Business of Home Podcast

Working as an artist and designer in the San Francisco Bay Area, Serena Dugan’s chance meeting with entrepreneur Lily Kantor led to the creation of Serena & Lily in 2003. What started as a design-driven nursery bedding company grew bigger and bigger with each passing year, eventually becoming the lifestyle giant it is today. In 2017 Dugan left the brand, but she re-emerged in 2020 with a boutique textile line under her own name—now she works primarily with the trade.On this episode of the podcast she speaks with host Dennis Scully about reinventing herself after Serena & Lily, the problem with trend forecasting, and why she’ll always choose self expression over sales, every time.  This episode is sponsored by ErnestaLINKSSerena DuganDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Host Dennis Scully and BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus discuss the biggest news in the design world, including a surprise acquisition, Trump’s housing moves, and why clients are craving an analog lifestyle at home. Later, journalist Rachel Kurzius of The Washington Post joins the show to talk about the downside of viral sofas, and to tell the story of a 17-year client lawsuit.  This episode is sponsored by Loloi. LINKSRachel Kurzius Business of Home

Michael Diaz-Griffith’s background is in the world of antiques—he served as executive director of the Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation, has held various positions at the Winter Show, and authored a book on the rise of young collectors, The New Antiquarians. He is now the CEO of the Design Leadership Network, one of the industry’s key professional organizations, dedicated to connecting designers, architects, and business leaders through education and events.On this episode of the podcast, Diaz-Griffith speaks with host Dennis Scully about the challenges and opportunities ahead in 2026, class issues in design, and why his goal is to show up more and more as himself.This episode is sponsored by ErnestaLINKSMichael Diaz-GriffithThe Design Leadership NetworkDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Host Dennis Scully and BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus discuss the biggest news in the design world, including a pullback on furniture tariffs, bankruptcy for Food52 and Schoolhouse, and a creative new use for AI in real estate.This episode is sponsored by LoloiLINKSBusiness of Home

A veteran of Jack Lenor Larsen’s legendary studio, Stacy Waggoner has spent her entire career in textiles. Founded in 2009, Studio Four is the culmination of her passion for fabric: An independent home for lines from around the world, loved by designers for its unique viewpoint. On this episode of the podcast, Waggoner speaks with host Dennis Scully about the rise of digitally printed textiles, what makes a line successful in her showroom, and the surprising truth tariffs have revealed about the fabric business. This episode is sponsored by Ernesta LINKSStudio FourDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Podcast guests from this year share their predictions about what's to come in the next. This episode is sponsored by LoloiLINKSBusiness of Home

The Business of Home Podcast will return with a new episode next week. In the meantime, enjoy this conversation with designer Ben Pentreath, which originally aired in February. In an era when most designers pick a niche, Ben Pentreath is a proud generalist—his work spans everything from housing developments to private homes to a quirky retail operation, Pentreath & Hall. One of his most well-known projects is not a house but an entire village—Poundbury, a planned community in England championed by King Charles. However, Pentreath’s work for private clients is also highly celebrated, and he’s a regular on industry best-of lists.  On this episode of the podcast, he speaks with host Dennis Scully about the personal tragedy that prompted him to develop a succession plan, why he takes every email inquiry seriously, and why American designers can never quite nail English style.This episode is sponsored by Loloi and John Rosselli & AssociatesLINKSBen PentreathDennis ScullyBusiness of Home 

To look back on a busy year in the design industry, three members of Business of Home’s editorial team join the podcast this week: Editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen, retail columnist Warren Shoulberg, and Executive Editor Fred Nicolaus. Together with host Dennis Scully they go over the topics that mattered most—from tariffs to design centers to rising prices to AI. The team also looks ahead to 2026, and makes a prediction or two about what’s to come.This episode is sponsored by Loloi and John Rosselli & AssociatesLINKSDennis ScullyBusiness of Home 

Host Dennis Scully and BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus discuss the biggest news in the design world, including the death of house-flipping, RH’s latest earnings report and a new online scam targeting designers.This episode is sponsored by Joon Loloi and Programa (use code BOH25 for 25% off)LINKSBusiness of Home

Raised in Southern California and France, Jessica Helgerson had a unique upbringing—eventually she found her way to design and started her own firm in 2000, moving it to Portland, Oregon six years later. There, she’s built a reputation around her thoughtful, layered work, and her values—Helgerson’s 1% Project sees her donating a portion of the invoices on her projects to local nonprofits. On this episode of the podcast she speaks with host Dennis Scully about her recent induction into the AD100; opening an outpost of her firm in Paris; and why she has two bosses on every project: the client and the house itself. This episode is sponsored by Loloi and John Rosselli & AssociatesLINKSJessica HelgersonDennis ScullyBusiness of Home