Tag Archives: TimberTech

The Ride Along: Part One | 617 | Rolling Through Conversations, Ideas and Inspiration from CEDIA Expo and CIX 2025

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This week, the Convo By Design studio went mobile inside the VW ID.Buzz at CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo in Denver—bringing you candid conversations with leaders shaping the future of smart homes, design integration, and resilient technology.

From energy resilience to invisible lighting, European design influences to smarter tools, these ride-along interviews capture the pulse of the connected design and integration industry. Join Soundman in the VW ID.Buzz for a road trip packed with insight, innovation, and the people pushing design and technology forward.

CEDIA & CIX Overview

  • CEDIA: The global association for home technology pros—advancing smart home, DenverDenverAV, networking, and integrated systems through education and advocacy.

  • CEDIA Expo: The industry’s largest annual gathering with hundreds of exhibitors, demos, and training sessions.

  • Commercial Integrator Expo (CIX): The companion event focusing on commercial AV, IT, and building automation solutions.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

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

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

Buzz Delano | Delano Associates & Delano News Advance
Delano Associates

  • From hi-fi beginnings to decades of consulting and media leadership.

  • Why designers, integrators, and architects must align earlier.

  • The transformation of lighting into an invisible design tool.

  • AI’s role in personalized home automation.

  • Designing smart homes for resilience against wildfires and disasters.

Eric Nakkila | Selective Design
Selective Design

  • Bridging European manufacturers with North American design markets.

  • The evolution of CI from intercoms to invisible audio and lighting.

  • European influences: smaller spaces, longer product lifecycles.

  • The rise of hybrid products—speaker-lights, invisible speakers.

  • Tariffs, volatility, and what wireless power means for the future.

Joe Piccirilli | RoseWater Energy
RoseWater Energy | CE Pro Masters Profile

  • A 50-year career spanning retail, distribution, and energy resilience.

  • Power quality as the hidden factor behind system failures.

  • RoseWater Hub: surge protection, solar integration, and backup power.

  • Energy systems in safe rooms, healthcare, and aging-in-place design.

  • Why the built environment needs an “engineering mindset.”

Andrei Matei | Robbox Tools
Robbox

  • Reinventing power tools with digital intelligence.

  • The touchscreen drill with depth automation.

  • A digital measuring system that replaces multiple tools.

  • Overcoming resistance from traditional tradespeople.

  • The upcoming X-Trail drill and direct-to-consumer strategy.

Richard Charschan | AcousticSmart Home Theater Interiors
AcousticSmart Home Theater Interiors

  • Building world-class home theaters for over 30 years.

  • Post-pandemic resurgence of family theater spaces.

  • Regional trends: why Dallas thrives and Houston lags.

  • Dispelling the myth of six-figure-only theaters.

  • Acoustics and music as the soul of immersive theater design.

Rushi Kumar | DMF Lighting
DMF Lighting

  • Lighting’s evolution from incandescent to tunable LED.

  • Warm dim, tunable white, and linear lighting as design tools.

  • Balancing simplicity in control with intelligent systems.

  • AI-driven predictive lighting for elder care and routines.

  • Small, versatile fixtures reshaping design opportunities.

Ruslan Polinofsky | DMF Lighting
DMF Lighting

  • Making lighting tech accessible to designers and integrators.

  • Demystifying with clear, plain-language education.

  • PhaseX (DMX over Romex) expanding retrofit options.

  • The rise of lighting demo rooms in showrooms.

  • The payoff of early collaboration on project outcomes.

Recorded live inside the VW ID.Buzz, this episode captures the energy and ideas driving CEDIA Expo / CIX 2025. From resilient energy to invisible lighting, these conversations remind us that design and technology are converging faster than ever—and collaboration is the bridge. Thank you to everyone and CEDIA, CEDIA Expo, CIX, Brand Definition, Julia, Dan, Ray, Irene, and everyone who helped make this an incredible experience. Thank you to VW. I enjoyed the ride and hope you did too! -CXD

Maximalist Visions: Navigating Design, Technology, and Trends Post-Pandemic | 616 | Alex Alonso of Mr. Alex Tate

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Today on the show, Mr. Alex Tate’s, Alex Alonso and I discuss the evolution of interior design, exploring how technology, client expectations, and personal vision shape today’s industry from AI integration to marketing strategies and maximalist design philosophy, this conversation examines how designers adapt to market shifts while staying true to their creative ethos.

I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Alex for a litany of reasons and I’ll share some of them with you, but first, know this… And, you are going to hear it. Alex is an unapologetic Maximalist. And as we begin to discuss it, you will hear him launch in about the idea of clutter and then demonstrate how it’s not what people say something is but what a talented creative can do with an idea. Listen for that because it was a really fun exchange. Here are some of the other ideas you will hear more about in the following conversation.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

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

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

Design Industry Evolution: Discussion on how the past three years reshaped design business approaches, client expectations, and industry trends.

Budgets and Client Chemistry: Emphasis on project fit over budget size and navigating increased transparency due to social media.

AI and Technology: Exploring AI’s role in speeding processes, educating clients, and enhancing personalized design without compromising creativity.

Maintaining Design Vision: Importance of staying true to one’s aesthetic, turning down projects that don’t align, and creating layered, meaningful spaces.

Marketing and Brand Strategy: Leveraging SEO, SEM, PR, and controlled distribution to build visibility while maintaining authenticity.

Publications and Industry Platforms: Critique of celebrity-driven content and the responsibility of publications to support diverse talent.

Trends vs. Thoughtful Design: Conversation on biophilic design in bathrooms and balancing trend adoption with thoughtful creativity.

Maximalist Philosophy and Brand Extensions: Exploring potential ventures like curated retail spaces or historical renovation studios, all aligned with layered, maximalist design principles.

Ultimately, designers must balance business strategy with creative integrity, embrace technology judiciously, prioritize client alignment, and maintain a clear, authentic brand message. Loved this and I think you will too. It’s coming right up, after this.

Thank you, Alex for this Maximalist conversation. Loved it and appreciate the time. Thank you for listening. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or colleague who loves design and architecture like you do, subscribe to Convo By Design wherever you get your podcasts. And continue the conversation on Instagram @convo x design with an “x”. Keep those emails coming with guest suggestions, show ideas and locations where you’d like to see the show. Convo by design at outlook.com.

Thank you to my partner sponsors, TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, LOME-AI and Design Hardware for supporting the publication of over 650 episodes and over 3,000,000 streams and downloads. These companies support the shelter industry so give them an opportunity on your next project. Thanks again for listening. Until next time, be well, stay focused and rise about the chaos. -CXD

Commune & Remains Lighting: Craft, Collaboration, and the Philosophy of Design | 615 | A Double Episode for Twice the Inspiration on Convo By Design

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This special two-part episode features Roman Alonso of Commune and David Calligeros of Remains Lighting in two distinct conversations exploring origins, philosophy, and the meaning of design partnerships.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

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

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

From salvaging antiques to designing timeless interiors, David and Roman share stories of growth, collaboration, and craft. What began as a single interview turned into a richer double feature—a master class in design values, sustainability, and the essential philosophies behind two influential studios.

Part One: David Calligeros, Remains Lighting

  • Origins and Influences: From antiques and architectural salvage to a design career shaped by an arts-influenced mother and an engineer father.
  • The Birth of Remains: Starting in Manhattan in 1995, evolving from antiques into lighting design.
  • Engineering Meets Art: Marrying technical precision with artistic intuition.
  • Custom Work & Collaborations: Partnering with Commune, Robert A.M. Stern, Matthew Fisher, and others.
  • IP, Dupes & Authenticity: Protecting design through integrity, storytelling, and craftsmanship.
  • Sustainability & Craft: LEED Gold Brooklyn factory, solar array, stormwater recycling, and green production practices.
  • Business & Market Challenges: Navigating the 2008 crash, tariffs, and the value of US-based manufacturing.
  • Philosophy: Design as a question-driven, ethical practice rooted in long-term value and collaboration.

Link: Remains Lighting

Part Two: Roman Alonso, Commune

  • Origins and Career Path: From Caracas to Miami, Boston, New York, and LA; a career spanning publishing, fashion, and interiors.
  • Formation of Commune Studio (2003): Built around collaboration, essentialism, and quality.
  • Studio Philosophy: Purposeful, small by design, focused on meaningful work and enduring value.
  • Influences: Latin American upbringing, Isaac Mizrahi, Lisa Eisner, and lessons from fashion and editorial worlds.
  • Product Development: Solving real design problems, prototyping in-house before release.
  • Collaboration: Strategic partnerships (including Remains Lighting) to ensure usability and quality.
  • Personal Philosophy: Stoicism, fairness, ethical production, and acknowledging imposter syndrome.
  • Evolution of the Firm: Scaling deliberately—growing reach through products and partnerships while keeping the studio intimate.
  • Quotes:
    • “Good design shouldn’t be a privilege—it’s a right.”
    • “Design is about editing, listening, and creating solutions that people might not even know they need.”

This episode illustrates how partnerships in design aren’t just about collaboration—they’re about shared values, craft, and philosophy. By hearing these conversations separately, you’ll gain insights into two distinct but complementary approaches to design, sustainability, and creativity.

So much to take in. This was a master class on how to structure, nurture and grow design partnerships. Make sure you check the show notes for links and notes about all of the topics covered. Thank you, David and Roman for doing this and being so willing to share your thoughts, ideas and practice. Thank you for listening. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or colleague who loves design and architecture like you do, subscribe to Convo By Design wherever you get your podcasts. And continue the conversation on Instagram @convo x design with an “x”. Keep those emails coming with guest suggestions, show ideas and locations where you’d like to see the show. Convo by design at outlook.com.

Thank you to my partner sponsors, TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, LOME-AI and Design Hardware for supporting the publication of over 650 episodes and over 3,000,000 streams, downloads and making Convo By Design the longest running podcast of its kind.  These companies support the shelter industry so give them an opportunity on your next project. Thanks again for listening. Until next time, be well, stay focused and rise about the chaos. -CXD

Architectural Roots, Jewelry Details, and Lighting Innovation | 614 | Scott Richler of Gabriel Scott and the Triforium on Convo By Design

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When I spoke with Scott Richler, co-founder of Gabriel Scott, I quickly realized his design journey wasn’t linear but layered. With a background in architecture, jewelry and fashion Scott brings that same sense of structure and detail into furniture and lighting design. He explained how the precision of jewelry—where every small move influences the whole—mirrors his architectural training, allowing him to think critically on both macro and micro scales.

Lighting was a major theme. Scott and I discussed how LED technology has completely shifted design possibilities, freeing designers from the limitations of older systems. No longer about blasting a room with light, the new approach is about using illumination strategically—whether it’s enhancing a hospitality experience or subtly shaping a residential atmosphere.

We also tackled the often-overused labels in design—“modern,” “traditional,” and everything in between. Scott pushed back on the idea of rigid categories, noting that Gabriel Scott’s pieces live comfortably in both sleek penthouses and classic homes. The goal, he said, is timeless versatility, not chasing a label.

Scott also opened up about his creative process. His team of artisans develops intricate parts that are refined enough to feel bespoke but adaptable enough to be assembled by everyday people—a kind of design language built for universal assembly. It’s jewelry thinking applied to lighting and furniture.

Of course, no conversation about product design is complete without addressing knockoffs. Scott acknowledged the frustration of seeing his work duplicated but emphasized the importance of strong contracts, local representation, and participating in trade shows like Milan Design Week to establish authenticity.

We wrapped up talking the Triforium project in Los Angeles, reflecting on how lighting has evolved from mechanical systems in the 1970s to today’s AI-driven adaptability. For Scott, it’s less about chasing technology for its own sake, and more about how design—whether jewelry, furniture, or lighting—creates lasting experiences. 

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

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

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

And that is where I lost the connection with Scott. He was in Ibiza. And the WI-FI dropped, so I thought it would be fun to conclude this conversation with a brief chat with the founders of the Triforium Project.

YACHT, Experimental Pop, and Reimagining the Triforium

The Los Angeles-based band YACHT (Young Americans Challenging High Technology) has built its reputation on pushing the boundaries of music, technology, and performance art. Founded by Jona Bechtolt and later joined by Claire L. Evans, YACHT blends electronic pop, punk energy, and conceptual art into a body of work that often doubles as cultural critique. With albums like See Mystery Lights and Chain Tripping—the latter created with the help of AI-generated lyrics and sounds—the band has consistently explored the edges of where music meets innovation.

One of their most intriguing projects is their involvement with the Triforium, a massive 1970s public art installation in downtown Los Angeles. Originally envisioned as a “polyphonoptic” sculpture, the Triforium contains 1,494 glass prisms designed to light up in sync with computer-generated music. Despite its futuristic ambitions, technical limitations of the era kept the piece from reaching its full potential, and it was largely dismissed as a failed experiment in civic art.

Enter YACHT. Alongside a group of artists and technologists, the band helped spearhead efforts to restore and reinterpret the Triforium for a new generation. They worked on updating its outdated systems with modern technology, enabling the sculpture to finally achieve its original goal of synchronizing light and sound in real time. For YACHT, the Triforium became more than a restoration project—it was a living metaphor for their own artistic ethos: finding new meaning in old technology, and using experimentation to transform limitations into possibilities.

The project reflects YACHT’s broader philosophy: music isn’t just something to listen to, but an evolving experience shaped by design, technology, and cultural context. Just as the Triforium has been reimagined for today, YACHT continues to show how creative vision can turn the discarded or overlooked into something vibrant, communal, and new. Be right back

Breathing New Life Into LA’s Triforium

In the heart of downtown Los Angeles stands a curious six-story structure that has puzzled, frustrated, and fascinated Angelenos for decades. It’s called the Triforium, a 60-ton public artwork created by artist Joseph Young in 1975. Designed as a “polyphonic musical instrument,” the piece features nearly 1,500 colorful glass prisms synced to a 79-note carillon. At its debut, it was billed as the future of civic art—an interactive sculpture that would respond to music and even the movement of passersby.

But the reality never quite lived up to the promise. Plagued by cost overruns, balky 1970s technology, and a skeptical public, the Triforium quickly earned nicknames like “Three Wishbones in Search of a Turkey.” The interactivity never fully materialized, the lights often failed, and what was supposed to be a beacon of futuristic optimism was mostly ignored.

Fast-forward a few decades, and the Triforium has found unexpected champions. A grassroots team—Tom Carroll, along with Claire Evans and Jona Bechtolt from the band YACHT—launched the Triforium Project to restore the work to its original vision. What began as a curiosity sparked by Carroll’s 2014 short documentary turned into a mission. With fundraising, public events, and a $100,000 LA2050 grant, the group has started planning a full restoration.

The updates won’t erase its quirky history but build on it—replacing bulbs with LEDs, updating the computer system, and even developing a smartphone app so visitors can program their own light and sound sequences.

For the project’s leaders, the Triforium isn’t just a relic. It’s an instrument, once played alongside the likes of Stevie Wonder and John Cage, waiting for a new audience. Reviving it isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about giving Los Angeles back a piece of its artistic imagination. You can’t learn more at triforium.la because that domain is now for sale. So, it’s probably safe to say it’s languishing again, but it’s still there so go check it out

Thank you, Scott. Ibiza sounds nice. Thank you Triforium Project for the refresher. Thank you for listening. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or colleague who loves design and architecture like you do, subscribe to Convo By Design wherever you get your podcasts. And continue the conversation on Instagram @convo x design with an “x”. Keep those emails coming with guest suggestions, show ideas and locations where you’d like to see the show. Convo by design at outlook.com.

Thank you to my partner sponsors, TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, LOME-AI and Design Hardware for supporting the publication of over 650 episodes and over 3,000,000 streams, downloads and making Convo By Design the longest running podcast of its kind. These companies support the shelter industry so give them an opportunity on your next project. Thanks again for listening. Until next time, be well, stay focused and rise about the chaos. -CXD

Florida Design, Resilience, and the Future of Luxury Interiors | 613 | Renée Gaddis Renee Gaddis Interiors on Convo By Design

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In a wide-ranging conversation, I sat down with Renée Gaddis, founder of Renée Gaddis Interiors, to explore Florida’s distinct design influences, the evolving role of designers in storm-prone regions, and the business of luxury interiors in uncertain times. Speaking from Naples, Florida, Gaddis compared her region’s design sensibilities to other parts of the state, noting a blend of Midwestern, European, and Southern traditions. While many of her clients lean toward transitional or traditional styles, she observed that Miami remains more open to modern aesthetics.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

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

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

The discussion turned to real estate trends fueled by the pandemic, which brought an influx of new homeowners to Florida. Gaddis shared how this surge, combined with a major hurricane, reshaped her approach to client selection and project scope. She emphasized her boutique model, strong referral base, and commitment to seamlessly integrating interiors with exteriors to embrace Florida’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

On the financial side, she addressed rising costs and tariffs that have altered project budgets, leading to value engineering and sourcing U.S.-made products. Gaddis also reflected on the importance of partnerships with trades and vendors, especially during supply chain volatility, while advocating for transparent communication to maintain trust.

The conversation also touched on resilient building practices in storm-prone regions. Gaddis highlighted lessons learned from past hurricanes, from identifying flawed hurricane-rated windows to designing with better drainage, elevated platforms, and even safe rooms. Her insights underscored the need for long-term sustainability in luxury projects.

Beyond design, Gaddis shared her family’s advocacy journey with the American Heart Association, inspired by her daughter’s early diagnosis and treatment. This personal commitment, alongside her professional expertise, reflects her philosophy that resilience—whether in design or life—is built through experience, adaptability, and care. And you are going to hear the whole story, right after this.

Thank you, Renee. Amazing. Loved our chat and appreciate the time. Thank you for listening. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or colleague who loves design and architecture like you do, subscribe to Convo By Design wherever you get your podcasts. And continue the conversation on Instagram @convo x design with an “x”. Keep those emails coming with guest suggestions, show ideas and locations where you’d like to see the show. Convo by design at outlook.com.

Thank you to my partner sponsors, TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, LOME-AI and Design Hardware for supporting the publication of over 650 episodes and over 3,000,000 streams, downloads and making Convo By Design the longest running podcast of its kind. These companies support the shelter industry so give them an opportunity on your next project. Thanks again for listening. Until next time, be well, stay focused and rise about the chaos. -CXD

Order and Courage Amid Chaos. The Will to Style Meaningful Interiors | 604 | Barrie Spang, Sapphire Pear

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As hard as it is for me to believe, it’s August. It’s hard for me to believe it’s August because it just felt like it was January. I was feeling a little tense about a number of things on the horizon at that time. Thank goodness none of the feared chaos materialized. (6SS)

Okay, perhaps a little… Perhaps a lot. It might surprise you to know that it wasn’t Kelly Clarkson who came up with that concept. It was German philosopher, Fredrich Nietzsche. It can be found in his book, from 1888 called Twilight of the Idols. It’s an expanded philosophical approach to post-traumatic growth. This year has been the most stressful since the 2020-2022 Pandemic Era. If you recall, those challenges made our industry stronger, made us stronger. It’s a challenge to talk about life and death in the context of design. But it’s not a stretch at all to discuss these concepts while framing the quality of life and design.

Today, you are going to hear from Barrie Sprang of Sapphire Pear. 

Barrie shared her background in design, influenced by her grandmother’s interest in design school and her father’s work in high-end real estate in Cleveland. She expressed her lifelong passion for using color and bold textures in design, citing personal experiences with how colors can impact emotions and spaces. Josh praised her work for its use of color and texture but expressed a critique about her sometimes conservative approach, particularly given her background in the traditionally traditional Midwest. 

Barrie and I discuss the challenges of balancing client preferences with personal design philosophy, particularly regarding color choices. Barrie explained how her firm was built around bold, colorful designs, though she still accommodates clients who prefer neutral tones by incorporating subtle pops of color. They explored the impact of design trends, including the “Color of the Year” phenomenon, with Barrie noting that while it can inspire, it often leads to over-saturation in the market and potentially regrettable choices for clients.

We talk about the influence of coastal trends on Midwest culture, particularly in Ohio, where different cities like Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland have distinct styles. Barrie explained that post-pandemic, there has been an influx of people moving to Ohio from coastal cities, attracted by its affordable cost of living, lack of natural disasters, and the ability to work remotely. This migration has positively impacted Barrie’s business, allowing for more creative and custom design work at a lower cost due to lower labor and trade costs, as well as access to skilled Amish carpenters.

How the decline of traditional design centers, noting that the Cleveland Design Center has largely closed, and they now travel to Chicago for client meetings means to those affected. That the model has become less effective due to several factors, including the opening of design centers to the public, which made pricing confusing and diminished the special experience for designers and clients. They also observed that the proliferation of design houses and the ease of finding products online has watered down the quality of design experiences previously offered by these centers.

And how the challenges in the furniture industry, particularly regarding pricing, availability, and logistics are changing the way designers specify. How the pandemic and tariffs have affected supply chains, leading to long lead times and unexpected issues. Barrie emphasized the importance of maintaining strong relationships with manufacturers and showrooms to navigate these challenges. They also touched on the logistics of furniture production and distribution, noting the inefficiencies of the current point-to-point system in the U.S. and the potential benefits of a regional approach for some designers.

Barrie discussed several design projects, focusing on a colorful maximalist bedroom, a multi-color kitchen in Shaker Heights, and a whimsical bathroom in Rocky River. Barrie explained the design process and client preferences for each project, highlighting the use of custom elements and color palettes. Make sure to go to the show notes and click the link to see her work as she explains it.

I think these conversations can accomplish a few things that include; allowing you to hear how other creatives are experiencing the same thing you are and how they chose to address these issues. And you are going to hear all about it, right after this.

That was Barrie Sprang of Sapphire Pear. A magnificent kitchen designed for a thruple. That is a first on the show and I love that.  Thank you, Barrie. Loved our chat. Since I opened with Nietzsche, I’ll close with a quote of his.

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”

While widely credited to Nietzsche, there is no evidence he actually said it. But there was no internet in the 1800’s, so I choose to believe he said it. And just how important this idea is. Being true to the ideals, morals and vision that drive you as a creative will always be challenge to maintain. As the philosophical force known a Steelers Wheel once pondered, “Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you. Don’t let the clowns and jokers define you or your work. It’s easier said than done. I know.

Thank you for listening. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend who loves design, subscribe to Convo By Design wherever you get your podcasts. And continue the conversation on Instagram @convo x design with an “x”. Keep those emails coming with guest suggestions, show ideas and locations where you’d like to see the show.

Thank you to my partner sponsors, TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy and Design Hardware. These companies support the shelter industry so give them an opportunity on your next project. Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay focused and rise about the chaos. -CXD

Advancing Fire Resilience in Residential Design: Integrating Materials, Landscape, and Policy for Sustainable Safety | 599 | Live From Golden State Lumber. Concord, CA.

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This episode of Convo By Design is scheduled for the week of July 8th, 2025. Intentionally so we can begin thinking about what’s coming. It’s hard to forget trauma, like what we saw in Pacific Palisades and Altadena earlier this year. But not impossible. Traditionally, “fire season” in California begins in August and ends around the end of October. Over the decades, there has been a creep into July, then June on the front end and then into November and December on the back end. Sadly, now, there is no longer a fire season, only an ongoing threat. Part of a recent California tour that started in the Bay Area and ended in Pasadena, I got an earful, and, because the mics are always on, so will you.  In this special episode, you’re going to hear an extraordinary panel conversation in its entirety—one that explores the very real and immediate design challenges and opportunities facing architects, builders, designers, and manufacturers when creating residential projects in fire-prone areas. This conversation was recorded live and it’s one of the most practical, informative, and emotionally resonant discussions we’ve had about fire-resilient design. This was recorded live from Golden State Lumber in Concord, CA. It features amazing professionals from design, landscape design and architecture. We have industry insiders and those on the front lines, literally.

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;

Caroline Nassif | Studio Ovo

Mary Ann Schicketanz | Studio Schicketanz

Ian Cox | Devlin McNally Construction

Amy Wolff | Ceara Studio

John Davis | John Davis Architect

Robby Myer | Golden State Lumber

Jay Williams | The AZEK Company

Dustin Moore | Strata Landscape Architecture

This episode features the full conversation in four parts and here are some important ideas to listen for:

Setting the Context—Urgency, Evolution, and Mindset Shifts

We open with a candid discussion about the evolving nature of wildfire—how modern firestorms are not the slow-moving ground fires of the past, but fast, intense, and unpredictable events that demand a complete rethinking of how homes are sited, designed, and built.

  • Listen for how the professionals on the panel are redefining “resilience”, not as a post-disaster reaction, but as a forward-thinking design responsibility.
  • There’s discussion about the emotional component—how clients are now asking for homes that not only reflect their aesthetic desires but also protect their families and investment.
  • You’ll hear the beginnings of a common theme: that collaboration across disciplines—architecture, landscape, materials, policy—is essential to progress.

Materials, Methods, and Design Strategy

This section dives into the specific building systems and material choices that can help defend a home against wildfire.

  • Pay close attention to the comparisons between wood vs. non-combustible materials, and the increasing use of metal roofs, cementitious siding, and Class A-rated assemblies.
  • There are valuable insights into decking, fencing, vents, and eaves—often overlooked but critical components in fire resistance.
  • The discussion touches on building codes and certifications, and how understanding these nuances can inform smarter material selection and design detailing.

Design Solutions in Action

This is where we get into real-world case studies. Panelists share examples of how they’ve adapted fire-resilient strategies in current projects and how clients are responding to new realities.

  • Listen for examples of reimagining exterior spaces—gravel moats, Mediterranean-inspired gardens, and drought-tolerant landscapes that are also fire-resistant.
  • There’s a growing theme of creative compromise—how to design beautiful homes that meet code, earn insurance, and still feel like home.
  • One of the strongest takeaways here is the growing influence of insurance companies as drivers of design decisions, often dictating what is and isn’t possible based on risk models.

Systems, Bureaucracy, and the Bigger Picture

The final section broadens the lens to policy, forest management, and societal responsibility.

  • You’ll hear passionate commentary on how municipal red tape and lack of funding are holding back fuel reduction and prevention efforts on public lands.
  • There’s a sharp critique of the conflicting policies surrounding water conservation versus the need to irrigate plants to keep them from becoming fire hazards.
  • Perhaps most striking is the discussion about emotional decision-making in real estate—how people choose to build in beautiful, risky places and the evolving responsibility of design professionals to help guide those decisions.
  • The panel ends with a moment of humor and honesty, reflecting on the risks of living in various climate zones, whether it’s fire, flood, tornado, or drought—and the universality of risk in a changing climate.

What you’re about to hear is the full conversation—raw, honest, and highly informative. It captures the crossroads where climate, design, policy, and personal responsibility meet. Whether you’re a designer, builder, municipal official, or homeowner, this discussion offers real, actionable insights into how we build safer, smarter, and more beautiful homes for a rapidly changing world.

That was the full conversation on designing and building for fire resilience—an important and timely topic that continues to evolve as our climate, policies, and expectations shift. Thank you to this amazing group; Mary Ann, Amy, Caroline, Jay, Ian, Robby, John and Dustin. I want to thank my partner sponsors who help make this show possible: Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, a Best Buy Company, TimberTech, The AZEK Company 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.

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.

Today, we learned:

  • How climate change and wildfire risk are reshaping architecture and landscape design;
  • What role new materials and building products play in safeguarding homes;
  • How to design beautiful, fire-conscious landscapes that meet strict new codes;
  • The ways insurance, regulations, and policy gaps are changing the game;
  • And why client education and holistic collaboration across disciplines is more important than ever.

Huge thanks, as always, to you for joining the conversation and to our sponsors for supporting these meaningful stories.

If you found this episode valuable, share it with a colleague and subscribe to make sure you don’t miss what’s next. We’ll continue bringing you the people, ideas, and innovations pushing the design world forward.

Until next time, stay curious, resilient, focused and rise above the chaos. – CXD

A Study of Architecture. The Roles of Form and Function in Large and Complex Structures | 589 | CO Architects

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We have come to a tipping point in the business of design. The point of no return. There has been a debate about form following function since architect Louis Sullivan coined the term. A protege named Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “Form follows function, that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.” This will most likely not go over well with the most ardent FLW supporters and fans, but I believe Wright misunderstood this as well. Sullivan suggested that form following function meant the design should speak to the intended purpose of a structure and not simply be reflective of historical design, ornamentation or precedents. I won’t speak for anyone but myself when I say that I have toured a number of Wright’s works and I don’t agree with his take on form following function. This will and should be debated, but not today. Today, we are going to focus on how form must follow function, or the project won’t perform.

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 Parini Mehta, AIA LEED AP, Tanner Clapham, AIA and Michael Stebbins, AIA from CO Architects. CO Architects, a firm dedicated to perpetual innovation and continual improvement through collaboration. This is a firm dedicated to creating lasting impact through design and the following conversation is evidence of that. This conversation is about the collaborative nature of an architecture firm that allows their architects to work on different types of projects and share their typology specialty while learning new ones in real time. We are discussing; education architecture, healthcare, medical facilities, laboratory architecture, research and exploring the idea of future-proofing structures from affects of both seen and unseen factors. I’m so appreciative for this opportunity to explore these ides with the incredible creatives. Since 2017, Convo By Design has been featuring peer-to-peer conversations from showrooms across the country. This one was recorded live from Design Hardware in Los Angeles. 

There has always been a deep divide between residential and commercial architecture. While I won’t rant about it today. Since the days of Julia Allison focused on the rise to celebrity through internet fame, we as a society have been discussing design and architecture through social value, not performative value. When you see your favorite design publication of website feature the latest celebrity home, you fill find that not much attention, if any has been focused on the performative value of the space. Much of what we see is about materiality, aesthetic, brands and it’s usually focused on a celebrity. And that’s fine. Design porn is not new, but it also doesn’t do much for moving the conversation forward. What conversation? How do top tier architects and the firms that employ them focus on commercial design, and create form that follows function in an environment where the function not only matters, but is critical to the success of the project? That is the conversation we should be having. And we are. You are going to hear it, right after this.

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

Thank you Parini, Michael and Tanner for taking the time to visit. Thank you to all of the professionals at CO Architects for your skill and willingness to share. 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

The Winds of Change Are Blowing In A New Era of Design Thought Leadership | 587 | Steph Schlegelmilch of Studio Seva

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Things are changing. Can you feel it? I can. The mood in the design, architecture, built space is changing in response to external factors. Those external factors are being felt in numerous ways. I’ll give you an example and we don’t about this much, not nearly enough. Hardening of the enclosure in architecture is leading to new ways architects are approaching the exterior envelope of projects to address the threats brought on by climate change. Remember ‘global warming’? That was a misnomer, it’s climate change. Design has and in large part is still focused on aesthetic, but that too is changing. Are you changing with it?

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

Change is hard. All change is hard. But without change, there is no evolution. Without evolving, we do the same things over and over regardless of the outcome. I have changed, Convo By Design has changed. Seemingly everyone has a podcast now, and it feels like every editorial headline is ‘something’ by design. 12 years ago, neither was that way. I see how my own editorial approach has changed, these conversations we share each week have changed and the industry is changing as well. Not by choice, but because, as the quote from Moneyball goes, “Adapt or die”. Today, you are going to listen in on my conversation with Steph Schlegelmilch, founder and chief creative director of Studio Seva. This Westport, Connecticut based creative blends a holistic approach with technical application. Steph shares her thoughts on a number of ideas affecting the business of design today, and these ideas are not going away any time soon. They include; 

  • An appreciation of and learning form failure
  • Experience and collaboration
  • Exploration of style, techniques and materials
  • Styling and photography
  • Trend translation , modification and the edit process
  • Home styling challenges
  • Lighting design
  • Partnerships

All of these ideas should be taught in a formal design education. Sadly, they are not. But you can find them explored here. So, enjoy this episode with Studio Seva’s Steph Schlegelmilch.

Thank you, Steph. 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

The High Points, Everything You Need to Be Ready for the Spring High Point Market | 582 | Victoria Holly

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If you are listening to this episode the week it’s published, that would be the week of April 22nd, and you are planning on attending the Spring High Point Market, lucky you… You are going to hear from Victoria Holly, founder of her eponymous firm and one of this years Style Spotters at High Point Market, the Spring 2025 edition. What does it mean to spot style, differentiate emerging style from trend and further differentiate trend from trendy? Trendy, ugh.

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

Something can be trending and have lasting impact on design, but that separation of lasting impact vs ephemeral interest has been dogging the industry for quite some time. Victoria and I talk about this in detail as well as how she prepares for a show like High Point Market and what conversations she will be having as it relates to supply chain, pricing, tariffs and potential brand partnerships. The following is a master class on event prep. A conversations that was a joy to participate in and that I am incredibly proud to share with you in the hopes that you can prep if your going this time or perhaps in the fall. This conversation is absolutely jammed with actionable ideas for design talent at every level because Victoria knows her industry well. It is clear that she has studied her craft and knows how she wants that knowledge and insight to serve her. An idea that we don’t talk about nearly enough. But we do today and you will hear it all in the next hour.

Thank you Victoria, loved 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