Business of Home Podcast

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the industry, including a controversial leaked memo from Wayfair’s CEO, the breakup of a successful design duo, and a look at what trend forecasters are saying about 2024. Later, Alexa Hampton shares her new book and her resolutions for 2024. This episode was sponsored by Loloi Rugs LINKS Alexa Hampton Desig...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss a big turnaround in interest rates, Australia’s ban on engineered stone, and a new study on Gen Z’s love of dupes. Later, BOH editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen and retail columnist Warren Shoulberg join the show to recap an eventful year.   LINKS Dennis Scully Business of Home

As a sales rep, Brooks Morrison kept encountering two problems. Small, independent textile brands were getting lost in massive multiline showrooms—and designers in smaller cities often had to drive hours to visit the nearest design center. In 2019, Morrison launched The Design Social, a traveling pop-up where the creative talents behind indie brands could showcase their work directly for designers...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the industry, including this year’s AD100, a brutal quarter for RH, and change at the top for Food52. Later, Chad Stark discusses why his company's latest moves around pricing transparency don't mean Stark Carpet is going all in on DTC.   LINKS Stark Carpet Ashley Stark Home Dennis Scully Business of Home

The last time Ethan Allen CEO Farooq Kathwari was on the podcast, he told the incredible story of his journey from a boyhood in Kashmir and Pakistan to the top of one of the furniture industry’s most venerable companies. This time he sticks to the present day, discussing Ethan Allen’s post-pandemic challenges and opportunities.  Kathwari tells host Dennis Scully why smaller is better for his compa...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the industry, including a big AI investment from Airbnb, a study on the state of luxury, and a surprising new board member for House of Hackney. Later, designer Heidi Caillier joins the show to talk about her debut book, Memories of Home . LINKS Heidi Caillier Memories of Home Dennis Scully Business of Home

In the late 1990s, driven by a love of craft, Soane founder Lulu Lytle took a road trip throughout Britain to meet artisans and makers. For the past 25 years she’s built a business around them, creating a collection of furniture, lighting and fabric all made in the UK (and beloved by interior designers around the world). On this episode of the podcast, Lytle speaks with host Dennis Scully about op...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the industry, including a new CEO for Design Manager, a pair of RH gallery openings, and an update on the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams story. Later, designer Amber Lewis joins the show to talk about her new book, Call It Home .  This episode is sponsored by Loloi and Annie Selke LINKS Amber Lewis Call It Hom...

Raffaele and Caterina Fabrizio are the brother and sister team behind Italian fabric brand Dedar. Founded in 1976 by their parents, the Fabrizios have taken the company into the next generation, establishing it in Europe as a vibrant presence bringing the energy of fashion to fabric. On this episode of the podcast, they tell host Dennis Scully about their collaboration with Hermes, tackling the Am...

The last time interior designer David Netto was on the Business of Home Podcast, he spoke about the changing state of design media, and the importance of books. Now he’s got a book of his own to discuss, a monograph covering twenty projects from the full scope of a celebrated career.  On this episode of the show, he chats with host Dennis Scully about why it’s better to have no projects at all tha...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the industry, including a new twist in the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams saga, a 1stdibs trend report, and a look at what the latest inflation numbers mean for designers. Later designer Ashley Whittaker explains why she's pivoting to a new career. This episode is sponsored by Loloi and Annie Selke LINKS Ashle...

The son of an entrepreneur, Robert Stilin was raised to go into business—as a boy, he read the Wall Street Journal and dreamed of a career in private equity. But when he moved to Palm Beach as a young man, he found himself drawn instead to design,  opening a shop and taking on local projects. Decades later, Robert is one of the industry’s most celebrated talents, regularly featuring on Elle Decor...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the design industry, including an uptick in luxury home sales, a look at the Dallas Kips Bay Decorator Show House, and an update on the legal battle between artists and AI. Later, Vesta founder Julian Buckner explains why he thinks subscription furniture has a future.  This episode is sponsored by Loloi and...

Raised on a small farm in her native Sweden, Beata Heuman moved to London in her twenties and learned the trade working for celebrity designer Nicky Haslam. Once out on her own, she quickly became known for exuberant colors and a playful, nostalgic approach to design. After the product side of Beata’s business took off, her husband John Finlay left behind a corporate law career to help run the bra...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the design industry, including a major shakeup in the real estate industry, Pinterest's great quarter, and the decline of the home office. Later, journalist Chris Moody shares takeaways from his deep dive into the world of white paint.   This episode is sponsored by Loloi and Annie Selke LINKS Chris Moody 'I...

John Gabbert grew up in his father’s  business—Gabberts, a popular furniture chain in the midwest—but in the late 1970s he split off on his own. The result was Room & Board, a furniture brand focused on modern design; American manufacturing, and a slow-and-steady pace of growth that has paid off over the decades.  On this episode of the podcast, Gabbert speaks with host Dennis Scully about the bus...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the design industry,including a design media shake-up, an update on the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams bankruptcy, and a look at Gwenyth Paltrow’s new experiment in Hospitality. Later, Christi Barbour, the High Point Market Authority's first interior designer board chair, shares her thoughts on an evolving mar...

Known for her striking use of materials and bold style, interior designer Cara Woodhouse is proof that there’s no single path to success in the design industry—she’s overseen large firms and small firms, developed product lines, dabbled in e-commerce, real estate development and even created a jewelry line. On this episode of the podcast, she speaks with host Dennis Scully about how building an in...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the design industry, including Z Gallerie's bankruptcy, Walmart's AI design experiment, and a look at the latest housing numbers. Later, BOH editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen and retail columnist Warren Shoulberg recap High Point Market.  This episode is sponsored by Four Hands and Design Manager LINKS Dennis...

As one half of the acclaimed duo Diamond Baratta, Anthony Baratta spent his early career at the top of the design world. The firm’s joyously colorful spin on classic American design won it constant press coverage and countless accolades. But after the departure and tragic passing of his partner William Diamond, Baratta had to reinvent the firm, and himself.  On this episode of the podcast, he spea...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the design industry, including some new developments with the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams bankruptcy case, the acquisition of an iconic wallpaper brand, and a look at what’s selling in the world of vintage furniture. Later, BOH editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen discusses the magazine's fall technology issue,...

Hunter and Meredith Ellis are the husband-and-wife team behind the James network of showrooms. The Ellises make for an intriguing pair: Before starting James, Meredith was a designer—Hunter was a news anchor and navy pilot. Together they’ve created a fast-growing, much-admired showroom business with locations in Austin, Dallas, Houston and soon, New York.   On this episode of the podcast, the Elli...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the design industry, including Shopify and Faire teaming up, an illness afflicting quartz fabricators, and Banana Republic's big push into home. Later, T Magazine design editor Tom Delavan joins the show and shares his thoughts on ivory boucle, quiet luxury, and what it takes for a project to catch his eye....

There are long-lived design firms, and then there’s McMillen: The venerable New York institution is currently celebrating its 99th year in business. Along the way McMillen has served as a proving ground for designers like Mark Hampton and Albert Hadley, and completed projects for everyone from Babe Paley to Microsoft’s Paul Allen. McMillen is not a family firm, but president Ann Pyne and her daugh...

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the design industry, including some new developments at High Point Market, what neuroscience can tell us about it, and why Kelly Wearstler is experimenting with AI. Later, furniture industry investor James O'Brien, the portfolio manager at Great Ocean Road Advisors, joins the show to share his thoughts on RH...