IDS Podcast

This one's all about Swatched, IDS Long Island's design competition and gala that only rolls around every other year — and this fall marks the eighth one. Brian sits down with the two co-chairs running the show: Joey, who a lot of you know from Sights and Sounds on the AV and smart home side of things, and Amber Freedman of North Sea Works, a residential interior designer out of Huntington Station...

Ever notice how shower drains went from an afterthought to an actual design feature over the last decade? This episode digs into why. Brian sits down with Mike Rizzuto, National Technical Sales at Infinity Drain, whose path started with dropping out of Nassau Community College, apprenticing under a licensed plumber, and spending 14 years as a decorative plumbing buyer at Gracious Home in Manhattan...

There's a strange math in the design world: eight months to a few years building a room, one afternoon to shoot it, and then those photos represent your work for the next five or ten years. That's exactly where this episode lives. Brian sits down with Jamie of JBT Designs out of northern New Jersey — an interior stylist who came up through the editorial side of the business. She started at Hearst...

On this episode of the IDS Podcast, I sat down with Jennifer Nicholson, Chief Operating Officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Metro, to talk about a project that means a lot to our IDS Long Island chapter — the new Stony Brook Ronald McDonald House, our current Pay It Forward partner. Jennifer's been with the organization for eighteen years, and she took me all the way back to the be...

This week Brian sits down with Sal Campitiello of East End Interiors, a name just about every designer on Long Island already knows. Sal is past president of the IDS Long Island chapter and has also served on the national board, so he's watched this community grow from the ground up. In this one, Brian and Sal get into the story behind East End — a family business now 36 years in, started by Sal's...

Joe Calise is back on the IDS Podcast — and this time we're not talking smart home systems. Joe first joined me in Season 1 to talk about Sights and Sounds, his home integration business, but this episode is all about IDS itself: how the Long Island chapter became what it is today, and what's happening at the national level where Joe now sits on the board. Joe walks through his own path with IDS,...

In the season two finale of the IDS Podcast, host Brian Berkowitz sits down with Jennifer McGraw , a Long Island-based publicist specializing in PR for interior designers. With a background rooted in luxury home marketing, Jennifer shares her journey into this niche and how she helps designers get featured in top publications, land product collaborations, and even secure book deals. The episode di...

In this episode of the IDS Podcast, host Brian Berkowitz sits down with three rising voices in the interior design industry—Joey from Sights N Sounds , Jessica from Country Carpet , and Hailey from Elements Lighting and Decor . Representing a new generation, each guest shares their journey into their respective family businesses and reflects on the unique challenges and opportunities that come wit...

In this exciting follow-up to last season’s popular episode, Brian Berkowitz reconnects with Jenna Gaidusek, founder of AI for Interior Designers , to explore just how much has changed in the world of tech and AI in the past year. With AI tools evolving at lightning speed, Jenna breaks down what’s new, what’s obsolete, and how interior designers can make smarter use of current technology without f...

In this episode of the IDS Podcast, host Brian Berkowitz sits down with Andrea Magno, Director of Color Marketing & Design at Benjamin Moore, for an insightful conversation about the world of color and design. Andrea shares her journey from art history and interior design to becoming one of the leading voices in color strategy at Benjamin Moore. They explore the psychology behind color choices...

n this episode of the IDS Podcast, host Brian Berkowitz sits down with Nava Slavin from The Creative Edge in Roslyn to explore the art and science of kitchen design. With a background in architecture and decades of hands-on experience, Nava shares her journey from big city architecture firms to running her own boutique design studio. The discussion dives deep into the evolution of kitchen spaces—f...

n this episode of the IDS Podcast, Brian sits down with Hailey, Tim, and Nicole from  Elements Lighting and Decor   in Carle Place to explore how lighting truly defines a space. Hailey, a visual merchandiser and media communications specialist, Nicole, a buyer and analyst, and Tim, the general manager, share their expertise on how lighting goes far beyond being a finishing touch—it’s oft...

In this episode of IDS Podcast, host Brian Berkowitz sits down with Rob Marchese, owner of Zippboxx , a Long Island–based moving and storage company specializing in storage logistics for interior designers. Rob shares the fascinating journey from quitting his masonry job to launching Zippboxx, originally envisioned as an on‑demand storage service. Over time, Zippboxx evolved into a niche operation...

In this insightful episode of the IDS Podcast, host Brian Berkowitz welcomes back Dean Camastro, former President of IDS Long Island and current Northeast Sales Rep for Duravit. As a returning guest this season, Dean brings his deep expertise in bathroom design and construction to an important topic—sustainability in the built environment. Dean and Brian dive into why the bathroom is a crucial spa...

In this episode of the IDS Podcast, host Brian Berkowitz sits down with Melissa Pollack, the Long Island Sales Representative for Phillip Jeffries and the current President of IDS Long Island. Recorded in the beautifully designed Phillip Jeffries showroom in Midtown Manhattan, Melissa shares her journey from interior designer to sales rep, highlighting how she found her passion with Phillip Jeffri...

Wendy Estela, a Connecticut-based attorney who specializes in representing interior designers, joins the IDS Podcast for an insightful conversation on navigating legal challenges in the design world. With over 25 years of experience in transactional law and a strong background in construction law, Wendy shares how her passion for beautiful spaces and connections within the design community led her...

In this episode, Brian sits down with Ronelle Hills from Seigerman's Furniture , a 50,000-square-foot showroom that specializes in customized furniture and offers services to interior designers. The conversation dives into the intricacies of furniture customization, exploring how Seigerman's provides a range of customizable options, from fabrics to dimensions, to meet clients' unique space require...

In this episode, host Brian welcomes Eric Vogel from Coastal Cabinet Works , where they dive into the world of outdoor kitchens. Eric, who leads the outdoor kitchen division, shares his expertise on how outdoor kitchen trends have evolved, especially post-COVID, and offers valuable insights for both homeowners and designers. Eric explains how outdoor kitchens have transitioned from simple setups w...

In this episode of the IDS Podcast, host Brian interviews Marie Byrne, an accomplished interior designer, educator, and the Treasurer of the IDS organization. Marie shares her unique journey from a returning student to a dual career in interior design and education. She currently teaches at Molloy University, where she inspires emerging designers with her passion for both design and teaching. The...

In this episode of the IDS Podcast, the host interviews John Thiessen, founder of the John Thiessen Children's Foundation. John shares the inspiring story of how his own battle with a brain tumor at 17 led him to create a foundation dedicated to helping sick and underprivileged children. He recalls meeting a young girl named Tasha during his hospital stay, whose kindness inspired him to start a ho...

In this engaging episode of the IDS Podcast, host Brian Berkowitz chats with Nancy Ganzekaufer, a business coach specializing in helping interior designers. Nancy, originally from Long Island and now based in Florida, shares her journey from being an art consultant to becoming a prominent figure in the interior design community and a business coach. The episode dives deep into various pricing mode...

In this episode of The IDS Podcast, Estelle Weiss takes over as guest host to interview Brian, an accomplished interior design and architectural photographer. Brian shares his extensive experience, emphasizing the importance of photography in branding for interior designers. He highlights how photography can significantly impact a designer's portfolio, helping secure awards and attract new clients...

In this episode of The IDS podcast, we sit down with Joe Calise, the innovative mind behind Sights-N-Sounds, a company that specializes in home technology solutions. Joe shares his journey from working with car audio systems in high school to now transforming homes with cutting-edge technology. His company, accessible at  hometheater.biz , offers integrated solutions for security systems, sma...

In this episode of The IDS Podcast, Brian welcomes Jenna Gaidusek , an interior designer with a rich background in leveraging technology to enhance her design business. Jenna, fresh off a plane from Charleston, South Carolina, discusses her journey from traditional interior design to founding various tech-driven initiatives. Jenna started her career with a degree in interior design from a college...

In this episode of The IDS Podcast, we feature a unique conversation with two guests, Estelle Weiss of Estelle Weiss Designs and Christine Conti of Christine Conte Interiors . The episode dives into their respective journeys into the world of interior design, highlighting their diverse backgrounds and the pivotal moments that led them to pursue design as a second career. Estelle Weiss began her ca...