Grandma's Silver

As autumn settles in and Halloween week officially arrives, the glowing grin of a Jack-o'-Lantern becomes a familiar, eerie sight on porches across the country. But the history of this festive squash goes deeper than moody spooky fun. This week, we explore the fascinating cultural evolution of early autumn harvest rituals and how a native American crop became a global icon of seasonal nostalgia. A...

Why do we collectively change our wardrobes the second the leaves turn? In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , we explore the fascinating history, cultural rituals, and marketing machines behind the official "autumn dress code."  Every fall, we pack away our summer linens and reach for specific textures: plaid, flannel, tweed, wool, corduroy, and heavy cable-knit sweaters. But this seasonal wardro...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky steps into the crisp air of upstate New York to explore the rich history of the Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard. Built in 1856, this water-powered mill has survived centuries by blending historical preservation with the cozy rituals of the fall harvest. Joining the conversation is second-generation owner Bill Michaels , who shares how his p...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky is joined by Ric and Stephanie Barbatelli, co-owners of E. Braun & Co., the historic New York linen house whose roots trace back to Vienna in 1893. Together, they continue a legacy built on exceptional craftsmanship, timeless design, and the belief that everyday objects should be made to last. The conversation explores the forgotten tradit...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky sits down with Marissa Geoffroy , Chief Creative Officer and third-generation leader of Sherle Wagner International , to explore the intersection of artistry, craftsmanship, and family legacy. Sherle Wagner transformed kitchen and bath fixtures into high-quality works of art, proving that even the most functional objects in a home can be thoug...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky is joined by Michael and Lucas Krauss , the father-and-son team behind Authentic Designs , a Vermont-based company that has handcrafted historically inspired lighting for more than sixty years. As part of the podcast's collaboration with Colonial Williamsburg's WILLIAMSBURG brand, this episode explores how traditional lighting has shaped every...

Why do marching band uniforms trigger such fierce, lifelong nostalgia? Whether you marched in a halftime show decades ago or watched from the bleachers, the wool, buttons, and feather plumes of vintage uniforms hold a unique place in American material culture. In this episode of Grandma's Silver, we explore the theatrical pageantry and stories stitched into the seams of marching band attire. To do...

What does it mean to live the vacationing spirit? In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , we explore the enduring allure of coastal design with acclaimed interior designer Krista Watterworth Alterman . You've heard of coastal style. But true coastal living is about more than kitschy seaside decor; it's an architectural and cultural response to landscape, light, and heritage. Today, the aesthetic is...

Can you design a community, or does community have to grow on its own? When Disney developed Celebration, Florida in the 1990s, the vision extended beyond beautiful homes and charming streets. Inspired by traditional American town planning and New Urbanism, Celebration was created as a walkable community where architecture, public spaces, and everyday life might naturally foster stronger human con...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky sits down with interior designer Lindsey Walsh to explore how our homes evolve alongside the lives we build within them. Before launching her New Jersey-based design firm, Lindsey traveled the world for her high-level marketing job, experiencing architecture, interiors, and traditions across Asia, Europe, and South America. Today, she brings t...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky sits down with Matthew Mon k, the Linda Eaton Curator of Textiles at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library , to explore the remarkable stories stitched into historic textiles. Using Winterthur's exhibition Stitched in Place as their starting point, they discuss how needlwork projects preserve craftsmanship, but also reveal all sorts of thing...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky sits down with Lauren Wodicka , artist, designer, and founder of LBW Studio , for a conversation about developing an eye for beauty, collecting intentionally, and creating homes that evolve over time. Before launching her interior design studio, Lauren built a career as an artist and gallery owner, helping her fine art clients curate spaces fi...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky is joined by Sarah Moore, founder and principal designer of Sarah Catherine Design, for a conversation about character and the elements of a house that feel layered and detailed. Growing up among historic Southern neighborhoods, Sarah developed an early appreciation for homes with stories. Today, she brings that perspective to her work, design...

As part of the Grandma's Silver conversation series surrounding American Craftsmanship with Colonial Williamsburg's WILLIAMSBURG brand, this conversation explores the journey of American cotton with Red Land Cotton , particularly what it means to preserve domestic textile manufacturing.  Anna Brakefield , co-founder, shares how a visit to Colonial Williamsburg inspired a collaboration with WILLIAM...

In this episode of Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky sits down with Peggy Cornett, longtime Curator of Plants at Monticello, former director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants, and author of Thomas Jefferson's Flowers , to explore gardens as living records of history. Together, they discuss how historic landscapes preserve stories of daily life, seasonal rhythms, beauty, labor, an...

This week, Allie Kochinsky virtually travels to Summerville, South Carolina , a historic Lowcountry town that proudly calls itself the " Birthplace of Sweet Tea. " At the center of the conversation is the town's Sweet Tea Trail, a self-guided experience connecting local businesses, history, food, and community through one of the South's most iconic traditions. But this episode isn't simply about a...

In this episode of Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky is joined by Jessica Chaney , founder of Lycette Designs , for a conversation on needlepoint as more than just a pastime, but a practice rooted in patience, memory, and home. Together, they explore why this traditional craft is finding new relevance today, and what it offers in a culture that often prioritizes speed and convenience. From heirlo...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky sits down with lifestyle creator and new author  Chassity Evans to discuss her debut novel Pink Sand Summer , and the relationship between place, memory, creativity, and storytelling. Known for her thoughtfully curated lifestyle content and love of coastal living, Chassity has spent years creating visual narratives inspired by the places she l...

In this episode, Allie Kochinsky is joined by Brittany Shepard , founder of The Sentimental Decorator and co-host of The Sentimental Twist , for a conversation on what she calls storykeeping, the practice of weaving memory, meaning, and personal history into the everyday rhythms of home. Together, the two explore the quiet power of ordinary rituals: setting the table without occasion, using heirlo...

Charleston is often described by its charm and beauty, but this conversation looks at the city through a different lens: domestic space, hospitality, and the rhythms that shape how people feel inside a place. In this episode of Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky sits down with Stacey Bodnar , Director of Marketing & Public Relations for Charming Inns , of which the John Rutledge House Inn belo...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky speaks with the founder of Bushel of Prints , a studio specializing in illustrated wrapping paper and printed goods inspired by memory, pattern, and everyday storytelling. The conversation explores how even ephemeral, everyday materials like wrapping paper can carry meaning through design. It considers how pattern becomes a form of visual lang...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky sits down with Cynthia Mai n, founder of Sunhouse Craft , for a conversation about tradition, material knowledge, and what it means to carry craft foward today. This episode is part of a special series exploring American craftsmanship inspired by Colonial Williamsburg , created in partnership with the Craft & Forge brand of the Colonial Wi...

Recorded live at the Pennsylvania Antiques Show , this panel brings together leading voices in the worlds of design, material culture, and collecting to explore what it means to live with objects today. Framed as a conversation on collecting—why we do it, how we begin, and what it means to steward the past—the discussion moves beyond acquisition and into the role objects play in shaping identity,...

What makes a home feel truly lived-in? In this episode of Grandma’s Silver, Allie Kochinsky sits down with Bebe MacKellar , an interior decorator known for her classic, layered interiors and intuitive approach to creating spaces that feel warm, personal, and enduring. Bebe shares how her career began apprenticing under her mother at Fanny Bolen Interiors , and how that early hands-on experience sh...

In this episode of  Grandma's Silver , Allie Kochinsky sits down with designer Vicente Wolf to explore the intersection of interiors, nature, and the art of creating true environments.  Known for his layered, collected approach, Vicente shares how his work is shaped by a lifelong relationship with the natural work, from tending plants in his New York City apartment to living and working in Montauk...