Convo By Design®

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with another story about sublime design and in this episode, you are going to hear from Heather Humphrey, principal designer of Park City, Utah and Big Sky, Montana based interior and furniture design company, Alder & Tweed. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Heather and Reed Humphrey have created a firm that designs both distinct luxury homes and distinct luxury furnishings making them a unique brand. Heather and I talk about their projects, so per usual, please go to the show notes and click on the link to their projects if so inclined and follow along as Heather walks us through some of their more extraordinary work. Of note, Alder & Tweed, as a firm has been fashioned as “curators of the luxury home-away-from-home experience” and the branding is spot on. And by specializing in the second home market, they are working in some of the worlds most amazing locations. And you are going to hear the whole story, right after this. Thank you, Heather for the time. Exceptional work. Thank you for taking me on this journey through the Rockies and beyond. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your partnership and support. And, thank you for taking the time out of your day to listen to the show. I hope this allows you to think about things in new ways. Please keep those emails coming. Convo by design @ outlook.com with show suggestions, guest ideas or just to say ‘hello’, I love hearing from you. Thanks again, and until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Episode 457 of the show with a wonderful creative who crafts one of a kind functional items for the most discerning clientele. This is a really fun story featuring an exquisite creative, simply divine creations and a story to match. Heath Wagoner of HW Studio tells his story with 7 words. HW Studio is jewelry for the table. As you will hear, it really is. Wagoner is a trained goldsmith who uses traditional methods in metalsmithing to craft, create and ideate functional, artistic objects. Objects meant to be used and thats where this gets fun. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Imagine you could use a Picasso or an original Banksy in some way other than viewing. I’m not dismissing the one dimensional nature of some art. And some will argue with me vehemently that art is far more than one dimensional. I won’t take the bait. My point, Heath creates precious metal objects to be used at the table. For eating. As a utensil. Further, he uses these objects at happenings like dinner parties for the purpose of…well eating with something other than his hands. And that’s the point. We only get som many trips around the sun and why not make the most of every day by enjoying these objects to the fullest. Thereby crafting an experience, furthering the conversation and engaging with others in unique and authentic ways. Thank you Heath. Loved our chat. See, isn’t life more interesting when one can take a fresh look at an old object. Think about it and create a whole new way to view it, use it and enjoy it. Absolutely. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your partnership and support.And, thank you for taking the time out of your day to listen to the show. I hope this allows you to think about things in new ways. Please keep those emails coming. Convo by design @ outlook.com with show suggestions, guest ideas or just to say ‘hello’, I love hearing from you. Thanks again, and until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. This Summer, I spent some time back in LA visiting with some very talented designers and I wanted to share some of those conversations with you. But first, you should know that if you are in LA and listening to this episode the week it was released, November 14th, the WestEdge Design Fair is happening RIGHT NOW and you should come down to Barker Hangar in Santa Monica and take in some of the incredible conversation being produced by yours truly. These are highly curated conversations that were crafted specifically for those in the trade as well as those who love design. So check out @ConvoXDesign with an “X” on IG and message me for more details and tickets. If I have any left, they're yours for the asking. We’ll be right back with this weeks episode, right after this. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Thank you Stephanie, Kim, Lorena and Jeanne for your time, loved this. Thank you to Michele Solomons and everyone at Design Hardware for making this space available for having these important conversations. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support of both Convo By Design and the design community. A side note, the sponsors and partners you hear on CXD are more than companies with a product, each of the partners I work with have been fully vetted, they are owned and operated by people who love what they do and have dedicated themselves to serving the design community and customers by providing the best products and services available. If you would like to know why I am so proud to have them part of Convo By Design, email me at convobydesign@outlook or on IG @convoxdesign with an “X”. I would be happy to share my experience. Please make sure you are also reaching out with show ideas and guests you would like to hear on the podcast. I love hearing them and it has given me the chance to meet new creatives not already on my radar, so thank you. Thank you for taking the time to listening to the show and share in the experience, until next week, be well and take today first. - CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a visit this week, and in keeping to our NorthEast swing, this is Kevie Murphy of K.A. Murphy Interiors. A Manhasset, NY based firm led by a super-driven creative in Kevie herself. Love this story and I think you will too. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Follow along and check out her projects here: Kevie was later than many to the design industry because she first attended Boston University, became an attorney and later a partner at a New York City firm. She and her husband bought a house and she realized she needed some help. Now, you have one logical option, right? Yes, hire a designer. Nope. Kevie realized her love for design and enrolled at the New York School of Interior Design. Exactly. I’ll let Kevie tell the story, but this is one of those incredibly interesting creatives who started in a very different place and is now crafting and creating some exquisite work. And you’ll hear all about it, right after this. Thank you Kevie, incredible story, love the work. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support of both Convo By Design and the design community. A side note, the sponsors and partners you hear on CXD are more than companies with a product, each of the partners I work with have been fully vetted, they are owned and operated by people who love what they do and have dedicated themselves to serving the design community and customers by providing the best products and services available. If you would like to know why I am so proud to have them part of Convo By Design, email me at convobydesign@outlook or on IG @convoxdesign with an “X”. I would be happy to share my experience. Please make sure you are also reaching out with show ideas and guests you would like to hear on the podcast. I love hearing them and it has given me the chance to meet new creatives not already on my radar, so thank you. Thank you for taking the time to listening to the show and share in the experience, until next week, be well and take today first. - CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. This week, we are heading to New Jersey to speak with Nicole Fornia of Nicole Forina Home. Her honest and fully exposed approach to her design business is as unique as her work, and we’re talking about both. While Convo By Design has changed a lot over the past 10 years, some things remain the same as the day I started this show. I want to introduce you to amazing creatives in interior/ exterior design and architecture. I love this business and I love what they do. Nicole Forina Home is a family run business. Her husband, Mike, with his ME degree (he’s a mechanical engineer) worked in civil engineering as well as teaching upper level high school math, is able to project manage as well as offer a very unique skillset to the design firm. This was a fun chat and I hope you enjoy it. You’ll hear it, right after this. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Thank you Nicole, loved our chat. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support of both Convo By Design and the design community. A side note, the sponsors and partners you hear on CXD are more than companies with a product, each of the partners I work with have been fully vetted, they are owned and operated by people who love what they do and have dedicated themselves to serving the design community and customers by providing the best products and services available. If you would like to know why I am so proud to have them part of Convo By Design, email me at convobydesign@outlook or on IG @convoxdesign with an “X”. I would be happy to share my experience. Please make sure you are also reaching out with show ideas and guests you would like to hear on the podcast. I love hearing them and it has given me the chance to meet new creatives not already on my radar, so thank you. Thank you for taking the time to listening to the show and share in the experience, until next week, be well and take today first. - CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with balmy breezes and sublime design as we visit with Palm Beach designer, Helen Bergin. This is the story of a tremendous creative who rose to prominence the “old fashioned” way. Bergin studied her craft, working as a designer from some very talented studios and when it was right, she went out on her own. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! That is a clear path to success for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that as Bunny Williams once told us on this very show, that while working for Sister Parish, she learned what she wanted and what she did not want in her own firm. You are going to hear about Helen’s journey and what makes her so highly sought out in South Florida as well as what makes her work so unique. And it is. Before we move on to that, something you should know about Helen. After our conversation, she sent me two of the most beautiful bowls from Katharine Allsopp Pottery. Beautiful, surprising and greatly appreciated. You should know that when I received them, the episode had already been recorded. I was already a fan. Helen is amazing, here is a link to her projects... Follow along as we explore together. Thank you Helen, I really enjoyed our time together. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support of both Convo By Design and the design community. A side note, the sponsors and partners you hear on CXD are more than companies with a product, each of the partners I work with have been fully vetted, they are owned and operated by people who love what they do and have dedicated themselves to serving the design community and customers by providing the best products and services available. If you would like to know why I am so proud to have them part of Convo By Design, email me at convobydesign@outlook or on IG @convoxdesign with an “X”. I would be happy to share my experience. Thank you for taking the time to listening to the show and share in the experience, until next week, be well and take today first. - CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design featuring a return of The Showroom, a conversation series with amazing design talent from across the US and around the world. In this episode of The Showroom, you are going to hear from C+TC Design Studio heads; William Cox, Billie Thorne and James Culpepper. If not familiar with them you should be and you will be over the course of the next hour. Their work is exceptional and you are going to hear a master-class in hospitality design. Billie, Jim and Bill are a rare combination of artisan creativity, craftsman skill and as a team, they posses this ability to create spaces that cater to feeling, emotion and giving guests a feeling of home while they are away. You are going to hear how they do it, right after this. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Thank you Billie, Jim and Bill for joining me in The Showroom, I really enjoyed our time together. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support of both Convo By Design and the design community. A side note, the sponsors and partners you hear on CXD are more than companies with a product, each of the partners I work with have been fully vetted, they are owned and operated by people who love what they do and have dedicated themselves to serving the design community and customers by providing the best products and services available. If you would like to know why I am so proud to have them part of Convo By Design, email me at convobydesign@outlook or on IG @convoxdesign with an “X”. I would be happy to share my experience. As in every episode of The SHowroom, we have imagery of thier work. Please head over to ConvXDesign with an “X” on Instagram to check it out. Thank you for taking the time to listening to the show and share in the experience, until next week, be well and take today first. - CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. I offer you a conversation with a previous guest about what is transpiring in the kitchen and bath space, in real time and the developments are extraordinary. This is Tiffany Cassidy of Lagnappe Interiors. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! I really do have a special place in my heart for return Convo By Design guests. It means a few things. One, they came back to do it again which means it was a good experience for them the first time. Second, and more important, there is a familiarity that you and I both share with this individual. That shared experience allows for a deeper level of conversation. In this episode, Tiffany shares her experience working on projects that are leveling up the form and functionality in the kitchen and bath spaces. This is important because there are some dramatic changes afoot and you are going to hear all about it, right after this. Thank you Tiffany for taking the time to talk, I really enjoyed our time together. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support of both Convo By Design and the design community. A side note, the sponsors and partners you hear on CXD are more than companies with a product, each of the partners I work with have been fully vetted, they are owned and operated by people who love what they do and have dedicated themselves to serving the design community and customers by providing the best products and services available. If you would like to know why I am so proud to have them part of Convo By Design, email me at convobydesign@outlook or on IG @convoxdesign with an “X”. I would be happy to share my experience. Thank you for taking the time to listening to the show and share in the experience, until next week, be well and take today first. - CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with an exceptional architect emanating from Dallas, Texas. Eddie Maestri of Maestri Studio. I have known Eddie for a while and I am a huge fan. I think by the end of this episode, you will be too. Here is just a bit from Eddie’s bio, Eddie Maestri, AIA, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, started designing homes in Dallas in 2004 and officially founded Maestri Studio in 2008. Certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), he is a registered architect in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Nevada. Eddie holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design and a Master of Architecture from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas with a certificate in Health Systems & Design. In addition, he spent a semester in Italy focusing on architectural and urban studies, as well as expanding his talents and love of freehand drawing, art and interior design. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Thank you Eddie for taking the time to talk, I really enjoyed our time together. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support of both Convo By Design and the design community. A side note, the sponsors and partners you hear on CXD are more than companies with a product, each of the partners I work with have been fully vetted, they are owned and operated by people who love what they do and have dedicated themselves to serving the design community and customers by providing the best products and services available. If you would like to know why I am so proud to have them part of Convo By Design, email me at convobydesign@outlook or on IG @convoxdesign with an “X”. I would be happy to share my experience. Thanks again for listening to the podcast, until next week, be well and take today first. - Convo By Design

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. What is design? Is design the process of finding pretty, cool, unusual things, objects, artifacts and materials and then placing them in an order to appear pleasing? Is it a method of material placement, functional arrangement or is it something else? And, why does it matter? Right about now, you might be wondering what the hell. What’s up, Josh? you good? I am. But I’ve been thinking a lot about this. I just recently completed a no code AI course through MiT. Yes, THAT MiT and while I can tell you that the math was a real challenge,, the concepts I learned were thrilling. And, it left me with more questions than answers. While everyone is talking about AI, I am hearing and seeing some things that I find disturbing. An example. Recently on Instagram, a notable personality in design was self-congratulating on the new product they created using nothing but AI tools thereby creating something that nobody asked for, nobody expressed a need for the design of this object and there was such glee in the idea that something had been created without any human influence save for the prompts used in a Midjourney rendering which was then given dimensions and finally produced. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Okay, cool right? That is what I thought at first glance until I really started to think about it. I started this show 10 years ago, I’ve been publishing at least one new episode every single week since 2013. I love design and I love the creatives that make up the industry. I think anyone who spends a fair amount of time around people understands that there always have been and always will be people who don’t really understand the subject matter in which they work. It’s the difference between a Bunny Williams, Alex Papachristidis or Martyn Lawrence Bullard and a designer who spends a few years designing their own home, realize how hard it is and then drop that to be a design business consultant. The industry is littered with them and ultimately, the clients they consult are usually out of the business in a few years. When I was in broadcast sales, it was the same. Someone would take a job selling airtime only to leave in a few years to start their own radio buying service. They were always a one-dimensional enterprise that would last a few years and then, off to something else. Why am I asking about the “true” nature of design? We are at a bona fide turning point. There is an emerging technology in the form of AI that is going to change our industry forever. I think we are also in a place and time where there is a loss of respect for the creative side of the work in favor of less expensive, although it still has to look expensive. A new mentality that in someway makes if okay to take other people’s ideas and creativity and change it just enough to make it seem new. It’s not a legal question or even a moral one but a question of ingenuity, creativity and the idea that creatives create new concepts, new designs, break some ground for goodness sake. I’m seeing less and less of this from those who are new to the industry. Designers and architects are creatives who make better the lives of those who inhabit the spaces they create. Full stop. it’s not about how many awards you win, the lists upon which you find yourself and lord knows there are a lot of lists out there. It’s not about the coverage in the trade pubs, because there are fewer and fewer of those every year. And it’s not about making rooms look pretty or high luxury because at the end of the day, form is meaningless without functionality. “Form follows function-That has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Today on the show, you are going to hear from one of my favorite designers. This is Jenn Feldman, an amazing designer with equally strong musical taste. No, really! Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. I asked Jenn to send me her artist playlist. And she did. Let’s start with this because if you have learned anything about me from this show it’s that I love music. All kinds of music provided it’s good. So I asked Jenn for her list and here is what she sent me, I’m thinking not in any particular order… Lukas Nelson, Lem Bridges, Teddy Swims, Billy Joel (right next to him, she wrote “duh”), Fleetwood Mac, Notorious BIG, Steely Dan, Taylor John Williams, and the Doobie Brothers. A side note, every time I think of the Doobie Brothers, the first thing that comes to mind is not the fantastic music, but the quote… “Which Doobie, you be?” If you have no idea, what I’m talking about, check the show notes. Jenn, awesome list. It’s interesting to me too, how your design work is as vast and varied as your musical taste. I maintain that there is a strong and unbreakable connection between music and design if you seek it out. The same way that there is a story woven into every good song, there is a story woven into strong design. Jenn knows this, Jenn does this, masterfully. And you are going to hear how, and why, right after this. Thank you, Jenn for the time, the playlist and the chat. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living, Design Hardware. I truly appreciate the partnership. And thank you for listening, downloading and subscribing to the podcast. Please make sure you are subscribed so you get every episode of the show the moment its published. Please email me with suggestions and show ideas, love the input. Email is convobydesign@outlook dot com and on Instagram @convoxdesign with and “x”. Thanks for listening. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design Today, I’m speaking with Atlanta based designer, Andi Morse about balance, vibe and having it all. Or getting as close to it as one can. Born and raised in Atlanta, Andi is married to her college sweetheart and the mother of three daughters. Family comfort is the central influence to her interior design philosophy, and one of the core values of Morse Design. One’s home must reflect the lifestyle of the occupants and resonate with both beauty and functionality. Her passion for creating comfort and style with a southern elegance and grace drive her creative vision. Nothing makes Andi feel better than the happiness on a client’s face at the end of a project. That’s in the bio. What isn’t mentioned in the bio are the finer nuances in her approach to the work. There is a fun-elegance to the work that appears to be evident in every space regardless of size or color palate. Her approach is layered and collected. You will see an active pursuit of joy and that is one of the things I think I love most about her work. I think you will too. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. Thank you Andi, loved our chat and truly appreciate the time. Thank you to Convo By Design partners and sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware. You make this show possible and I truly appreciate you. Speaking of appreciation, thank you for listening, subscribing and downloading the show. Without you, what’s the point. Please keep sharing this little podcast, entering our 11th year with some truly fun things in store over the coming weeks and months. Did you catch our first episode of Drinking About Design? We’re drinking and telling design stories! More on the way. Thanks for listening, until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design exploring the work of Philadelphia interior designer Glenna Stone. A very talented creative who said this, “I think of design as a magical process where something that didn’t exist suddenly does…and that’s what I love about what I do. I love developing a complete design, a 360 vision that considers the intentions of the client, the architecture of the space, and all the while artfully combining scale, balance, proportion, texture, and hue in a way that marries beauty and lifestyle. Great design is about walking into a space, and every single time feeling one thing: this is as it should be." Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Glenna’s bio reads like this; Inspired by her mother, an artist and teacher, Glenna developed her sense of color and composition at a young age. She has always had a passion for combining color, materials and textures in an artful manner. Paralleling her creative side, Glenna embraced her strong technical skills and received a degree in engineering from Lehigh University. Upon graduation she worked for Fortune 500 companies as a consultant and project manager in the consumer products industry. While achieving much success in this previous career, she felt the need to embrace her more creative side and began taking interior design courses at the Boston Architectural College and the Rhode Island School of Design. After much consideration, Glenna decided to combine her technical and creative skills and pursue a graduate degree in interior design. Glenna graduated from Drexel University with a Masters degree in Interior Architecture and Design. This specialized background and balance of left and right brain not only contributes to the success of Glenna Stone Interior Design, but also sets the firm apart within the industry. Glenna prides herself on being an original thinker, a good listener with impeccable attention to detail, and someone who sees each project phase through to completion. As a cofounder of The Sustainability Nexus, sustainable design and giving back to the local community is of high importance. She finds her work as an interior designer exceptionally rewarding because it allows her to enhance the quality of others’ lives through design. (end of bio) Thank you Glenna, loved our chat and truly appreciate the time. Thank you to Convo By Design partners and sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware. You make this show possible and I truly appreciate you. Speaking of appreciation, thank you for listening, subscribing and downloading the show. Without you, what’s the point. Please keep sharing this little podcast, entering our 11th year with some truly fun things in store over the coming weeks and months. Did you catch our first episode of Drinking About Design? We’re drinking and telling design stories! More on the way. Thanks for listening, until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design and on todays episode, you are going to hear from an incredibly talented Charlotte based creative who started as an architect and transitioned to designer. Ashley DeLapp is not the first creative I have spoken with that went the design route from other endeavors and there have been a few you have heard from in the past that started as architects as well. Ashley holds a BA in Architecture from the University of North Carolina and after spending 10 years as an architect, opened her own design firm in 2009. Ashleys work is theatrical, bold and one of the things that you will hear as we explore her work is both a scientific approach to space and space management combined with a fearless use of color and materials. Now, keep in mind that with application of the bold comes the more often than not sales approach to the client. Selling these bold ideas must be easier when there is a heavy attention to detail in space management and using a space to let the work breathe. These are just a few observations, you will hear more, I promise. As a matter of fact, if you have been listening to the show for a while, you know about the deep design dives we take together and in this episode of the show, we go deep so make sure you check the show notes for a link to Ashley’s projects and follow along provided you are not driving! So, let’s get to it. You are going to hear from Ashley DeLapp, right after this. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Thank you Ashley. Loved our time together. Love the work. Thank you to my partners, sponsors and friends of the show, ThermaSol, Moya Living, Design Hardware, ICAA SoCal Chapter and the Oasis Alliance. And thank you for taking time to subscribe and listen to the show. I appreciate you, more than you know. Thank you for the emails with show and guest suggestions as well as those just to say “hi”. Please, keep them coming. Thanks again for listening, until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Today on the show, you are going to hear from Roberta Mantenuto, CEO of Fittes, formerly Aria Vent and sometimes the biggest changes from changing the smallest details. This is one of those occasions, to me at least. Fittes Co. is the Canadian company revolutionizing the vent and register business. They created a modular air vent and you know what I love most about this? For the longest time, we just used what we had available, contractor grade from the big box or perhaps a boutique brand that made the same thing, but with nicer finishes. Fittes now has a full line of framed and flush mount covers, vents, outlets and drains. It’s just such a simple idea and that is what I love most about this story. I sit down with Roberta, CEO and co-founder of Fittes and daughter of company co-founder and inventor, Paolo. One part of this story is in the simplicity of the idea, another is the elegant execution of the concept. The third idea is the scaling up and recent name change to stay current. The final piece for me, is the story of a father-daughter duo making something happen and executing on this simple idea in a very big way. You are going to hear my conversation with Roberta Mantenuto, right after this. Thank you Roberta for the time. Love the idea, love the company and as a girl dad, love the family partnership dynamic. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living, Design Hardware. I truly appreciate the partnership. And thank you for listening, downloading and subscribing to the podcast. Please make sure you are subscribed so you get every episode of the show the moment its published. Please email me with suggestions and show ideas, love the input. Email is convobydesign@outlook dot com and on Instagram @convoxdesign with and “x”. Thanks for listening. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman, host and publisher of Convo By Design with something new for you. Dropping this on Friday, for a very good reason. You’re going to want to get a drink. In the summer of 2020, the pandemic was in full effect. We were all locked in and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. You remember, you were doing the exact same thing. So, besides the day drinking and looking up old friends on Facebook, I was trying to learn new ways to be socially engaged. On at least one occasion, John McClain, Erik Peterson and I, met via Zoom to share a few pops and tell stories. One of things I did during that time was binge watch Drunk History, Dinner for Five and Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown and No Reservations. Ground breaking shows that I never could find the time to watch before. I became enamored with the skill by which Anthony Bourdain found a complete language revolving around found and association to society, how Jon Favreau could take 4 celebrities and craft a vibrant tableau out of each of the stories shared around a table. How Derek Waters told stories through the honest interpretations of historical events through the drunken lens of comics woven together as a tapestry featuring some of the funniest people working in Hollywood. Then all of a sudden, it was over. Things opened up all at once and we all got busy. Really busy. I’ve been missing some of those evenings at the virtual bar, My virtual bar is called, Big D Energy. Big Design Energy for my Hip Hop loving friends. I wouldnt want you to get the wrong idea. So I got an idea that I have been toying with for about 2 years and I finally got a chance to do it. And what better way to launch this than to reunite with John and Erik. John McClain tells the story of William Haines I'm also sharing an interesting story you might find illuminating. Erik Petersen is talking about Al Beadle. You have probably never heard of Al Beadle? Well, you will now. This is just 3 friends getting together at the local virtual watering hole, talking a little shit and telling stories. And, yes, this is very different than the episodes of the show you have heard in the past. We’re drinking and this episode carries the Explicit label. If you are sensitive to some salty language, you might want to delete this episode and move on to the next one. With that, I give you the first installment of Drinking About Design. This was the first installment of Drinking About Design featuring John McClain and Erik Peterson sharing stories about William Haines and Al Beadle. Two incredible talents, and good friends. Thank you both for doing this. For notes, drink recipe’s and further links to the stories and work you heard about here, check the show notes. Thanks for listening. Cheers.

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with Charles Pavarini III. Pavarini has reinterpreted the legacy of the Pavarini Construction Company, known for creating historic landmarks including the Seagram Tower, the United Nations, the State Theater at Lincoln Center, and numerous other landmark buildings in New York City and throughout the world. All of his projects hinge around a powerful central design theme and maintain a certain ‘vision’ which is always dramatically executed given Charles’ keen sense of color, style, and use of lighting as a ‘design tool’. Having sat on the board of directors of the Designer’s Lighting Forum of New York for twenty-five years, he has a refined approach to interior design always staged with strong focal points and exacting lighting technique to harness the artistic and architectural vernacular of the spaces he designs. His extensive experience in the Performing Arts as performer, costume designer and set designer qualify him to conceive projects of any scale and proportion with great dignity and an unmatched passion for mood. While that is the bio, it should also be noted that Pavarini co-authored a book that was featured on BookLook. His offering, Lighting Beyond Edison: Brilliant Residential Lighting Techniques in the Age of LED’s is truly a transformative look at what is possible in modern lighting and how it works to elevate the design and increase functionality. We are going to cover this and a great deal more. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. ICAA Southern California - SoCal is Southern California's preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts. Thank you Charles for the time. Thank you to my partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living, Design Hardware. I truly appreciate the partnership. And thank you for listening, downloading and subscribing to the podcast. Please make sure you are subscribed so you get every episode of the show the moment its published. Please email me with suggestions and show ideas, love the input. Email is convobydesign@outlook dot com and on Instagram @convoxdesign with and “x”. Thanks for listening. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with another installment of the Design Leadership Series and this week, I am going to share with you. This group was recorded live from the Design Hardware showroom on Third Street in LA. This was an amazing group and with 12 creatives there, it was the biggest event we recorded to date. Keep listening, you’re going to enjoy this. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. ICAA Southern California - SoCal is Southern California's preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts. I started hosting these events in 2017. I realized after a design festival, that the panel conversations, while interesting, did not contain the same power as the conversations that followed. Groups of creatives getting down to the brass tacks, sharing what they really think without the audience. These gatherings are more “happening” than anything else. It places the creatives in a safe space with colleagues free to discuss what is really happening, get a little commiserating in and then getting to the challenge of addressing these issues. These events are powerful and I’m really proud to share them with you. This conversation has also aired on Doctoring Up Design, the Design Hardware podcast. You are about to listen in on a real workgroup discussing the issues designers, architects and builders face today. The following conversation is between 12 creatives and at times, it gets complicated, just like conversations in the real world. This conversation was not intended for you to blow through while multi-tasking. There is a great deal of material here and it is intended to be listened to over time and re-listened as well. It is worthy of saving and added to your resource library. This is kicked off by Michele Solomons with Design Hardware asking about the experience designers have with their showroom partners. It’s an important question and one on just about every designers mind. From there, this chat takes on a life of its own and if you follow closely, there are nuggets of design business gold to be found. Before we listen in, I thought you would like to meet the participants: Andres Gonzalez - Cali Renderings Christine Jahan - Christine Jahan Designs @christineJahanDesigns Crickett Kenser - Kitchen Places @KitchenPlacesVentura Huma Sulaiman - Huma Sulaiman @HumaSulaimanDesign James Hernandez - James Hernandez Interior Design @jameshernandezinteriordesign Joan Barton - Dirty Girl Construction @dirtygirlconstruction Kara Piepmeyer - Studio Kosma @studiokosma Leslie Delli-Venneri - Aquabella @aquabellatile @leslie.dee.vee Marbe Briceno - Marbe Designs @marbe.designs Mark Hermogeno - Hermogeno Designs @hermogenodesigns Nicole Michael - Nicole Michael Designs @nicole.michael.designs Rydhima Brar - R/Terior Studio @rteriorstudio So those are the participants. This is the full conversation. Enjoy listening in. That was a fun and incredibly talented group. Great job, designers! Thank you for your time. Thank you to my partners and sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living, Design Hardware, The Oasis Alliance and the ICAA SoCal chapter. And a special thanks to you. Thank you for downloading, streaming and supporting the show. If you have anything to suggest for a future episode of the show or a guest from whom you would like to hear, email me Convo By Design at Outlook dot com or on Instagram @ConvoX Design with an “x”. Thanks again for listening. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

When I first moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, I mentioned in the show that something I was most excited about was seeing new things that many if not most have never seen. There was something on my list from day one and I finally had the chance to go and do this. Visit Price Tower. For those not familiar; The Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma is an absolutely exquisite creation of Frank Lloyd Wright. It is constructed of concrete in a very unique shape. Four quadrants based on the geometry of a 30-60-90 double parallelogram. It was based on the idea for a Manhattan cluster of buildings designed and then scraped in 1929 due to the great depression. The Price Tower was designed and built for Harold C. Price to serve as the headquarters for his oil and gas pipeline company. The building was designed to be mixed-use and was opened to the public in February, 1956. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. ICAA Southern California - SoCal is Southern California's preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts. Materials Used: The building is primarily made of concrete with heavy use of wood, copper and other materials regularly found in Wright’s work. heavy use of copper, stamped concrete in Cherokee Red can be found alongside the natural wood and use of greens and golds. The wallpaper used as well as fabrics designed for Schumacher as part of his Taliesin line can be found as well as his unique style of lighting and a significant amount of art are all present. There are unique pieces present that were designed and then sent to local companies to create. They include cast aluminum chairs by the Blue Stem Foundry Mixed Use. What makes this building unlike any other example of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture is that this is a “skyscraper”, to be considered by him and others as the only one he ever built. FLW was interested with how people lived. His definition for a skyscraper was not dissimilar to how streets showcase horizontal society, this was made to be vertical an accomplish similar purpose. As such, this was his example of a live/ work environment and incorporated many floors to serve as separate zones for separate purposes. Because the building is supported by the four elevator towers and not the floors themselves, FLW was able to imagine the space almost like a tree with the elevator columns as trunk, floors as branches and copper installation as leaves. My Experience: This visit was amazing for me. I received an incredible tour by a gentleman named Price Connors and later sat down with Price for an interview which you are about to hear. If you check out the show notes, you will find links to some IG reels showcasing video from this visit. Of note, check out how FLW wanted you to live in the spaces he creates. Check out the amazing views and try to imagine as I did that you were in a tree house, because that is how it felt to me. The day I visited, I learned that the building has been sold to Copper Tree, Inc. for the debt and a $10M promise to refurbish the building. I had never heard of Copper Tree and thought, what a unique name for a company interested in refurbishing this particular building. I did a little digging and learned that Copper Tree is a relatively new company, an investment company created for the purpose of acquiring and preserving iconic buildings. I sat down with Price Connors who is an absolute wealth of knowledge and who both gave e a guided tour of The Price Tower, and sat down for an extensive interview about this truly unique project. I hope you enjoy hearing from Connors as much as I enjoyed speaking with him. For images and video shorts from my time at The Price Tow...

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a conversation about transformation, both in interior spaces and individuals themselves. Meghan Basinger of Stevie Interiors spent the first part of her career in public relations before launching her firm in 2020. Great timing right? But it worked, and here’s why. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. ICAA Southern California - SoCal is Southern California's preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts. Meghan Basinger launched Stevie Interiors in the summer of 2020. Do you remember the summer of 2020? I do. Not the best time to launch a new design business, or was it? You are going to hear all about it. Pay close attention to the ideas that embody the idea of blazing your own trail, making your own path and rushing towards something as everyone else is running away. The early months following the beginning of the pandemic, many designers thought they were going to go out of business. Then came the design revolution as everyone realized at the same time that their home was dysfunctional and needed the services of professional designers to fix it. This is a good place to leave it and let Megan take it from there. Enjoy this episode of Convo By Design featuring Milton, GA. designer, Meghan Basinger of Stevie Interiors. Thank you, Meghan for the time. Thank you for listening, downloading and subscribing to the show. If not already, please make sure you are subscribing to the show. You can find Convo By Design everywhere you find your favorite podcasts. Thank you to my wonderful partners and sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware. Without you, I would not be able to do this and for that, thank you. Thanks again for listening. Be well and until next week, take today first. -CXD