The Chaise Lounge Podcast

Raad Ghantous: Designing Experiences

Today in The Lounge, Nick chats with Raad Ghantous from Raad Ghantous andAssociates. Raad and his team do not design interiors, they design experiences. Learn about Raad’s journey to Interior Design, his company today and his ongoing work in radio.

Early Life and Career

Currently residing in Southern California, Raad Ghantous came to the United States in 1985 to pursue a career in business. He was born in Baghdad, Iraq, grew up in Kuwait and attended college in Switzerland. After receiving his undergraduate degree in economics he traveled to the US to pursue a Masters degree in Marketing from the Peter Drucker Center in Claremont, California. Upon arriving in the States he quickly realized he was at a disadvantage, he did not have the same work experience as his graduate peers, whom he was competing against for jobs. After the real estate crash in 1991, Raad serendipitously received a card in the mail for a school in Newport Beach, offering a certificate program in Interior Design. After taking a few classes Raad found himself challenged in ways he never was before and received his BA in Interior Design in 1994.

Deciding to focus on the hospitality sector, Raad interned with Design 1, which eventually became Sue Firestone, a prominent designer in the area. He went on to intern with Susan Cohen in Santa Monica who was working on large scale residential projects similar to small boutique hotels. With a staff of two Rad received a lot of hands-on experience. A former coworker from Design 1 had a colleague who worked at Hirsch Bedner and Associates whom he met with for what he thought was simply a conversation. As luck would happen, the company had recently been awarded a large project and he was offered a job on the spot. Raad then moved to Atlanta and remained at Hirsch Bedner for three yrs.

Starting the Firm

Raad drew upon insight from his working experience at other companies to determine how he wanted to structure his company. It was important he cater to certain niche markets while still providing the level of service and consultancy that is afforded to larger projects. His business is a combination of both of design and business consultancy; employing staff with operational, marketing and design backgrounds. He has core individuals weighing in on the design direction and other consultants on hand to create a vertically integrated client. His staff of 5 full-time employees and 7 consultants manage the entire process from concept to completion focusing on everything from menu development, marketing to social media. The firm also works on residential projects with a split of 70% commercial projects, 30% residential.

Raad spends the majority of his time with clients or processing documentation with the city. He gathers the team together once or twice a week for project meetings. Prioritizing is the hardest part of the job as it is still a challenge for him to determine where to spend his time. There is a sense of responsibility for his staff and his chosen career path where he must ensure that there is another project in the pipeline. To that end, he finds himself constantly out networking.

Marketing Efforts

The company has experienced the most marketing success through guest speaking and published articles. Raad also produces three radio shows. The Raad Life is a journey of aging geared toward baby boomers, veterans, and nonprofits. His second show, co-hosted with Craig Sullivan, is focused on the Californian hospitality scene called, Check out California. The last show, Dense $ense, is targeted to end users. It is a question and answers series covering topics such as “How Did You Decorate Your Home for Christmas?” Doing radio has allowed him to build his brand and also portray him as a designer that is involved in the community. It has more positively affected the residential side than the commercial side.

KBIS Show #4

Today in The Lounge, Nick hits the trifecta at his third day at KBIS. He gets to chat with Randy Fiser, CEO of ASID, about their partnership with products supporting wellness. He then learns from Lin Guo of Bluewater Group about advanced water filtration systems for commercial and residential settings. Nick then chats with both Greg Delmonico (Monogram Brand Merchandising Manager) and Chef Nick Liberato about Monogram products.

Randy Fiser and ASID’s Promotion of Wellness

Good thing Randy Fiser brought his sneakers for all the walking he did at the KBIS 2018 show! On the episode, Randy talks about how his goal was to link ASID and NKBA together to highlight a pavilion that showcases wellness in design based on ASID’s message, “Design Impacts Life.” ASID hosted about a dozen businesses at the show, which align with wellness components such as using nature in spaces, sustainability, using plant and water components in spaces, and the psychology of the human connection to the use of wood in design. Randy talks about connecting products to the value they add to families and lifestyles and how this connection helps designers advertise their value in the marketplace. ASID wants to expand the showcase to include more products next year at the KBIS show in Las Vegas. Interested parties can contact Olga Odeide at ASID or Brian Pagel at KBIS and will go through a short screening process to ensure products are credible and meet wellness guidelines.

Learn more about ASID at www.asid.org.

*Stay tuned for future sessions of Chaise Lounge where we will have listeners submit questions for Randy to answer in upcoming podcasts. Submit questions on The Chaise Lounge website the bottom right-hand corner. Just mention that your question is for Randy!

Lin Guo with Bluewater Group and Water Filtration Technology

Lin has a huge passion for bringing clean and pure water to the world! She talks with Nick about the two main benefits of the Bluewater system: 1. helping families have better lives by giving them pure and clean drinking water and 2. helping rid the planet of plastic water bottles polluting the ocean. Lin says that every 1 minute, there are approximately 1 million plastic water bottles being dumped into the ocean. Bluewater is passionate about ending this cycle.

Their filtration systems can be used both residentially and commercially. Bluewater is so well regarded that they recently won an award and were recognized for using natural resources and helping the planet. They were also nominated for Best in Show at KBIS. Hear Lin’s enthusiastic message in the podcast and you’ll be hooked!

     Learn more about Bluewater Group at www.bluewatergroup.com.

Greg Delmonico from Monogram and Chef Nick Liberato Talk “Pizza” with Nick

Greg Delmonico chats with Nick about Monogram’s brand. Their philosophy is “Elevate Everything” and this is seen in their products at KBIS. The flush design on their wall oven is sleek and elegant, it's completely electric and cooks a tasty pizza up in only 2-3 minutes with only a 20-minute warm-up time. Key and unique features of this product include having recipes pre-programmed into the oven where the temperature is preset depending on the type of pizza you’d like to cook. It takes up very little space and does not require any additional venting or ductwork, as a catalytic converter is built in to capture all the heat and smoke internally. Chef Liberato is excited to talk about the consistency the oven provides even with the door being opened and closed, and how the outside of the oven is safe to touch. Chef Liberato has recipes that can also be used in the oven for breakfast, desserts or bread. Check him out on Twitter @Calidelphia, on Instagram @ChefNicky or on Facebook - Chef Nick Liberato

    

KBIS Show #3

Today in The Lounge, Nick talks with Kimberly Timmons-Beutner from Kimberly Timmons Interiors (KTI) and Steve Waddell, a man who seeks to reinvent the bathroom faucet with his product, Nasoni. Nick learns how Kimberly got her start and how she brought her firm to the list of top fifty designers and architects in Denver. Nick also learns about the functionality of Nasoni and what puts it a step above the traditional bathroom faucet.

Nasoni: From Italy to Your Bathroom

Nasoni is a water fountain/faucet combination named after the drinking fountains invented by the city of Rome in the 1870s. The idea was conceived when Steve Waddell found himself growing tired of bending down to the faucet to rinse his mouth after brushing his teeth. Nasoni is meant to be a more sanitary way of rinsing your mouth and drinking tap water. The product is not yet on the market, but hopefully will be soon.

Find Nasoni at www.nasoni.com or on Facebook and Instagram.

Getting to Know Kimberly

Kimberly and Nick get to talking over a glass of New Zealand pinot noir. Kimberly is from Denver, Colorado and her favorite place to work was in China on a large golf clubhouse. Her favorite room in her home is the dining room which contains a roundtable brought over from her time in China. She prefers necklaces as her favored fashion accessory. If she could vacation anywhere, it would be somewhere tropical.

Drafting Visions of the Future

Kimberly’s interest in interior design started with a drafting class she took in high school. From there, she went on to attend the Art Institute of Colorado and graduated with honors. She was then offered a position as a Junior Designer and stayed at the firm for ten years. The focus of her first firm was model homes. Sometime after she had been promoted to Design Director, she left to begin her own firm.

Her first office was in the guest bedroom of her own house. She reached out to the competitor of her former boss and acquired work with them for twenty years. After acquiring too many staff members to accommodate in her home office, she moved to downtown Denver.

Kimberly claims that the hardest part of her journey was staying on track. She says that many other opportunities were presented to her, but she had to follow her gut to decide which ones to decline because they did not suit her preferred working style or vision of her future.

KTI Today

2018 marks the twentieth anniversary of KTI’s founding. The firm has twenty-three team members in total, ranging from the design team to the marketing team and so on. They have done work in many hospitality spheres such as restaurants, hotels, and clubhouses. They have also worked on interior merchandising and high-end residential spaces.

Kimberly attests that networking relationships are vital to the success of a company. She and her firm are currently up for three awards this year which help them get recognized and thus offered more work. As such, Kimberly was drawn to KBIS for its networking opportunities as well as the chance it provides to scout out new products her firm may use in future projects.

Kimberly keeps herself involved in every project that goes through her firm by being present during the initial conception and supervision.

The Value and Process of Company Growth

KTI was able to transition from residential designs to hospitality when they were contacted by ESA to do work on Sheridan and Steamboat, which they have done work on since 2008. She claims from her experience that doing good work on new projects will earn you more projects of the like in the future.

Of course, she did not get her firm recognized simply by waiting for others to contact her. She put a lot of energy into marketing her brand through SEO on her website, applying for awards, getting sponsorships,

KBIS Show #2

Today in the Lounge Nick talks with Richard Anuszkeiwicz the Executive Director of the Kitchen and Bath Division for Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects, Chuck Wheelock of Wheelock Design, and Brad Egan of Niagara Conservation live from KBIS Day 2. Richard and Nick discuss how he skyrocketed his career in design in less than 10 years and about his new project with Liebherr this year at KBIS. Chuck and Nick talk about Chuck’s business and his relationship with Perlick. Nick and Brad chat about the current water crisis and what Niagra is doing to help.

Getting to Know Richard

Richard Anuszkeiwicz was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His favorite vacation was last year when he traveled with a continuing education course to the Honolulu Design Center in Hawaii. He loves Tom Ford. Favorite movie? Nocturnal Animals. Beer, Wine, or Cocktail? Richard loves cocktails, either a gin and tonic or vodka soda.

How Richard got his Start

Richard was very creative as a child. He went to school for Residential Design at Virginia Tech. Early on in the program, he was introduced to kitchen and bath. He attended KBIS Chicago as a sophomore in college and ever since, he’s been a loyal KBIS attendee. This gave him his "aha!" moment to work more with kitchens and baths. Richard encourages students to get themselves to a trade show and just shake some hands. He says that ultimately every opportunity he’s gotten has been because he met someone along the way. Richards tells us knowledge is power so don't be afraid to ask questions!

The Business Today

Richard graduated in 2010 and started with a Design-Build firm in Virginia. Right off the bat, they opened a brand new showroom. His vision was focused on perfecting the kitchen cabinets, the ceiling details, and the windows to go along with it. He was there for three years and then went to Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects where he is currently the lead for their casework and cabinetry division.

In 2013, Richard launched his own lifestyle brand after being mentioned in NKBA’s 30 under 30 contest. He wanted to bring new products and ideas to the market, empower the next generation, and change the general consumer's mindset on what a kitchen could or should be. He started to develop a CEU entitled, Fashion-Forward Thinking; a way to look at the world you, be inspired and use those ideas to inspire your work. Richard says design is an experience, he doesn’t sell products, he sells a lifestyle. Richard considers himself to be a chameleon for his clients, taking their raw ideas and enhancing them in every which way imaginable. Richard learns every day and his job is a passion.

       The Monolith Inception

At KBIS 2018 Richard helped design the Monolith Inception (pictured above) with Liebherr. In a luxury market, you must be mindful of the finishes and how they function in the space. The table that Nick and Richard are sitting at is actually integrated into the island. Liebherr launched their new column series under the name Monolith. Monolith Inception is a multi-surface island with a table top, primary sink area, a work surface, and a banquette. This island is all carved from one piece of stone, hence the name. This space also includes a few other features such as the integrated armoir, which is a 30-inch refrigerator and 24-inch freezer, and the range wall. The range wall has every material from stone to wood. In the drawers you’ll find a pop of red so you’ll know it’s part of the Richar Living Collection. Other vendors that helped create the Monolithic Inception include Bentley, Superiore, Dekton USA, Grothouse Lumber Wood Tops, and Bridget Beari Designs.

To connect with Richard visit www.richarliving.com. To learn more about Liebherr visit www.liebherr.com.

Wheelock Design and Perlick

Chuck Wheelock is the Founder and President of Wheelock Design a kitchen design firm that make...

KBIS Show #1Today in The Lounge Nick interviews two designers and one vendor live from the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando, Florida. First up, Nick chats with Nissan Ringel of Liteshelf, an innovative lighting solution for kitchen and closet areas. Then stay tuned for Nick’s interview with Kerrie Kelly of Design Lab. Learn about her new business 42nd Street Design and latest brand collaborations. Lastly, Nick receives a personal guided tour from designer Vanessa DeLeon of the kitchen she designed in collaboration with True Residential.Nissan Ringel- LiteShelfNew to KBIS, LiteShelf, is quite simply, a shelf that doubles as a light. Available in three versions, classic, floating and inset, LiteShelf provides even, shadow-free lighting ideal for closet areas and kitchens. It installs easily with adhesives or brackets. Most task light solutions have a single point light source that leaves behind dark spots and is harsh on the eyes. The even lighting offered by LiteShelf provides a calming, pleasant effect that you have to see to believe. LiteShelf is available through kitchen retailers or local dealers. For more information or to become a dealer visit www.liteshelf.com.  Kerrie Kelly- Brand Relationships and Custom FurnitureKerrie Kelly is the owner of Design Lab in Sacramento, California and custom furniture company 42nd Street Design. Available to the public as well as trade professionals, 42nd Street Design manufactures exclusive, custom created products that can not be purchased on Amazon or Wayfair. Their collection of case goods includes secretaries, bookcases, bar cabinets, and dressers. They also sell signature items and accessories specific to their local area of California. Brand relationships are an important component of Kerrie’s business. She continues to maintain her relationship with Brizo and Consentino and has welcomed her new relationship with Coyote Outdoor Living, Feizy rugs and Go Home. These are brands that she was already specified for her clients. Partnering with them brings forth another level to her specification allowing her to specify products that she had a role in designing.  Recently Kerrie was elevated to Fellow in ASID, a trade organization of which she has been an active and engaged member since her days as a student. ASID has given her training and support that not only has elevated her as a designer but has provided her with the education and resources needed for continued success. Kerrie advises designers to think about design on a global level, seek out continued educational opportunities, and to continue to be your authentic self. You can offer the most value to your clients when you are operating as the truest version of yourself. To connect with Kerrie visit her collaboration page, or sign up for her monthly newsletter on her website. You can also catch her in attendance at the Dallas Market – Jan 17 – 23 and  Las Vegas Market – Jan 28 – Feb 1Vanessa Deleon- Kitchen Tour with True ResidentialNick joins Vanessa DeLeon for a guided tour of the kitchen she designed for True Residential. Tune in with Nick, Vanessa, and Steve Proctor, the head of the Sales and Market Division at True, as they reveal their newest products on display at KBIS. All products are dual rated for indoor and outdoor use and are available in a variety of finish options. For more information or to build your own True custom appliance visit www.trueresidential.com .  Chaise Lounge UpdatesTo provide our listeners with the latest information from our week at KBIS, we will be dropping a new show, recorded live from the showroom floor, every two days. On our next show, Nick will be interviewing an up and coming designer, a seasoned professional, and another vendor. The Chaise Lounge will be at The Dallas Market for the first time on Jan 17-23.ResourcesBenjamin MoorePorcelanosaDesign Manager Universal FurnitureUpcoming EventsAtlanta Market – Jan 9 – 16Dallas Market – Jan 17 – 23Las Vegas Market – Jan 28 – Feb...

Kevin O’Shea: A Dream Come True

Today in The Lounge, Nick chats with Kevin O’Shea from Salt Hotels in his New York Porcelanosa office before heading off to BDNY. Kevin talks about how food was his first interest in hospitality, his start with Starwood Hotels, how and where Salt Hotels was born and his experience running the company with his husband and team.

Getting to Know Kevin

Kevin enjoys watching indie films and prefers a glass of wine over a beer or cocktail. His house was formerly a fine dining restaurant and appropriately, his favorite room is the kitchen. He finds cooking to be a relaxing pastime. While there are no specific dishes he prefers to make over others, he does enjoy cooking family recipes passed down from his Italian grandmother.

From Colorado to the East Coast

Kevin grew up in the Westminster area of Denver, Colorado. After graduating high school, he attended Johnson and Wales University to earn a degree in food and beverage hospitality before deciding it was not for him. He then transferred to Rhode Island School of Design to complete an interior architecture degree. From there, he landed an internship in New York with Sheraton-Starwood where he was then able to join the initial Le Meredien team after graduation. He stayed with Starwood for about a year before moving to Morgans Hotel Group and being part of their team for three and a half years. Just before 2008, Kevin broke off on his own in New York.

Pillars of Salt

    

The vision for Salt Hotels began with the idyllic dream Kevin and his husband had of one day owning a Bed & Breakfast. That dream came true when they renovated an old building into what is known today as the Salt House in Provincetown, New York. Within a week of opening, it appeared on The Today Show and made the hotlist of places to stay in Provincetown. This made Kevin and his husband realize that they had something special that later turned into three other hotels in the United States.

Kevin took his experience designing for large hotels and combined it with the comfort of a B&B to set his spaces apart from the rest. To maintain the Salt brand in all the other hotels, he includes gourmet breakfast in his visitors’ stay. There is no central Salt Hotels office but rather local offices built near the hotels.

Team Unity and Community

Everyone hired by Salt Hotels sets their own hours and work diligently. By hiring professionals who are passionate about their work, team unity is assured.

Salt Hotels is proud to be able to provide steady, stable jobs in a typically seasonal market. They also have Salt School open to the public where admitted applicants may earn a design degree and apply it wherever they wish.

Visit www.salthotels.com to learn more.

Upcoming Events

Atlanta Market – Jan 9 – 16

Dallas Market – Jan 17 – 23

Las Vegas Market – Jan 28 – Feb 1

Modernism Week – Feb 15 – 25

Design Bloggers Conference – March 4 – 6

BD West – April 4 – 5

High Point Market – April 14 – 18

HD Expo – May 2 – 4

ICFF – May 20 – 23

NeoCon – June 11 – 13

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website at TheChaiseLoungePodcast.com. Lastly, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or post a review on iTunes, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. With that said keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

Andreas Eickholt: German Designer

Today in the Lounge Nick speaks with Andreas Eickholt all the way from Cologne, Germany. Andreas works with the Voglauer Hotel Concept. He is the department lead for Architecture and Calculations. He and his team find design solutions and work on corporate appearance for the hotels and companies. They specialize in the interior of hotels but they have also worked exteriors as well. Andreas and Nick discuss what it is like working with Porcelanosa products and how Andreas' German-based company keeps America and Americans in mind.

Getting to Know Andreas

Andreas is trained as an interior designer. In Germany, University interior designers and architects receive almost the same education with differences in exterior design and their specializations. Andreas also received a carpentry education in the 70s. He decided to go to school in the evenings to further his education in architecture and interior design. Andreas loves every place he has visited because each place has unique sights and different things to enjoy. He fancies watching movies and read books and enjoys working on his home in his spare time. His favorite movie is Das Boat. "Beer, wine or cocktail?" He prefers a red wine in the evening but a cool beer at parties.

How Andreas Got His Start

Andreas' first job as an interior designer was to design and plan butteries, bakeries, butcheries, and restaurants. He did this job for about seven years. After that, he went to a spa design company that is no longer in Germany but still thriving in 148 different countries including, South Africa, France, and Austria. He was part of the international design group in Amsterdam. This job has taken him to Miland, Oslo, and Ireland to learn what the different functional needs of other countries are. The company worked a lot on branding so that they could be as well known as McDonald's He stayed with them for six and half years as an independent contractor.

Andreas later went into wellness. He says despite the job area, he was not relaxed while working in sauna and wellness centers. He learned a lot though about water, lighting, and sound techniques for relaxation. He was the general contractor for these jobs and worked four years as a partner. Andreas left because he had different ideas of leading a company and how to treat clients. Next, he went Joi Design. They worked on a brand new building and wanted it to capture the different stories of the Lindner Park Hagenbeck Hotel, the world’s first zoo theme hotel, in Hamburg. The ground floor's theme is colonization. The first and the second floor are Africa, the third and fourth are Asia, and the top floors are the Arctic World. He was with Joi Design for about four years.

Andreas' Company Today

Andreas now works on rebuilding old hotels and giving them new life. They like to know the stories and backgrounds of their clients before they start on a project. Andreas wants to be able to build successful business interactions with his clients as well as stand out from competitors. They deal with branded hotels that have guidelines and are recognizable all over the world to help the customer feel like they are at home no matter where they stay in the world. He finds that working with unbranded hotels more pleasant and he loves coming up with new ideas and building from the ground up.

Working with Porcelanosa and Americans

Andreas has used Porcelanosa products such as tiles and tubs. He says that their products fit in with their designs very well. He thinks that Porcelanosa really has the spirit to design well for hotels fits in well with the story they are trying to tell.

Andreas hopes to have a very big and well known hotel design project. He says the American way of life influences what’s going on in Europe just as Americans are always looking to Europe for inspiration.

Sharyn McBride: Where Travel and Design Collide

Today in The Lounge, Nick chats with Sharyn McBride of Belson Design and Design Tours. Sharyn is located in beautiful Melbourne, Australia and is driven to expose her fellow Aussies to a design education that reaches far beyond her native shores. Find out more, in this episode of The Chaise Lounge.

Breaking the Ice

First and foremost...Nick wants to visit Australia and he isn’t shy about sharing it! After making that point clear, he learns some interesting fashion tidbits from Sharyn. She is a big fan of shoes as a go-to statement accessory. Her faves are colorful ankle boots. Though not necessarily a fan of the Ugg boot, she is happy to share that these are originally from her native land and that it was interesting to watch them evolve from house slippers to full-on streetwear. Her favorite room in her well-designed house is her master bedroom. It is truly her sanctuary. The only spot that is off limits is her garage full of finds from her travels abroad, which can get a bit messy! The best advice that she received from her parents growing up was to never give up and her mum’s especially sage advice: don’t leave the house without lipstick!

Getting into the business

Sharyn McBride started her career as a buyer in the fashion industry. She noticed a gap in the market after welcoming her own baby boy and created a line of embroidered bespoke baby blankets. Sharon fell gravely ill in the early 2000’s and faced a two-year climb back to health. It was at that point that she decided that she would exclusively pursue creative work. She knew that all of the efforts and hard work would give her that sense of joy and satisfaction; as long as she pursued her passion. Her interior design career began in her home and friends’ homes. It was also at this time that she realized that exposure and education equaled really great design. She traveled to around her native Australia and to the US; New York specifically. There she was able to learn more about show homes, such as Kips Bay and the design markets available to designers in the US.  Belson Design was launched soon after in 2016.

The Development of Design Tours

After having the opportunity to travel to the US, Japan and other parts of the world, Sharyn realized just how little exposure the Australian design community was getting. There were so many more resources to discover beyond her borders. There was an opportunity to give Australian designers access to show houses and masters of design such as Frank Lloyd Wright. Sharyn developed tours to the US and Japan that she now runs three times a year! Nick gave a great suggestion to set up US tour groups to come down to Australia…let’s see if this takes off! Sharyn is all for being a part of orchestrating culture absorbing trips.

Making time for Design

Despite running three 7-9 day tours a year, Sharyn still finds time to serve her clients through Belson Design. Her upcoming projects include a mid-scale home renovation and her very first commercial gig at tile showroom in Melbourne. She is mainly a one-woman show but has the helping hands of a part-time tour assistant and design assistant. She also has built great relationships with contractors, so her clients have that additional option if they do not have contacts of their own.

Sharyn is adamant about being confident as a designer and not being afraid to value your services as they should be. She charges per service for her initial contact with clients. She has differing fees for consultations, mood boards, and full design plans. Never let a client rush you into decision making. As creatives, we need time to absorb and create our plans.

The Keys to Successful Marketing and Presentation

Sharyn really believes in great presentation. That starts with a great website and business cards. These are just the initial tools, however.

Garrison Hullinger: We Meet Again

Today in The Lounge, Nick catches up with Garrison Hullinger, whom he hasn’t spoken with since Episode 24, about two years ago. The two update each other on what’s been happening since then and Garrison talks about what has changed within his business.

Getting to Know the Garrison

Garrison is a fan of messenger bags, colloquially known as a “murse” or “man-purse.” He cannot travel without is iPad and loves it for its small size and easy mobility. When asked the infamous “Beer, wine, or cocktail” question, he claims to still prefer cocktails, though he has graduated from the dirty martini to the classic manhattan.

Garrison also recently visited Spain with Porcelanosa to visit their new factory. Highlights of the trip included incredible food and incredible connections made with incredible people who are also in the business of interior design.

Where Are You Now?: The Business Today

Two years ago, Garrison worked with a team of about sixteen people. Today, he works with twenty-four employees, of which the core team and ten seniors and leads remain. The focus of their designs have shifted from residential to multifamily-residential. It took many years for them to get their first project as they previously had no portfolio of multifamily designs, but Garrison and his business have experienced success ever since.

They work primarily on the interior of high-rise apartment buildings of two classes: Class A, which pertains to luxurious, new apartment buildings; and Class B, which are buildings that are aging and in need of remodeling.

Challenges of Change

The shift of focus from residential to multifamily-residential has presented a handful of challenges to Garrison. First among them was learning how to present a project to and receive answers from a committee rather than an individual. Another was learning how to be firm with his vision of the designs throughout the entire process. He has learned that the best way to do this is to create a narrative of what the vision is, state it from the beginning, and stick to it until the end.

Garrison has also had to forgo pet projects but has learned to maintain a presence in all of the projects he and his employees undertake. He does this by making sure his teams meet his requirements ahead of time, essentially posing as their client. He meets with every team member and goes over projects with them individually, thereby keeping him deeply entrenched in the work that is going on.

The Boss’ Burden… or is it?

Just as people complain about there not being enough jobs, employers often complain about there not being enough employees. Garrison claims to not experience this problem, however. He believes that if the employer is honest about their needs and what will be expected of the employee, the right people will apply. He acknowledges that this has led to slower hires with his business, but not a shortage of applicants.

Another concern of many employers is the possibility of their newly-trained employees leaving and taking their clients with them. Garrison scoffs at such a thought and says he never even considers the possibility. By offering fair and competitive pay to employees along with great benefits, he believes his employees are content, if not happy to work for him. His philosophy is that if the employees are treated well, they will treat the employer well in return. As such, he never assigns schedules that he wouldn’t work himself.

The Value of Retail Experience

Having formerly worked in retail operations, Garrison has carried his economic knowledge from that job into his interior design business. He calculates the most efficient way to spend time and money, whether it be adding more phone lines to his office or deciding on a paint color. This creates financial safety for his business which extends to his emplo...

Matthew Ferrarini: The Next Wave of Kitchen Design

Today in The Lounge, Nick talks shop with Matthew Ferrarini of Ferrarini & Co, Kitchen and Bath Designer. Matthew works out of Philadelphia, but today Nick is catching up with him on location for a client in Miami. Turns out Matthew has interior design in his blood as the son of an interior designer mom and a contractor for a dad. Find out more, in this episode of the Chaise Lounge.

Breaking the Ice

Nick opens up about a favorite topic for a lot of guys…automobiles. Matthew is a fan of Tesla as an everyday vehicle and Ferrari for a higher end wow-factor. When asked about recent movies, Matthew shared that he recently got the chance to watch the movie Ma Ma with Penelope Cruz. Perfect segue to Nick’s recent trip to Spain with Porcelanosa. Turns out Matthew been to Barcelona a few times and is also a big fan of Spain’s rich heritage, culture, friendliness and just overall coolness.

Getting Into the Business

Matthew attended Temple University (go Owls!) for a pre-law degree. Temple is well known for their law school, but somehow Matt just couldn’t shake the calling of design. While at school, he also pursued a certificate in interior design and construction management. He joined forces with his Mom and worked in the family business while still attending school. Upon graduation, he started his own company focusing on kitchen and bath with mom, Donna, as a partner.

From Humble Beginnings to Starting an Empire

Starting out was rough; very humble beginnings. Having lost substantial assets upon the split of his parents, Matthew made a grassroots effort to grow his business. Local marketing with flyers and an open mind is how Ferrarini & Co got off the ground. In the beginning, no project was too small and the business took pride in the work they did and the ensuing referrals. Good work and excellent customer service got them from a home-based business to a design office and showroom staffed with 5 people that accept clients nationwide.  

What it Takes

Matthew credits his success with clients to the broader view that he takes when designing his kitchen and baths. He doesn’t just focus solely on the space that he is tasked to redesign, but incorporates all adjacent areas to ensure a seamless flow. His knack for design really comes to light in space planning and problem-solving. Here is where his passions shine. He has made it a point to stay within his strengths and delegate the things he isn’t so passionate about to team members that are.

Accolades and the Way of the Millennial

Matthew Ferrarini’s point of view has earned him the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) ’30 under 30’ award. He believes in being progressive in his business and for a Millennial, that spells ‘tech’ heavy. Ivy is his software of choice to keep his business running smoothly. He transitioned from using a program that was more builder/construction directed and hasn’t looked back. He also uses Dropbox for file storage and Houzz as an avenue to work with clients using their lookbook feature. What seals the deal for a lot of his clients, is the use of photo-realistic renderings of what the space will look like prior to even lifting a hammer. As a value-added feature today, Nick is predicting that this will become standard in the coming years and you won’t be able to call yourself a designer without it.

Matthew believes in spending the time to find out as much about a client and their lifestyle as possible and creating one show-stopping design to present to them. Now that the business has grown, the marketing approach has certainly changed from the local flyer days. Ferrarini credits his storefront, referrals, and digital marketing through the website and online presence as the avenues that have gotten his name out there. His website is user-friendly, visually captivating and has something for every clie...