LivLive: Design, Building, and the Business of Remodeling

This is a production-team roundtable on what it’s really like executing remodels and additions in the field—especially in older homes where unknowns and contradictions are the norm. The team talks about how they make assumptions to keep projects moving while staying ready for Plan B / Plan C , and how field leaders solve problems when drawings meet reality. There are real examples: two homes that...

Dave talks with Charlie Raith—also his nephew—about Charlie’s path through youth hockey , into the USHL , and then four years of D1 hockey at Notre Dame . The conversation focuses on what actually separates strong programs and it's parallels in the professional world of business: coaching culture , leadership systems inside the locker room, and how players develop decision-making under pressur...

This episode is a live, behind-the-scenes look at LivCo’s Feasibility Design process with the design team walking through an active concept plan for a home in Orland Park . The team breaks down what’s not working in the existing layout—especially a dated plan with too many columns , awkward circulation, and strange geometry (including a 45-degree wall )—and how those constraints shape early concep...

Todd Kuhlman returns for a sequel episode and goes deeper on the Illinois Tech athletics master plan work—specifically how to rethink the baseball field / stadium area , spectator experience, and support spaces on IIT’s campus. Todd and Dave talk through the campus context (including Mies’ planning logic and later buildings like the Kaplan/McCormick era), and how a new athletics footprint can feel...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard sits down with Todd Kuhlman for a wide-ranging conversation that blends architecture culture, prototyping, and real-world project delivery . Todd walks through his early career at Optima , including how he came up under David Hovey , and what it was like working in an environment where nearly every project felt like a prototype. They talk about the pr...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard reconnects with Brad Novak , a longtime colleague who recently moved into a Senior IT Manager role at HOK in Atlanta, supporting multiple offices across the Southeast . Brad shares what it looks like to run technology inside a global architecture firm — from supporting teams day-to-day to scaling systems across regions and offices. A major thread of t...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard sits down with Matt and Becky , the founders of Rough Bones Creative , for a candid conversation about creativity, storytelling, and building a values-driven creative business. Matt and Becky share how Rough Bones Creative approaches branding and visual storytelling, focusing on authenticity, narrative clarity, and helping clients articulate who they...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard talks with Greg Woleck , a carpenter by trade, about the role of craft, hands-on experience, and learning by doing in the construction world. Greg shares his path through carpentry and residential construction, discussing how working with his hands shaped the way he thinks about quality, responsibility, and leadership. The conversation focuses on what...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard sits down with Allie Rood , filmmaker and storyteller, to dig into her decade-long journey making Prickly Mountain: And My Design/Build Life , a feature documentary rooted in her upbringing in the Mad River Valley of Vermont and the unconventional architecture movement that shaped her life. Allie shares how living in and around the design/build commun...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard sits down with David Hercules , founder of Hercules Design Build , to talk about the realities of running projects, leading teams, and delivering residential construction work day in and day out. David shares his perspective as an owner-operator, discussing how builders manage risk, client expectations, and real-world constraints once construction beg...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard speaks with Gregg Cantor of Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel about leading and evolving a long-standing residential remodeling firm. Gregg shares lessons from decades in the industry, including how the company has adapted to changing markets, client expectations, and internal growth while maintaining quality and culture. The conversation explores...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard sits down with Kimberly Canada of Park & Patina for a thoughtful conversation about interior design, collaboration, and the realities of working across design and construction. Kimberly shares her perspective on building a design practice rooted in clarity, trust, and intentional decision-making. The discussion explores how interior designers navi...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard sits down with Zach Snider of Alloy Design + Build for a candid conversation about residential remodeling, leadership, and the realities of operating within a growing design-build organization. The discussion draws from real project and business experience to explore how design intent translates into construction, how teams manage complexity at scale,...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard sits down with Paul McManus of McManus Kitchen & Bath for a practical conversation about what actually drives growth in a design-focused remodeling business: marketing that feels real , systems that scale , and pricing that supports the work . Paul breaks down how they think about website strategy (why portfolio posts don’t move the SEO needle the...

In this episode of LivLive , Dave talks with Jeremy Steinruck of Axis Construction about what it’s like building a construction business in Wichita Falls, Texas —and how the local economy, culture, and client base shape the work. Jeremy gives a grounded snapshot of the region: the stabilizing influence of Sheppard Air Force Base (a NATO training base) , the presence of Midwestern State University...

In this episode of LivLive , Dave sits down with Scott Edmondson , founder of C-Studio , to talk about the realities of running a practice split between coastal work in Bethany Beach and a growing presence in Philadelphia . They start with shared roots at Virginia Tech Architecture and reflect on the culture of architecture school—critiques, confidence, and the very real undercurrent of imposter s...

In this episode of LivLive , Dave reconnects with Ross Barney to talk about building a practice that spans teaching, public-sector work, and design experimentation —and what led to the founding of TUMU Studio . Ross shares the origin story of TUMU and why operating a small studio changes how you think about growth (including the practical realities of expanding across locations). They also get int...

In this episode of LivLive , host Dave Pollard sits down with Anna Zurek , LivCo’s lead interior designer, for a real-world look at what interior design actually looks like inside a design-build firm—especially once a client moves into Detailed Design . Anna walks through how selections really happen (and why they take time): starting with appliances , then working into cabinetry , tile compositio...

In Episode 0000003 of LivLive , Dave sits down with LivCo Co-founder Russ Head for a personal, behind-the-scenes conversation about how he found his way into construction—and how that background shaped the way he thinks about building, problem-solving, and partnering with design. Russ starts with his Chicago upbringing (including the “kids taking the bus + the L to Cubs games” era), then walks thr...