Design. Drink. Dish.

Join John and Wendy as they pour a glass of Black Box Pinot Noir (no cocktail this week, and somehow Wendy likes red wine again) and settle the great paper towel debate once and for all. They put Brawny, Bounty, Publix and Publix GreenWise through four tests: texture and feel, reusability and eco-friendliness, Select-A-Size versus full sheet, and a red wine spill test right on the studio table. Wendy makes her case for Viva, the one brand John forgot to bring, and they get into the friend who hangs used paper towels on his towel rack, why a roll on a $15,000 marble island belongs in design jail, and what your paper towel says about your personality. Which brand is in your kitchen? Let them know.

Drink: Black Box Pinot Noir
Pour and enjoy.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/design.drink.dish/

Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/interiorsbyjohnryan/

Follow Wendy: https://www.instagram.com/wendy_lynn_interiors/

00:00 Cold open
00:42 Welcome to season 2, episode 4
01:14 This week's hot topic: paper towels
03:22 The four tests
04:55 Brawny
11:12 Bounty
14:33 Publix brand
16:49 Publix GreenWise
19:09 Viva and the final rankings
20:52 The paper towel personality test
23:39 Wrap up

Join John and Wendy as they pour a glass of Clay Creek Pinot Grigio (no cocktail this week, and the wine does not get a glowing review) and recap their tipsy first Mahjong lesson in Boca. Is wall to wall carpet actually making a comeback? John admits he’s specced it twice in the last four months after five years of none, then shares the consultation where he walked into a garage carpeted eight inches up the walls with a car parked right on it. From there they get into whether designers should reveal their sources, the client whose assistant reverse image searched a dining table over a $1,400 markup, and why your invoices stay in the office. They close with the big one: do clients deserve your trade discount, and what John really thinks of designers who keep the whole discount and charge retail.

Drink: Clay Creek Pinot Grigio
 Pour chilled and enjoy.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/design.drink.dish/
Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/interiorsbyjohnryan/
Follow Wendy: https://www.instagram.com/wendy_lynn_interiors/

00:00 Is carpet back?
 00:39 Welcome and this week’s wine
 02:41 Mahjong night in Boca
 03:58 Is wall to wall carpet making a comeback?
 06:31 Which rooms should get carpet
 07:14 Carpet in a garage
 10:12 Carpet on walls and ceilings
 11:08 Should designers reveal their sources?
 14:05 The client who reverse image searched a table
 17:45 Sharing your contractors with clients
 20:54 Do clients deserve your trade discount?
 24:58 Vendor shout out: Jeffrey Michaels
 27:11 The lost art of the handwritten note
 28:44 Wrap up

Join John and Wendy as they sip on a Paper Plane cocktail and dive into the world of luxury hardwood flooring with special guest Will from Artisan Hardwoods. They discuss the importance of specializing in wood flooring, the unique design elements that set Will's showroom apart, and the challenges of working with different materials in South Florida's humid climate. Will shares insights on the differences between engineered and solid hardwood, and they tackle the debate on whether cabinets should go in before or after flooring installation. Plus, they answer a listener's burning question about what truly defines a luxury hardwood floor. Spoiler alert: it’s all about the process!

Blank line.

Cocktail: Paper Plane

1 oz bourbon

1 oz Nonino

1 oz Aperol

1 oz lemon juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a glass.

Blank line.

New episodes every Tuesday.

00:00-14:08: "Exploring Hardwood Flooring Options and Trends"
33:24-36:56: "Designing with Gray: A Controversial Flooring Debate"
36:56-37:34: Contacting Artists in Hardwoods

Join John and Wendy as they sip on their favorite cocktails—Aperol Spritz and Hugo Spritz—while diving into the exciting world of interior design. In this episode, they share the thrilling news of John's upcoming appearance on HGTV, where he and other designers tackle a renovation in one of America's most haunted houses. They also discuss the highs and lows of participating in show houses, revealing the unexpected costs and the reality behind the promised exposure. Plus, they explore the evolving trends in design, including whether quiet luxury is truly dead and the intriguing idea of separate bedrooms as a new luxury. Tune in to hear their candid takes on these hot topics and more!

Cocktail: Aperol Spritz

3 oz Aperol

3 oz Prosecco

1 oz club soda

Orange wedge for garnish

Combine Aperol, Prosecco, and club soda in a glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange wedge.

New episodes every Tuesday.

00:00-29:00: "Design, Drink, and Dish: Season 2 Kickoff"
29:00-32:35: "Responsibility and Relationships in Design Challenges"
32:41-33:26: "Vendor Relationships and Personal Connections"
33:40-34:42: "Office Etiquette and Upcoming Guests"

John Ryan and Wendy Lynn are back with a behind-the-scenes look at their Holiday House show house collaboration in Wellington, Florida. From getting selected for the inaugural South Florida designer showcase to building an entire luxury bedroom in just five weeks, this episode dives into the reality of designing under pressure, working with sponsors, making bold creative decisions, and creating the room everyone now calls “the sex room.”

The duo shares how their friendship made collaboration seamless, the challenges of sourcing custom pieces on impossible timelines, and the risks they took to create a dark, moody, high-end space that stands out from traditional Palm Beach interiors. They also break down the sponsorship process, vendor relationships, wallpaper drama, custom furniture details, and the design choices that turned their room into one of the most talked-about spaces in the house.

If you love interior design, show houses, luxury finishes, or hearing the unfiltered reality behind the scenes of the design industry, this episode is for you.

Topics include:
 • Holiday House Wellington and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation
 • Designing a luxury room in five weeks
 • Collaboration between two interior designers
 • Creative risks in Palm Beach interiors
 • Sponsorships and vendor relationships
 • Color drenching and moody design trends
 • Custom upholstery, wallpaper, and luxury finishes
 • The story behind the “sex room” nickname

John Ryan and Wendy Lynn dive into the unfiltered realities of running an interior design business. They break down how to handle client questions about markups, why transparency should always live in the contract, and what designers are really responsible for once a product is ordered. The conversation also covers charging friends and family, why those projects often go sideways, the growing cost of vendor sample books, and which expenses designers shouldn’t be footing themselves. Expect real talk, strong opinions, and plenty of champagne-fueled tangents along the way.

 John and Wendy welcome Chris Mygatt, a real estate investor, coach, and vacation rental operator, for a conversation at the intersection of design and real world ROI. They break down why quality design is a competitive advantage in today’s short term rental market, what flippers should look for in a property, the hidden cost of delays, and where homeowners waste money chasing trends. Chris also shares his “Neiman Marcus on the inside, Disneyland on the outside” philosophy and practical advice for anyone getting started in the fix and flip world. 

In Episode 10, we hit double digits without getting canceled (somehow) and bring in a special guest: Clint Craven, Design Marketing Manager at Sherwin-Williams. We get into what “sustainable paint” actually means, how Sherwin is reducing waste, and the surprising tech behind paints that can purify air or sanitize surfaces.

Then we go behind the scenes of Color of the Year—how it’s chosen, why the team is already talking about future years, and what makes Universal Khaki so versatile in real homes. Clint also shuts down one of the biggest paint myths designers hear every day (paint + primer in one… not always what you think), and we finish with the funniest part: the weirdest paint names and where they come from (yes, we go there).

If you’re a designer, homeowner, or anyone who’s ever argued with a painter about primer or sheen—this one’s for you.

John Ryan hosts a solo episode of Design, Drink and Dish while Wendy is under the weather, welcoming Sofia and Amy from Elements and Surfaces, one of South Florida’s top tile and stone showrooms. They break down common marble myths, when natural stone makes sense, why grout should never be an afterthought, and the biggest tile mistakes homeowners and designers make. From trend hot takes to real-world installation advice, this episode is packed with practical insight for anyone planning a renovation or working in design.

Join John and Wendy as they pop some Veuve and dive into the designer’s dilemma. What do you do when your client’s style is the complete opposite of yours, and how do you still deliver a dream home that feels like them, not you. Then they get into the most unrealistic renovation expectations they hear all the time, from timelines and pricing to what contractors can and cannot promise before walls get opened. They also unpack the sustainability lie, how to spot greenwashing, which eco claims are real, and why fully “green” projects can turn into a nightmare fast. Plus, a listener question on where to splurge versus save during a renovation, including kitchens, bathrooms, floors, outdoor spaces, and curb appeal.

Cocktail: Veuve Clicquot with fresh berries
 Garnish with berries and enjoy chilled.