Business of Home Podcast

As COVID-19 continues to spread, stay-at-home orders, disrupted supply chains and a rattled marketplace all present unique challenges for the companies that produce our industry’s finest products. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks to a range of leaders to hear how they’re tackling the difficulties of this unprecedented time: Jonathan Glatt of handmade furniture company O&G studio, Sara Fritsch of lighting and lifestyle brand Schoolhouse and Andrew Crone of North Carolina furniture maker Chaddock. This episode was sponsored by Universal Furniture and Rebecca Atwood Designs.

It’s too soon to say precisely what the economic fallout from COVID-19 will be, but many in the design industry are preparing for a challenging time. This week on the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks with two people who made it through the 2008 downturn to get some perspective on what may lie ahead. First, interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins shares the story about how he started his firm in the midst of that financial crisis. Then, financial advisor Jared Miller discusses how he helped top design firms survive the era. This episode is sponsored by Rebecca Atwood Designs and Universal Furniture.

Kyle Bunting began his decorative hide rug business in 2001, and the product took the market by storm—soon his inventive creations were in showhouses, magazines and the best showrooms across the country. But recently Kyle made the decision to pull out of all representation and sell direct to designers. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he chats with host Dennis Scully about the story behind his unique company, and talked about the opportunities—and challenges—of going independent. This episode is sponsored by Rebecca Atwood Designs and Universal Furniture.

Raised in France, educated in England, and currently based in Los Angeles, interior designer Peter Dunham has had a charmed life and career—to chat with him is to take a rollicking tour from the grit and glamour of 1970s New York, to early career advice from David Hicks, to a showhouse kitchen that led to nabbing Jennifer Garner as a client. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he speaks with host Dennis Scully about his renowned shop, Hollywood at Home; what effect Restoration Hardware has had on American taste, and why, despite these troubling times, he’s staying optimistic. This episode is sponsored by Henrybuilt and Buildlane.

The spread of COVID-19 has created no small amount of uncertainty in the world, and the design community is no exception. On today’s episode of the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks to leaders in the design industry to find out how they plan to navigate the choppy waters, and what we can expect once we’re in the clear. This episode was sponsored by Buildlane and Henrybuilt.

Sara Ruffin Costello and Chassie Post are the dynamic duo behind Chic & Awe, a new home tour video series that brings a much-needed dose of surreal humor into the world of high end design. Sara and Chassie are veterans of the design media world, having both worked on the original incarnation of Domino, then gone on to contribute to everything from The New York Times to Good Morning America. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, they spoke with host Dennis Scully about why we’re in the era of the solo artist, why decorating is harder than it looks, and how their show is bringing comic relief to the home industry. This episode is sponsored by Buildlane and Henrybuilt.

If you’ve spent any time in South Florida, you’re likely already familiar with Marc Thee’s work. Over the past 35 years the co-founder of Marc-Michaels has become one of the region’s most celebrated interior designers, and in an industry where most firms stop growing at a staff of ten, he oversees seventy, taking on projects all over the world. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Thee speaks with host Dennis Scully about why he tells his staff not to think like designers, how mentorship means letting go, and why the client’s perception is the only thing that matters. A special thank you to Dedon for hosting the conversation in front of a live audience at the Design Center of the Americas. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market and Buildlane.

Piers Fawkes' job is, quite literally to see the future. The founder of consumer forecasting agency PSFK collects innovations from around the world and identifies patterns, which he then formulates into trend reports for a clientele of blue chip companies like Target, Apple, and Johnson & Johnson. Recently, Fawkes has been focusing on what home will look like in 2030, and some of his research has led to ideas that may seem unconventional and even a little dystopian—but the future always sounds strange, until it’s here. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market and Buildlane.

Dave Dawson, founder of the Urban Electric Company, and Scott Hudson, founder of Henrybuilt, are leaders of a modern makers renaissance—one that’s seeing an increasing number of companies manufacture high-end custom pieces right here in the United States. In front of a live audience at Henrybuilt’s showroom in New York, they spoke with host Dennis Scully about why they both say no to multi-line showrooms, the Toyota method, and how Dawson’s organization, the makers alliance, is creating a community for like-minded companies. This episode is sponsored by Buildlane and Dedon.

The woman behind home staging firm Interior Marketing Group, Cheryl Eisen, has been building her empire over the last decade. This self-made CEO started the IMG brand as a solo-entrepreneur, and now oversees a hundred-person operation. On this episode, Eisen sat down with host Dennis Scully about why home staging is the exact opposite of interior design, why she’s not afraid of a recession, and how, as her company moves into making product, her 170 staged apartments are as good as 170 showrooms.. This episode is sponsored by BuildLane and Dedon.

It’s difficult to concisely sum up interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland’s charmed career —she’s been everything from an art director for music videos to a shop-owner, interior decorator, fabric designer and TV Star. Most recently she’s become an entrepreneur, founding e-design and e-commerce startup The Perfect Room, which she hopes will bring high design to a broader audience (her partner, CEO Michael O’Neal, joins the discussion for the second half of this episode). On this episode, Ireland spoke with host Dennis Scully about the role that serendipity has played in her career, how she turned the recession into an opportunity, and why being an interior designer is a lifestyle as much as it is a profession. This episode is sponsored by BuildLane and Dedon.

Designer and author Sheila Bridges started her career in fashion, but soon found her true calling in interiors, where she rose to prominence and went on to host one of the first TV shows dedicated to high end design. Over the span of two decades, she’s authored several books, worked with celebrity clients including former president Bill Clinton, and created the renowned pattern Harlem Toile du Jouy. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast she spoke with host Dennis Scully about how boundaries between disciplines are breaking down, diversity and inclusion in the design world, and why relationships are the most important part of the business. This podcast is sponsored by Buildlane and Dedon.

As Bunny Williams Home celebrates its 10-year anniversary, founder and renowned interior designer Bunny Williams is in search of new ways to remain relevant—from both design and retail perspectives. While that may mean bolstering the digital brand and focusing on online sales, Williams’s general design philosophies remain similar to those she learned at Parish-Hadley, the legendary New York firm where she spent 22 years prior to launching her own studio. The AD100 Hall of Fame designer shares the challenges of finding and retaining talent, why the modern lifestyle is disruptive to the trade and the announcement of a new book, Affairs with Other Houses.

If there’s anyone who fits the model of a great mentor, it’s British interior designer Nina Campbell. Shaped by her apprenticeship at renowned firm Colefax & Fowler, Campbell has gone on to create a nearly five-decade career in design, establishing a star-studded client list that includes Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr and the Duke and Duchess of York. In this live podcast recording, the designer shares insights from her inspiring career, as well as her take on how the industry and the profession have evolved.

Holly Hunt made headlines four years ago when she sold her eponymous company to Knoll for $95 million. But it’s never been about the money for the Texas-born designer, who started her business as a recently-divorced mother of three boys in 1983—without "a big hairy plan." She built what was then a new concept: a multi-line showroom, bringing on makers like Carl Springer, Jim Thompson and Rose Tarlow before designing and manufacturing her own line. In this episode, she shares the ups and downs of the last 30 years—from designer Christian Liagre's departure to adjusting to life post-acquisition, and what the future holds.

Whether it’s preserving his iconic mannequin label or curating his next gallery exhibition, Ralph Pucci leads by one rule: “If everyone’s going left, I’m going right.” It worked in 1985, when Pucci successfully debuted the collection of designer Andrée Putman with no industry experience, and it continues to work today, as the company now boasts galleries in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. In this week’s episode, Pucci takes us through the remarkable timeline of Ralph Pucci International and reveals his visual merchandising secrets.

Bryan Dicker began at Holland & Sherry when it was purely in the apparel business, offering tweeds, wools and cashmere to individual tailors. He developed a sideline selling fabric to interior designers, which has since grown into a robust business, employing 150 people at over twenty locations worldwide. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Dicker spoke with host Dennis Scully about building a team around your weaknesses, what Blackjack has to do with the fabric industry, and why his company has no plans to go direct to consumers. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.

Over the course of nearly twenty years as an advisor on licensing deals and business strategy, Kate Verner has worked with some of the most prominent names in the industry, including David Easton, Laura Kirar and Arteriors. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she speaks with host Dennis Scully about why licensing isn’t a get rich quick proposition, the need to make manufacturing cool again, and why Instagram fame doesn’t always translate to real world sales. This episode was sponsored by Chairish and Google.

As a child, David Netto became immersed in the world of design through his father, who owned storied fabric house Cowtan & Tout. After dropping out of Harvard Architecture School, he found his true calling, building a brilliant career as a decorator and writer for The New York Times, Town & Country, and the Wall Street Journal. For this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Netto spoke with host Dennis Scully in front of a live audience at the New York School of Interior Design as part of the Dialogues on Design series. They chatted about why Instagram’s rise is good for books, how the AIDS crisis affected design, and what a Bugati owned by Ralph Lauren says about how decorators should think. This episode was sponsored by Chairish and Google.

Six years ago, the real estate development firm Jamestown purchased the Boston Design Center and began a long-term project to revitalize the space by turning it into a hybrid. Now the building combines trade-only showrooms with retail shops, corporate offices, cafes and restaurants. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, the president of Jamestown, Michael Phillips, discusses why the design industry needs to start reaching out to consumers, why showrooms should consider nighttime hours, and why disruption is ultimately a good thing. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.

Over the course of a storied career, legendary interior decorator Carleton Varney has worked with everyone from Joan Crawford to Jimmy Carter—not to mention his 37 books, a long-running newspaper column, and a project he’s been tweaking for over 50 years, the Greenbrier hotel. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Varney speaks with host Dennis Scully about the stories behind some of his most famous clients, why he encourages students to think beyond beige and gray, and the one line of a client contract that only Dorothy Draper could get away with. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.

Janis Provisor and Brad Davis were established artists, displaying their work in museums and galleries across the world. Then a recession hit in the nineties, and they took a sabbatical in China, which led to an experiment with silk weaving, which, 25 years later, has led to an acclaimed luxury hand-knotted carpet company. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Provisor and Davis chat with host Dennis Scully about the ups and downs of doing business in China, why they needed to create their own brand, and treating entrepreneurship like an artistic challenge. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.

Across the scope of a storied career, legendary interior designer Charlotte Moss has written ten books, won numerous awards, and through her work on countless projects, defined an elegant take on traditional style. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she chats with host Dennis Scully about learning sales secrets on Wall Street, the importance of mentorship, and what she looks for when she Googles potential clients. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.

Fabric industry veteran David Klaristenfeld has spent sixteen busy years at Fabricut, but 2019 has been particularly eventful. This summer, his company acquired Clarence House, and has ramped up a whirlwind effort to grow the boutique fabric brand. Their first big move? Pulling the collection offline, so it can’t be sold to the general public—only designers. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Klaristenfeld chats with host Dennis Scully about the strategy behind the acquisition, the challenging economics of sampling, and why, despite a lot of noise, the industry isn’t going to change as radically as some people think. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.

Founded as an online resource for recipes in 2009, Food52 has evolved into a unique and wildly popular hybrid of editorial content and e-commerce that recently attracted an $83 million dollar investment from The Chernin Group. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully chats with co-founders Merrill Stubbs and Amanda Hesser about why their site defies easy categorization, how their readers helped them design one of their bestselling products, and why they prefer to think of Food52 as a world, not a brand. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.

Whitney Robinson, the editor in chief of Elle Decor, is a young man, but he's already a veteran of the publishing industry. Having risen through the ranks at Hearst titles like House Beautiful and Town & Country, Robinson assumed the top spot at ED in 2017—and this month, he’s captained the book to its 30th anniversary. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he chats with host Dennis Scully about about how designers and developers can partner up, what it takes to be featured in the pages of his magazine, and why he publishes with an audience of 140 in mind. This episode is sponsored by Crypton and Chairish.

Rebecca Atwood started small. The RISD-educated textile designer began by creating a line of pillows out of her own apartment, dyeing fabrics in a tiny kitchen. Over the past five years she's grown considerably, with a full line of textiles and wallpapers, a SOHO showroom, and two books to her name—but she's done it at her own pace. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Atwood tells host Dennis Scully about building her business step by step, why she opened up her accounting books to her employees, and why her showroom wouldn't fit in at the D&D Building—but that's a good thing. This episode is sponsored by Crypton and Chairish.

Before coming to Christofle, Nathalie Remy was a McKinsey consultant for over two decades, advising luxury and fashion houses on corporate strategy. Now she's on the other side of the table, a year into a revitalization and rebranding project for the 190-year-old French tabletop company. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she spoke with host Dennis Scully about about teaching a heritage brand to think like a startup, why she's betting on sharing, and what Pharrell Williams has to do with her strategy. This episode is sponsored by Crypton and Chairish.

Cheryl Durst, the CEO of the International Interior Design Association, has been a lifelong evangelist for the power of design—she even got married in a design center. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she chatted with host Dennis Scully about the need for a shared language around pricing, how residential designers can break into commercial projects, and the surprising reason why HGTV is a force for good. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market and Crypton.

Lee Mayer began by trying to get other people to start her company. It was 2013 and she needed a quick, affordable design service to help with a new home in Denver—a reluctant entrepreneur, it took a push from Mayer’s sister to get her to found the company herself. Six years later, Havenly has outlasted many of its competitors in the world of online design, and Mayer continues to innovate the model. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she shares her startup journey, discusses the difficulties of scaling a high-touch business, and explains how her company is priming a whole new audience to the benefits of great design. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market and Crypton.

Interior designer Ryan Korban began his career creating stores for fashion brands like Aquazurra and Balenciaga. After moving into the residential world, the young designer's star rose rapidly—he now boasts a roster of celebrity clients and a growing sideline working with real estate developers. On the latest episode of the Business of Home Podcast, Korban chatted with host Dennis Scully in front of a lively crowd at the EJ Victor showroom in the New York Design Center—they spoke about the difference between fashion and design, the future of trade pricing, and why designers should think more like brands. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.

After nearly a decade of building a community of 40 million that buys, sells and shares fashion online, Poshmark co-founder Tracy Sun is moving the company into the home. On the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, Sun chats with host Dennis Scully about why the power is in consumers' hands now, the overlap between fashion and interior design, and what being customer centric actually means. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.

Dave Dawson started The Urban Electric Company as a small retail business in 2002—it’s since grown into a powerhouse of modern American craftsmanship, employing over 200 to make a wide array of custom lighting fixtures, all in a former navy yard in Charleston, South Carolina.​ In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Dawson chats with host Dennis Scully a​bout the challenges of manufacturing in America, why he’s never sold ​in showrooms, and how time has become his company’s most valuable resource. This episode is sponsored by Universal Furniture.

After a picturesque childhood in England and a brief career as a drummer, Christopher Peacock chanced into the cabinetry business and he hasn't looked back since. The company he founded in 1992 has been through some twists and turns, but today it's stronger than ever, with nine showrooms and a booming commercial sideline. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Peacock shares the incredible story of how his company survived the 2008 recession, why he's been vertically integrated from day one, and how became known as the inventor of the white kitchen. This episode is sponsored by Universal Furniture.

Tony Ingrao's clients—a mix of celebrities, financiers and captains of industry—often make headline news, but he himself is more likely found just outside the limelight. "I'm chill," he tells Dennis Scully, with a laugh. Chill yes, boring no. In this week’s episode of the Business of Home podcast, the designer shares a rare in-depth look at an epic career—discussing his fashion-world childhood, the stories behind his most iconic projects, and why, after nearly 40 years in design, he's at the top of his game. This episode is sponsored by Universal Furniture.

After a brief post-college career in the startup world, Chad Stark joined the family business as a young man, eager to modernize Stark Carpet’s operations for a fast-changing market. He’s since risen to senior vice president of the 80-year-old company, and has continuously pushed for innovation in an industry that’s often reluctant to change. On the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, Stark tells host Dennis Scully about his experiments selling direct to consumers, his thoughts on the best way for designers to charge for their services, and whether the design industry is ready for a model called "trade preferred". This episode is sponsored by Universal Furniture.

In the early aughts, brothers Philip and Jeffrey Bershad took over the family wallcovering business from their father and have since grown it to employ one hundred and sixty people with operations all over the world. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, they spoke with host Dennis Scully about their work hard/play hard company culture, the advantages of focusing on a niche, and why something called WIPTAG has made all the difference. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.

It’s a commonly cited statistic: Moving is more stressful than divorce. And—chasing freedom and flexibility—millennials are moving a whole lot. Jay Reno, founder and CEO of Feather, is hoping to make it easier on them with a service that offers furniture on a subscription, pay-as-you-go basis. In the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, Reno spoke with host Dennis Scully about how the American dream has changed, why the time is right for his innovative concept, and the environmental impact of fast furniture. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.

After fleeing Cuba with his family as a child, Vicente Wolf had anything but a traditional path to building a 45-year run as a designer. On the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, Wolf reflects on his unconventional journey, the role of design media in his career, and why he’s not retiring any time soon. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.

In 1995, Angie Hicks lent her name to her new company, a service that crowdsourced reviews of local businesses. “It seemed like one of those inconsequential decisions you make when you’re 22,” says Hicks. It turned out to be anything but inconsequential, as her company, Angie’s List, would become a household name and a major player in the home services industry. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she talks with host Dennis Scully about the company’s humble beginnings in 1995, why the housing crisis was an opportunity in disguise, and how the interior design profession has changed over the years. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.

Twenty years ago, Michael Cohen left a career in corporate finance to join the family business, a somewhat old-school seller of high-end tassels and trims. Cohen, along with his brothers Hymie and Joseph, has turned Samuel & Sons into a thriving, tech-forward business that’s come to define passementerie for the American market. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he chats with host Dennis Scully about why he looks to tech companies like Amazon for inspiration, his plan to take the brand international, and why he hopes the industry will become more transparent. This episode is sponsored by Datacolor.

Nassau-based interior designer Amanda Lindroth has a knack for evoking the breezy elegance of island life, wherever she goes—including Guangzhou, China. A few years ago, she and her CEO, Austin Painter, embarked on a road trip to various factories in Asia to produce her debut line of accessories and decor. Since then, she’s been busy, fine-tuning her collection and growing her brand. In the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, she chats with host Dennis Scully about her picturesque Florida upbringing, her hiring strategy, and why it’s not what goes wrong—it’s how you react that’s most important. This episode is sponsored by Datacolor.

Ceramics are having a moment, and East Fork is at the center of it. Founded by husband-and-wife team Connie and Alex Matisse along with their friend John Vigeland, the North Carolina–based company has grown from a small rural pottery into a thriving manufacturer, shipping thousands of pieces around the world—including a coveted mug they literally can’t keep in stock. On the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully spoke with the Matisses about creating a compelling brand in the social media age, avoiding growth for its own sake, and the challenges of building a values-focused business. This episode is sponsored by Datacolor.

Philip Erdoes is a study in contradictions. Though the founder of The New Traditionalists and ducduc spends his days occupied by the particulars of making high-end furniture, he came to the business via a career in law and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Erdoes isn’t afraid to speak his mind, whether he’s discussing copycat brands or hot-button political topics. In the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, he chats with host Dennis Scully about why design for senior living is his next move, how market forces shape the trade, and why he’s keeping his manufacturing in the states. This episode is sponsored by Datacolor.

What began as a small upholstery company in a rural corner of North Carolina has grown into a furniture empire. Celebrating their 30th year in business, Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams now oversee a million square feet of manufacturing space, almost a thousand employees, and over thirty retail locations. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, the partners chat with host Dennis Scully about how they’ve grown through turbulent times, their hunt for a new CEO, and why their brand is well positioned for the next thirty years. This episode is sponsored by Design Within Reach.

Peter Sallick doesn’t have a lot of free time. A restless innovator, savvy dealmaker and the wearer of many hats, being the CEO of Waterworks is only one of Sallick’s many roles. He also co-founded online marketplace Dering Hall and created one of the industry’s premier professional groups, the Design Leadership Network. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Sallick shares how Waterworks weathered the financial crisis, why he partnered with RH, and what lies ahead for a rapidly changing industry. This episode is sponsored by Design Within Reach.

Wendy Goodman is the poet laureate of Manhattan’s design world. As the longtime design editor of New York magazine, for decades she’s chronicled the lives and homes of the city’s most interesting people, alongside its most exciting artists and makers. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Goodman spoke with host Dennis Scully about her culture-rich childhood, working for Anna Wintour early on in both their careers, and why sometimes the best job is the one you’re most afraid of. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Design Within Reach’s new Upper West Side studio. Sponsored by Design Within Reach.

For over thirty years, interior designer Kit Kemp has been at the forefront of the boutique hospitality revolution, bringing color, craft and vibrant design to hotels and restaurants on both sides of the Atlantic. As co-owner and creative director of Firmdale Hotels, Kemp is behind London’s Ham Yard, Covent Garden and Haymarket hotels, as well as the Crosby Street and the Whitby in New York. She has also created fragrances, furniture and fabric and authored several books, most recently Design Thread. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Kemp tells host Dennis Scully about her love of artisans and antiques, the key to a compelling hotel, and why designers shouldn’t always listen to their accountants. This episode is sponsored by Design Within Reach.

Not many designers can count Frank Lloyd Wright, Eero Saarinen and Marilyn Monroe as clients, but Jack Lenor Larsen is no ordinary designer. A legend of the textile business, Larsen started his own studio in New York in 1952. His vivid early work convinced a once-skeptical Florence Knoll, who commissioned Larsen to create fabric for her furniture. From then on, Larsen’s business and reputation grew and grew. Drawing on extensive travels around the globe, he introduced ikat and batik to the American public, designed upholstery for Pan Am, authored over a dozen books and championed traditional craft wherever he went. Today, his work is studied in textbooks and displayed in museums around the world. At 92, Larsen has a lifetime's worth of stories—in this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he shares a few of them. This episode is sponsored by The Shade Store.

After 20 years in finance, Sean Juneja decided to risk his stable career to found Décor Aid, a start-up that offers clients an entry point into the world of professional interior design. Born out of a lifelong passion for design and his belief that there was a gap in the market for smaller budget projects, Décor Aid has facilitated more than 3,000 jobs in New York alone since its founding in 2014. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Juneja discusses his platform’s astounding growth, why he turned down venture capital and how he views the competition. This episode is sponsored by The Shade Store.