The Chaise Lounge Podcast

Design by HW Design. Click the image for more info!Ron Werner and Marc MolinskyToday in The Lounge, Nick chats with Ron Werner of HW Home. A native of Chicago, Ron began his professional career as a stockbroker prior to opening a series of home furnishing store. Next, Nick sits down with Marc Molinsky of Designer Advantage for a fascinating conversation about his years of working with designers, as well as current industry trends and billing best practices.Ron WernerRon is an interior designer based in Boulder, Colorado, who has had a fascinating journey from stockbroker to interior designer.Early BeginningsRon began his career as a stockbroker in Chicago, Illinois,  after graduating with a Bachelors in Economics from Indiana University. He says his years as a broker taught him the ins and outs of running a small business, and later, on a trip to Boulder, Colorado to visit his sister, Ron decided to move to the area and open his own shop along with his partner, Jim, who was currently running a Holly Hunt show

Intercontinental Hotel Los Angeles, by Amy Jakubowski and Wilson Associates. Click on the image for more info! Amy Jakubowski: International Design Today in the Lounge Nick speaks with Amy Jakubowski live from BD West in LA. Amy talks about how she she got started in interior design at young age, what she does working for Wilson Associates, and some qualities she looks for in interns. Getting to Know Amy On Amy’s coffee table you would find two candles, a book on 1950’s California design, and plant that’s still alive. She loves to travel for work and also takes trips with her friends -- this year it’s a jaunt in Croatia. One of her projects has even taken her to Minsk, and she loves going back to Paris. Beer, wine, or cocktail? She loves rosés in the afternoon and reds at night, but if it isn’t a nightcap, she prefers a cocktail. Click on the image to see the complete portfolio of the Intercontinental Hotel Los Angeles! How Amy got into Interior Design Amy’s passion for interior design grew when she was th

High Point Spring Market 2018: Christi Barbour Today in The Lounge we air the last of our High Point Spring Market coverage, kicking the episode off with the Nick May Morning Show co-hosted by Catherine Hersacher of Bespoke Interiors featuring Jane Dagmi of Designers Today, Shay Geyer of IBB Design, Lynai Jones of Mitchell Black, LuAnn Nigara, and Garrison Hullinger. Garrison chats about branching out to High Point to stand out from other West Coast designers and explains why he is constantly telling friends “no design for wine!” Next, Nick sits down with Christi Barbour, an incredible designer based in High Point with the firm Barbour Spangle Design. As a local, she's able to offer an incredible perspective on the Spring Market! Christi's Story Christi is from High Point and grew up no more than ten miles from the market. On her coffee table, you can find Kelly Wearstler and Chanel design books, as well as flowers. Her favorite accessory is a pair of Tom's shoes, and her favorite city is Paris. Getting int

High Point Spring Market 2018: Thom Filicia Today in The Lounge, Nick continues his journey at High Point Market. We start off with with a snapshot of The Nick May Morning Show co-hosted Joseph Haecker of Dezign Wall. Guest appearances include Dorothy Willetts of Willets Design, Bobbi Jo Engelby of Domain Interiors, Michelle Wiebe of Studio M and Zandy Gammons & Liles Dunnigan of The Warehouse 1924. Join in through the live video on our Facebook Page! Then join Nick and designer/TV personality Thom Filicia of Thom Filicia Inc live from the showroom floor at Listen to Thom answer fan questions while discussing his early days as a designer, his experience on Queer Eye, and his upcoming new projects.Early BeginningsThom Filicia grew up in Syracuse, NY, and realized that he wanted to be a designer in the 5th grade when he drew an elaborate McMansion on his elementary school desk -- even though he got in trouble. Later, Thom entered into an advanced art program at school and went on to study art and design, ul

High Point Spring Market 2018: Disruption or Innovation? High Point Spring Market 2018: Disruption or Innovation?Today in The Lounge we continue our coverage of High Point Spring Market 2018, kicking-off the episode with highlights from The Nick May Morning Show co-hosted by Dixie Willard and Rachel Moriarty of Design+Style Podcast  to interview Lindsay Paoli of Design Manager, Shayla Copas of Shayla Copas Interiors, and Holly Hollingswoth Phillips, Florence Broadhurst Brand Ambassador/owner of The English Room and Florence. Find the live video on our Facebook Page.Next, Nick facilitates a panel called "Navigating the Turmoil of Industry Consolidation" -- inspired in part by the controversial acquisition of IvyMark by Houzz -- but the panel becomes a broader discussion about what's going on in the industry and how some designers are adapting their business models. Panelists are Cheryl Kees Clendenon of In Detail Designers; Laura Thurman of Thurman Design Studio; Neil Mackenzie from Universal Furniture; Re

High Point Spring Market 2018: Passion Sucks Today in The Lounge Nick sits down at High Point Market with an all-star panel to discuss “Passion Sucks. It’s All About the Money!” a forum on taking an interior design business from dreams to not only creative but financial success. On the panel is Robin Baron of Robin Baron Design in NYC; California-based designer and real estate star Barrie Livingstone (who was also Nick’s first-ever guest in The Lounge!); and David Charette of outstanding design firm Britto Charette in Miami.Also, enjoy highlight os The Morning Show with Barrie Livingstone who joins Nick as co-host to interview Jeffrey Johnson of Jeffrey Design LLC, Gary Pettit of Seasonal Living, Libby Langdon, and Kelli Ellis. Find the full live video on our Facebook Page.The Nit and Grit of GrowthNick and the designers agree that there’s no shortage of passion in the interior design industry, so the difference between firms that sink or swim are smart business practices. The panel tackles everything fro

Vicky Serany: Southern Studio #gallery-3 { margin: auto; } #gallery-3 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-3 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-3 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */ Today in the Lounge Nick sits down with Vicky Serany, founder, and principal of the interior design firm Southern Studio. They chat about the beauty of living in North Carolina, how Vicky has had tremendous success with her firm, and the pros and cons of business practices like outsourcing, management, and social media marketing.Vicky’s StoryVicky hails from the beautiful city of Cary, North Carolina. Not only is Cary her favorite place she’s lived, but Vicky also loves to vacation at her family’s small beach cottage in the north of the state -- that is when she’s not exploring the world with her husband. She

Industry: Phyllis Harbinger and Daryl Calfee This Friday in the Lounge Nick is joined by Daryl Calfee, Vice President of Marketing for leather manufacturer and Chaise Lounge sponsor Moore & Giles, for a fascinating conversation on the history and art of luxury leather production. Plus, Moore & Giles will be giving away a FREE luxury bag for listeners who follow The Chaise Lounge podcast on social media. Details coming soon! Next, Nick chats with monthly speaker Phyllis Harbinger about hiring smart to make sure that your firm never suffers from employee issues.Daryl Calfee: Leather is a LuxuryNick sits down with Daryl Calfee, VP of Marketing for leather producer — and newest Chaise Lounge sponsor — Moore and Giles.The Moore and Giles StoryDaryl says that you’ve probably sat on Moore and Giles leather — and may even have it in your home — without knowing it. The company has been based out of Lynchburg, Virginia since the 1930s, when its founder, Donald Gray Moore, was laid off from his gig working at a loca

Kristen Thomas: Timeless, Simple Designs Today in the Lounge Nick speaks with Kristen Thomas from Denver, CO. They chat about how she got into interior design, how she runs her business with her husband, and how she balances a successful career with family life. Getting to Know Kristen Kristen was born and raised in Utah and stuck around until the age of 19, when she moved out of state for college and left permanently with her husband several years later to move to California. She can’t emphasize how much she loves the Golden State, where she has raised her two kids. Kristen says that her house is still unfinished, but she adores her office and its floor-to-ceiling bookcases. When she’s not working, she enjoys listening to books on tape and loves to vacation in sunny Hawaii. How Kristen Got Started in Interior Design Growing up, Kristen learned a variety of DIY skills from her father, who was always doing projects around the house. Her Interior Design career began full-time about ten years ago when she left

Jodie O' Connor and John DupraToday in The Lounge, Nick chats with Jodie O’Connor from Jodie O' Designs. Learn about Jodie’s unique transition to design and her latest marketing initiatives. Up next, Nick interviews John Dupra of Revel Woods. Revel Woods is an online retailer of luxury hardwoods selling to both designers and end users. Learn more about their company origins, curated product selections, and exclusive trade programs.Jodie O'Connor: An Entrepreneurial SpiritAs a young child, Jodie’s parents taught her that you can do anything you want if you work hard. After receiving a degree in English from Seton Hall University in northern NJ, she realized that deep down inside she wanted to do design. She eventually went back to school with an entrepreneurial spirit to study design, working as a designer and studying simultaneously. She realized that she did not want to make a starting intern’s salary, as at this point in her life, she was older and had small children. However, she did not have the needed ex

Rob Klein & Amy Kreutz: Kitchen Design-off Today in the Lounge Nick Speaks with Rob Klein and Amy Kreutz from Carmel, Indiana. Rob and Amy are partners at Conceptual Kitchens. They talk about how they each fell into the design world, even though it wasn't exactly what they thought they wanted to do. They also talk about the unique kitchens they design for clients whether the budget is big or small. Getting to Know Rob and Amy Rob and Amy are partners in business. Rob grew up and has lived in Carmel almost all his life. Amy grew up in a small rural town outside of Indianapolis. She attended Ball State University in Muncie. Amy’s favorite fashion accessory is her watch because it's stylish and.... she’s always a tad late to the office. Rob’s favorite inspirational books are military books. Beer, Wine, or Cocktail? Rob prefers straight tequila. Amy prefers wine. How Rob and Amy got their Start Amy got interested in design from her art classes. She would play in the yard with her brother and create homes and

Danielle Sylvia: 30 Under 30 Today in The Lounge, Nick chats with Danielle Sylvia, a recipient of NKBA’s “30 Under 30” award at 2018’s KBIS convention. She talks about what got her interested in interior design, how she got started, and what her plans are for the future. Getting to Know Danielle Danielle grew up in Rochester, Massachusetts. She was always interested in interior design from having watched HGTV at age seven and building homes in The Sims computer game. When she’s not working, she’s chilling out at her new home or working on decorating it. She enjoys cranberry vodkas and wearing rings or anything made from rose gold. Coastal Living Danielle went to Point Loma Nazarene University in California for a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Interior Design. She got two internships during her schooling first by applying then providing a portfolio of her school projects during the interview. Now, Danielle has moved back to her hometown in Massachusetts where she works for KB Details. She works on projects

Kendall Simmons: Southern Charm with an Edge Today in The Lounge, Nick talks to Kendall Simmons of Kendall Simmons Interiors, Southern charm with an edge. Kendall talks about her journey to design, how she developed and grew her business, and plans for the future (hint: E-Design!). Kendall's Journey to Design Kendall was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, but lived in Tennessee for high school and has relocated back to Nashville, and loves it there. She grew up in a home with a very artful and creative mother and believes this is where her interest in design developed. She has traveled all over the world and feels that when you are limited in language by being in another country or culture, you become an observer and really pay attention to lots of visual information. Kendall knew she wanted to pursue design in college and said she was able to intern during the summers for a few weeks at a time. During these internships, she felt she really learned valuable information about what she did and didn’t want to do

200th Episode - Design Bloggers Conference Today in The Lounge, Nick celebrates his 200th episode at The Design Bloggers Conference, an integral reason for how The Chaise Lounge has gotten to where it is today. Special shout out to Design Manager, one of the first sponsors of the show, Benjamin Moore who has been with the show from the beginning, and Porcelanosa. Nick chats with designer and fellow podcaster, Rachel Moriarity, Jeanine and Brian from Aprhochic, Tina Nicole co-founder of Nathan Anthony, the ladies of Four Friends Designs, award-winning fabric designer Mally Skok and finally concludes with Caroline Hipple of Norwalk Furniture and Aviva Stanoff. Stay tuned to the end of the show for the latest Chaise Lounge Updates and JLF Contest Announcement! Rachel Moriarty Rachel Moriarty is attending The Design Bloggers Conference for the second time. This year she is attending as both a designer and a podcaster. She is now in the second year of her Podcast, Design + Style, which she produces twice a week

Industry: Personal Branding Today in The Lounge Nick speaks with Phyllis Harbinger about an important topic, personal branding. As a bit of twist, Nick gets interviewed by Phyllis this week. She asks about how KBIS went for Nick and how doing the podcasts affects Nicks first business, Walls by Design. Both Phyllis and Nick give advice on how to figure out your own personal brand and finally, they discuss Nick's wants in the near future for his podcasts. How Does Nick Do It All? During KBIS, Nick was in the midsts of starting his painting podcast, The Business Brush. He was able to work with Home Advisor and interview the guys from This Old House. As a result of Nick traveling a lot, he decided to start a Facebook Live show, every Wednesday called, Where in the World is Nick? Nick says that podcasting as a whole has elevated his name and brand in the industry. His painting business, Walls By Design, is so successful because of his great team paving the way for him to be away and trust they can handle the busin

Betsy Nathan: Collecting Feng Xue Today in The Lounge, Nick chats with Betsy Nathan from Chicago about her business, Pagoda Red. Betsy had been collecting 18th and 19th-century Chinese furniture and putting them in a gallery until recently, where she is now beginning to branch out into African and European art. She and Nick talk about her inspirations and what fuels her interest in art and furniture. China in the 1990s Betsy is the youngest in a family of four siblings with a considerable age gap between her and them. Her older siblings traveled around the world as she was growing up and brought back exciting stories about where they had been, which inspired her to do the same when she grew up. Betsy's mother was also a contemporary art dealer who exposed her to the world of art throughout her upbringing. In her adulthood, Betsy worked for a cross-cultural consulting firm in the 1990s that worked with many Chinese clients. This eventually prompted her to live in China for two years to study Mandarin. While st

Margaret McMahon From Temp to Managing Director Today in the Lounge Nick speaks with Margaret McMahon, the Managing Director for Wimberly Interiors from WATG. Margaret talks about her unusual introduction into the interior design world, what her job at WATG entails, and what she looks for when she hires interns. Getting to Know Margaret Margaret McMahon grew up in Douglaston, Queens. Her favorite vacation spot is Ireland. She loves road trips, the people and the bad weather from there. She went to school and attended SUNY Albany and then DIS, Danish International Studies in Copenhagen. Beer, wine, or cocktail? She hasn’t had alcohol in 9 years. She pretends to be drinking with a club soda, cranberry juice, and a lime. How Margaret Got Her Start When her father refused to pay for law school, Margaret windsurfed and smoked pot instead. Her mother ended up helping her by telling her to go to Kelly Services, a temp agency, and find a job. Trisha Wilson Associates was hiring for someone to cut matboards. Margaret

(Click the photos for more information!) Laura Thurman- Nashville Design with LA Flair Today in The Lounge, Nick chats with Laura Thurman of Thuman Design Studio. Learn about Laura’s pathway to design, her transition from LA to Nashville, and how she harnesses the power of networking and social media to grow her interior design business. Pathway to Design Originally from LA, Laura Thurman moved to Nashville, TN five years ago. As a child, she enjoyed painting, drawing, dancing and re-arranging her bedroom furniture. These interests ultimately lead to her future career as an Interior Designer. After receiving her degree in Interior Architecture from Woodbury University, Laura began freelancing as a graphic designer in LA, before landing a job with a commercial furniture dealer.  While working in commercial sales she learned how form and function plays a crucial role in product selection and how to think both ergonomically and spatially. After working in commercial sales Laura went on to work for local resident

David Phoenix: Daring Self-Starter Today in The Lounge, Nick interviews David Phoenix, a daring self-starter who shot out on his own with only his ideas and passion to back him. We learn how David went from being jobless in the 1990s to working with millionaires overnight, all without college experience or the internet to guide his way. Getting to Know David David was born and raised in New England just west of Boston. He now lives in Los Angeles, California and has been living there since 1984. Watches are his favorite fashion accessory while his favorite vacation spot is Fiji. The room he likes the least in his house is his walk-in pantry/ closet and while he doesn’t drink, he does enjoy Pellegrino with a squeeze of lime. Oh the Places He Would Go In his mid-teens, David had a mentor who would take him through furniture stores where he would take home the magazines they had out and trace over the pictures. After high school, he attended design school for a single day before deciding the environment was not

Anna Kenoff - Morpholio Apps Today in the Lounge Nick speaks with Anna Kenoff, co-founder of Morpholio, all the from New York. Anna and Nick discuss how Morpholio began, how it launched four different apps and, the costs and benefits of using Morpholio professionally. Getting to Know Anna Anna grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. She stayed there until she went to architecture school in Virginia. That’s when she made her way up to New York and practiced architecture for ten years while also obtaining her masters from Colombia. What is Morpholio? In New York, Anna worked on a lot of medium-scale commercial projects. When the iPad came out, she had an idea. If she was going to have such a powerful device in her hands, she wanted to be able to utilize it to show off her work. That is when Anna and her three partners, friends from grad school, created Morpholio Design Portfolio App. Additionally, they designed a feature to able to draw on top of your work, which eventually became its own standalone app called