The Chairish Podcast

On this episode of The Chairish Podcast, Chairish Co-Founder and President Anna Brockway sits down with the talented and beloved Rita Konig—London and Palm Beach-based interior designer, journalist, and educator—for a one-on-one conversation you won’t want to miss. From Notting Hill to New York to LA’s ultra-exclusive San Vicente Bungalows, Rita shares her approach to space planning, layering, and cultivating interiors that feel rich, warm, and wonderfully lived-in. A regular on AD100 and ELLE Decor’s A-List, Rita is as charming as her interiors. Hear her design secrets, her thoughts on what truly makes a room work—and why sometimes the best floor plan is the one that breaks the rules. This is a must-listen for design lovers everywhere! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From childhood dreams inspired by a transformative day in Manhattan to co-founding Chairish, Anna Brockway’s love for New York City has come full circle in a stunning apartment overlooking Central Park. Today, we explore her collaboration with interior designer Elizabeth Cooper, transforming a postwar Rosario Candela building into a vibrant, deeply personal sanctuary. Guest host and Veranda Editor in Chief, Steele Marcoux, sits down with Anna and Elizabeth to discuss the project—featured in Veranda's latest issue—and how they decorated her NYC home (almost) entirely with Chairish finds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holiday décor should bring the joy of the season to life—but for many designers this time of year can inspire as much dread as delight. Are you expected to deck the homes of clients for the holidays because you designed their space? How do you manage expectations? Is there any way to make the season profitable and not a drag on your resources? Two interior designers—Charlotte Barnes and Lindsay Anyon Brier—and floral designer Denise Porcaro Tupper weigh in on how to navigate the pitfalls of holiday décor and entertaining, how to make the season profitable for your firm, and whether you should even try to expand beyond the expected red and green, holly and mistletoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do designers go out on their own? What drives them to leave a secure job and take the risk? Is launching a firm fueled by courage, ambition, or something else entirely? And, more importantly, are the rewards worth the challenges? Three designers—Tara McCauley, Michael Capuano, and Claire Ratliff of Henry Street Design—share their experiences in leaving prestigious firms, discuss their motivations, tell how they secured their first clients, and reveal the biggest hurdles they've encountered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even those who love homes with history, character, and patina agree that making old buildings work for modern living isn't always easy. No one wants to live in a museum, but how do you adapt the past to the modern world? Can an 18th -century palazzo, a 1920s apartment, or a 1950s glass house be made to answer the desire for expansive kitchens and baths, air-conditioning, and powerful Wi-Fi in every room? Interior designer and château owner Timothy Corrigan and Robert O’Byrne, the Irish Aesthete, weigh in on the rewards of renovation, how clever thinking and innovative approaches can maintain and enhance the beauty of the past, why old structures can be a relative bargain, and why patience is a crucial element in any renovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When home and apartment sales slow, the design world feels the effects. High mortgage rates, a lack of inventory, and the sky-rocketing costs of homes and apartments have all had a devastating effect. But with the Federal Reserve seeming to indicate a lowering of rates soon, is all that about to change? Will that unleash a flood of buyers? Or will prices continue to rise and the nation’s housing shortage only worsen? Three real estate experts—Leslie Singer in New York City, Rochelle Atlas Maize of Los Angeles, and Amanda Pendleton of Zillow—weigh in on local and national markets, what they see ahead, and the amenities that luxury buyers are searching for now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the moribund real estate market prompting a slowdown in residential work, many designers are thinking about hospitality. But is expanding into hospitality or retail really a viable option? Are special skills required? What are the trends in hospitality design? And even more importantly, what are the pitfalls? Three top talents—Roger Thomas, Poonam Khanna, and Chad Dorsey—share their experiences in crafting restaurants, hotels, and retail spaces, reveal lessons they’re learned, and discuss how hospitality design differs from creating homes, but why it can be just as rewarding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a designer get their work seen and attract new clients? The power of print media has declined while, thanks to social media, every designer can easily put their work out into the world. But how do you stand out amid the daily flood of content? Is there still a role for public relations? Three PR and marketing pros—Sarah Burningham, Roxanne Hanna, and Sarah Boyd—discuss how they navigate the on-going upheavals in the worlds of online and print media, what it takes to successfully guide their clients in everything from creating web sites and Tik-Tok videos to launching major designer books, and why their roles are likely to become only more important. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Douglas Friedman is one of today’s most successful photographers of interiors and is a style setter in his own right, with a huge following on social media. His work has appeared in virtually every major shelter magazine, and he is also known for his fashion photography and portraiture. Douglas has an extensive knowledge of design history, has worked with virtually every top decorator and stylist, and is almost as well known for his wit and charm as for his talent. In this exclusive one-on-one interview, Douglas talks about his career, how the role of the photographer has been amplified by social media, and some of the lessons he’s learned working with today’s top design talents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Technology has invaded every aspect of the home. Now even our refrigerators and doorbells are smart. But do we really need wi-fi enabled musical showerheads? How do you keep your clients’ homes up to date without succumbing to short-lived fads? What tech is essential—and what’s soon to be antiquated? Designers Beth Dotolo and Cynthia Ferguson and architect Charles Hilton weigh in on what tech is essential, what they steer clear of, why geo-thermal construction and electric car chargers are here to stay, and why smart gyms and golf simulators may be the next hot accessories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Design industry events and trade fairs are back—but are they still important? With designers busier than ever, should they allot the time and the money to go? What makes an event something you need to attend in person? Is it still crucial to search for newness and trends? Will the networking opportunities really benefit your business? High Point Market president Tammy Covington Nagem, LCDQ executive director Tamar Mashigian, and interior designer Denise McGaha discuss the importance of design trade gatherings, how and why they remain relevant, and how designers can get the most out of attending. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After all the meetings, consultations, and brainstorming sessions with clients, how do you convey that the plans and concepts you come up with will meet their needs and fulfill their dreams? How do you dazzle them so that they get inspired and excited—and write the checks necessary for the project to move ahead? Client presentations are crucial. Three highly successful practitioners of architecture and design—Michael G. Imber, Nina Farmer, and Gideon Mendelson—reveal how they use everything from watercolor images, detailed renderings, mood boards, software programs, and samples to illustrate their visions, what they learn throughout the process, and why each presentation needs to be as client-specific as the project itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Palm Beach is undergoing a style renaissance, attracting new generations of bon vivants and design lovers. Nothing exemplifies this better than the resurgence of the Colony Hotel, which for generations served as a favorite getaway for royalty, movie stars, politicians, and wealthy tycoons. Under its new owners, the Colony, also known as the Pink Paradise, has turned to style setters Celerie Kemble, Aerin Lauder, Mark D. Sikes, and now Chairish, to create fresh takes on traditional Palm Beach style. To celebrate the launch of the Chairish Villa, Colony Hotel owner Sarah Wetenhall joins local designer Meg Braff, Isabel Elliman of Schumacher Hospitality, and Anna Brockway of Chairish to talk about the town’s new vitality, the latest direction in hospitality design, and why Chairish, Palm Beach, and the Colony are such ideal partners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of New York City’s most fashionable women—and one its most influential—Linda Fargo is a style setter, a fashion force, and a master of high-end retailing. As Senior Vice President of Fashion and Store Presentation Director at the legendary Bergdorf Goodman, she shapes the look and feel of one of the city’s most iconic destinations. She sets trends, nurtures careers, and inspires all of us to dream. As Bergdorf unveils the second iteration of the Chairish Art Gallery, she talks about her legendary career, why her eye has always been her most powerful tool, what’s ahead for retailing, how she scopes out new talent, and why Chairish and Bergdorf Goodman are such ideal collaborators. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of New York City’s most fashionable women—and one its most influential—Linda Fargo is a style setter, a fashion force, and a master of high-end retailing. As Senior Vice President of Fashion and Store Presentation Director at the legendary Bergdorf Goodman, she shapes the look and feel of one of the city’s most iconic destinations. She sets trends, nurtures careers, and inspires all of us to dream. As Bergdorf unveils the second iteration of the Chairish Art Gallery, she talks about her legendary career, why her eye has always been her most powerful tool, what’s ahead for retailing, how she scopes out new talent, and why Chairish and Bergdorf Goodman are such ideal collaborators. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every New Year brings a focus on what’s next, what trends are on the rise, and what we hope to banish once and for all. With the housing market in the doldrums, inflation still a factor, and technology making advances every day, changes are sure to encompass a lot more than colors and styles. Three designers from across the country—Katie McCaffrey, Benjamin Johnston, and Danielle Colding—weigh in what’s inspiring them now, how they see their businesses adapting in the year ahead, what technology they plan to adopt, and why they remain excited about 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate the 100th episode of the Chairish podcast, we reached out to four women who founded enterprises that have succeeded for a full decade. At a time when most new businesses fail, these women launched companies in highly competitive fields—fashion, beauty, interior design, and online sales—and not only survived but continue to thrive. When Rebecca Hessel Cohen founded her fashion line LoveShackFancy, she was told her feminine and flirtatious aesthetic would never sell. April Gargiulo of Vintner’s Daughter upended the skincare business with a single product. Charlotte Lucas pursued her love of interior design despite setbacks and self-doubt. And Anna Brockway, co-founder and president of Chairish, was told by bankers and venture capitalists that her curated approach to an online marketplace would never succeed. Here they discuss how they managed to simultaneously grow their families and build their businesses, reveal the sexism they faced and the challenges they overcame, and tell how their passions helped them to persevere, even as the business world continued to change around them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the surest ways to add distinction and visual richness to any interior is to collaborate with artisans. Decorative painting, gilding, verre eglomisé, cast plaster, carvings and wood inlays are only a few of the many techniques that can personalize and glamorize projects. How can you work with artisans to expand your vision? And how do you find the talents to execute your design ideas? Three skilled artisans Cindy Simes, Jonas Everets, and Leah Beth Fishman—weigh in on what artisans bring to the table, how they are organizing to make it easier to find and collaborate with them, how they encourage the next generation of talents, and what they wish every designer knew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rooms that are richly layered, full of saturated colors, bold graphic patterns, and scenic wallpapers are all over social media and fill the pages of shelter magazines. Maximalist style is definitely here, as two new books chronicle. But is it here to stay? Three designers—Hillary Taylor, Matthew Carter, and Alexander Doherty—weigh in what elements of the trend they have adapted, why a theatrical approach is not always the best option, and what they see ahead. Could subtlety and softness be on the horizon? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Known for her exuberant blend of Hollywood glamor and restrained Parisian chic, Mary McDonald has become one of today's most sought-after interior designers. But her success goes far beyond the richly imagined, graphic, and colorful rooms that have made her a social media star and a favorite of shelter magazines. She also designs fabrics and wallpapers, rugs, lighting, and furniture. She’s even conquered television. In an exclusive interview, she talks about her early years in fashion, her love of drama and theatricality, where she finds inspiration, why she now considers herself a country girl, and why she always, always, loves a gimmick. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.