Design Time

Jean Brownhill, founder and CEO of Sweeten, really understands homeowners’ needs when jumping into a renovation project. She learned by personal experience both as an architect and a first-time homeowner while renovating her brownstone in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. After learning from a mis-hired contractor and her own mistakes, and seeing an opportunity in the market to empower homeowners and contractors, Jean decided to launch Sweeten in 2011. She provides an invaluable service—connecting homeowners with vetted and certified contractors and providing tools to aid in the process, including budgeting, bidding guidelines, financial protection, and planning—and is an inspiring innovator and visionary. Sweeten experienced massive growth in 2020, with so many people at home really experiencing their spaces and planning how to make them function better. Specializing in projects big and small, Jean and her team have seen it all when it comes to renovations. So if you’re thinking of taking one on, listen in…you’ll want to take notes.

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For our last episode of 2020, Jessica Romm Perez and Domino editors Kate Berry and Alex Redgrave sit down for a special chat about all things kids. The team was so excited to launch Domino Kids this year and support families with hardworking ideas and fun. Our theme, “Kids Rule the House,” would actually become a reality—and the team quickly saw the need for parents to gain advice on how to set up that homeschool station in a small space; put together an organization strategy that tames some of the toy chaos; and—maybe most important—create a home where everyone can still have fun together, be creative, and make special moments even during challenging times.

The resident moms of Team Domino have been scattered around since March: Kate stayed in her Manhattan apartment with her husband and 7-year-old daughter, Quinn; Alex and her husband and 2-year-old son, Mischa, went to live with family in Canada; and Jess has been moving around with her family of five a lot, between their apartment in New York and rentals upstate. It’s been a wild ride, so listen in as they look back and share what they’ve learned!

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Roman Alonso and his Los Angeles–based creative studio, Commune Design, have had a hand in defining what many associate with the modern California aesthetic. Layered, collected, built to last—these are the signatures of Commune’s work. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Roman defined his career as a visionary creative, working across fashion, interiors, and publishing. From the time he founded his groundbreaking studio, Roman and his team have been incredibly prolific, designing textural, layered environments for hotels, restaurants, and retail and residential interiors. With a holistic creative approach that values community and collaboration, the team fuses historic references and global perspective with product design across almost every category imaginable. Listen in as Roman shares his thoughts on some of the most exciting interiors of the past two decades.

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Nate Berkus is a role model in so many senses of the word. As an interior designer, megawatt TV celebrity, businessman, and industry thought leader, he’s changed the course of how designers think about what’s possible in their careers. Nate’s aspirational approach to interiors is communicated in language that is attainable, accessible, and uniquely his own. He established his design firm at 24 years old and launched his TV career on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show and later with his own hit series, The Nate Berkus Show. Nate has product lines for the Shade Store, Target, and Kravet, as well as a furniture collection for Living Spaces. Beyond product, it’s his soulful approach to design and family that really strikes us. Listen in as we catch up with Nate as he shares the ways he and husband Jeremiah Brent and their two kids, Poppy and Oscar, have been sharing this time of unique togetherness.

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On a very special episode of Design Time, we were able to get two of our contributors—Sarah Sherman Samuel, our cover star from last winter’s Renovation issue, and our newly anointed cover star, Leanne Ford—to talk about the concept of coming home, which is something we have all done in some capacity this year. Their hilarious, heartfelt chat is filled with reno gold, and the two buddies, who have both left Los Angeles to move home—Sarah to Michigan and Leanne to Pennsylvania—are seeing their careers blossom in inspiring new directions. There is a lot to learn from these two, and we hope you love it. Don’t forget to pick up our Winter Renovation issue featuring Leanne’s new home and so much more. It will inspire and guide you through your next reno project, big or small.

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Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors has had a really big year. Team Domino is constantly talking about her expert renovations and calming, light-filled spaces—and her three shops in Los Angeles have seen incredible growth this year, as everyone has been focused on nesting. Amber’s recent best-selling book, Made for Living: Collected Interiors for All Sorts of Styles, dives into the art of layering and focuses on how we create spaces that are warm, welcoming, cozy, and—most important—a reflection of what we love and value. Despite her massive following and successful career, Amber is approachable and funny and doesn’t take design too seriously. You can really feel that joy in her spaces, and isn’t that ultimately how we all should live? In this episode, she dives deep on the recent renovation of her L.A. house, what materials give you the most bang for your buck, and how everyone should reimagine their home to be more comfortable for daily living.

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It’s 2020, and Ina Garten needs no introduction. Her passionate following hit a peak during lockdown, when the food-world superstar began sharing viral videos of her life at home with her husband, Jeffrey, and imparting her knowledge on what to cook, how to organize, and how to live during these challenging and unusual times. Her Instagram fan base of more than 2 million followers hang on her every post, and she has emerged as a sort of quarantine queen for the home cook, bringing joy and humor to everything she does. Ina released a just-right-for-now best-selling book in October called Modern Comfort Food, filled with recipes that feed your soul and make you feel good. She’s a homebody in the best sense of the word. Ina’s bons mots give us license not to be perfect: “How easy is that” and “Store-bought is fine” make it okay for us all to be a little easier on ourselves—and that feels right. Listen in as Ina shares her tips on how to group your pantry staples and how to make a weeknight dinner feel like a celebration with her signature relatable style and ease—which has inspired a whole new generation of home cooks.

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Matt Hranek and Yolanda Edwards are what most would call a creative power couple. Throughout their careers, they have worked together and separately for some of the most dynamic and inspiring publications, documenting their travels, food, and homes for digital and print, and solidifying a loyal following that trusts their every move. Each recommendation they put out there—where to go, where to eat, what to drink, what to shop for—and, most important, how to document it, is supported by vibrant images and heartfelt storytelling. Memory keeping and collecting are central to Matt and Yolanda’s perspective. They are gifted editors, prolific content creators, and trusted curators who are generous with their knowledge and always up to share a recommendation or a story to give their suggestions more weight. After leaving Condé Nast Traveler, they each launched independent print magazines, WM Brown and YOLO Journal, while engaging their loyal audience on Instagram and consulting for brands. As we approach the holidays, we catch up with Matt and Yolanda to talk about how they’re celebrating the holidays, even on a smaller scale this year.

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Despite the uncertainty around us, it’s been quite a year of accomplishments for Ayesha Curry. While gracing the cover of Domino’s Fall Style issue, the food enthusiast, philanthropist, and mother of three released her second cookbook, New York Times best-seller The Full Plate: Flavor-Filled, Easy Recipes for Families With No Time and a Lot to Do; appeared at the Democratic National Convention; and hosted an Instagram Live cooking demo with Vice President–elect Kamala Harris. This year has marked many serious milestones for Ayesha, including launching her media platform and magazine, Sweet July, which champions female entrepreneurs and people of color, and planning for the imminent opening of her retail environment in downtown Oakland, California. Along with that, her nonprofit foundation, Eat. Learn. Play., which she cofounded with her husband, NBA superstar Steph Curry, is doing incredible work to support children in need through this moment of global pandemic and remote schooling. Her work and vision are an inspiration, as is the way she decorates, feeds her family of five, and communicates with her fans. Listen in as Ayesha shares how she uses her platform to amplify diverse voices…and for that, we are all grateful.

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Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters of design firm Forbes Masters are a creative team focused on a personal approach to design, diving into their clients’ passions, personalities, and style before embarking on a plan for interiors. They are all about innovating the design process, pushing their craft forward with digital design, social media, and their active and growing network. With an impressive roster of celebrity clients and exciting product collaborations in the works, including a wallpaper collection with Mitchell Black, Tavia and Monet are just getting warmed up. Bold in their approach, and inspired by projects big and small, they are about to move into a brand-new studio and embark on some of their most personal work to date. 2020 and COVID-19 have boosted the duo’s online presence, with clients all over the country utilizing their digital design services. Listen in as we dive in on the future of digital design and what the future holds for this impressive pair.

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