The Chairish Podcast

Los Angeles has long been a city of dreams and a hotbed of creativity and innovation. The city has embraced numerous styles over the years, witnessed the triumph of celebrity culture, and set trends that resonate across the country. So, what’s next, design-wise, for the City of Angels? Three LA designers—Betsy Burnham, Jeff Andrews, and Mimi Shin—talk about creating homes for the city’s new creati...

Designers are surrounded by beautiful objects and work with such talented artisans and craftsmen that it is not surprising many of them are tempted to open a shop or showroom. But is retail really the way to go? Is it worth the effort and expense to bring your aesthetic to the public? Will it help or hinder your design career? Three designers—Meg Braff, Patrick Mele, and Eric Haydel—weigh in on th...

Travel can be inspiring in ways that go way beyond the expected. Product designer, entrepreneur, and frequent traveler Annie Selke loved her stays at Firmdale Hotels in New York and London so much she became a huge fan of their co-founder and designer, Kit Kemp. When the duo finally had the opportunity to work together—with Annie in Massachusetts and Kit in London—on a line of rugs, bedding, and a...

At some point, virtually every designer considers starting their own firm. No matter how much experience and training you have, however, the prospect is scary. Are you cut out for it? Can you build a winning team? Will the clients come? Three designers who have successfully made the transition—Summer Thornton, Leyden Lewis, and Zoë Feldman—share their hard-won wisdom, reveal their early blunders,...

This episode was recorded live at 214 Modern Vintage during High Point Market Week. Michael Boodro hosted Chairish's signature game, Love It Or Hate It, with a panel of A-List designers including Ariene Bethea, David Phoenix, Holly Phillips, Jesse Carrier and Josh Greene. Tune in to hear their no-holds-barred opinions on this year's hottest design trends!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

In honor of Earth Week, we are revisiting   one of our most important episodes, with insights and advice on how designers can become better stewards of the planet. Katie Storey, founder of the Good Future Design Alliance, designer Laurence Carr, and Susan Inglis of the Sustainable Furnishings Council—outline easy steps every designer can take, strategies on how to involve clients, organi...

San Francisco designer Suzanne Tucker has been a force in the design world virtually since she started as “secretary” to iconic designer Michael Taylor, who is credited with creating the California Look. In this intimate look at her career, she talks about her transition to becoming Taylor’s protégé and successor, how she managed to thrive in San Francisco’s male-dominated design scene of the 1980...

Finding the right staff, and holding on to your current team, are two of the biggest challenges facing any design firm. As business has soared during the pandemic, designers have found it increasingly difficult to find and train new hires, and to manage their current staff and keep morale high in the face of remote work and increasing competition for talent. Designers Beth Martin of San Francisco...

Flowers and foliage are a classic way to enhance any room, the finishing touch every designer relies on. But flowers are just as susceptible to fashion and trends as any other element of décor. Just in time for Spring, sought-after florist Ingrid Carozzi, founder of Tin Can Studios, and Frances Palmer, renowned ceramicist, gardener, and Instagram star, talk about their passion for flowers; what’s...

The pandemic and the rise of remote work has had a huge impact on how—and where—Americans want to live. There have been all kinds of reports—often conflicting—on where people are moving, and what it means for the future. Has there been a rush to the suburbs? Are cities dead? And how does it affect designers in the cities that have become hot new destinations? Amanda Pendleton of Zillow gives the l...

Design is conquering TV, with hundreds of hours of shows focusing on renovations, competitions, and make-overs of all kinds. But does appearing on TV really benefit an interior designer’s career? Can you become a TV regular and still maintain a design practice? And now that the grueling behind-the-scenes reality is being revealed, is TV something you should still consider? Three high-end designers...

Few contemporary designers have had the impact of Miles Redd. Even before Instagram, his fresh take on traditional decor, full of exuberant colors, lacquered walls, bold patterns, and faded chintzes inspired a new generation of designers. Here he talks about how his childhood in Atlanta inspired his love for design history, the lessons he learned while working with Oscar de la Renta, why returning...

Forget crowded cocktail parties or stiff, formal dinners. Even prior to the pandemic, the way we entertained was changing. Photos of home-baked bread and elaborate table settings filled social media. So, what’s next for parties, dinners, and gala events? Three experts—Paperless Post founder James Hirschfeld and designers and renowned hostesses Mally Skok and Shelley Johnstone—talk about how Instag...

Supply chain disruptions are rampant, shipping costs have skyrocketed, inflation is on the rise, delivery dates keep being extended, and nerves are frayed. As the pandemic continues to upend the design business, how do you handle the frustrations and disappointment of clients, vendors, staff, artisans, and colleagues? Four industry veterans—designer Frank Ponterio, furniture executive Alex Shuford...

Who starts trends and how do they become ubiquitous? What are the forces behind the scenes that shape what hits the marketplace—and what so many of us ultimately desire? Professional trend forecaster Patti Carpenter, Chicago designer Sasha Adler, and Los Angeles designer Tiffany Howell of Night Palm share their attitude toward trends, what their clients are asking for, the colors that are enticing...

As the design world comes to terms with its lack of representation, diversity and inclusion, Black designers, artists, and artisans are forging ahead, creating collectives and support groups to encourage, inspire, and promote the work of their members. Three members of one such group, the Black Artists and Designers Guild—founder Malene Barnett, interior designer Beth Diana Smith, and furniture ma...

So many designers are publishing beautiful volumes of their work these days, it virtually seems to be a career requirement. But are design books still relevant? What really goes into producing one? And is publishing one something you should consider? Book packager Jill Cohen, publisher Suzanne Slesin, and designer Ashley Whitaker, who just released her first book, reveal the truth behind the gloss...

The generosity of designers is widely known, and the number of benefits and showhouses to raise funds for worthy causes make clear how much designers care. But expensive black- tie dinners and elaborate room makeovers aren’t the only ways to help. Three top talents—Charlotte Moss, James Huniford, and Kelly Finley—discuss their innovative philanthropic work, how their clever ideas and hands-on appr...

Building, renovating, and redesigning involves vast quantities of shipping, packaging, and waste but in the face of climate change, designers are beginning to grapple with sustainability. But what can a single designer do? Three experts—Katie Storey, founder of the Good Future Design Alliance, designer Laurence Carr, and Susan Inglis, executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council—...

Beautiful images of their work have become a necessary tool for any designer—used everywhere from websites to social media to magazines, books, and newspapers. But how do you find the right photographer? How much will you need to pay? And how do you turn what can be a fraught process into a rewarding, creative endeavor? Chairish's photo editor Julia Duquette and acclaimed interiors photograph...

This summer’s severe weather—floods, droughts, wildfires—made it more clear than ever that we need to become better stewards of the planet. But how can home design and fashion become more responsive? Jennifer Sey, Executive Vice President & President of Levi’s Brand and Anna Brockway, Co-Founder & President of Chairish discuss how their respective industries are changing, why vintage is cr...

Even before Covid, housing shortages, high rents, and rising real estate prices were challenging the ideal of the single-family home. Now the pandemic has disrupted the living situation of thousands of elder parents and young adults, made clear the central importance of family, and led to thousands of multi-generational households. But what to do when a family expands, but its space doesn’t? ...

After a rough year, hotels and restaurants are back. Gatherings are happening, and travel will continue, but has the pandemic changed what we expect when we go out, or when we check in? How do designers make people feel safe and cared for? Three top hospitality designers—Pamela Babey of BAMO, Matt Berman of Workshop/APD, and Adam Farmerie of AvroKO— share their insights on how business travel will...

Austin is perhaps the most creative, bohemian city in Texas—the state capitol, a college town, a hub for music, food, and fun. But it is also one of the fastest growing cities in the US, with an influx of tech companies and entrepreneurs. In the face of all the new wealth and gentrification, what is to become of the city’s design scene? Three passionate Austin lovers—designers Fern Santini, Avery...

Americans have had a long love affair with British style, but the relaxed, layered, and richly detailed rooms the British seem to create so effortlessly often don’t jibe with the hectic American lifestyle—or the pared-down architecture of so many American houses and apartments. It isn’t easy to live the Downton Abbey life on this side of the Atlantic. Yet a new generation of young US designers and...