is hard to define but recognized when seen is the feeling of safety and security. I’m really saddened to see my hometown burned, flooded and looted. Protections, safety and security are an issue of self determination. It’s up to each of us, individually to find the level of protection that makes us feel secure. If that is what you’re looking for, look to a designer or architect.

Let’s understand the economics of this. Perhaps city leaders and elected officials want their names on plaques and “credit” for all their good deeds. Or, maybe they want immortality that comes from building big things. There is probably a combination of things. But civic leaders direct city staffs and direct policy that in many cases includes density ratios, zoning and building policy. I was a commissioner for the city of Manhattan Beach for 6 years. The library commission was responsible for overseeing the Manhattan Beach library branch of the County of Los Angeles. During my 6-year stint, we went from a dilapidated, outmoded branch to the completion of a brand new, modern structure that served the people of Manhattan Beach. I saw first hand the inner workings of a city government that wanted big, beautiful things. What municipality doesn’t. I also witnessed city council members fight the budgetary demands up and until the project was completed and then the elbowed each other and everyone else out of the pictures memorializing the opening of the new library.

This is the Build Back Better paradox. You’re not building back better, but it sounds good. Makes a tight headline. It’s certainly clickable. The idea of building back with the same if not greater density is equal to believing you can beat Mother Nature. You can’t. Believing we are going to become a safer society, we won’t. I was on a ride here in Oklahoma last year, with a friend who was raised here. We passed a large plot of land, it had to be at least 15 acres that I could see. A small neighborhood, with dozens and dozens of raised foundations and nothing more. They clearly had been there for a while. I asked what the story was and he explained to me that they built this particular neighborhood back multiple times after tornados repeatedly tore the area apart. They kept building and tornados kept coming. Sound familiar? But they finally stopped building. As will those in Southern California, at some point in the future. Near or far, who is to say?

Don’t build back better. Build back smarter. You cannot change the climate back, this is not something that will happen in our lifetime. We can only adapt to the changing environment and those who can make this transition successfully are the designers, architects, landscape architects, engineers, futurists and visionaries. No amount of tax revenue in the hands of elected officials will make it happen. 

To those who have lost everything, I’m so sorry. To those in office who continue to allow this to happen. Shame on you, you should be voted out of office in favor of creative people with real, quantifiable solutions. And I hope that happens during the next cycle.

By the time you hear this episode, you will have been inundated with stories and reports of lack of leadership, civic mismanagement, relentless self promotion, politicization of the situation specifically by a out-of-state and feckless politicians who have no understanding of the situation but will still call for holding of emergency funding and the like. What you most likely won’t hear are practical solutions. Good, bad, unfeasible. Doesn’t really matter because what’s missing right now are ideas. Because this is the time of year where most in the media are asking design and architecture talent what the big design trends of 2025 are going to be. It’s absolutely asinine and if you think about it, it’s completely pointless. So here are some of my ideas for rebuilding smarter. These are concepts that I have seen in practice and learned through the conversations you hear on Convo By Design. These are being thrown out as thought starters in the hope that as we move forward, we can build back smarter. Not better, not faster, smarter.

  1. Every home within the high fire risk area should have it’s own water supply. Years ago, you heard from architect Anthony Laney of Laney LA. He was telling you about a swimming pool that disappeared when a raised deck was lifted from the bottom of the pool and again submerged to reveal the pool. I believe every home in these areas should have something of this nature capable of providing the homeowner with at least 5,000 gallons of water available in case of emergency.
  2. I think this same personal aquifer should be connected to both a rain collection system as well as grey water collection, further connected to water the landscape. By doing this, it would serve as rainwater collection, grey water repurposing and be available in case of fire emergency. Years ago, you heard a conversation with the USGBC and Grey Water Corps on the idea of a grey water collection system, which is already available was discussed.
  3. If you find yourself in the midwest, you will see storm shelters. Many homes that don’t have basements have them. They save lives. I have immense respect for firefighters and law enforcement. It’s important to realize that they are not there for prevention, they are there to react. It’s unfortunate because many believe that the police are there to protect you, it says so on their vehicles. It’s a misnomer. Police cannot be everywhere. Nor can they read the minds of criminals. We must protect ourselves. A while back, you heard from Saferoom.com. I believe there needs be a return to the concrete basement in residential construction, especially in fire prone areas. Yes, we need to consider earthquakes. That is what engineers are for. Across the U.S. in the 1950’s, in reaction to the ratcheting up cold war, bomb and fallout shelters were built under and around homes. These shelters were concrete and built for around $1,000 or so in 1950’s dollars. Many in Southern California fight against “the basement” and I think that should change. With current material and engineering advancements, building a walkout or full basement could address both security and property damage/ theft in cases of fire emergencies. And, in many cases, basements are NOT counted towards a homes square footage when they are completely below grade. I can imagine a basement to secure valuables and provide security during extreme weather event or home invasion. I would like to see the State of California incorporate tax incentives into basement construction. Instead of building more above ground, build below grade which would provide more open spaces and less density above grade. This space could serve as firebreak against spreading flames.
  4. Leave the past in the past. I have been hearing from some in the industry that they want to return the Palisades and Altadena to their former glory in architectural style and detail. And that they want it done quickly. And that the environmental review process needs to be bypassed. These are really terrible ideas. Yes, we need to build back. And we need to re-home those who have lost everything. But if we got into this situation by cutting corners, bypassing safeguards and overbuilding in areas that are not conducive to this amount of development, what do we think will happen. If past is prologue, it’s going to happen again. Not if, but when. Let’s remove the insanely high cost of permitting, remove the layers of bureaucracy. Pause and review the overly stringent codes associated with Title 24 and get back to reasonable and practical building methods. 
  5. Review zoning guidelines. We have overbuilt these communities because with great wealth comes great influence and politicians and city staffs love to increase the tax base. But when there are no resources to serve the community, it ceases to function. We have reached the breaking point in many cases. Do we really need to build lot line to lot line save for mandatory easements? Does a family of 4 or 5 really need a 10,000 square foot home? Show me where that is a right? Or better yet, show some civic responsibility.
  6. Obscure requirements and zoning. In 2020, the IHO went into effect. The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. This states that in LA County, this requires low-income housing units or affordable housing units be required as a percentage of residential housing  units built. Now before all the NIMBY’s praise this and the bleeding heart decry it, can we be honest about this? You can put low income housing in the Pacific Palisades and the low income residents will not have the financial means to afford patronizing local businesses. That hurts business, it puts the low income residents in an unfortunate situation and it hurts the city’s tax base. Instead, look to infill projects in areas that need it. The CA Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (did you even know that existed) refers to California’s “Infill Development” as “building within unused and underutilized lands within existing development patterns, typically but not exclusively in urban areas. Infill development is critical to accommodating growth and redesigning our cities to be environmentally and socially sustainable.” When you look at burn-scarred Southern California and demolished cities, what is the goal? If the goal is to build back “better” which has no real meaning, only to say that it will be built back even bigger, then you are destined for the same results at some point. Or, you can build back smarter. According to realtor.com , the home’s for sale in Pacific Palisades, CA. range from $290K to $40M. According to ATTOM Data, in Q4 2024, there were 8,960 residential properties in Pacific Palisades, average age was 59 years and the average square footage was 2,977 for a single family residence. There are a number of estimates out there, but USA Today puts the number of homes destroyed in Pacific Palisades at 1,200 with another 200 other structures damaged or destroyed. These 1,200 homes are where real people lived, loved, gathered and where they kept their most cherished belongings. We are talking about this now, and many are going to say it’s too soon. Perhaps, but it’s always too soon, until it’s too late. There will be those who try to come in, scoop up lots and develop big, massive and expensive residential projects. These homes will command big prices and big tax returns for the municipalities and the state. Some will look at combining lots and build back bigger! Others will say there should be a preservation of older styles to match what the city looked like before. I don’t believe you can look back. But you can look forward to building back with purpose, respecting Pacific Palisades and Altadena. 
  7. Thoughtful approach to the future. Some of the easiest ways to approach this now? How about reconfiguration, under grounding of utilities, adding solar installations for residential, commercial and municipal applications? Why not underground fiber while you’re at it? Municipal solar and hydrogen charging stations?  
  8. Community approach to emergent groups. An emergent group is a collective of individuals coming together to address a particular issue. When I was living in Manhattan Beach, California, I was recruited by some of my neighbors to join Neighborhood Watch, later, I became block captain which led to an invitation to join CERT, the Community Emergency Response Team. You have heard the stories of neighbors coming to each others aid in times of disaster or emergency. Traditionally, some communities without an organized police or fire have taken the initiative. But we are living in a more complicated, highly dense community environment and it is time for every community that falls in emergency zones (which is just about everyone) to come together in this type of neighbor to neighbor shared assistance partnership. Most police and fire departments welcome the help and usually, it only takes one person to organize it through the city. Doesn’t even have to be a resident and I believe this is a place for the design community to step up. Design professionals are keenly aware of the local regulations, neighborhood differences and this could be an opportunity to not only increase business, which would be a perk, but to help protect your work and that of other creatives in the process. We will be discussing more about this in the future. 
  9. Manufactured, Fabricated and Modular Stock. This just might be what changes the future of housing. As one might imagine, this manufactured homes got it’s start on wheels, a natural way of adding to new freedoms brought on by the advent of the automobile. Then, kick the wheels off and you have the same mobile coach, but as a stationary dwelling. That led to a period of time when manufactured homes were advancing and addressing housing issues in real time. Just as the tract home created much needed housing units for retiring GI’s after WWII, so did the Manufactured home industry by providing housing in manufactured home communities. Since the very start of the manufactured home industry, this was viewed as affordable and a lower cost of building for those with lower incomes. We have come a long way in construction and manufacturing. Prefabricated vs. stick built, we could probably bring experts in to debate for weeks, but we don’t have the time for that. What we do have are some companies out there prefabricating and assembling on site which is capable of turning traditional construction upside down. Check out a few of these companies: Stillwater Dwellings,  DVELE, Turkel Design. The idea that one could order a prefabricated home, prep the lot and assemble onsite can do a number of things that speak to issues we are trying to address like sustainability, material shortages, out of control costs,  and 
  10. Price of good are going up at a time when the demand for more goods is again on the rise. In 2020-2022, the international and domestic supply chains froze up due to the crush of demand due to the pandemic. From 2022 through 2024 many of the costs came down. But as we enter 2025, the costs are once again on the rise due in part to a number of factors. Brands like Thermador, Bosch and SubZero/ Wolf have already announced price increases between 3 and 8 percent. Other brands are evaluating their price increases as we speak. There are a number of factors to consider as we move cautiously forward. China has been dumping cheap steel which then makes it’s way into U.S. manufacturing and lowers overall manufacturing cost, at the expense of U.S. made steel and others. The Trump administration is cracking down which will increase costs. There is a very real possibility that the immigration crackdown will also affect those who work on and assemble appliances. That will cause cost increase and a lack of individuals to do the work. This will most likely create a shortage of finished appliances. This in turn will create emergency pricing and delays. Tarfiffs aren’t new, you know that. But did you know that the Biden administration bumped Canadian lumber tariffs to 14.5%? An article from freightwaves.com showcased a number of ways tariffs and will continue to affect costs to American purchasers. If this continues as it is likely to do, these costs will continue to rise. This creates a very uncomfortable situation for the design/ build professionals who are going to be tapped with the responsibility of designing and building the homes that not only replace the ones lost in this disaster, but all of the homes not yet destroyed in future disasters. The way we specify, purchase, deliver and install building materials has to change. The supply chain needs to be condensed, organized and strategic. In California, the first Franciscan mission was built in 1796 and a total of 21 were constructed between 1796 and 1833. They were constructed about 30 miles apart for a relatively easy one day journey between each. These outposts needed to be self sufficient. If industry specific supply chains were built in this manner, delivery estimates would be precise, delivery costs would drop, it would be environmentally responsible by cutting the amount of miles product is transported, it could increase local jobs and spur localized product assembly. This is already happening, Amazon has already learned this lesson and you can see these massive fulfillment centers from space. In California alone, there are over 35 current or planned centers for product distribution. This is a longterm objective but one that needs to happen. In the meantime, what would happen if designers were hired sooner, plans approved faster and product could be specified and ordered sooner. What if materials could be staged locally. Ready and waiting for crews to begin work. This would expedite the design build process exponentially, and I predict that it would lower costs significantly. It’s like getting your designer paid for through efficiency offsets.
  11. Front Running Vs. Specify-As-You-Go: If we have learned nothing from the great toilet paper shop
  12. Expect Exceptionalism. I don’t mean this in the way you hear about it constantly used in political rhetoric. I mean it as stated. Seek exceptionalism in the products and services you purchase both those in the trade and clients alike. Designers really should stop this endless fascination with the pursuit of “trend”, celebrity design and whatever the latest “influencer” is peddling on anti-social media. Designers are professionals who specialize in design. Many designers hold degrees in this, all architects do as well. Landscape architects possess an understanding of what goes where and what it should look like over time. Product manufacturers absorb the cost for research and development to produce a product that the market can then choose, or not. But buying things based on number of followers, not the success of your project.

I am so sorry everyone that has been affected by this tragedy. I hope the recovery is seamless and easy. I hope this never happens again. Let’s be thoughtful in the way we build back by looking to the design professionals first, making our elected leaders earn their jobs by thinking of their constituents first, respecting the true value of fire fighters and law enforcement by looking inward to protect our homes smartly. Let’s return to an era of innovation through new materials and design experience. If we can eliminate the waste, greed and mismanagement, this presents an exceptional opportunity to not only regain former glory, but establish the new paradigm for what a well design, well run fully functional city looks like. If we can do that, were in a good place and who doesn’t want that. -CXD

KBIS is Coming and This is Everything You Need to Know | 562 | Brian Pagel, EVP – Emerald

In one week from today, KBIS will be hitting Las Vegas with the force and impact you might expect from the worlds greatest kitchen and bath show. Yes, there are others. And, yes, they are great… But this one is my favorite. And you’re about to find out why.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

I have a personal connection to KBIS, the kitchen and bath industry show. The NKBA does a magnificent job presenting this event each year. For me, this is a homecoming, an opportunity to network with friends, colleagues, past guests and meet future guests, and partners. It’s an important show for the industry because designers, architect, builders, contractors, remodelers, all specifiers really get the opportunity to see what’s new, next and on the horizon. They have the opportunity to hear about ways the most innovative creatives in the industry are using these products in new and unconventional ways. Its a time for innovation and discovery. Surprise and delight in over one million square feet of convention space when combined with the Industry Builders Show.

Today, you are going to hear from Brian Pagel, Executive Vice President at Emerald. He oversees the residential and commercial connections portfolio which means he oversees the production of KBIS, which you will see, is an extraordinary feat that brings together the most influential brands in the world from appliances, lighting surfaces, plumbing… Basically, if it goes in a kitchen or bath, you’ll find it represented at KBIS. You also find some exceptional programming, I’m honored to be a part of that this year on the next Stage as well as the podcast studio. So when you are at the show this year, please do come by and say ‘hello’. You are going to hear all about the show, why you should attend and how to make the most of the experience. Right after this.

Thank you Brian for taking the time to talk, I’m looking forward to catching up with you at the show! 

Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, Monogram and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and rise above the chaos. – CXD